News & Insights

What do you see as you look around a typical office?   Once you get past the coffee cups, computer monitors, and creatively designed (or not so creatively designed) desks, it’s about the people.   Diversity in the workplace has increased substantially within the last 10-15 years. There is a wealth of information out there about diversity...

Last week I received a rather unusual call from a good friend who is a VP of HR at a well-known company outside of Atlanta.  It seems that Sheryl (not her real name) had been the recipient of an email from an employee in another department.  This employee’s email contained info on someone else at...

When was the last time you saw a headline on Google News announcing yet another executive scandal? It happens almost daily, right? Our media is plagued with accounts of corporate fraud, audit scandals, and inter-office indignity. How can we, as HR, employment law and talent management professionals avoid the selection of leaders who dive off...

A.             Definition of Family Medical Leave Family Medical Leave (FML) is a benefit that eligible/covered employers are required to offer to all eligible employees.  FML was created by the Department of Labor (DOL) through the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993 (often referred to as “FMLA”). THE PURPOSE OF FML Family Medical Leave was designed...

    Employer Benefits Compliance – October 15th Deadline Medicare D Creditable Coverage Notification If you are an employer who provides prescription drug coverage as part of your benefit package, you are required under the Medicare Modernization Act to annually disclose to your Medicare-eligible population whether the pharmacy plan is “creditable” or “non-creditable”.  “Creditable” means...

This article was originally published in the June 29-July 5, 2012 edition of the Atlanta Business Chronicle.  It is republished with the permission of the author. Like most adages or clichés, “lonely at the top” rings true most of the time.  Whether you own your business, are a CEO, or the head of your department,...

I recently had lunch with a friend who is happily expecting her first child. While this is certainly an exciting time for her and her husband, she couldn’t help but be anxious about her company’s attitude concerning her pregnancy and the new arrival. Specifically, when she asked the company’s HR Manager about her options for...

Conflict comes in all sizes and shapes.  It can be both constructive and destructive, productive and unproductive.  But one thing is certain:  where there are people, there is the potential for disagreements, disputes and interpersonal flare-ups that can undermine the health and well-being of any environment. Being aware of the different types of conflict and...

Research confirms what HR Professionals already knew:  employees that are in the divorce process are often less productive, stressed, and more prone to distractions and increased absenteeism. A recent study by Integrated Organizational Development estimated the cost per worker going through a divorce at about $8,300, an amount that not only quantifies the decrease in...

Tips for Choosing the Right Business Attorney by Mitesh J. Patel, Principal, MJ Patel Law Group How much time and effort do you put into hiring a new employee? Between writing the job description, reviewing resumes, interviewing candidates and discussing your options internally, it adds up to quite a bit of time, right? So how...

Does My Company Really Need a Logo? When most business people are asked, “What is branding?” they are quick to answer, “a logo.” And they are partially correct; a strong logo should be the foundation of your brand. But it’s so much more too. Ultimately, your brand is your promise to your customers and clients...