.employee_name {
position:absolute;
top: 0;
color:white;
width: 130px;
height: 130px;
padding-top: 10px;
padding-left: 10px;
font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;
text-align: left;
font-size: 16px;
font-weight:normal;
font-style:italic;
opacity: 0;
  -webkit-transition: opacity linear .5s;
  -khtml-transition: opacity linear .5s;
  -moz-transition: opacity linear .5s;
  -ms-transition: opacity linear .5s;
  -o-transition: opacity linear .5s;
  transition: opacity linear .5s;
}

.employee_name:hover {
opacity:1;
}




<div class="employee_headshot_cell"><a href=" ">
<span class="employee_name" style="background-color:rgb(228,215,0);">Alicia Fowler</span>
<img src="images/headshots/sven_seger.jpg" />
</a></div>