The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have issued new COVID-19 guidance to employers as of May 2020. {rsmembership id="1,7,9,10"} The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have issued new COVID-19 guida...

Effective January 1, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) increased the wage threshold for classifying employees as exempt from overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The threshold has been increased 50% from $455 to $684 per week.  {rsmembership id="1,7,9,10"} Annualized this is equivalent to $23,660 to $35,568 per year f...

There's a new W-4 form effective January 1, 2020, which significantly differs from previous versions. The W-4 is a required document that every new employee needs to complete so employers can properly withhold the correct amount of tax to submit to the IRS. {rsmembership id="1,7,9,10"} There's a new W-4 form effective January 1, 2020, which signifi...

Tom Pecoraro, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Excelerator®, spoke with Joe Flood, Founder of N2 Communications, in a recent podcast available HERE. They discussed how COVID-19 is changing the workplace now and in the future. {rsmembership id="1,7,9,10"} Key points from the audio podcast: Remote Business Operations Daily Video and Audio Employee...

The coronavirus -- named COVID-19 -- outbreak situation changes by the hour. Employers should carefully review their strategies, policies and procedures to ensure their business and employees are prepared to respond. {rsmembership id="1,7,9,10"} The coronavirus -- named COVID-19 -- outbreak situation changes by the hour. Employers should carefully ...

Many retailers have implemented immediate layoffs or are considering potential layoffs, shift reductions, remote work scenarios for management as well as temporary or permanent store closures. Some are remaining open to serve customers in ways that are permitted by changing government guidance. {rsmembership id="1,7,9,10"} Management decisions, eve...

Many businesses have been forced to immediately offer temporary remote employment to their employees.  {rsmembership id="1,7,9,10"} Employers must now know how to manage, train and provide resources to their employees so work can continue in compliance with federal, state and local laws. Companies should be implementing an HR crisis management...

Many restaurants and hotels have implemented immediate layoffs or are considering potential layoffs, shift reductions, remote work scenarios for management as well as temporary or permanent store or hotel closures. Some are remaining open to serve customers in ways that are permitted by changing government guidance. {rsmembership id="1,7,9,10"} Man...

Employers are utilizing biometrics to identify employees and track hours worked. However, unlike other methods of authentication such as passwords, biometric identifiers may not easily be changed once compromised. Employers that use biometrics need to be aware of regulations such as the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). Similar sta...

Stop making resolutions and instead make 5 HR Commitments in 2020.Based on HR trends that Excelerator® has tracked, here are 5 commitments your company should consider making in 2020: {rsmembership id="1,7,9,10"} 1. Get a big-picture idea of the year ahead This is an important commitment, and it takes less time than you think. Calendar important da...

Tis the Season for .... fun holiday parties and other seasonal festivities!While holiday festivities can be fun, there is little question that conduct that can be perceived as harmful occurs at company holiday parties every year. Now is the time to consider what you should be doing before this year's holiday party in order to get ahead of this issu...

It's hard to believe that Election Day is just around the corner again! Despite the fact that the polls in many states are open for at least 12 hours (or more) on election days, and that some states have extended the polling over several days and/or have mail-in ballots for the election, many employers will still be asked by their employees if they...

Why Your Current Drug and Alcohol Policy May Have Gone to Pot For employers that already have a Drug and Alcohol Policy, the following language should be very familiar: Employees should report to work fit for duty and free of any adverse effects of illegal drugs or alcohol. This policy does not prohibit employees from the lawful use and possession ...

Back in May we alerted you to recent amendments to the NYS Human Rights Law that required all NYS employers to adopt and distribute a sexual harassment prevention policy that meets or exceeds certain minimum standards by October 9, 2018. Employers were also required to provide compliant sexual harassment training to all employees by that same date,...

On May 21, 2018, in a 5-4 majority decision in Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis, No. 16-285, the U.S. Supreme Court found class action waivers in arbitration agreements to be valid and enforceable, settling a long-standing split among federal courts of appeals.  {rsmembership id="1,7,9,10"}  The decision broadly affirms that class action waive...

New York now joins California, Connecticut, and Maine in mandating that employers provide very specific and detailed sexual harassment policies to their employees and rigorous training for their supervisors in an effort to prevent sexual harassment before it occurs in the workplace.  {rsmembership id="1,7,9,10"} Recent amendments to the NYS Hu...

As Spring is fast approaching, so is the race to hire interns for the summer season. As companies work through their internship budgets, there may be good news from the Department of Labor (DOL) due to updated guidance on internship programs the department issued in January 2018. {rsmembership id="1,7,9,10"} Previously, courts used a six-factor tes...

With the new year comes new employment laws. While the Trump administration hasn't demonstrated an eagerness to add to current employment laws and regulations, several states and cities have done so.  Over 22 states have new employment laws going into effect in 2018. It can be difficult for employers to keep up with them all, but here are some...

It's Fun, Fun, Fun - Until It's Not! We usually begin the joyful season of December by anticipating fun holiday parties and other seasonal festivities. This year, however, at company holiday parties around the country, it is likely that the sexual assault and/or harassment allegations against Harvey Weinstein, Charlie Rose, Kevin Spacey, Matt Lauer...

Going Local While the Trump administration is certain to be making changes going forward that will impact HR and employment practices; today's most significant HR trends are coming increasingly from the state and local level. Employers are already facing a proliferation of new and expanded employment regulations and requirements across the country....