Carol Warner

1 week ago | hrmorning.com | Carol Warner

In 2025, hiring family members isn’t just a matter of loyalty or convenience – it’s also a legal risk. Many small businesses bring relatives, often adult children, on board. But without clear rules, nepotism can trigger costly discrimination claims and undermine morale. When every new hire could be someone’s son or daughter, HR’s role shifts from gatekeeper to legal shield – balancing fairness, managing perceptions and protecting the company from lawsuits that can escalate fast.

1 week ago | hrmorning.com | Carol Warner

Timekeeping failures create costly risks beyond payroll. A federal probe uncovered widespread overtime violations by a construction contractor, forcing the employer to pay nearly $600,000 in back wages and damages. Flawed time rounding and incomplete recordkeeping caused it. This case warns HR that wage and hour compliance is a fundamental risk embedded in everyday business tasks. Time rounding often gets ignored, but it directly affects your systems, managers and employee pay.

2 weeks ago | resourcefulfinancepro.com | Carol Warner

A federal investigation forced a contractor to pay nearly $600,000 in back wages and damages after the Department of Labor uncovered systemic overtime violations tied to time rounding. This wasn’t a minor oversight – it exposed serious failures in payroll and recordkeeping. For Finance, these are not abstract risks. When labor compliance falters, the financial consequences land squarely in the ledger.

2 weeks ago | hrmorning.com | Carol Warner

A federal appeals court struck down a court-ordered religious liberty training for Southwest’s attorneys. Even so, it affirmed a seven-figure jury verdict for a fired employee. The case carries critical lessons for HR teams handling post-litigation compliance. Here’s the latest in the long-running dispute – and what it means to HR. The dispute began in 2017 when a flight attendant sued Southwest and the union for religious discrimination and retaliation under Title VII.

3 weeks ago | hrmorning.com | Carol Warner

Straight, white employees often faced an uphill fight in discrimination cases – until now. The Supreme Court just made clear that majority employees don’t have to meet a higher legal bar than anyone else. It’s a rare unanimous ruling from the Supreme Court, especially in today’s polarized climate, that sends a clear message on workplace discrimination. Here’s the story behind the decision.