The Human Resource

Update your records and audit your payroll; the Wage and Hour Division has published new information concerning the meaning of "employment relationship" and the significance of that determination in applying provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). In this episode, Pandy shares the details of the most recent announcement that Wage and Hour is returning to the regulations of 2008 published in Fact Sheet #13 dated May 1, 2025 as they evaluate the 2024 guidance.

What does your handbook say about insubordination? Do you have it clearly defined? Have you taught your management team when an act of emotion is protected by the NLRA and may not be disciplined? Join Pandy as she reviews the differences in these two scenarios and provides you with policy language to protect your company.

"What were they thinking?" In this episode, Pandy reviews recent lawsuits filed by the EEOC on preventable and yet costly mistakes involving discrimination of age, disabilities and pregnancy. Join her as she reviews where the mistakes occurred and discusses what should have happened to prevent them.

The most difficult conversation in HR is the one that involves hygiene or odors but in this episode Pandy has tips on how to have those crucial conversations with confidence. Join Pandy as she shares a blog by Marisa Eckberg with Grey Owl HR in Texas on how to delicately and professionally facilitate a conversation regarding hygiene and odors.

We all have an idea what an exit interview is, but what about all the employment details that must be considered when an employee separates from the company? Employment verification? Do they owe us any monies or PTO? Do we owe them any reimbursements? In this episode, Pandy shares a different kind of exit form that guides those "final" conversations through details that shouldn't be overlooked or forgotten.

In the realm of HR, the words 'furlough' and 'laid off' are desperately avoided, but when the time comes, do you know which to use and how to implement these processes? In this episode, Pandy discusses the differences of each and what companies need to consider before making such hard announcements.

The EEOC has announced its intention to switch gears and focus on anti-discrimination protections to include portions of the PWFA final rules and employment laws against illegal preference of non-American workers over American workers under Title VI. In this episode Pandy talks about these directives as well as the guidance on Anti-Arab, Anti-Muslim and Antisemitic discrimination involving social media and workplace behaviors.

What do you know? As an HR representative, what are your strengths and opportunities? How can you be confident of your expertise if you haven't assessed your knowledge? It takes more then a certification or degree to be an HR expert in today's world. Pandy talks about the importance of assessing your skills or the skills of your HR representative to protect and eliminate risks to the company. Since change is an everyday affair, Pandy offers an HR assessment to identify the skills and competencies needed to be an HR leader of the organization.

Scott Warrick returns to discuss the importance of a culture based on safety and tolerance. Employers can't tell employees to accept each other but you can require that everyone be tolerant, assuring that all employees have a safe and secure workplace. Listen as Scott and Pandy discuss what companies need to consider to create this positive work environment for all.

Change in Human Resources has never been so apparent as the major shift away from diversity, equity and inclusion programs in the workplace. What can companies do to maintain a balanced workforce? Scott Warrick is in the studio talking about the dangers of using DEI in employment decisions and what your alternatives should be.