Choosing the Right Workforce Management Software: 8 Priorities for HR Leaders
A recent Capterra report shows HR software ranks third among B2B categories for buyer’s remorse, with 62% of purchasers incurring major financial loss. Workforce management (WFM) systems are especially vulnerable, as poor fit disrupts scheduling, payroll accuracy, and compliance audits. The article outlines eight priority criteria—core functionality, integration, user experience, compliance, scalability, analytics, implementation, and pricing—to guide HR leaders in selecting a solution that aligns with operational needs. It also provides a practical evaluation scorecard and negotiation tips to secure favorable contract terms.
Impacts of Nutrition and Exercise: 2 Ways to Improve Employee Mental Health
Companies are expanding mental‑health benefits by adding nutrition and exercise components, recognizing that psychological wellness drives engagement and cuts disability costs. Research shows vitamin D, omega‑3s and anti‑inflammatory diets lower depression and anxiety risk, while gut‑derived serotonin further links diet...
$30K FMLA Retaliation Case: DOL Finds Worker Was Forced Out
The U.S. Department of Labor ruled that the University of Tennessee violated the Family and Medical Leave Act by forcing an employee on approved intermittent leave to resign, rather than terminating them outright. The university also failed to provide the...
Expanded HSA Eligibility Creates Need for Employee Education: 4 Critical Tips
Recent legislation expands Health Savings Account eligibility to bronze and silver Affordable Care Act plans, opening HSA participation to a broader employee base. Employers can now tap this tax‑advantaged tool to help workers manage current medical costs and build retirement...
Microbreaks: 1 Fast Tactic to Cut Stress, Boost Productivity | 2-Minute Video
HRMorning’s 3‑Point episode spotlights microbreaks—brief 30‑second to two‑minute pauses that reset the nervous system. Co‑CEO Jen Lee of Intradiem explains how deep‑breathing microbreaks interrupt stress accumulation and improve focus. She models the practice by starting meetings with a quick reset...
Missed Payroll: Construction Company Ordered to Pay $468K in DOL Action
A Newport Beach contractor, SCA General Contracting Inc., was hit with a $468,505 consent judgment after the Department of Labor found it failed to pay 137 construction workers between November 2024 and November 2025. The violations included missed payroll, unpaid...
HR’s Critical Role in Building Organizational Resilience
HR is emerging as a strategic driver of organizational resilience amid ongoing VUCA conditions. By establishing a baseline with an 11‑question resilience survey, leaders can identify gaps and target development. The article highlights five personal resilience factors—self‑efficacy, optimism, sense of...
Stop These 6 Communication Habits That Drive Co-Workers Crazy
Modern workplaces rely heavily on digital communication, but common habits still irritate colleagues. A recent survey cited by NYU psychologist Tessa West highlights that nearly 90% of employees find email miscommunication problematic, while other habits—such as misleading instant‑messaging status, surprise...
What It Actually Takes to Get Global Workforce Management Right
Global workforce management demands integration, not just geographic distribution, to turn remote headcount into a cohesive organization. Companies must design clear functional ownership, standardized onboarding, and asynchronous workflows that treat time zones as coverage assets. Consistent culture across regions requires...
How to Make HR-PEO Partnerships Succeed
Economic uncertainty and rising healthcare costs are pushing mid‑size firms toward Professional Employer Organizations, with 87% of non‑PEO users now considering a partnership. More than 230,000 U.S. businesses—about 15% of employers with 10 to 499 employees—already rely on PEOs. Experts...
7 Strategies to Communicate with Ease and Power
The article presents seven proven techniques for communicating with ease and power, ranging from assertive speech and conscious listening to eliminating clichés and jargon. It stresses that strong communicators become better leaders, collaborators, and negotiators. Each tactic is tied to...
Leadership 2.0: 9 New Ways to Harness the Power of AI
Artificial intelligence is reshaping executive leadership through nine practical applications, from data‑driven decision‑making to predictive scenario planning. AI tools such as analytics dashboards, chatbots, and sentiment‑analysis engines give leaders real‑time insights and automate routine tasks. The shift enables managers to...
