impactHR Senior Consultant, Karen Walsh recently graduated from Leadership Howard County, MD’s (LHC) 2015 Premier Class. LHC builds two classes each of year comprised of senior-level leaders and professionals under 40. Participants immerse themselves in community programs and work in small learning groups to study policy issues affecting Howard County citizens. Through these active projects, participants enhance their leadership insights and learn how to effect real change. “We couldn’t be more proud of Karen for her graduation from Leadership Howard County,” said Kelly Mitchell, Principal of impactHR, LLC. “Karen brings the same high level of devotion to our company’s clients and their human resources needs that she brings to our community. She’ll be an outstanding member of LHC’s 2015 class as well as a key leader for our county and its future.” Walsh has more than 20 years of experience as an HR professional and consultant, specializing in HR compliance, compensation, employee relations, benefits, training, recruiting, on-boarding and off-boarding. Learn more
impactAlert: Comment Period for Proposed Overtime Rule Ends Sep. 4
The public comment period ends September 4, 2015 for the Obama administration’s recently proposed rule changing eligibility for overtime pay. Under the proposal couched within the Fair Labor Standards Act, salaried workers making up to $50,400 would be eligible for overtime pay – up from the current level of $23,660. Once the comment period ends, the Obama administration can proceed to implement the rule without Congressional action. Labor law experts expect the final rule to be implemented in the first half of 2016, according to a Los Angeles Times report. Learn more
Thank You for Visiting Us at CRTC’s BBQ on the Bay Tech Exp
The impactHR team attended this year’s Chesapeake Regional Technology Center’s “BBQ on the Bay Tech Expo” as Silver Sponsors. Kelly Mitchell, Principal at impactHR, (pictured with her client, Nabil Sheikh, General Manager with OmegaCor Technologies) and her team networked with clients, friends and made new connections, talking about how impactHR helps small and midsize organizations improve their business performance through effective management of people, processes and technology. Learn more
Making an impact: Helping Organizations Stay in Compliance
A midsize company recently received a Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) request from one of its employees. The company’s executives hadn’t received a FMLA request before and quickly realized they didn’t have ready access to the forms needed to begin the processing their employee’s claim. More than the issue of forms, company officials didn’t know whether they were even obligated to provide FLMA benefits based on the law’s eligibility requirements. This company contacted Karen Walsh, Senior Consultant at impactHR, to get immediate assistance in understanding how to address the employee’s claim properly and in a timely manner. “This kind of situation is where we can make a big impact for our clients,” says Karen. “In this case, we do the in-depth research and find out how the company may be affected. And, if so, we make sure they have what they need to address their employee’s claim. We work to make sure they do the right thing and stay in compliance.” The FMLA, which became law in 1993, provides certain employees with “up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year,” according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Learn more
impactAlert: EEOC Rules Federal Law Bans Workplace Discrimination against LGBT Workers
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ruled in a 3-2 vote last Thursday that existing federal law bans discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals in the workplace. The EEOC’s action pertains to a complaint made by a U.S. air traffic controller who claimed he was denied a promotion based on his sexual orientation. The EEOC’s move, however, is considered not binding on courts hearing anti-gay workplace discrimination cases. In addition, the federal government and 28 states currently have yet to pass legislation granting workplace discrimination protection to LGBT individuals. Learn more
Move by India to Lure Emigre Technology Workers Back Home May Affect Balto-DC Area
A new policy initiative by the Indian Government may impact the Baltimore-Washington region’s ability to access more high-skilled technology workers immigrating from India. According to the Kauffman Foundation, India is putting into place new policies designed to attract back to India (and then retain) many of its high-skilled technology workers who’ve succeeded in the U.S. as entrepreneurs. Between 2006 and 2012, India represented more than 1/3 of all immigrants who started entrepreneurial-growth companies in the U.S. (the most among all countries with immigrant entrepreneurs in the U.S.). Learn more