Think you’ve got FMLA under control? Think again.

Register now: FMLA for 2025 and get early bird pricing

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is one of the most commonly mismanaged federal laws in the workplace. Why? Because it’s confusing, constantly evolving, and full of traps even seasoned HR pros and managers fall into.

It only takes one mistake to end up facing:

A Department of Labor investigation

An employee lawsuit for interference or retaliation

Thousands in back pay, fines, and legal fees

A shattered employee relationship you can’t repair

Here’s the problem:

• FMLA eligibility rules keep changing.

• Remote work has thrown old assumptions out the window.

• Mental health and intermittent leave requests are skyrocketing.

• Employees don’t always use the magic words “FMLA,” but you’re still on the hook.

• Even “good intentions” can lead to illegal retaliation claims.

•  

And the kicker? You’re responsible for knowing all this — and training your managers to get it right too.

If you’ve ever…

• Questioned whether an employee actually qualifies for leave

• Wondered what counts as a “serious health condition”

• Struggled with intermittent or remote workers abusing leave

• Discovered paperwork wasn’t returned — and weren’t sure what to do

• Been accused of retaliation just for enforcing policy

…then you’re already at risk.

This fast-moving, practical webinar will get you up to date for 2025 and beyond. We’ll cover:

Who actually qualifies for FMLA (and who doesn’t — including remote & boomerang workers)

The correct 12-month tracking method for your business

How to write and enforce call-in rules that protect you

What to do when paperwork is late or missing

How to handle mental health and intermittent leave requests properly

How the ADA and FMLA intersect — and how to avoid double trouble

What retaliation really looks like (and how to prevent claims) Best practices for contacting employees on leave and managing return-to-work

Don’t let your next FMLA request turn into your next big HR nightmare.

Protect your company. Protect your employees. Protect yourself.

Reserve your spot now — before one wrong step costs you everything.

Who Should Attend?

This webinar is a must for anyone responsible for managing leave, staying compliant, or keeping employee relations intact:

HR professionals & business partners — If you touch FMLA requests, leave tracking, or manager training, you can’t afford to miss this.

Managers & supervisors — You’re often the first to mishandle an FMLA situation. Learn what to say (and what NOT to say) when employees request time off.

Small business owners & executives — If you’re crossing or nearing the 50-employee threshold, you’re already on the hook.

Compliance officers & in-house counsel — The risk of retaliation and interference claims keeps climbing. Make sure your organization is protected.

Operations & team leads — Learn how to keep workflows moving without crossing the line on leave interference.

Anyone who has ever wondered:

• “What happens if they don’t turn in the paperwork?”

• “Can I call them while they’re on leave?”

• “Do I have to approve intermittent leave for this?”

• “Why is everyone suddenly claiming mental health leave?”

If you’re responsible for your company’s compliance, your team’s productivity, and your own peace of mind — this webinar is for you.

Register now: FMLA Compliance for 2025

About our Speaker:

Suzanne Lucas, known worldwide as the Evil HR Lady, brings a refreshingly candid, no-nonsense perspective to the often-confusing world of HR and employment law.

A former corporate HR leader turned writer, speaker, and consultant, Suzanne has spent more than two decades helping organizations navigate the tricky intersection of compliance, common sense, and compassion. She’s written thousands of articles on workplace issues for publications like Inc., CBS News, Forbes, and Comstock’s, earning a loyal following of HR professionals, managers, and employees who value her clear-eyed, practical advice.

With a gift for translating complex laws into plain English—and a sense of humor about the chaos that comes with managing people—Suzanne’s webinars and keynotes are equal parts enlightening and entertaining.

When it comes to FMLA, ADA, and employee leave, she’s seen it all: the good, the bad, and the very expensive. Join her as she cuts through the confusion and gives you the tools to protect your business, support your employees, and sleep a little easier.

The post FMLA 2025: What you don’t know can cost you appeared first on Improve Your HR.

You’re not imagining it. The passive-aggressive colleague, the indecisive manager, the drama-magnet employee—they’re draining your energy, eating up your time, and making you question your own professionalism. You try everything: documenting, rehearsing, venting, apologizing. But the same conflicts keep popping up, and you’re left wondering if it’s you.

Here’s the truth:

The problem isn’t you. It’s the strategies you’ve been given don’t work for the 2025 workplace. “Just talk it out,” “set boundaries,” “take the high road” all worked well in 1972 and sound good, but in today’s world, they rarely solve the problem.

