Let’s Celebrate!: It’s Employee Appreciation Day

In an era where gratitude is paramount, employers have the opportunity to demonstrate their gratitude to their employees on the first Friday of March each year. That’s right, it’s time to celebrate Employee Appreciation Day! There are countless opportunities to incorporate gratitude and appreciation for your workforce into daily life, but recognizing your teams on this particular day, perhaps with something even more meaningful than a “thank you”, will make a difference. So, here’s your call to action CEOs, leaders, and managers: remember to take time to show your workforce how much you genuinely value them – especially on Employee Appreciation Day.

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The Rise of ICE Raids: How to Prepare Your Organization

As employers navigate the new policies of the Trump presidency, many are preparing for the unexpected. With immigration enforcement notably a top priority for the administration, these preparations include the possibility of ICE Raids. ICE, or Immigration & Customs Enforcement conducts these raids when they suspect a business is employing undocumented employees. Flex HR understands the anxiety this possibility can cause. As Flex HR CHRO, Mary Schroeder explains, “The possibility of an ICE raid can be stressful and cause anxiety for employers.  This is why it is important to be prepared with a plan in place and understanding your rights as an employer.  Having a plan will help the employees that are in contact with the ICE agents stay calm and not panic.”  In order to help employers prepare, Flex HR has compiled a list of best practices for managing through an ICE raid.

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Boomers in the Workplace: Addressing the Age Gap While Retaining Valuable Talent

The realization is settling in that there are not enough members of the Gen X, Y and Z generations to replace the coming swell of baby boomers getting ready to leave the workplace and retire.

However, many baby boomers are deciding to work longer, or even choosing to return to work. Thus, employers are coming to recognize that they need to appreciate, engage and communication properly with this key workforce demographic.

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Supporting Your Employees When Tragedy Strikes

While we are only a few short weeks into 2025, there have already been notable tragic events in the US that have many employers asking “how do I handle this?”.  Whether it was the tragedy in New Orleans or the fires in Los Angeles, addressing emotions when tragedy strikes is both difficult and necessary. Flex HR helps you navigate these challenging conversations in a professional and supportive way.

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What’s new in HR?: Anticipating Trends in 2025

The world of HR evolves quickly. Flex HR is monitoring trends that we expect to see in 2025 so you can stay on top of these HR alterations that may continue, change or emerge. Check out our list below to help you prepare for what’s ahead in the New Year!

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Navigating Compliance and Safety State Requirements for Harassment Prevention

Serious issues regarding workplace harassment and violence negatively impact employees, workplace culture, and a company’s bottom line. Several states have mandated workplace training and implemented additional requirements to prevent harassment and foster safe work environments in recent years. In fact, seven states – California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, New York and Washington – have laws requiring employers to provide anti-harassment or sexual harassment prevention training to employees.

Gretchen Groh, Director of Compliance and Implementation at Flex HR, talked to Soup.io about laws companies need to be mindful of to stay compliant in their state of business.

“With additional state and local laws addressing harassment prevention training, companies need to ensure they follow all requirements based on locations of their operations and where employees live,” said Groh, “Determining applicable laws and managing multi-state compliance can be challenging, but non-compliance poses significant risks.”

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The Performance Management Predicament: Which Approach Works Best?

As we conclude 2024, many organizations are simultaneously wrapping up their most recent performance review process, and the discussion of the effectiveness – and value – of performance management has been a popular topic. Some organizations value the reliability and consistency of traditional performance management where a written review provides clear and concise feedback for employees. Other organizations are ditching the old ways of managing performance by eliminating the annual process in favor of more frequent, but less time-intensive feedback loops.

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The DEI Dilemma – How to Handle Changing DEI Policy

In the years since 2020, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies have experienced many challenges and changes. Prompted by the murder of George Floyd in the spring of 2020, many companies found themselves in the middle of a political and moral firestorm – being asked by their employees and customers alike to take a stance on what it means to truly support diversity, equity and inclusion; to show their support for underrepresented communities by developing policy and process around DEI initiatives; to elevate diversity hiring practices and evaluate pay and promotion; to create space for conversation around race and equity. In no uncertain terms, it was a high-exposure time for companies, and many were quick to join the movement. Yet, in today’s political, social, and economic climate, the attitudes around DEI have started to shift, and navigating these changes has posed a dilemma for many employers. Flex HR consultants are navigating these challenges every day, and we are here to support you as you evaluate your own positions and policies.

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Promoting Positivity and Productivity in the New Age of Remote Work

The debate over the success of remote work has continued to grow as many companies have asked their employees to return to the office.  In many cases, employers have offered what they might consider a happy medium, by asking employees to return on a hybrid schedule. This has posed its own challenges, and Steve Lovig, Senior Consultant with Flex HR, met with David Essex of the Modern HR podcast to share his insights on how to foster a positive and productive work environment in the new age of hybrid work.

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How to Create More Inclusive Workplaces

Creating inclusive workplaces is crucial for any organization that wants to get the most out of its talent. This means creating an environment where everyone feels like they belong, has equal opportunities, is empowered to do their best work, and feels comfortable making requests and contributing ideas. In this series, we asked prominent HR and business leaders about the steps they take to create more inclusive workplaces. Authority Magazine had the pleasure of interviewing Jennifer Preston, HR Consultant for Flex HR, for more input on this topic. Read below for her knowledgeable insights.

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