CA Update: Minimum Wage Increases for Hotel Employees
California’s major hospitality markets are set to raise minimum wages for hotel staff starting July 1, 2026. Long Beach will climb to $29.50 per hour by 2028, while Los Angeles adds an $8.15 hourly health benefit, pushing total compensation to...
9 Unnerving Things You Never Want to Say at Work
The article lists nine common manager phrases that unintentionally spike employee anxiety, from “We have to talk” to “Let me be honest.” It explains how each phrase can erode well‑being, morale, and productivity, citing a UKG study that 70% of...
Something’s Wrong With Hiring, and It’s Not AI: 2 Reasons Buried in the Data
BambooHR’s five‑year analysis of 72 million applications reveals a hiring slowdown unrelated to AI. Applicants per posting nearly doubled from 45 in 2021 to 95 in 2025, yet completed hires fell 20% to 1.05 million and the hiring rate dropped from 4.5%...
A Routine Data Update Triggered a $1.4M Payroll Overpayment
Mid‑March 2026, a routine spreadsheet upload to the City of Austin’s Workday payroll system left the exemption‑status field blank for hundreds of staff. The blank field caused the system to treat many employees as non‑exempt, resulting in overtime calculations that...
The Rise of Supermanagers: 7 Negative Impacts and 5 Fixes
The flattening of corporate hierarchies has produced a surge of “supermanagers,” front‑line leaders now overseeing an average of 12.1 employees in 2025, up from 10.9 in 2024, with some managing 20 or more. Gallup and Owl Labs data show that...
Bicycle Company Settlement: Workplace Retaliation Claim Leads to HR Overhaul
Specialized Bicycle Components settled a California civil rights investigation after a former employee alleged retaliation for reporting harassment. The settlement requires the company to hire an external expert, revamp its complaint‑handling policies, upgrade HR technology, train managers, and pay $40,000...
New EEOC Report: Agency Secured $660M for Workers in FY 2025
The EEOC reported a record $660 million in recoveries for workers in FY 2025, with $528 million coming from pre‑litigation efforts and $52.5 million from conciliation. Charge filings rose 3.4% to 91,503, even as calls and emails to the agency fell. The agency achieved...
6 Big Ways Good Communication Will Support Organizational Resilience
Organizational resilience hinges on how quickly a company detects and reacts to change, and communication is the catalyst that makes this possible. Leaders who foster open dialogue, critical thinking, and diverse viewpoints create a workforce that can anticipate threats and...
Engage Your People Through the Great Stability | 2-Minute Video
HRMorning’s 3‑Point video highlights the emerging "Great Stability" trend, where employees prioritize staying with their current employer while still craving engaging, meaningful work. ADP’s research, shared by Divisional VP Tina Wang, reveals that stable pay alone doesn’t guarantee retention; growth...
Stop the Confusion: 4 Keys to Communicate with More Clarity
Managers often drown teams in information, leading to unclear instructions. A FlexOS study finds nearly one‑third of employees say unclear guidance hampers performance, especially in hybrid settings. Experts propose four keys—build substance, keep it simple, create structure, and pace yourself—to...
DOL Recovers $95K for Employees Denied Overtime Pay
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division recovered $95,095 in back wages for 33 nonexempt cooks at an IHOP franchise operating in North and South Carolina. The investigation found the franchise paid straight time for all hours, including...
WNBA Agreement Puts New Spotlight on Pay Disparity: 8 Takeaways for HR
The WNBA’s new collective bargaining agreement raises the salary floor to $270,000 and the ceiling to $1.4 million, a 364% increase and the largest jump in U.S. professional sports. Players will now receive a 20% share of league revenues, while the...
5 Proven Ways HCMs Boost Employee Engagement
According to Aspect43’s 2024 State of HRTech survey, 77% of employers anticipate HR technology will enhance the employee experience. With 38% of U.S. workers planning to seek new jobs in 2026, companies are prioritizing engagement to curb turnover. The article...
