Employers will be happy to know that (at least for now!) a federal judge in Texas has blocked the overtime rule passed by President Obama that would have required employers to raise salaries or convert many exempt employees to non-exempt status. The Texas judge has issued a nationwide preliminary injunction, essentially halting the rule until a decision is made. As a refresher, this is the overtime rule that raises the salary test for Administrative, Executive, and Professional employees to qualify for exemption from overtime pay under federal law to $913.00 per week or $47,476.00 per year. The preliminary injunction [...]

As we have seen a shift in many businesses from a promotional system based on seniority (aka you’ve been here 20 years so you now become a manager…even though you have zero leadership skills or training on how to actually manager people) to one based on merit (aka you’ve done well at your current position and show the ability to lead a team, so we are making you assistant manager of your department). But how does this affect the multi-generational workforce when a 25-year-old employee who’s been with your company for less than a year is now managing a staff [...]

  Restroom Facilities: Requires restroom facilities with one toilet and/or urinal and one sink, with a door that the user can lock from the inside to be designated as an all gender toilet facility. (AB 1732) Minimum Wage: As of January 1, 2017 employers with 26 or more employees will be required to pay at least $10.50 per hour. (SB 3) OSHA Reporting: The new rule (effective January 1, 2017) requires certain employers to electronically submit injury and illness data that they are already required to input on their OSHA on-site forms. […]

“Throughout our careers, we are taught to conform — to the status quo, to the opinions and behaviors of others, and to information that supports our views. The pressure only grows as we climb the organizational ladder.” – Francesca Gino, Harvard Business Review Conformity. It’s a word that incites feelings in most of us…good or bad, happy or sad. For some of those millennials you may have seen rioting after the election results came in, conformity is not something that they take lightly. Each generation views rules and regulations a bit differently, and I think this election really brought out [...]

“When you step outside of your comfort zone, you are stepping into your greatness.” How true has it been in your experience that if you push yourself one step further, nudge one toe outside the box of comfort and safety that you’ve created yourself, that you see big things happening? Stretching just a little further away from your routine can often lead to new challenges but also can result in huge success, conquering of obstacles, making moves, and doing big things! Stepping outside of your comfort zone allows you to take on new challenges, confront those tough or awkward situations, [...]