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Disagreements among professionals will always occur, but it's up to HR leaders to make sure their senior-level leaders -- and the workforce as a whole -- are prepared to communicate effectively with all levels of employees. And when an argument goes public, it's better to open up the lines of communication, rather than try to shut them down.

New guidelines from the Department of Labor portend a change in how organizations may deal with which employees are eligible to take unpaid FMLA leave. What does HR need to know to remain compliant?

A new report predicts a shortfall in the number of college graduates needed by employers in 2018. But many companies may be overemphasizing the value of college degrees at the expense of other forms of training, such as apprenticeships.

New academic research suggests that newly-minted working fathers face unseen stress in the workplace after the birth of a child. Experts say a greater understanding of work/life balance for employees is the key to equal treatment of new parents.

New academic research finds that target-based compensation programs may provide more incentive for employees to cheat compared to other compensation models. What can HR do to ensure fair play and fair pay for all?

Employers are beginning to come to grips with the effects that end-of-life and caregiver issues have on their workers. While it's obviously a touchy subject, HR leaders should consider what role their organizations should take to support their employees during life's worst moments. Refining policies and offering resources are a good start.

As the recovery inches on, HR leaders are rethinking how to fit talent-management strategies to a new business environment. Leadership development and succession planning are among the top-rated concerns of employers. But too many HR executives focus on whether a program is executed competently, rather than whether the program achieved the desired result.

Studies consistently confirm that women bosses are less popular than their male counterparts. But experts say that's due to a double standard in the way colleagues view female and male bosses. Increasing awareness of the bias may help, but some experts say leaders should just focus on being the best they can be.

A United Nations voluntary business network aimed at spreading responsible business practices around the world offers a mixed report on last year's actions. Fewer than half of the companies have a zero tolerance for corruption and far fewer have instructed global suppliers to comply with the organization's principles. The actions of suppliers, however, may end up harming a company's brand.

New interim federal regulations that would allow employer healthcare plans to retain "grandfathered" status under the healthcare-reform law -- meaning that such plans would not need to comply with specific mandates under the new law -- are more strict than expected. Experts thought companies would have more time to make plan changes than they will be permitted.

A study finds that time on the sports field helps women in the workforce. Such a background teaches the ability to communicate, the ability to work well with others, competitiveness, assertiveness and discipline. Sports also leads more women to enroll in college, participate in the workforce and seek out jobs that were historically male-dominated.

Workplace noise is not only a pet peeve for one in five employees but it can also hurt productivity. Any interruption forces an employee to restart his or her thought process. HR needs to tread lightly in handling such a delicate issue, however, and creating a policy on it may not be the best option.

Raises are back on the table -- although surveys indicate most will be modest -- while many employers remain cautious about the economic recovery. There is also an increased emphasis to use variable and incentive pay to be more aligned with performance.

The proposed legislation would subject executive comp to court approval, prohibit bonuses and incentive payments, link executive pay to that of other workers, and grant unions creditor status, among other items. Its chances for success probably depend on the ability of the Democrats to retain control of Congress in November.

Mergers and acquisitions in the HR business-process-outsourcing market are positioning companies to better compete with one another and to provide a fuller set of services. At the same time, the sector seems to be dividing into competitors who focus mostly on payroll, recruitment or benefits, while integrating ancillary processes as well.