10 Most Regrettable Phrases at Work — And How To Rebound From Them
A recent Preply study reveals that nearly 90% of employees have uttered regrettable remarks when stressed, with “I don’t care” topping the list at 36%. Such negative language erodes motivation for two‑thirds of workers and even spills into personal life,...
20 Questions to Ask WFM Vendors (Plus 40 Follow-Ups)
HR and operations leaders are increasingly pressured by shift errors, overtime overruns, and FLSA audit risks that cascade into costly payroll disputes. Selecting the right workforce management (WFM) platform is critical because it dictates how hours are captured, pay rules...
5 Keys to Employee Listening That Drives Real Change
Employee listening programs are proliferating, yet most firms fail to turn feedback into action. While roughly 75% of organizations collect employee input quarterly, only 15% maintain a consistent cycle of listening and follow‑up, and just 25% tie those programs to...
Jury Awards $22.5M Verdict in Pregnancy Accommodation Lawsuit
An Ohio jury held Total Quality Logistics 90% responsible for a wrongful‑death claim after denying a high‑risk pregnant employee’s request to work from home, awarding $22.5 million of a $25 million verdict. The employee, Chelsea Walsh, sought remote work based on doctors’...
No OT Pay Despite Misclassification: Fifth Circuit Upholds Jury Verdict
The Fifth Circuit affirmed a jury verdict that denied overtime pay to Jerry Merritt, a former Texas Farm Bureau agency manager who was misclassified as an independent contractor. The court held that under the Fair Labor Standards Act an employer...
What to Do With Mastermind Time | 2-Minute Video
HRMorning’s 3‑Point episode introduces "Mastermind Time," a peer‑thinking framework championed by Jenna Armato, CEO of Armato & Associates. The method uses a structured facilitator‑led session to surface challenges, decisions or opportunities, applying models such as the Red‑Yellow‑Green traffic‑light system. Participants...
When Full-Time Headcount Isn’t the Answer: How Contract Talent Is Closing Execution Gaps
Organizations are feeling the strain of leaner teams and expanded responsibilities, creating execution gaps that full‑time hiring can’t quickly fill. Role compression overloads top performers and leaves hidden skill gaps. Meanwhile, contract and freelance talent now represents 7.4% of U.S....
Debunk Neurodivergent Myths at Work: 5 Solutions
The article debunks the persistent myth that neurodivergent employees are inherently less productive, arguing that productivity is a function of outcomes, not traditional work habits. It traces the myth to outdated definitions of professionalism that prioritize uniformity over effectiveness. The...
The Rise of AI-Assisted Workplace Complaints: What HR Needs to Know
Employees are increasingly using generative AI to draft internal workplace complaints that resemble formal legal filings. These AI‑assisted grievances cite statutes, include detailed timelines, and sometimes contain fabricated case citations, making them harder for HR to assess and increasing verification...
Zombie Projects: 6 Solutions to a Big Productivity Drain in Your Workplace
A recent Atlassian study shows nearly 45% of employees entered 2026 weighed down by “zombie projects” – stagnant initiatives that consume time, money and morale without delivering value. These dead‑weight projects cause stress for 37% of workers, cut productivity for...
6 Keys to Lead with Authenticity in Today’s Workplace
Authentic leadership has moved from buzzword to business imperative as employees demand genuine connections. It centers on self‑awareness, transparency, and aligning actions with core values, even when choices are difficult. The approach strengthens trust, boosts engagement, and supports long‑term strategic...
8 Strategies for Conflict Management in the Digital Age
The rise of remote work has moved conflict from boardrooms to inboxes, video calls, and chat apps, demanding a digital‑first approach to resolution. Eight tactics are outlined, from crystal‑clear messaging and empathetic listening to selecting the right channel and establishing...
Unpaid Overtime: Employer Pays $293K in Back Wages – Plus $24K Fine
Speedy’s Framing LLC, a residential construction firm in Idaho, was ordered by the U.S. Department of Labor to pay $293,698 in back wages to 56 employees for failing to provide overtime premiums and for not compensating travel time. The Wage...
