BLR

06/24/2026

Busy season hiring moves fast. But new and seasonal workers are most likely to get hurt in their first few weeks on the job, and a rushed orientation won't protect them.

It's rarely about carelessness. It's about familiarity, pressure, and a culture that either invites questions or quietly discourages them.

In this article, BLR Managing Editor Timothy Fagan breaks down exactly why new workers are at elevated risk and what a truly effective onboarding program looks like, including how supervisors can spot knowledge gaps before they become incidents.

If you're heading into a high-volume hiring stretch, this article deserves a spot on your reading list: https://hubs.la/Q04m9jCW0

New and seasonal workers face higher injury risks on the job. Learn the common causes and how effective onboarding and safety culture can protect your workforce.

06/23/2026

Does your monitoring policy mention Slack? Teams? Google Chat?

Employers are providing more communication tools than ever — and the legal and policy questions around monitoring them are easy to overlook.

In this article, BLR's Cristina Fahrbach-Connors covers what HR leaders need to know: which federal laws apply, where state rules add complexity, and what your written policies should include to protect the company without damaging employee trust.

Read it here: https://hubs.la/Q04lrWQm0

Can employers legally monitor employee communications on company-provided technology? Learn what federal and state laws apply, and best practices for staying compliant.

06/22/2026

If an incident happens tomorrow, could you prove your employees actually understood their training — not just that they showed up?

That's the standard regulators and courts are holding organizations to. And most training programs aren't built to meet it.

Join us for a free live webinar with BLR's Starla Finch and Matthew Hall on Wednesday, June 24 at 1 p.m. ET where they'll show you how EHS Hero helps close that gap — with blended learning, comprehension checks, centralized tracking, and audit-ready reporting built into one system.

You'll leave knowing:
- Why incomplete records create liability — even when training happened
- How assessments and quizzes strengthen your defense in audits and investigations
- What a defensible, scalable training program actually looks like in practice

Can't attend live? Register anyway and get the recording.

Save my spot: https://hubs.la/Q04lssFy0

06/19/2026

, that’s a wrap!

Thanks to everyone who stopped by the BLR booth at the SHRM conference this week.

Whether you came for the popcorn, to snag your own Marigold, or an actual conversation (we support all four), we appreciated the chance to connect.

We’re heading home with great conversations, fresh ideas, and plenty of inspiration for what HR teams are tackling next. Until next year!

06/18/2026

Is your HR strategy aligned with the latest employment laws?

Our FREE 2026 mid-year HR compliance checklist is your tool for reviewing and updating policies to meet the most recent changes in wage laws, paid leave, privacy regulations, and more.

Ensure your organization stays compliant and ready for what's ahead. Download the checklist now: https://hubs.la/Q04gpj2g0

06/17/2026

Before you roll out Q3 training, make sure your sessions are designed to deliver lasting impact. This free guide gives you the tools to improve engagement, retention, and real-world application.

✔️ 12 key elements of a successful program
✔️ 5 techniques to make training stick
✔️ Best practices for materials + a training day checklist

📥 Download it here: https://hubs.la/Q04f_1D40

06/15/2026

FEMA notes that the first minutes of an emergency are critical. Yet many organizations only discover weaknesses in their response plans when an actual incident occurs.

A well-written plan is important. A well-tested plan is what makes the difference. BLR's team of in-house EHS experts developed a free disaster planning audit checklist designed specifically for supervisors and leaders. It includes more than 30 targeted questions that help organizations evaluate key elements of emergency preparedness.

✅ Download the checklist now: https://hubs.la/Q04l5Xfp0

06/12/2026

Choosing the right employee handbook builder is a high-impact decision. Many platforms can generate a handbook. Far fewer are built to support ongoing compliance, multi-state requirements, and policy maintenance over time.

That gap creates real risk for the teams accountable for getting it right every day. If you're evaluating handbook builders, comparing demos and feature lists isn't enough. You need a structured way to see what each vendor actually delivers once the contract is signed.

We've created a useful buyer's checklist to help you score platforms side-by-side across the four areas that matter most:
– Compliance coverage and state-specific accuracy
– Policy updates and change visibility
– Customization and editing capabilities
– Workflow, usability, and publishing

Each section includes scoring criteria and space for notes, so your evaluation stays consistent across vendors and defensible to leadership.

Download yours here: https://hubs.la/Q04kNCfH0

06/09/2026

We’re officially in the home stretch before —are we on your expo schedule yet?

Be sure to swing by Booth 3056 to meet the BLR team. We’ll be serving up fresh popcorn, handing out exclusive swag, and yes—Marigold, our beloved stuffed unicorn, will be back at the booth.

Beyond the fun, we’d love to chat with you about how BLR supports HR teams with practical compliance, training, and workforce solutions that make everyday work a little easier.

If you’re planning to stop by, let us know in the comments. ⬇️

06/05/2026

More HR leaders are being asked to shape how their organizations prevent workplace violence.

That means writing and updating policies, supporting investigations, and keeping training current, on top of everything else on their plates.

Most teams have pieces of a plan. A policy here, a training there. Pulling it together is the harder part.

Our free Employer's Guide to Workplace Violence Prevention brings the pieces into one practical resource, covering what OSHA expects and what good practice looks like: https://hubs.la/Q04gFPTh0