2026 Employer Outlook: Key Federal and State Changes
I think everyone can agree that 2025 was a tumultuous year. While there was not the expected legislative activity from the Congress, President Trump and his administration enacted a lot of major changes which impacted employers and employees. Meanwhile, several states took advantage of their unified legislatures and/or the trends from the Trump administration to […]
State Paid Leave and Time Off Laws with Upcoming Changes
Paid time off is a common benefit offered by many companies to their employees as part of their total compensation package. While federal law does not require any such paid time off, many states have regulations that require employers to offer employees paid time off and/or paid leaves of absence in some form. We know […]
Scary HR Stories: Real Workplace Nightmares
Along with leaves starting to fall and the aroma of pumpkin spice filling the air, signs of Halloween are everywhere. While others see spooky or fun symbols of the holiday, they made us reflect on some of the scariest HR stories we have heard recently. Ghosts: “We had an employee just disappear on us. He […]
Workplace Update: How to Make Legal Employment Decisions in 2025
I speak with clients every day who want to terminate an employee for poor performance, unacceptable attendance, or personality clashes. They are concerned, rightfully so, about the impacts on their business by either keeping an employee who is not meeting expectations or by letting them go in this litigious time. It can seem like a […]
Pay Transparency: A New Standard
The Pay Transparency trend is no longer a trend; it’s a reality. Across the United States, many state-level laws and local ordinances are being enacted to increase transparency in salary negotiations and in the overall hiring process. Just this year, five states have added new text and regulations relating to pay transparency requirements. On a […]
The Frozen Labor Market – What Is It and Why Should You Care?
At The Workplace Advisors, we often experience early indicators of shifts in the business and economic climate. Our vantage point—working closely with organizations across industries and geographies—gives us a unique perspective on the labor market’s ebbs and flows. In the past, we could reliably anticipate booms and busts: when the economy was poised for growth, […]
Strategic HR Moves to Make This Summer
Summer makes us think of sun, vacation, relaxation, and Human Resources…Wait, what?!?! The summer months are often a slower time operationally, which can allow management to proactively and strategically focus on other critical aspects of running a successful business, such as Human Resources. If summer is your busy season, consider these activities during your business’ […]
Prioritizing Mental Health in the Workplace
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to spotlight the importance of mental well-being in the workplace. For business and HR leaders, it isn’t just a once-per-year conversation. Workplace mental health and wellness impact all aspects of your business: performance, culture, retention, and the bottom line. Additionally, the company’s reputation and employer value proposition […]
Pay Discussions Are Important – How to Get Good at Them
For many managers and supervisors, talking with employees about their pay ranks right up there with a root canal on the misery scale. Those conversations haven’t ever been easy, but as wage growth slows and prices for just about everything increase regularly, pay becomes increasingly important to your employees. Key Findings For some context, Pew […]
State of Immigration in the Workplace
President Trump’s administration has made or proposed significant changes that will impact how companies do business and manage their workforce. Among the most drastic actions we have seen is immigration, which is unsurprising given its focus of attention during the campaign and from his supporters. President Trump has stated he intends to deport up to […]