Stupid Meetings on the Rise Again: 6 Ways to Reel in Unproductive Time
Meeting time has doubled over the past two years, with organizations now holding six times more meetings than before. Research from Hubstaff shows employees average less than three hours of uninterrupted focus daily, while an Otter.ai study estimates $80,000 per...
Flextirement: 5 Keys to Redesign Work to Honor Talent, Experience
Flextirement is a structured job‑sharing model that pairs retiring Baby Boomers with high‑potential caregivers, creating a phased‑retirement mentorship while re‑engaging part‑time talent. The arrangement splits a full‑time role into 15‑25 hour weekly commitments, preserving institutional knowledge and diversifying the leadership...
Wage Theft Settlement: Luxury Car Wash Pays $1.2M
A California luxury car wash, Newport Auto Spa, agreed to a $1.2 million settlement for widespread wage‑theft, reimbursing 23 employees for unpaid wages, overtime, and missed meal and rest breaks. The Labor Commissioner’s investigation revealed employees were forced to stay on‑site...
Build a Strong Culture of Recognition | 2-Minute Video
Recognition drives engagement; Awardco study shows a 40‑point drop without it. HRMorning episode with Laura Shanley explains building a continuous recognition culture across remote, hybrid, and on‑site settings. Simple practices like two‑minute meeting shout‑outs boost well‑being, with recognized employees 2.4×...
How AI Created the ‘Entry-Level Squeeze’ and 3 Solutions to This Talent Crisis
AI’s rapid adoption is eliminating routine tasks, prompting many firms to slash early‑career roles. Avature’s AI Impact Report finds 76% of HR leaders anticipate a sharp drop in entry‑level hiring, creating a structural "entry‑level squeeze." The trend threatens the apprenticeship...
How to Evaluate HR Tech Vendors for Cybersecurity
HR data appears in four out of five cyber breaches, highlighting the sector’s vulnerability. As HR platforms become central to employee information ecosystems, vendor security directly impacts corporate risk. A structured evaluation—starting with data‑flow mapping, compliance verification, and baseline controls—helps...
New Generative AI Court Ruling Puts HR on Notice: What to Know Now
A New York federal judge ruled that generative‑AI documents created by a non‑lawyer and shared with counsel are not protected by attorney‑client privilege, marking the first federal decision on this issue. The case involved former board chair Bradley Heppner, who...
How a Tip Dispute Turned Into a $62K FLSA Payout
A Denver restaurant, Tommy’s Thai, agreed to pay $61,568 in back wages and a $990 civil penalty after the Department of Labor found it kept employee tips and failed to maintain proper payroll records. The investigation, sparked by a tip...
4 Leadership Tricks Managers Get Wrong
Recent research by executive coach Nihar Chhaya identifies four well‑intentioned leadership habits that actually undermine team performance: excessive conformity, overprotecting, an obsessive focus on winning, and treating employees as friends. These behaviors, while meant to help, suppress innovation, limit honest...
Disability Discrimination: Manager’s ‘ADD Brain’ Comments Keep Claim Alive
Geisinger Health Plan terminated case‑manager Amber Motko for chronic performance lapses, but a Third Circuit court refused to dismiss her disability discrimination claim because her supervisor repeatedly referenced her ADD diagnosis, including the phrase “ADD brain.” The court ruled Motko’s...
Black History Month: The Catalyst to Foster More Inclusive Behavior Year Round
Black History Month offers a launchpad for companies to start genuine, year‑round inclusion initiatives. While many firms intensify diversity programming in February, the momentum often dissipates, sending a signal that equity is a seasonal concern. Experts from Peoplism argue that...
FSA Grace Period Closes In: 3 Tips to Help Employees Avoid Forfeitures
The March 15 deadline closes the 2025 Flexible Spending Account (FSA) grace period, the final window for employees to spend remaining tax‑free funds. On average, workers forfeit about $441 each year due to missed deadlines or unclear plan rules. HR...