Form I-9 and E-Verify play a critical role in today’s hiring process. In this HR Chat, Rob and Jason explain what E-Verify is, when employers are required to use it, and how it fits into employment eligibility verification—along with practical tips to avoid common pitfalls.
Contact hr@employco.com for guidance on I-9 compliance and E-Verify.
Schedule a 15-minute call with Griffen Wilson for more information on our services.
2026 State Overtime Salary Levels – Under federal and state laws, employers must compensate their employees with 1.5 times their regular rate of pay for any hours of overtime work. However, under these laws, employees who work in an executive, administrative, or professional (EAP) capacity are exempt from overtime pay if they satisfy, among other things, the salary level requirements for their exemption. Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the current salary level requirement for the EAP exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year) on a salary or fee basis (with an exception for highly compensated employees). While these salary levels apply in most U.S. jurisdictions, some states have adopted EAP salary levels higher than the ones required by the FLSA. These states are Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, New York, and Washington.
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The federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides eligible employees up to 12 workweeks of unpaid, job-protected leave a year for certain family and medical reasons, including being unable to work due to the employee’s serious health condition. When an employee’s FMLA leave entitlement expires, the employee may be unable to return to work because of the continuation of their serious health condition.
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Understanding the latest employee benefits trends can help organizations plan ahead and offer a benefits package that meets the evolving needs of workers. Here are five trends shaping benefits in 2026:
Winter presents both attraction and retention challenges as well as unique opportunities for employers. For some industries, recruiting often slows during the winter months—especially after the winter holidays. However, winter is also when many job candidates are making plans for the coming year, which may include searching for new jobs and opportunities. Simultaneously, many employers struggle to keep employees engaged during winter.
Continue readingIn this month’s HR podcast, Rob, Scott, and Jason discuss how hybrid work is evolving and why now is a good time for employers to review their policies and programs for 2026. They highlight Gallup findings showing that hybrid work remains common, even as many large employers push for a full five-day return to the office.
The team highlights key considerations for organizations—such as evaluating which roles are suited for hybrid work, maintaining a strong workplace culture, using tools like desk-scheduling or collaboration hubs, and ensuring policies are applied consistently and fairly across the workforce.
If you’d like help reviewing your hybrid work program or developing a formal policy, contact hr@employco.com.
As the year wraps up, many workplaces navigate a wide range of religious holidays and employee requests for time off. In this HR Chat, Rob and Jason discuss how employers can approach religious accommodation requests, what the interactive process should look like, and how to offer practical options such as PTO, unpaid time, or floating holidays while still meeting business needs.
Contact hr@employco.com for support in managing accommodation requests with confidence.
Schedule a 15-minute call with Griffen Wilson for more information on our services.
With health insurance renewals reaching some of the highest increases in over a decade, many employers are turning to creative strategies to manage rising costs, including working-spouse surcharges, carve-outs, and incentive programs.
In this HR Chat, Rob and Jason break down how these approaches work and what employers should consider when evaluating spousal coverage options.
Contact hr@employco.com to learn how your company can navigate rising health care costs and keep benefits competitive in 2026.
Schedule a 15-minute call with Griffen Wilson for more information on our services.
2026 Minimum Wage Rates by State – The minimum wage rate is expected to change in 2026 in about half of the states in the U.S. Our HR Compliance Overview provides a summary of the upcoming changes.
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