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Freight Railway Workers Strike Prevented

Congress exercised the power it has under the Railway Labor Act to prevent a freight railway workers strike by ratifying the agreement that was negotiated by railway workers and management. The Labor Department issued a final rule that allows retirement plan fiduciaries to consider climate change and other environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors when selecting retirement investments. The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit decided that the time spent by turning on and loading programs on computers was compensable under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

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President Expected to Sign the Speak Out Act

Congress has approved the Speak Out Act, which would make unenforceable pre-dispute non-disclosure and non-disparagement clauses in cases of sexual assault and sexual harassment. The Department of Labor did not meet its October deadline to issue proposed regulations updating the overtime salary basis threshold under the FLSA. Several federal agencies have issued a military employment discrimination resource, and voters in two states approved minimum wage increases.

How Global HR Standards Are Developed

EEOC Issues New Poster

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has released an updated Know Your Rights poster that employers need to post and make available to employees. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released various benefit plan contributions limits for 2023, the National Labor Relations Board has issued a proposed rule concerning fair choice and employee voice, and the Department of Homeland Security has notified employers that they should continue using the current I-9 form despite its expiration date of October 31, 2022

Taking the Leap: How Darryl Walker Moved from Paratrooper to PHR

Communicating Company Culture & Values to Strengthen Retention of Veterans

Kimberlie England, co-author of Mission Next: Successfully transitioning from the military to the civilian workforce, says that one way to retain veterans – and to keep them engaged and excited about their work – is through creating a veteran-informed culture.

7 New HR Tech Platforms Worth a Second Look

Cybersecurity Awareness Month: HR Leaders can Help Create & Support a Cyber-Aware Culture

One critical business process that every HR professional must be aware of and help bolster is a cyber-aware culture in which every employee plays a role in protecting the organization’s data, devices, and IT networks from unauthorized access and malicious use: cybersecurity. 

Disruptive HR Trends: What You Need to Know Heading Into 2022

Independent Contractor Rule Proposed

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published a proposed rule that is designed to help employers classify workers and to address misclassification that occurs when workers are considered independent contractors rather than employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Culture First: Empathy and Collaboration

HRCI Congratulates James Lewis, Chair of ISO Technical Committee 260, on ANSI Award

The HRCI team extends heartfelt congratulations to James (Jim) Lewis, SPHR, GPHR, President of J. Lewis Consulting Group, LLC and Chair of ISO Technical Committee 260, on his recent ANSI Award. Lewis previously served as Board Chair and Board Member at HRCI.

HRCI Wins Thought Industries’ 2022 Continuing Education Award

Last week, Thought Industries (Ti) named HRCI the winner of its 2022 Continuing Education Award. Part of the company’s COGNITION22 Customer Awards, Ti made the announcement during its annual enterprise learning conference and user event, which was held online from October 3 – 6, 2022.

Federal Agencies Focus on COVID Vaccines & Tests

Supreme Court Begins New Term

The United States Supreme Court began its new term on October 3rd with several cases already on its docket that could impact workforces. The federal government has been funded through mid-December thus avoiding a partial government shutdown that would have occurred on October 1st. The Department of Labor has expanded its registered apprenticeship program, OSHA has modified the Severe Violator Enforcement Program, and the EEOC has released new data.

Joint Employment Regulations Issued

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has proposed joint employment regulations. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has decided that OSHA cannot be compelled to issue a permanent COVID-19 standard to protect healthcare workers.

Office Financial Wellness

Not Offering Financial Wellness as a Benefit? You are ‘Shortchanging’ Your Employees.

According to Fearless Finance Founder Lori Atwood, CFP®, an HR professional can better support their organization by learning to identify when employees are experiencing financial stress and ways to provide support that does not necessarily require pay increases.

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Congress Faces Deadline to Fund the Federal Government

Congress has until September 30th to fund the federal government or there will be a partial government shutdown. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has entered into agreements with the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission to protect workers.

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Remote Inspections of I-9 Documents Proposed

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has proposed regulations that would allow employers to inspect employment eligibility verification documents remotely when completing the I-9 Form.

More on Pay Trends

In the second installment of this two-part series, HRCI CEO Dr. Amy Dufrane SPHR, CAE, looks at the previously staid state of compensation and what the recent rapid changes mean to HR.

FLSA Case on the Supreme Court Docket

The United States Supreme Court will be ruling on a Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) case concerning whether a highly compensated employee whose pay was determined on a daily basis is exempt from the FLSA. Through the end of July, close to 5,800 COVID related employment lawsuits have been filed. President Biden has nominated Jessica Looman, current acting Wage-Hour Administrator to be the next Wage-Hour Administrator.