That’s why we created this masterclass: How to Deal with Employees Who Love to Argue and Debate Everything

Date: Wednesday, June 11
Time: 1:00 PM Eastern, 10:00 AM Pacific
Duration: 90 minutes
Register Now

This isn’t another TED Talk or theory session. People expert Brenda Neckvatal will give you real-world tactics that shift power dynamics, defuse chaos, and help you reclaim your peace of mind.

You’ll learn how to:

• Stop conversations from going sideways before they start

• Cut through emotional fog and get people to listen

• Set boundaries that actually stick

• Read the real problem behind what people are saying

• Use empathy as a power tool (not a weakness)

• Respond to emotional outbursts without losing your cool

• Know when to step in, when to walk away, and how to lead through it all

Bonus: Bring Your Battle to Brenda

Get live, actionable advice from Brenda Neckvatal—a Human Results powerhouse with 30+ years of experience helping 1,000+ leaders and 700+ businesses. Bring your toughest conflict scenario and leave with a real solution.

Who should attend?

Anyone tired of chaos, drama, and wasted energy:

• HR leaders

• Managers

• Business owners

• Executives

• Customer-facing professionals

Ready to take your power back?

Register now for “How to Deal with Employees Who Love to Argue and Debate Everything.”

About Brenda Neckvatal:

Brenda is an award-nominated HR expert and business consultant with 30 years of experience, including work with six Fortune 500 companies and over 600 C-suite executives. She’s helped leaders in all industries solve their toughest people problems—and she’s ready to help you.

Bonus: This event is pre-approved for 1.5 HRCI General CEU and 1.5 SHRM PDC credits.

Don’t let another week go by stuck in the same patterns.
Register today and reclaim your peace at work.

The post Are the Sunday Scaries really getting to you? appeared first on Improve Your HR.

If you’ve applied for a HR position or tried to hire for an HR position lately, you’ve seen the influx of resumes. It’s a tight job market and companies are stingy with their budgets.

This means HR often has to do more with less.

If you’re in this boat, we have some help for you.

AI to make HR smarter, faster and (yes), more human.

Join us for AI for HR: Smarter, Faster, and More Human, a high-impact webinar designed specifically for HR professionals who want to stay ahead of the curve and make AI their most powerful productivity partner.

When: Thursday, June 5

12:00 Eastern

11:00 Central

10:00 Mountain

9:00 Pacific

You’ll learn how to:

• Use AI to save hours on resumes, notes, analytics, and documentation

• Write prompts that turn “meh” into magic

• Handle concerns about bias, data security, and employee resistance

• Support teams that love AI—and those terrified of it

• Lead the charge with confidence and ethics

Whether you’re exploring AI tools for the first time or ready to go deeper, this session will give you real-world strategies you can apply immediately.

This session is perfect for:

• HR pros looking to streamline workflows

• Managers guiding teams through tech change

• L&D experts building AI training programs

• Business leaders exploring smart adoption

• Curious professionals ready to future-proof their careers

Save your seat now and step into the future of HR—more empowered, efficient, and human than ever.

The post AI isn’t coming: It’s already here appeared first on Improve Your HR.

You’ve seen the signs. Meetings that feel like obligation instead of momentum. Smart people who stop speaking up. Promising hires who slowly disengage. A general sense that something’s off—but nothing you can quite name.

You tweak goals. You shuffle priorities. You double down on feedback or lighten up on pressure. And still, the vibe lingers: Your team isn’t clicking the way it should.

It’s not burnout. It’s not entitlement. It’s not “a bad culture fit.”
It’s something deeper.

Most leaders don’t fail because they don’t work hard enough.
They fail because their leadership mindset is built for a world that no longer exists.

That’s why HRLearns is bringing you a complimentary, high-impact session with nationally recognized leadership expert Phil Wilson.

Introducing: The Leader-Shift Playbook: 4 Mindset Moves That Will Transform the Way You Lead

Phil’s approach is not about becoming louder, more visionary, or more commanding.
It’s about becoming more human.

Through real-world stories (including Phil’s own hard-earned lessons), you’ll discover:

• The overlooked red flags that signal a leadership derailment

• A “judo move” that flips toxic power dynamics without confrontation

• How to become the kind of leader people trust—even when they disagree with you

• The 3 questions your team is silently asking (and why your answers determine their performance)

• How to check your assumptions before they wreck your relationships

If you’ve been feeling like the old playbook isn’t working—but you can’t quite put your finger on why—this is the moment to show up, reset, and rethink how you lead.

