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Compliance

Compliance

First-Time Founders

+2

Background Check Laws: What You Can Actually Check in Colorado, California, New York, Texas, and Florida

Apr 8, 2026

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8 min read

Background Check Laws: What You Can Actually Check in Colorado, California, New York, Texas, and Florida

Background check laws vary wildly by state. California bans criminal questions until conditional offer. Florida doesn't. Know your state's rules.

Kate York
Kate York

Compensation & Benefits

+3

What Benefits Do We Legally Have to Offer From Day One? The State-by-State Breakdown Founders Actually Need

Apr 7, 2026

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10 min read

What Benefits Do We Legally Have to Offer From Day One? The State-by-State Breakdown Founders Actually Need

Mandatory benefits vary wildly by state. Colorado requires paid leave from day one. Texas doesn't. Here's what you legally owe your first hire.

Kate York
Kate York

First-Time Founders

+2

How to Spot Flight Risks Without Asking Illegal Questions: Assessing Commitment in Startup Hiring

Apr 6, 2026

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11 min read

How to Spot Flight Risks Without Asking Illegal Questions: Assessing Commitment in Startup Hiring

You can't predict forever. Focus on 12-24 month fit. Ask about learning goals and past patterns, not family plans. Here's what predicts retention.

Kate York
Kate York

Company Culture

+3

"Culture Fit" Rejections: When They're Legal and When They're Discrimination Lawsuits Waiting to Happen

Apr 2, 2026

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10 min read

"Culture Fit" Rejections: When They're Legal and When They're Discrimination Lawsuits Waiting to Happen

"Culture fit" rejections risk discrimination claims. Define culture as specific behaviors, document job-related reasons, involve diverse panels.

Kate York
Kate York

Compensation & Benefits

+3

Work Samples and Take-Home Projects: When You Have to Pay Candidates (And When You Don't)

Mar 31, 2026

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11 min read

Work Samples and Take-Home Projects: When You Have to Pay Candidates (And When You Don't)

Work samples are legal until they provide economic benefit to your company. Then you must pay minimum wage. IP belongs to candidates. Here's how.

Kate York
Kate York

Scaling

+4

Resume Workflow: Blind Review, Auto-Rejection, and Retention Rules

Mar 26, 2026

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12 min read

Resume Workflow: Blind Review, Auto-Rejection, and Retention Rules

Blind resume review reduces bias. Auto-rejecting based on degrees risks discrimination claims. You must keep all resumes 1+ years. Here's your resume workflow.

Kate York
Kate York

Scaling

+3

Pay Transparency in Job Postings: What You Must Disclose (And What You Should)

Mar 25, 2026

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13 min read

Pay Transparency in Job Postings: What You Must Disclose (And What You Should)

CO/CA/NY require salary ranges in job posts. Remote hiring triggers compliance regardless of your location. Here's what to disclose in each state.

Kate York
Kate York

Scaling

+3

AI in Hiring Laws 2026: What Every Founder Needs to Know Right Now

Mar 23, 2026

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14 min read

AI in Hiring Laws 2026: What Every Founder Needs to Know Right Now

AI hiring laws are in effect NOW in CA, IL, NY, CO, TX. Candidates can sue in Illinois. Fines up to $20K/violation in Colorado. Here's what you need to know for compliance.

Kate York
Kate York

Scaling

+3

Where Should You Found Your Startup? An HR Perspective on the Top 5 Entrepreneur States

Mar 5, 2026

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12 min read

Where Should You Found Your Startup? An HR Perspective on the Top 5 Entrepreneur States

Where you hire matters more than where you incorporate. Here's what CO, CA, NY, TX, and FL actually cost from an HR perspective and who wins where.

Kate York
Kate York

First-Time Founders

+2

How to Create a Performance Improvement Plan

Mar 4, 2026

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14 min read

How to Create a Performance Improvement Plan

Performance Improvement Plans work when done right: specific metrics, real support, and weekly check-ins. Here's a template and process that works.

Kate York
Kate York

First-Time Founders

+2

The First 5 HR Policies Every Founder Needs

Feb 20, 2026

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11 min read

The First 5 HR Policies Every Founder Needs

Before You Make Your First Hire

Kate York
Kate York

First-Time Founders

+2

Your Fifth Policy: Anti-Harassment/Anti-Discrimination Policy

Feb 19, 2026

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11 min read

Your Fifth Policy: Anti-Harassment/Anti-Discrimination Policy

13 Questions to Answer Before Your First Employee

Kate York
Kate York

First-Time Founders

+2

Your Fourth Policy: Offer Letter Template

Feb 13, 2026

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11 min read

Your Fourth Policy: Offer Letter Template

14 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Creating Your Offer Letter Template

Kate York
Kate York

First-Time Founders

+2

Your Third Policy: Independent Contractor Agreement

Feb 12, 2026

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8 min read

Your Third Policy: Independent Contractor Agreement

15 Questions to Answer Before You Draft Your Independent Contractor Agreement

Kate York
Kate York

First-Time Founders

+2

Your Second Policy: Confidentiality/NDA Agreement

Feb 11, 2026

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9 min read

Your Second Policy: Confidentiality/NDA Agreement

Answer These Questions about a Confidentiality/NDA Agreement Before Anyone Learns Your Secrets

Kate York
Kate York

First-Time Founders

+2

Your First Policy: Intellectual Property Agreement

Feb 10, 2026

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9 min read

Your First Policy: Intellectual Property Agreement

Answer These Intellectual Property Questions Before Anyone Touches Your Code

Kate York
Kate York

Company Culture

+3

Do You Actually Need an Employee Handbook?

Feb 9, 2026

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10 min read

Do You Actually Need an Employee Handbook?

Ask Yourself These Questions First

Kate York
Kate York

First-Time Founders

+2

Your Hiring Plan

Feb 6, 2026

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8 min read

Your Hiring Plan

Why It's the Most Important Question You're Not Asking Yourself

Kate York
Kate York

Company Culture

+3

Accrued PTO vs. Unlimited PTO

Feb 5, 2026

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7 min read

Accrued PTO vs. Unlimited PTO

What Founders Actually Need to Know

Kate York
Kate York

Colorado HR

+1

The Top 10 Colorado Employment Laws Every Founder Needs to Know

Feb 4, 2026

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8 min read

The Top 10 Colorado Employment Laws Every Founder Needs to Know

Before They Cost You

Kate York
Kate York

First-Time Founders

+2

Your First Hire

Feb 3, 2026

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6 min read

Your First Hire

Steps for New Founders

Kate York
Kate York

Company Culture

+2

Handbook drafted; Clarity gained

Feb 2, 2026

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4 min read

Handbook drafted; Clarity gained

The handbook you don't want to write (but should)

Kate York
Kate York

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