Legal Update HeaderOn July 20, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced the agency’s publication of additional guidance on applying federal employment laws in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The guidance is in the form of questions and answers added to sets of Q&As the agency issued earlier in the year about the operation of the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) in workplace situations involving COVID-19.

Legal Update HeaderThe U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is seeking information from the public about the effectiveness of paid employee family and medical leave.

In a Request for Information (RFI) issued July 15, 2020, the DOL said it intends to gather information about the effectiveness of current state-and employer-provided paid leave programs, and how access or lack of access to these programs impacts workers and their families. The RFI explains that “paid leave programs” for its purposes refers to paid family and medical leave to care for a family member’s, or for one’s own, health.

HR Insights Blog HeaderThe coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has upended the entire world, it seems. With fluctuating infection rates and conflicting official guidance, organizations will need to adapt quickly if they want to succeed in the post-coronavirus landscape.

HR teams stand at the forefront of these efforts. For years, HR departments have been tasked with ushering in fundamental workplace changes, and this moment is no different. This article includes five ways the coronavirus is reshaping HR and how departments can adapt to these new challenges.

Legal Update HeaderOn July 6, 2020, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued a notice to assure motor carriers that they will be able to test drivers at a lower rate if they can prove that a deviation from current random testing rates was necessary because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The notice is significant because the FMCSA doubled the testing rate for controlled substances in 2020 to 50 percent. The FMCSA is issuing this notice because the agency is aware that the pandemic has created, and may continue to create, major disruptions in the motor carrier industry.

HR Insights Blog HeaderWhen seeking an employer, many applicants hope to find an organization with values that align with their own. As employers create post-coronavirus plans, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is as essential as ever.

Job seekers are keeping an eye on how organizations are treating their employees and their communities—and likely, your organization has taken steps to adapt and provide support during this challenging time. Organizations can boost their brand by not only engaging in activities that benefit society but ensuring that these accomplishments are included in their employer brand and recruiting efforts.