This is not a feel-good pep talk. It’s a practical shift. A mindset tune-up. A leadership intervention.

Join us on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at HRLearns

• 1:00 PM Eastern
• 12:00 PM Central
• 11:00 AM Mountain
• 10:00 AM Pacific
• 7:00 AM Hawaii

Space is limited. Registration is free. Your next-level leadership starts here.

Register here: The Leader-Shift Playbook: 4 Simple Changes to Score Big and Unleash Your Team’s Potential

The post FREE Webinar: The Leader-Shift Playbook: 4 Simple Changes to Score Big and Unleash Your Team’s Potential appeared first on Improve Your HR.

This Class Is Different—Because You’re Different.

This isn’t “Job Search 101.” This is real strategy for seasoned HR and Talent professionals who are sick of playing small—and ready to stop feeling stuck, second-guessed, or overlooked.

In This Webinar, You’ll Learn How To:

• Turn your insider knowledge into a competitive edge (instead of a confidence killer)
• Stop downplaying your experience and learn how to pitch yourself without feeling like you’re bragging
• Craft a resume and LinkedIn that pass filters and spark interest—because you know they’re only skimming
• Expand beyond job boards and tap into the channels you already know work—but have never used for yourself
• Build momentum with strategic networking (that doesn’t feel cringey or forced)
• Handle your own inner critic—because you’re battling more than just external bias
• Spot red flags before you waste time interviewing for another broken team

You’re Not Just a Job Seeker—You’re the Solution

In this session, you’ll stop thinking like a “candidate” and start positioning yourself like the business partner you are.You’ll learn how to reverse-engineer your career story to highlight what every employer is quietly desperate for right now: Change leadership Strategic thinking Workforce calm in chaos Compliance savvy Talent that drives results

This is a job search strategy built for the people who build the people strategy.

BONUS: Bring Your Questions—Ask Meg Live

This isn’t just a one-way webinar. You’ll have the chance to ask your specific questions directly to Meg—an expert who’s been in your shoes and helped dozens of HR pros reframe, relaunch, and land.

Stop Spinning. Start Strategizing.

Your next opportunity is out there—but it won’t come from tweaking your resume one more time or doom-scrolling job boards. It comes from knowing how to pitch yourself as the solution, just like you do every day for others.

Register now for “Job Search Strategy for HR & Talent Pros: Get Unstuck and Get Seen.”You’ve helped others win for years. Now it’s your turn.

About our speaker, Meg Martin

Meg Martin, SHRM-SCP, leverages 30+ years of HR experience in the Washington, D.C. area to help job seekers craft compelling resumes, LinkedIn profiles, and job search strategies that get results. As an HR insider, she understands what impresses hiring managers and equips her clients with tools to help them stand out in a competitive market, whether advancing in their careers or pivoting into new fields. Meg has helped hundreds of mid- and late-career professionals, including dozens of HR professionals, to create resumes and strategic job search plans that align their experience with their target roles. With deep expertise in networking, transferable skills, and positioning candidates for success, Meg helps professionals navigate today’s hiring landscape with confidence.

The post Why Is Job Searching So Hard When You Know How Hiring Works? appeared first on Improve Your HR.

Boy have times changed!

I was born in 1973, which means Nancy Reagan’s “Just Say No!” campaign was in full swing during my school years. And boy, did we mean it.

We had the DARE policeman come in. I was a vice president of the “Red Ribbon” club in high school, which was all about saying no to drugs. The dirty truth is, I couldn’t have cared less about drug problems–I just thought it would look good on college applications. (It did! I got a full scholarship to the university of my choice.) I mean, I didn’t want anyone doing drugs; I just didn’t know anyone who did. (Yes, I grew up in a small, religious town, and while I’m sure there were people with drug problems, I either didn’t know them or didn’t know they did drugs.)

Now in 2025, when I found out that Wendy Sellers was an expert on “alternative relaxation” policies in the workplace, I reached out to her and said, “Hey, come to HRLearns. We need your expertise.”

Truthfully, I am just as devout to the “just say no” message for myself and my kids. The strongest drug I use is Excedrine. The doctor gave me a narcotic when I was in labor with my eldest child, and I became utterly convinced I was in the Brady Bunch. Mind-altering substances are not for me.

But, as an adult, I recognize that the laws and social norms are changing. I’m no longer a fan of drug testing for most jobs. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy to navigate new state laws and safety and keep your employees from using leafy greens on the job.

I suspect I’m not alone in needing a bit of help understanding herb policies in the workplace.

