Riia O'Donnell
Riia O’Donnell is a Human Resource professional with over 15 years of hands-on experience in every discipline of the field. A subject matter expert, she has written for the online HR market for over 8 years. Her first job, at age 15, was working the early morning shift at a local bakery on weekends.
34 Articles
Compliance
What Is Form W-3 and Do I Have to File One?
W-3 forms provide totals of salaries paid and amounts withheld for each employee. They must be filed with the Social Security Administration.
February 13, 2026 ・3 mins read
Talent
Furloughed vs Laid Off: Advantages, Disadvantages, and Differences
More and more companies are furloughing or laying off employees due to the coronavirus. Know the differences of each.
December 10, 2025 ・10 mins read
Talent
How to Create Physical Requirements Sheets for Every Position in Your Company
Physical (or Occupational) Demand Sheets reflect the bodily and mental capacity necessary to perform the position's essential functions.
December 29, 2022 ・8 mins read
Compliance
What is Disparate Impact? Unintended Discrimination and Company Policies
A best practice is to understand what disparate impact is, how it may occur, and how to change policies to avoid it.
August 30, 2022 ・7 mins read
Talent
Why Detail Orientation Is a Top Soft Skill — and How to Spot It
Employees who are highly detail-oriented get their work done accurately and reliably — and are great brand ambassadors for your organization. Here’s what to look for to verify this desirable skill.
August 18, 2022 ・8 mins read
Diversity & Inclusion
What is Disparate Treatment? Discrimination in the Workplace
Worker’s rights begin at the recruitment process — even before an employee is hired. At every stage of employment, disparate treatment can occur.
August 13, 2022 ・8 mins read
Culture
HR Headaches: Should You Be Monitoring Employees’ Social Media?
Find out how to monitor employees' social media profiles the right way and what you should check for.
April 6, 2022 ・7 mins read
Benefits
Should You Offer Tuition Reimbursement? The Pros and Cons
Tuition reimbursement can help you attract, retain, and upskill employees. But before you consider offering the benefit, make sure you know the plusses and minuses.
April 5, 2022 ・8 mins read
Talent
HR Headaches: Help! An Employee Has Poor Hygiene
Here are some tips on how to deal with hygiene issues in the workplace in an effective way.
March 16, 2022 ・7 mins read
Culture
Pro-Employee or Pro-Company? Can HR Be Both an Employee Advocate and Company Defender?
Learn how HR professionals juggle being both pro-employee and pro-company simultaneously, advocating for the team and ensuring compliance.
February 10, 2022 ・5 mins read
Talent
Is Your New Hire a Bad Hire? Red Flags of Candidates
Learn how a thorough interview and screening process can help you avoid making bad hires.
February 3, 2022 ・8 mins read
Talent
How Can Employers Reduce Risk When Terminating an Employee?
Learn how to terminate an employee the right way to reduce the risk of retaliation and even a lawsuit.
February 3, 2022 ・7 mins read
Compliance
HR Headaches: Confidential Information Has Leaked
If confidential information has leaked in your organization, here are ways to control the damage, stop it from spreading, and prevent it from occurring again.
November 26, 2021 ・8 mins read
HR Outsourcing
The New Role of People Ops Leaders: Should HR Report To Finance or Operations?
Learn about where HR teams have been, where they should be today, and the value they bring to organizations.
November 19, 2021 ・6 mins read
Culture
HR Headaches: My Boss Holds Meetings During Lunch
Making employees take meetings during their lunch break can be more counter-productive than effective.
October 1, 2021 ・7 mins read
Culture
HR Headaches: An Employee Listens to Loud Music While They Work
Employees playing loud music can affect your workforce productivity and your company image. Here's how to address it.
September 23, 2021 ・7 mins read
Compliance
HR Headaches: Is It OK to Drink Alcohol at a Work Lunch?
Many companies host workplace events, like business lunches and holiday parties, where alcohol is consumed. Does your company have a policy on alcohol?
July 29, 2021 ・6 mins read
Benefits
What Is Sick Leave, and What’s Your Plan for Employees?
What is sick leave, and whether it's paid or unpaid, how can your company plan for this type of time off?
April 21, 2021 ・9 mins read
Culture
How to Write a Policy on Substance Abuse in the Workplace (Free Template)
Here are tips on how to create and enforce a strong policy on prohibiting working while impaired — plus a sample template you can customize for your business.
March 15, 2021 ・7 mins read
Culture
Doing More With Less: Dealing With Budget Cuts and Reduced Revenue
Learning to do more with less may be the key to survival for small businesses over the next few months.
February 3, 2021 ・7 mins read
Culture
Employee Listening: Why Embracing Workplace Feedback Matters
Leadership's approach to employee listening can foster the pride, motivation, innovation, and trust that build strong, successful organizations. Here's how.
October 22, 2020 ・8 mins read
