SHRM Blog

I ask the question because HR professionals can typically see what’s not working within companies, but they can’t always see what’s wrong with HR itself. HR professionals can also be guilty of having the same outdated thoughts and behaviors that we accuse employees and managers of having. Do we empathize with employee situations? Are we truly open-minded and do we listen to everyone, not just the people we think need to be heard? When was the last time an employee came to HR and said, “I need to talk about an accommodation,”...

As an HR Knowledge Advisor, I speak with many members who are preparing to hire for the upcoming holiday season. A popular question I am asked is whether an employer can ask applicants if they have been vaccinated against COVID-19. The answer is yes. However, hiring managers and HR professionals should instruct applicants not to offer any information about why they may not have received the vaccine.

Employers may also require COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment. Employers that require vaccinations for their employees should be explicit about...

With vaccine effectiveness against the Delta variant dropping to 39%, it is absurd to pursue a normal office return. Make no mistake about the danger: the Delta surge is forecast to grow much worse in the next few months. Indeed, the CDC is considering asking vaccinated people to wear masks and moving toward recommending booster shots.

Yet many large companies and mid-size firms, along with the federal government, are forcing employees who successfully worked from home during the height of the pandemic to return to the office. Over a third have already returned and most of the rest are slated...

We've all been bombarded by the forthcoming Great Resignation since the COVID-19 shutdown. The sentiment is that companies need to adapt to the requirements of the evolving workforce to keep the lights on (in the office to which no one is going). A recent Harris poll determined that 66% of Americans are interested in switching jobs. Along with this rhetoric comes the call for organizations to allow flexible work, adapt a new tech stack, and change management styles. There's only one problem..... no one is quitting their corporate job....