Ryan Ellis

The West Coast port operators and the union for dockworkers have finally reached a bargaining agreement after prolonged negotiations and a slowdown in work from some of the dockworkers. This agreement marks a significant milestone in the on-going labor dispute between the two sides, and it signals the end of a difficult period for the […]

Workplace Violence Prevention Rules are Coming for California Employers As the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) moves closer to finalizing its workplace violence prevention standard applicable to general industry, a new legislative proposal is looming that could mandate far-reaching workplace violence prevention requirements for California employers. It’s no secret that workplace violence

In the HR technology space, it’s no secret that innovation is key. This is why the annual SHRMLabs Better Workplaces Challenge Cup competition is such an important event. It highlights the most innovative HR technology startups, and this year one of the finalists is Inuka, based in Amsterdam. Inuka is a software platform that helps

The startling statistic that “half of neurodivergent workers want to quit their jobs—or already have” is an important reminder for Human Resources professionals. Despite the fact that neurodivergent conditions are incredibly common—with twenty percent of all adults in the United States having at least one neurodivergent condition—the unique challenges faced by neurodivergent workers in the

Pay Equity Going ‘Mainstream’: Could This Help Close the Racial Pay Gap? The perceived value of a person’s worth is often based on their occupation, rather than their ability or their experience in their field. In today’s job market, too often it is the case that an individual’s pay rate is lower than their peers

Appeals Court Blocks Ruling that Jeopardized Preventive Care Coverage In a major victory for the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on May 15 temporarily blocked a March district court ruling that jeopardized cost-sharing required by the ACA for preventive care services. The blocked ruling would have allowed employers to

Performance Appraisal Bombshells: Delivering Bad News Performance reviews are essential for assessing employee performance and giving feedback that can help them improve. But, let’s face it – performance reviews can be uncomfortable. Especially when it comes to delivering bad news. For managers, introducing negative feedback during a performance review can be daunting. After all, no

Ready to Draft an Up-to-Date AI Policy? Target Top Risks As Artificial Intelligence (AI) becomes more prevalent in the workplace, it’s important for Human Resource (HR) professionals to create policies that protect their organization from the potential risks of AI. While the use of AI can help improve efficiency, accuracy, and productivity, it can also

The future of the Department of Labor and the United States of America is in jeopardy. Will Julie Su become the next Secretary of Labor? It’s hard to say. This question has been on many minds since the news that a committee had advanced Su’s nomination Wednesday, but it remains to be seen whether she

Cost of Benefits Strain Employers and Workers Alike The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the US economy cannot be overstated. In addition to widespread layoffs, business closures, and disruption of everyday life, the pandemic has also brought upon a wave of financial strain on employers and workers alike, particularly in terms of fully funded