Marijuana legalization is shifting the rules—are your policies keeping up? As marijuana laws evolve rapidly across the U.S., so do the rules around employment drug testing. Staying on top of these changes can feel overwhelming—or maybe it’s not even on your radar—but it’s essential. A recent Tesseon article breaks down where each state currently stands …
Workplace conflict is bound to happen at work—even in the healthiest, most positive environments. But when there’s no dedicated HR person on staff, it can be tempting to ignore it and hope it goes away. Unfortunately, that almost never works.Whether it’s a clash between team members, tension after feedback, or a pattern of miscommunication, unaddressed …
Performance reviews don’t have to be scary or stiff. In fact, they should be simple and human. Here’s how to build a light-touch process that works: Step 1: Start with Competencies Before you talk about productivity or set performance goals, get clear on what success actually looks like in your organization. That starts with defining …
If you’ve ever asked yourself, “How am I supposed to keep up with all these changing labor laws without a full-time HR person?”—you’re not alone. It’s a great question, and the good news is: it’s totally doable. While having a dedicated HR department or team member is helpful, it’s not a necessity for staying compliant. …
In case you missed it, or are lost trying to make sense of it, here are some items from the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” that businesses should be aware of. Plus we’re throwing in some info on Paid Family Medical Leave updates for a few states (shout out to our peeps in Colorado, Washington, …
Arizona* has introduced several key labor-related legal updates at both the local and state levels that go into effect throughout the month of July 2025. *If you are a CQC client in another state, please email us at team@copperquailconsulting.com to request summaries of state updates you should be aware of. Tempe Heat Safety Standards Ordinance …
This one trips up a lot of small businesses. If you misclassify someone, you risk back taxes, penalties, and legal headaches. Here’s how to know. A great place to start is asking yourself these three questions: Contractors are more independent. They usually: Still unsure? Download our free guide: Contractor vs. Employee: Guidelines for Classification. When …
First off, you’re not alone—lots of business owners, and even some HR teams, wing it when it comes to onboarding. When life and work get busy, it’s easy to let details fall through the cracks. But that first week matters more than you think. A clear, repeatable onboarding process helps new hires feel confident, engaged, …
“I’ve had a job posted for weeks and can’t seem to attract quality candidates, let alone many applicants in the first place. What do I do!?” If you’ve had these thoughts, first, I want you to know that you’re not alone. Second, stay calm, the solution is simple. The truth is, in today’s job market, …
By Martin Leon Cortes Silva: Reflecting on two major commitments I undertook over the past few years — working at CQC and completing my full-time MBA at ASU — I knew compressing my schedule would be a challenge. At times, I felt stretched to full capacity. While navigating the intense academic waves and learning both …
