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A Podcast Miniseries for Your HR Needs: HR Law 101

In case you missed it, here is a recap of our Verrill Voices podcast series, HR Law 101: Understanding the HR Basics, hosted by employment and labor attorney Tawny Alvarez. Each episode is intended to provide startup entrepreneurs and HR newcomers with a strong foundational knowledge of the laws that govern the employer/employee relationship. The ongoing series provides listeners with tips on hiring, onboarding, navigating wage and hour laws, creating effective job descriptions, and understanding federal anti-discrimination laws.

Tawny and fellow Verrill attorneys also share their thoughts on the firm's employment and labor law blog, Taking Care of HR Business, and on Twitter, @HR_Attorneys.

Access episodes in Verrill Voices HR Law 101 podcast series below and stay tuned for more episodes to come:

HR Law 101 Ep.1: What You Need to Know When You Need to Hire

You've been tasked with hiring a new employee, but where do you start? In this episode of HR Law 101: Understanding the HR Basics, Verrill employment and labor attorney Tawny Alvarez focuses on the nuances and pitfalls that arise throughout the hiring process, from defining duties and responsibilities to advertising to interviewing to solidifying the offer. (Originally recorded in May 2018)


HR Law 101 Ep.2: What You Need to Know When You're Onboarding a New Employee

In this episode of HR Law 101: Understanding the HR Basics, Verrill employment and labor attorney Tawny Alvarez walks listeners through onboarding best practices, including what paperwork and training are required by law when a new employee is hired, and the steps you should take in orienting your employee to the work environment and your operations. (Originally recorded in May 2018)


HR Law 101 Ep.3: What You Need to Know About Wage and Hour Laws

In this episode of HR Law 101: Understanding the HR Basics, Verrill employment and labor attorney Tawny Alvarez focuses on understanding the basics of wage and hour laws – from exempt to non-exempt, salary to hourly, breaks and overtime. (Originally recorded in May 2018)

HR Law 101 Ep.4: What You Need to Know About Creating Effective Job Descriptions

Job descriptions are important for ensuring that employers and employees are on the same page as to job duties and expectations, but what should be included? This episode of HR Law 101: Understanding the HR Basics, featuring Verrill employment and labor attorney Tawny Alvarez, will focus on best practices in crafting job descriptions for different duties within your organization. (Originally recorded in May 2018)


HR Law 101 Ep.5: What Employers Need to Know About Anti-Discrimination Laws

In this episode of HR Law 101: Understanding the HR Basics, Verrill employment and labor attorney Tawny Alvarez discusses the obligations that employers have under federal law to provide a non-discriminatory environment for employees, including who is covered under the statute and what it protects or prohibits. (Originally recorded in May 2018)


HR Law 101 Ep.6: Handbooks and What to Include Part 1

Many business owners and HR professionals look for a concise and straight forward employee handbook. The truth is, there isn't just one universal handbook to put on a shelf with all you need to know. Listen to this episode of HR Law 101 to hear attorney Tawny Alvarez discuss what to include and be aware of when creating an employee handbook for your unique company. (Originally recorded in January 2019)


HR Law 101 Ep.7: Handbooks and What to Include Part 2

Many business owners and HR professionals look for a concise and straight forward employee handbook. The truth is, there isn't just one universal handbook to put on a shelf with all you need to know. Listen to this episode of HR Law 101, part 2 of Handbooks and What to Include, to hear attorney Tawny Alvarez discuss the job policies and expectations for employees. Make sure to check out part 1! (Originally recorded in January 2019)

HR Law 101 Ep.8: Handbooks and What to Include Part 3

Many business owners and HR professionals look for a concise and straight forward employee handbook. The truth is, there isn't just one universal handbook to put on a shelf with all you need to know. Listen to this episode of HR Law 101, part 3 and the final part to Handbooks and What to Include, to hear attorney Tawny Alvarez dive into leave policies, post termination issues, and wrapping up concepts that will provide your company with the most protections when using an employee handbook. Make sure to check out part 1 and 2! (Originally recorded in February 2019)


HR Law 101 Ep.9: How Does USERRA Apply To Your Company?

The Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994, also known as USERRA, has multiple responsibilities for employers and employees. In this episode of HR Law 101, attorney Tawny Alvarez will highlight a few duties that the statute has and what laws are applicable to your organization. (Originally recorded in February 2019)


HR Law 101 Ep.10: Are You Aware of the Family Medical Leave Act? Part 1

In this episode of our HR Law 101 series, attorney Tawny Alvarez discusses the Family Medical Leave Act or FMLA. In part 1, we discuss the federal act generally, including who it is applicable to, what rights an employee has, and how different terms in the statute are defined. (Originally recorded in May 2019)

Topics: Discrimination, HR Best Practices, Wage and Hour