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Federal law imposes the following jury duty leave requirements on all employers: Employers are prohibited from discharging, threatening to discharge, intimidating, or coercing any permanent employee because of the employee's jury service in a federal court. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), employers cannot make deductions for absence of an exempt employee due to…

Overview Many employee benefits are subject to annual dollar limits that are periodically increased for inflation. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently announced cost-of-living adjustments to the annual dollar limits for various welfare and retirement plan limits for 2020. Although some of the limits will remain the same, most of the limits will increase for…

High turnover rates can be incredibly costly to an organization, making employee retention vital to success. While established employees can offer valuable insights based on their experiences in the organization, when they leave the organization they take all of that experience with them, forcing resources to be used on finding and training a replacement. The…

We are experiencing the longest economic expansion in recent history. Springfield’s economy is also strong with unemployment of less than 3%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. These factors, plus others, are creating a competition for talent many businesses have never experienced. If your business doesn’t have a robust plan for attracting and…

Q: How can I detect and avoid a gender pay gap in my business? A: Nationwide women are paid approximately 80% of what men are paid; 78% in Missouri. Employers can take steps to avoid perpetuating this gap. First, establish a compensation structure including salary ranges for positions; remove inquiries about prior salary from your…

What’s the main driver keeping employees with your business? Company culture? Career mobility? If you ask your employees, they’ll probably say it’s their paycheck. That’s according to a PayScale survey that found pay to be the strongest motivator for quitting. Of over 38,000 individuals surveyed, 25% said more compensation was their motivation for quitting, while…

Performance Management is an important part of a company’s quality assurance and employee engagement strategies. Many companies formally evaluate an employee’s performance and progress after an initial introductory period and then again on an annual or semi-annual basis. Although performance evaluations can improve productivity and employee morale, many employers do not make them a high…

Workplace investigations are crucial when it comes to establishing a safe and welcoming work environment. However, these investigations are often complex and can involve navigating sensitive topics and disputes. More than ever before, companies face irreversible reputational damage and negative publicity if they mishandle workplace investigations. There are many reasons HR professionals may have to…

You may recall the U.S. Department of Labor proposed changes to the white-collar exemption rule in 2015 that had employers scrambling to implement the proposed increase to the minimum salary requirement for exempt workers. That proposal was blocked by a federal court in Texas in late 2016. However, there were benefits from that exercise. Many…

A new year brings new issues for HR professionals to contend with. Some challenges are similar to previous years (overtime uncertainty), while others are more unique and complicated (legal marijuana and employment). Despite inherent difficulties, staying tuned in to these six trends can keep you ahead of the game in 2019. Ignoring them will only…