Southwest Airlines has been in the news a lot lately. From changing their “bags fly free” policy to assigned seating and new board procedures, there have been a lot of noteworthy things to discuss. With all of that attention, it would be easy to overlook recent litigation involving Southwest’s military leave policies. In late 2025, […]
In some companies, the standard work week of 5 days and 40 hours has gone the way of the dinosaur. As technology and current events continue to evolve, the workplace is affected in a myriad of ways. During the Great Recession, around 2009, companies started to learn just how lean they could be and still […]
Any employer familiar with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (“Title VII”) is aware that religion is a protected class and characteristic under the law. Under Title VII, an employee with a sincerely held religious belief can request a religious accommodation in the workplace. A new Second Circuit Court of Appeals case provides helpful […]
In December 2025, a federal jury in Colorado issued a verdict that sent shockwaves through the human resources world. The Society for Human Resource Management, commonly known as SHRM, was found liable for racial discrimination and retaliation and ordered to pay approximately 11.5 million dollars to a former employee. The damages included both compensatory and […]
On December 18th, President Trump signed an executive order directing the Attorney General to take the necessary steps to expedite the rescheduling of marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act. This was a process that had started under the Biden Administration but had not been completed when he left office in January. The intent and purpose […]
A new case recently decided by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals (Eighth Circuit) in November of this year once again highlights the importance of having clear dress code policies. In Home Depot U.S.A. v. NLRB, the Eighth Circuit reaffirmed the right of employers to prohibit employees, especially those in customer-facing roles, from wearing politically-focused […]
If you are in human resources, an owner/operator, or a manager of some kind, your employees will likely need a performance management conversation at some point. Most companies have a progressive discipline policy, or a process that guides them in addressing performance issues when they arise. Unfortunately, many companies don’t follow their own policies. This […]
Over 100 Participants Across 18 Industries We would like to thank all of the businesses that participated in the survey this year. Over 100 employers from across the state provided valuable data on key aspects of their workplace, including turnover rates, drug and alcohol testing policies, leave of absence offerings, recruitment strategies, and much more. […]
A frequent call we receive from members here at NAE involves the topic of direct threat under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These situations usually arise because an employer has a concern that an employee with a disability may pose a safety risk to themselves or others. Employers will reach out for guidance on […]
A Question I Didn’t Expect Now and then, an interview gives you a story you know you’ll be telling for years. While I have heard a lot during interviews, a question I was asked during a recent interview took me a little bit by surprise. It was unexpected for sure, but very telling of the […]