Please join HRLearns and Wendy Sellers on Monday to learn everything you need to know. And to give you a little something extra, use

Coupon code: DevilLettuce

Click here to register: Marijuana’s Move to Schedule III: What HR Needs to Know and Do

The post Weed in the Workplace: How are your policies? appeared first on Improve Your HR.

Trump promised to do away with DEI in his campaign, and by golly he’s keeping his promises.

For HR people, our own opinions don’t matter at work when it comes to compliance. We must understand what is happening and translate that into business speak. Usually, that’s hard enough to do, but with a whole bunch of new information and rules coming out of the Oval Office, it may seem impossible.

When I wrote my original plan for Diversity When DEI Is a Dirty Word: How to Make Your Company Inclusive Without Controversy, I foolishly assumed I would be dealing with differences in business and cultural sensibilities, not new executive orders.

Naturally, I’m in the process of updating everything by consulting with lawyers and original sources! I do this so you don’t have to! (Okay, that’s not entirely true. You should definitely consult with your attorney before making big changes!)

So make sure you join us on February 10, 2025, to get the latest info on the status of things like Affirmative Action and EEOC compliance. It may not be what you want to hear, but it’s what you need to hear!

Let me know if you have any specific questions and I’ll try to find the answer before we go live! I want this to be the best possible use of your time.

And don’t forget to register for Wendy Seller’s upcoming presentation on Marijuana and the workplace. Yes! We all have other responsibilities, so let’s not forget about them too!

The post Navigating DEI Changes in 2025 appeared first on Improve Your HR.

“Look, the adrenaline is pumping today. It was an upset. But tomorrow everything will be back to a blissful non-election normal. You’ll go to work, drink your coffee, get a call from school that your little darling just vomited over a classmate. All those normal things. Before the election cycle began, you didn’t think all that much about who the president was, and you’ll go back to that.”

Boy was I wrong! Things never went back to normal. And now, 8 years later, we have the inauguration of Donald Trump again. I never in a million years would have predicted this.

And yet, here we are. And life is different.

For instance, 24 states now have legalized recreational marijuana. 31 states have either banned DEI in some form or are looking to do so.

For most people, neither one of those things makes a big difference in their lives. But HR professionals are faced with huge changes.

Federal law requires that businesses don’t discriminate on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, or several other things. Nevada law requires that you don’t discriminate against marijuana users.

Are you up to date on what you can do about a drug free workplace? What does your diversity training look like? Are you in compliance?

At HRLearns, we want you to be on top of everything. We’re starting out our new year with new programs designed to help you stay on top of things.

 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) have become contentious topics in today’s polarized climate. Many companies are canceling or changing their DEI programs, or rebranding them to remove controversy. However, creating an inclusive workplace doesn’t have to spark controversy. This session focuses on practical, low-conflict strategies for fostering a diverse and inclusive environment while navigating the sensitivities of employees and stakeholders

Register here: Diversity when DEI is a dirty word: How to make your company inclusive without controversy

Is marijuana legal in your state? Are you a “420 friendly” workplace? What about federal law? What you need to know about keeping your workplace safe and compliant.

To register, click here: What you should know about marijuana and the workplace

The post What does 2025 have in store for us? appeared first on Improve Your HR.

I love Halloween. It’s a great holiday around costumes and candy. But sometimes highly qualified HR professionals feel like they are just dressed up as HR professionals.

(For a Halloween treat, use coupon code Halloween, today only, when you register for HR Vision ’25!)

Imposter syndrome is real. And if you’re suffering from it, it’s likely that you need a boost to help you build your confidence. You need some additional training so you can be confident in what you do.

Here’s how you can figure out if you’re suffering from imposter syndrome:

• You double-check everything. Even though you know in your heart, FMLA is for 12 weeks, you find yourself googling whenever someone asks.

• You don’t apply for jobs because you’re not ready for a director-level role, even though you have 15 years of high-performance experience.
• You don’t speak up in meetings. You’re the people expert, why is your mouth shut?

Or might you be suffering from something even worse: Expert Syndrome? This is when you are convinced you are an expert on something even though you really are not.

Here’s how you can figure out if you’re suffering from expert syndrome:

• You have an answer for everything. A real expert knows her limits and will say so. Someone with Expert syndrome will never admit that it is outside her realm of knowledge–often because she simply doesn’t know what she doesn’t know.

• Research=Googling. Anyone whose expertise comes from doing “research” on the internet isn’t a real expert. Real experts have experience in their field and read or do real primary research.

