The last time I wrote about mileage reimbursement was March 2022. The war in Ukraine had just broken out, and employees were just starting to return to in office work. Gas prices were up, and people were back on the road. The IRS mileage reimbursement rate was 58.5 cents. And here we are in late…
Category: Best HR Practices
Controlling Worker’s Compensation Claims and Costs – A Refresh
An informed discussion about controlling the costs of worker’s compensation insurance begs a bit of background about the workers’ compensation framework. This may be old news for some of you, but it bears repeating because the context here is everything. How Does Workers’ Compensation Insurance Work? The workers’ compensation system is a compromise. It is…
Employers’ Obligations Increase Along with the Temperature
I received the alert below from the Department of Industrial Relations, and it seemed a good time to address the issue of heat regulations for employers. This alert was for last week, but this coming week will be even hotter. California has several laws that address the obligations of employers for both indoor and…
Managing Employees in an AI Driven World
As many of you may recall, I started off my last piece on this issue in November 2025 by asking ChatGPT to answer the question – how is AI impacting the workplace? I didn’t ask it that same question today, but I suspect it would give me a similar but slightly different answer. That’s because…
The Importance of Transparency in the Workplace
Transparency is one of three words I consider key in the world of employment. The other two are “respect” and “documentation.” Notice I don’t include “fairness.” Being fair is inherently subjective. Fairness varies on your perspective, and your definition will differ greatly from that of your employees, or your kids, for that matter. Who hasn’t…
The Controversy Surrounding Workplace Surveillance Software
I was perusing social media this morning (while it was still dark out), and I happened on an article discussing “Bossware.” The term is being applied to workplace surveillance software, which is software that tracks employee keystrokes, monitors internet usage, and even takes random screenshots throughout the day. This software isn’t new, but it’s gained…
Revisiting Attendance Issues – Leaves of Absence, Reasonable Accommodations, and Paid Sick Leave
Managing employee absences is one of the trickiest topics under the human resources umbrella. While we say in our employee handbook that regular attendance is an essential function of the job, the day-to-day task of handling employee absenteeism, and juggling the myriad of related legal issues, becomes a nuanced dance through a minefield. These machinations…
New Year’s Resolutions for 2026
Before we break for the year, I wanted to pass along a wee bit of wisdom I have gleaned from some of my cases in 2025. After all, that is in part why I do these Briefings – to share the lessons I learn from the cases and situations I handle. It feels like the…
The Impact of AI in the Workplace
I started this article by asking Chat GPT to analyze the impact of AI in the workplace. Here is what it created for me, in under a minute. 1. Skill Gaps & Workforce Reskilling AI is changing job requirements faster than many employees can adapt.HR challenge: 2. Ethical Use of AI in Hiring AI-powered recruiting…
Definition of “Uniform” Tested with Starbucks’ New Lawsuit
Last week, Starbucks employees from California, Colorado, and Illinois launched legal actions claiming their employer refused to reimburse them for required shoes and clothing under the Starbucks newly published dress code. Workers complain that despite being paid only minimum wage, the coffee giant is requiring them to use their personal money to purchase…