Five ways pay transparency laws will reshape your HR practices

HR Party of One March 7, 2024

• Posting a fake-wide salary range is a legal and reputational risk
• Workers in several states can now demand pay data before accepting promotions
• Third-party recruiters must follow the same transparency rules you do

ERISA Summary Plan Description Requirements for HR Professionals

HR Party of One March 5, 2024

• Any employer offering benefits must comply with ERISA regardless of size.
• New enrollees must receive a plain-language SPD within 90 days.
• Material benefit reductions require an SMM distributed within 60 days.

When HR learns things it didn't mean to: act or not to act

HR Party of One February 22, 2024

• HR professionals must distinguish between harmless oversharing and disclosures that create real legal or operational risk for the organisation.
• Three scenarios illustrate the framework: old personal misbehaviour warrants no action; a misleading PTO claim requires no action but prompts a policy review; a repeat DUI by a company-car driver demands immediate investigation and likely termination.
• Clear, signed policies — employee handbooks, culture guides, and explicit PTO rules — are the foundation that converts uncomfortable discoveries into defensible HR decisions.

What job abandonment is and how to prevent it

HR Party of One February 20, 2024

• Ghosting a job can expose both employee and employer to legal liability
• Weak onboarding and poor management are the top predictors of abandonment
• Seven concrete steps to detect and prevent abandonment before it happens

Workplace relationship policies: what to include and how to build one

HR Party of One February 8, 2024

• Banning office dating drives relationships underground, not away
• Supervisor–direct report relationships need disclosure and possible reassignment
• A 7-step process for drafting and rolling out a relationship policy

USERRA explained: what HR needs to know about military leave

HR Party of One February 6, 2024

• USERRA covers all employers, regardless of size or location.
• Protections start at the application stage, not just on hire.
• Plan proactively for leave and return — notice may never come.

What Key Dates in February Does HR Need to Know?

HR Party of One January 30, 2024

What OSHA is, why it exists, and what employers must do

HR Party of One January 25, 2024

• OSHA was born from disasters that killed hundreds of workers
• Every employer must meet minimum safety standards — or face criminal charges
• Three specific forms determine whether you're legally recordkeeping injuries

US Workplace Posters: What Employers Must Display and Why

HR Party of One January 23, 2024

• Six federal posters are mandatory for every US employer.
• State, city, and county requirements add extra obligations.
• Non-compliance fines reach up to $17,000 total.

The Right Way to Extend a Job Offer

HR Party of One January 18, 2024

• Secure a verbal yes before the formal offer is made.
• Leverage shifts to the candidate the moment an offer is extended.
• Never use email — live conversation prevents pre-offer negotiation.

Understanding employee burnout: causes, signs, and prevention

HR Party of One January 16, 2024

• Burnout is an organisational problem, not a personal failing
• Micromanagement and lack of purpose are underrated burnout drivers
• Leaders must enforce work-life balance, not just endorse it

Top 1095-C Mistakes Employers Make and How to Prevent Them

HR Party of One January 11, 2024

• Two root causes drive nearly all 1095-C errors: missing forms and IRS data mismatches
• ALEs must cover 95% of full-time staff or face penalties up to $950k for 350 employees
• Onboarding checklists, quarterly reminders, and an HRAS prevent the most common mistakes

What employee rust-out is and how to prevent it

HR Party of One January 9, 2024

• Boredom and under-stimulation are as damaging as overwork
• Pre-rust-out signals are easy to miss — and fixable
• Career pathing and upskilling turn disengagement into growth

How HR professionals can prevent burnout in themselves

HR Party of One January 4, 2024

• 98% of HR pros are burnt out — including you
• Intervene at the warning stage, not after collapse
• PTO, boundaries, and daily grounding habits prevent burnout

HR Party of One: top five episodes of 2023

HR Party of One December 28, 2023

• Knowing what is not your job protects HR from liability.
• AI literacy is now a baseline competency for HR professionals.
• Your brand is how others perceive you, not how you see yourself.