• You don’t ever need to check. If you ask an expert a complicated question, she might reply, “I think it’s X, but let me double check.” If you ask someone with expert syndrome a complicated question, she’ll say “It’s X.” If you present information to the contrary, she will reject it.

• You (almost) always claim total consensus. It is a rare thing when there is only one way to do something. Someone who insists it is black and white is likely someone with Expert Syndrome.

HRLearns is here to help! Whether you think you don’t know enough or you think you know everything, or you’re somewhere in the middle (we call this reality!) you need a new plan for 2025.

Please join Victoria Purser and Suzanne Lucas on Spooky November 13, to create your HR Vision ’25!

Prepare to lead in 2025 with HR Vision ’25 Live, an exclusive online event designed specifically for HR professionals. Powered by HRLearns, this high-impact, interactive training session offers actionable insights and strategies for successfully navigating future HR challenges.

Every HR professional needs a plan for 2025 and this is where you can put yours tougher. HR Vision ‘25 will focus on what you need to succeed in your career.

What is your focus?

HR is a wide field with so many different needs. Each of these areas is demanding and difficult–and some of you do it all by yourself or with a tiny team.

• Talent Acquisition and Retention
• Compliance and Employment Law
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I)
• Data Analytics and Metrics in HR
• Leadership and Team Development
• Crisis Management and Change Leadership
• Employee relations

HR Vision ‘25 will help prepare you for excellence in all these areas. You’ll be led by HR expert Victoria Purser (Conquer-HR) and Suzanne Lucas (Improve Your HR by Evil HR Lady), and working with other professionals to make your plan for the upcoming year.

Details:

• Live Training Session Date: November 13, 2024
• Duration: 90 minutes
• Location: Online via Zoom

Why Attend?

• Customized Learning: Tailored content based on real-time insights collected from pre-session surveys.
• Interactive Experience: Engage in real-time scenarios, peer discussions, and interactive polls.
• Professional Growth: Earn HRCI/SHRM recertification credits and access a wealth of resources, including a recording of the session and a personalized action plan.

Key Features:

• Pre-Event Survey: Influence the session’s content by sharing your insights and challenges.
• Expert-Led Discussions: Led by industry experts Victoria Purser and Suzanne Lucas
• Networking Opportunities: Connect with peers through dedicated breakout rooms and a pre-event LinkedIn group.
• Follow-Up Resources: Exclusive access to microlearning email series and discounts on future HRLearns offerings.

Date: Wednesday, November 13
Time: 12:00 PM ET / 11:00 AM CT / 10:00 AM MT / 9:00 AM PT
Duration: 90 minutes
Recertification Credits: Pre-approved by HRCI® and SHRM®

Suzanne is fabulous! Truly captivating, fun, and energizing Key Note Speaker. She manages to combine, in a fantastic way, humor, and entertainment with leadership, human resources, and well-being at work.  The audience asked to see her again, so we will invite her to the next editions of Everything HR conferences.

—Laura Dragne, Director of Communications and Public Relations, Great People Inside

“Victoria is an easy person to learn from. She’s not reading from a textbook. She’s not talking in circles. She’s actually talking to you in ways that relate to real life experience. She is the one that made things click.

–Katie Dushane, HR Generalist, SHRM-CP

And shhhh, for our Halloween Treat just for you (only good today, October 31!), get an additional $25 off! Register here: HR Vision ’25 Use the code: Halloween

The post Happy Halloween! What Costume Did You Put on Today? appeared first on Improve Your HR.

Do you have your HR plan for 2025? Do you know what you need to focus on? Do you have all the skills you’ll need for the upcoming year?

My guess is no. Often, HR professionals put everyone else in the company’s career above their own. We work hard on development plans for everyone but ourselves.

HR Vision ’25 is a program for YOU! Victoria Purser and I have put together a program to help you excel in all areas of your professional life. And we’ll help you tailor a program just for you. If want to work on any of the following areas, we are there to help!

• Talent Acquisition and Retention

• Compliance and Employment Law

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I)

• Data Analytics and Metrics in HR

• Leadership and Team Development

• Crisis Management and Change Leadership

• Employee relations

After you register, you’ll receive a survey to complete to help you get started on your individualized plan!

We hope to see ou there on Lucky November 13! It’s at 12:00 Eastern, 9:00 Pacific.

Register here: HR Vision ’25 LIVE

The post HR Vision ’25 Live! appeared first on Improve Your HR.