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🏋🏻 College Athletes May Qualify as Employees

July 19, 2024

Jolt Your HR Knowledge: Dynamic Trends and Strategies for the Modern Workplace

🏋🏻 HR Trend Spotlight: College Athletes May Qualify as Employees

College athletes could soon be recognized as employees if it is determined that their efforts primarily benefit their schools, according to a recent ruling by a US appeals court. The court has mandated the development of a test to distinguish between students who play sports for enjoyment and those whose efforts amount to compensable work. “With professional athletes as the clearest indicators, playing sports can certainly constitute compensable work,” stated US Circuit Judge L. Felipe Restrepo. The core issue is whether the relationship between the athlete and the college or the NCAA reveals an economic reality akin to that of an employer-employee relationship.

📖 HR Insights

Asian Americans are the least likely to be promoted to leadership positions, despite being well-represented in the workforce. This article delves into the systemic barriers and unconscious biases that hinder their career progression. HR professionals are encouraged to implement mentorship programs, transparent promotion criteria, and diversity training to create a more inclusive leadership pipeline.

💡 HR Tips & Tricks

Tip of the Day: Encourage employees to take "creativity breaks" during the workday. These short breaks can include activities like brainstorming sessions, doodling, or quick team huddles to spark new ideas. This can boost innovation and keep employees engaged.

Trick of the Day:  Implement anonymous feedback channels for employees to voice concerns or suggestions without fear of retribution. This can help management address issues proactively and improve overall workplace morale.

🧾 HR Case Files: Strategic Workforce Planning in the Dutch Railway System

The Dutch Railway system handles 1.3 million passengers and over a million tons of cargo daily, maintaining high reliability and safety with a low CO2 profile. To accommodate a 30% increase in daily train operations over the next decade, ProRail, the infrastructure manager, faces a major challenge. Rather than expanding the infrastructure—which would require a substantial investment and face spatial constraints in urban areas—ProRail plans to invest in technologies to automate and digitize the largely manual traffic control process. This will increase transportation capacity within the existing infrastructure. The strategic workforce challenges primarily concern the 700 Train Traffic Controllers and 150 operational planners whose roles will undergo significant changes.

Key Takeaways

  • Automation Integration: Investing in technology to automate and digitize the traffic control process can increase capacity without expanding infrastructure.

  • Workforce Adaptation: Strategic workforce planning is crucial to help employees transition to new roles and responsibilities due to technological advancements.

  • Stress Management: Balancing automation and manual intervention can reduce the extremes in stress levels for operators, especially during disruptions.

  • Cost Efficiency: Utilizing existing infrastructure through advanced technologies can save substantial investments compared to physical expansion.

  • Sustainability: Enhancing capacity through technology supports the sustainability goals by maintaining a low CO2 profile.

🧰 HR Toolbox

Stay equipped with the latest HR events and resources.

Resource of the Day

This resource delves into the latest research on human resource practices and their impact on healthcare organizations. It focuses on the key areas of recruitment, retention, and workforce deployment to attract skilled healthcare workers. 

Event of the Day

Join the leading HR professionals at the International Conference on Human Resources Development and Management (ICHRDM) in Rome, Italy from August 2-3 2024. Use this event to network with researchers, students, and HR professionals and to learn about the latest developments in the HR space. 

For conference details and registration, visit the website.

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