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Drugs and Alcohol in the Workplace: When to Test?
Drugs and Alcohol in the Workplace: When to Test? Posted by Mackenzie Cowan, HR Consultant on Monday, September 8, 2025 Tags: Compliance, Policies Have you ever had a situation where you’ve observed an employee stumbling or weaving as they walk, or perhaps slurring their words, and wonder if the employee may be inebriated? In situations such as…
Read MoreIRS Publishes Draft W-2 for 2026
IRS Publishes Draft W-2 for 2026 Posted by Cascade Compliance Team, Wednesday, August 27, 2025 Tags: Alert, Compliance The IRS plans to introduce new guidance and forms for the 2026 tax year, including guidance on how overtime and tips will need to be reported. As a first step, the IRS has released a draft of the…
Read MoreWhat I’ve Learned From Leading HR Professionals (Without Being One)
What I’ve Learned From Leading HR Professionals (Without Being One) Posted by Gayle Gilham, President on Monday, August 25, 2025 Tags: Leadership When I tell people I’m the president of an HR consulting association, the first question is usually, “So, what’s your HR background?” The answer is…I don’t have one. I didn’t start as an HR consultant or practitioner.…
Read MoreWhat to Do When Employees Hit the Top of Their Pay Range
What to Do When Employees Hit the Top of Their Pay Range Posted by Lindsay Hill, Director of Compensation Services on Monday, August 18, 2025 Tags: Compensation With annual increase season coming up for many employers, one question we hear often is, “What should we do when employees are at or near the top of their salary…
Read More2025 Northwest Employee Benefits Survey Highlights!
2025 Northwest Employee Benefits Survey Highlights! Posted by McKenna Arnold, Survey and Research Manager on Monday, August 11, 2025 Tags: Employee Benefits, Surveys Cascade is excited to announce that the 2025 Northwest Employee Benefits report is now available! This regional survey report is a great resource for benefits and policy data for organizations that want to ensure their benefits…
Read MoreFederal Guidance on Unlawful Discrimination Published
Federal Guidance on Unlawful Discrimination Published Posted by Cascade Compliance Team on August 11, 2025 Tags: Alert On July 29, 2025, the U.S. Attorney General published a memo providing new guidance to all federal agencies and recipients of federal funding regarding unlawful discrimination. The memo states that all entities receiving federal funds (state/local governments, hospitals, contractors, etc.) must ensure…
Read MoreEqual Pay Audits: The Potential Costs of Avoidance
Equal Pay Audits: The Potential Costs of Avoidance Posted by Olivia Steelman, Compensation Consultant on August 4, 2025 Tags: Compensation “We pay fairly, we have a scalable and defensible system to set and adjust pay rates, and we’ve never had anyone complain about being paid unfairly before.” These are sentiments each employer hopes to express…
Read MoreLeaders Are Learners: Why Growth Matters
Leaders Are Learners: Why Growth Matters Posted by Trudy Hylemon, ODCP, PHR, Senior HR and Leadership Consultant on July 28, 2025 Tags: Leadership One thing we say in our leadership training courses offered at Cascade is, “Leaders are Learners.” What does this mean in the workplace? In the fast-changing world that we operate in, the best…
Read MoreTop I-9 Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Top I-9 Mistakes and How to Fix Them Posted by Mackenzie Cowan, HR Generalist on July 21, 2025 Tags: Compliance, Hiring Self-auditing I-9s has become a high priority for 2025, as the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is increasing the number of I-9 audits conducted. A self-audit of Form I-9s is an internal review…
Read MoreUtilizing 360 Leadership Reviews
Utilizing 360 Leadership Reviews Posted by Jenna Reed, Senior Vice President and General Counsel on July 14, 2025 Tags: Leadership In today’s fast-paced work environment, effective leadership is a necessity. But how do organizations truly assess how well their leaders are performing? How can they identify blind spots, build on strengths, and develop targeted improvement…
Read MoreEmployee Handbook Builders: Why “Easy” Can Lead to Expensive HR Headaches
Employee Handbook Builders: Why “Easy” Can Lead to Expensive HR Headaches Posted by Jenna Reed, Senior Vice President and General Counsel on July 7, 2025 Tags: Compliance, Policies As HR professionals, we’re constantly juggling compliance, employee relations, and strategic initiatives. In a world craving efficiency, the promise of an “easy” HR handbook builder— often embedded…
Read MoreUnlock Your Competitive Edge: Participate in the Northwest Benefits Survey!
Unlock Your Competitive Edge: Participate in the Northwest Benefits Survey! Posted by McKenna Arnold, Survey and Research Manager on June 30, 2025 Tags: Employee Benefits, Surveys Attracting and retaining top talent hinges on a competitive benefits package. As HR professionals, understanding how your offerings compare to others in the Northwest region is crucial. The Northwest Employee Benefits…
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