HR compliance

Minnesota ESST Rules part 2: Step-by-Step Guide to the 2026 MNDOLI Rules

Minnesota ESST Rules part 2: Step-by-Step Guide to the 2026 MNDOLI Rules

Employer Liability, Labor Law, Minnesota Employment Law

Minnesota employers: the Department of Labor and Industry’s new Earned Sick and Safe Time rules are now in effect (as of July 6, 2026). These rules bring needed clarity on accrual years, eligibility determinations, documentation, incentives, and how ESST interacts with other leave policies. Below is a practical, step-by-step compliance manual distilled from the adopted

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Remote Work as an ADA Accommodation: What Recent Court Decisions Mean for Employers

Remote Work as an ADA Accommodation: What Recent Court Decisions Mean for Employers

Employer Liability, Employment Law, HR Compliance, Labor Law

As employers continue recalibrating return-to-office expectations in the years after the COVID-19 pandemic, many are facing a steady stream of requests for full-time remote work as a disability accommodation under the ADA. Recent federal appellate decisions offer important guidance. Courts continue to treat these requests as highly fact-specific inquiries centered on the essential functions of

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The Hidden Risks of an Outdated Employee Handbook (And How to Fix It)

The Hidden Risks of an Outdated Employee Handbook (And How to Fix It)

Employment Law, HR Compliance, Workplace Policies

Does your company’s employee handbook prohibit the use of Walkmans in the workplace? Does your document retention policy mention floppy disks? Does your dress code policy refer to “clam diggers” and “pedal pushers?” Does your handbook look like it was created by Dr. Frankenstein with bits and pieces from many other policies and handbooks from

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FLSA Reclassification: 5 Steps to Move from Exempt to Non-Exempt Compliance

FLSA Reclassification: 5 Steps to Move from Exempt to Non-Exempt Compliance

Employment Law, Labor Law, Minnesota Employment Law

In the first installment on FLSA classifications we suggested that employers perform an internal audit to assess compliance with FLSA and state law exemptions from overtime. In this post, we review a key strategic tool to address the misclassifications. Reclassification from exempt to non-exempt is a key compliance step under the FLSA. When done proactively,

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AI Hiring Tools: New State Laws, Federal Risks & Compliance Strategies for Employers

AI Hiring Tools: New State Laws, Federal Risks & Compliance Strategies for Employers

Artificial Intelligence, Employment Law, Hiring

Employers are increasingly integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into the hiring process, deploying AI hiring tools across multiple stages of the employment funnel, including to manage application volume. Common AI hiring tools include: (1) passive recruiting technology to identify qualified candidates and invite them to apply to open positions; (2) resume scanners to rank or otherwise

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Employer Liability for Third-Party Harassment Under Federal and State Law

Employer Liability for Third-Party Harassment Under Federal and State Law

Employment Law, Workplace Conflict, Workplace Harassment, Workplace Safety

Third-party harassment occurs when an employee faces discrimination or a hostile work environment caused by non-employees like clients or vendors. Employers have a legal duty of care to protect staff from such conduct under federal and most state laws.  Discover how to identify signs of harassment and the strategic steps employees should take to protect

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Beyond Policy: Why Ongoing Workplace Behavior Training Matters

Beyond Policy: Why Ongoing Workplace Behavior Training Matters

Employee Performance, HR Services, Workplace Conflict

Responsible employers have long known that having comprehensive workplace behavior policies are essential but not nearly enough. Even organizations with well‑established policies can find themselves exposed if they can’t demonstrate that they are continually reinforcing standards, assessing risks, and equipping workers to identify and prevent harmful conduct. Employers are facing an increasingly complex compliance landscape

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Navigating Political Expression in the Workplace: Legal Risks and Best Practices

Navigating Political Expression in the Workplace: Legal Risks and Best Practices

Employment Law, Labor Law, Minnesota Employment Law

This past year employers in the United States have seen an increase in workplace political discourse as they try to balance offering freedom of expression, avoiding workplace division, and complying with state and federal laws. This guide highlights the laws that could be implicated with workplace political speech, and offers tips on minimizing liability. Laws

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What the DOJ's Challenge to Minnesota's Affirmative Action Means for Workplace DEI

What the DOJ’s Challenge to Minnesota’s Affirmative Action Means for Workplace DEI

Employer Liability, Employment Law, Hiring, Minnesota Employment Law

The U.S. Department of Justice’s January 14, 2026 lawsuit against the State of Minnesota continues the evolving relationship between civil rights law and workplace DEI efforts. Filed under Title VII, the complaint challenges Minnesota’s long‑standing affirmative action framework for state employment—arguing that the state’s use of race‑ and sex‑conscious hiring goals, demographic availability analyses, and

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Strategic Crisis Communications: 5 Tips to Avoid Legal Pitfalls and Protect Your Organization

Strategic Crisis Communications: 5 Tips to Avoid Legal Pitfalls and Protect Your Organization

Minnesota Employment Law, Workplace Conflict

In the wake of any crisis, stress and tensions run high. As a result, employers may be inclined to communicate prematurely, over- or under-communicate, or otherwise communicate without thinking about the potential legal repercussions that could follow (for example, regulatory scrutiny, shareholder lawsuits, employee lawsuits, etc.). To avoid a misstep that might compound a crisis,

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