News & Insights

In school bus operations, most employees are part-time drivers that do not exceed 40 hours of work in a workweek; however, nearly all contractors have some full-time staff that work 40 hours per week. Occasionally, an employee may be assigned to two jobs with different rates of pay, such as a bus driver and office administrator. Accordingly, contractors may decide to pay these employees two different rates of pay, depending on the job being performed. In such cases, there are special considerati...

As library managers know, managing employees is no easy task. When employee disciplinary issues arise, many employers get stumped on what type of discipline is appropriate. In response to more frequent or severe performance issues or misconduct, employers may feel they have no choice but to terminate the employee; however, some employers may recognize that termination is not always risk-free. In these circumstances, a last chance agreement can be used as an alternative to termination. Continue r...

As school bus operators know, managing employees is no easy task. When employee disciplinary issues arise, many school bus operators get stumped on what type of discipline is appropriate. In response to more frequent or severe performance issues or misconduct, school bus operators may feel they have no choice but to terminate the employee; however, some employers may recognize that termination is not always risk-free. In these circumstances, a last chance agreement can be used as an alternative ...

When a school bus driver fails a drug or alcohol test, refuses to submit to required testing, or otherwise violates U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) drug testing regulations, a specific regulatory framework governs driver and employer obligations. Federal regulations require such drivers participate in the Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) program before they return to safety-sensitive duties. 49 C.F.R. §40.285(a). For school bus operators, understanding how this process works, and what ...

Many employers pay their salaried employees an annual salary amount that is paid in twenty-six biweekly installments over the course of each year, most often with payday on a Friday. But if the first Friday payday in 2026 is January 2nd, the last bi-weekly payday in 2026 will be Thursday December 31st, because Friday January 1, 2027 is a bank holiday and banks are closed. Most employers pay employees a day early if banks are closed on a Friday payday. As a result, there will be twenty-seven payd...

Employee performance management is not just about managing when problems arise, as discussed last month. Performance management also includes managing opportunities to retain employees. Employers should explore a collection of approaches to maintain a good work environment and to keep employees engaged and motivated.

It is no question that many employers are facing an aging workforce. In fact, according to a recent survey by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of workers aged 65 or older has increased by 117% within the last 20 years. As many employers know, the pandemic was a catalyst that accelerated employee retirement over the last few years – requiring many employers to scramble for qualified applicants to replace retired employees. Libraries should be mindful of the Age Discrimina...