On April 29, 2024, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released updated guidance on harassment in the workplace, marking the first significant update in over two decades. Titled “Enforcement Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace,” this new guidance integrates feedback from nearly 40,000 public comments and reflects the latest legal standards and best practices …
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The DC and Maryland legislatures have introduced significant employment law changes. Learn more about the updates below, and contact us with any questions or need for support. District of Columbia Expanded Wage Transparency Laws Starting June 30, 2024, DC wage transparency laws will expand upon its current regulations to cover: Companies are required to display …
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The following HR compliance updates may impact your policies or operations. ____________________________________________________________________________ FTC BANS MOST NEW NONCOMPETE AGREEMENTS NATIONWIDE The Federal Trade Commission has approved a final rule banning most new non compete clauses in employment contracts. The rule makes all existing noncompete agreements, except those covering senior executives and not-for-profit entities, unenforceable. Our team …
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Cultivating a safe and inclusive work environment for LGBTQIA+ employees is critical for fostering a sense of psychological safety – an essential ingredient for high-performing teams. Managers and leaders play a pivotal role in ensuring that LGBTQIA+ employees feel valued and respected. Here are a few tips from the Officium team on how you can …
In the fast-evolving landscape of recruitment, traditional hiring practices are increasingly being recognized as outdated and ineffective. With global unemployment projected to reach 208 million, despite a vast pool of job seekers, it’s obvious that a new approach is needed. This is where skills-based hiring comes in. Skills-based hiring, also known as a skills-first approach, …
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Establishing a diverse workforce isn’t only an ethical choice, but a good business decision, as research has consistently shown that diverse teams regularly outperform homogeneous workforces when it comes to problem-solving and decision-making. While there are many perks to cultivating a diverse team, one main finding is that diversity of thought fosters creativity and innovation, …
A glimmer of hope is emerging for individuals with backgrounds through the introduction of clean slate laws. With nearly 100 million individuals in the U.S. living with various forms of records, predominantly stemming from minor infractions like arrests and nonviolent misdemeanors, the need for reform is long overdue. The two laws that are leading the …
In the age of social media activism, it’s easy to forget that publicizing our political beliefs can have serious consequences, particularly in the workplace. Technically, there’s no federal law protecting employees from political discrimination. In fact, in most states, you can legally be terminated if your employer doesn’t agree with your political beliefs. When it …
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Post-pandemic, 74% of U.S. companies have opted to incorporate hybrid workplace models. This modern landscape isn’t one-size-fits-all, and is instead, company-specific and promotes a human-centric approach that’s focused on flexibility, collaboration, autonomy and empathetic leadership. Studies show that hybrid schedules also address the shortcomings of remote work experienced during the pandemic such as trouble managing …
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