Recently, President Joe Biden urged employers to bring back workers into the office. During his remarks, Biden noted that with COVID-19 vaccination rates up and hospitalizations down, most Americans can remove their masks, return to work and move forward safely.

President Biden also made similar comments days earlier during the 2022 State of the Union address, where he encouraged in-person activities, including working and learning, which could enable more working parents to return to the physical workplace.

“Because of the progress we’ve made in fighting COVID[-19], Americans can not only get back to work but they can [get] going to the office and safely fill our great downtown cities again.” —President Joe Biden

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The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) enforces federal minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping and child labor requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The WHD also enforces the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act, the Employee Polygraph Protection Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), wage garnishment provisions of the Consumer Credit Protection Act, as well as a number of employment standards and worker protections as provided in several immigration-related statutes.

Generally, the WHD will initiate an investigation after a current or former employee files a complaint. An investigator may visit an employer to provide information about the application of, and compliance with, the laws administered by the WHD. A WHD investigator may also visit an organization to conduct interviews, examine time clocks and ensure all employment notifications are available to employees. Additionally, the investigator may review up to three years of wage and hour records to determine whether there are any violations in an employer’s payroll practices.

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Benefits have always been crucial for attracting and retaining top performers, and voluntary benefits are a great way for employers to round off their offerings. These extra perks allow for more personalization that can help satisfy the unique needs of each worker, especially in today’s multigenerational workforce. A rising number of organizations recognize that voluntary benefits are beneficial to employees and their families—and many come at little to no cost for the employer. This article highlights three voluntary benefits trends to monitor in 2022.

1. Emphasis on Holistic Voluntary Benefits Offerings – The voluntary benefits market has been expanding steadily over the years and will continue to grow in 2022. Nearly all employers (94%) find voluntary benefits important to their talent and total rewards strategies over the next three years. Back in 2018, just 36% of employers felt that way. It’s expected that more employers this year will offer a wide range of voluntary benefits options to meet the needs of their current and prospective employees. Dental and vision care continue to be standard voluntary benefits. As the pandemic continues to impact workplaces and personal lives, nontraditional offerings like critical illness, hospital indemnity, pet insurance, identity theft and group legal are becoming popular. One of the best perks of voluntary benefits is that they are, in fact, optional, so employees can opt for the coverage that matters most to them. Since employees often face unique stressors or challenges, employers can offer a wide array of benefits or services to support their workforces. Supplemental offerings could be precisely what employees need to fill in coverage gaps as the pandemic continues.

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Mental health has been a hot topic recently, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past two years, so many people have experienced issues such as burnout, depression, anxiety and substance addiction. In fact, 40% of U.S. adults said they have struggled with mental health or substance abuse during the pandemic, according to a Jellyvision survey.

In 2022, mental health will continue to be a top concern for workplaces, and employers are taking notice. Over 30% of employers have added new mental health benefits within the past year, McKinsey and Company says. Yet, despite increased efforts, nearly 25% of employees still don’t feel supported when it comes to their mental health.

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It’s no shock that the COVID-19 pandemic fueled a pivot towards remote work. And as workplaces reopen, a significant number of employees want to retain their remote status. To accommodate this desire, many employers are using a hybrid work model, allowing employees to work in person some of the time and remotely for the rest. Within this model, it’s critical for employers to understand potential pitfalls and adapt as necessary. Here are three common hybrid work model mistakes to avoid.

1. Inadequate Policies – If employers don’t have clearly defined hybrid policies detailed in writing, employees and their managers may not understand expectations, which could lead to confusion, improper conduct or missed deadlines. Among other topics, a hybrid work policy might include details on who is eligible for hybrid work, scheduling expectations and technology specifics.

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We recently released two new infographics covering new trends in human resources and employee wellness.

2022 HR Trends – In today’s workplace, managers and HR departments are given high levels of responsibility, often with limited budgets. As a result, employers must constantly innovate and stay on top of trends to remain competitive in the current labor market. Click the following link for a PDF copy of our infographic on 2022 HR Trends:

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On Dec. 14, 2021, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued 14 new answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about what employers may or may not do to comply with federal fair employment laws during the COVID-19 pandemic. The new FAQs specifically address the definition of “disability” and how to determine whether an individual with COVID-19 meets it under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

ADA and COVID-19 Background – Under the ADA, employers with 15 or more employees may face liability if they take certain adverse employment actions against individuals who have been diagnosed with or are believed to have COVID-19. The ADA also requires these employers to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities, including any related to COVID-19. Smaller employers may be subject to similar rules under applicable state or local law.

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On Monday, Dec. 27, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reduced its recommended periods for COVID-19 isolation (confirmed COVID-19 infection) and quarantine (potential COVID-19 exposure). Asymptomatic individuals infected with COVID-19 have been told to isolate for five days from the day they test positive—down from the original 10. After, they should wear a mask when around others for an additional five days.

The CDC’s new quarantine guidance was similarly updated. People who are unvaccinated or are more than six months out from their second vaccine dose (or more than two months after getting the Johnson & Johnson vaccine) and not yet boosted should avoid others for five days after COVID-19 exposure. Then, they should diligently wear a mask for an additional five days afterward.

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We recently released the 1st quarter Attraction and Retention Newsletter.  This edition of the newsletter includes the following information:

• 3 Pandemic-influenced Recruiting Trends to Watch in 2022
  • Remote Interviewing and Scheduling
  • Passive Candidate Recruiting
  • Holistic Benefits Offerings

• The Case for Considering “Boomerang” Employees
  • Easier Vetting
  • Faster Onboarding
  • Greater Skillsets

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Many human resources (HR) functions were quickly reimagined in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and organizations can continue to expect new employment-related challenges in 2022. Here are five HR trends to monitor this upcoming year:

1. Hybrid Workplace Sustainability – Most workplace leaders expect that at least some of their employees will work remotely after the pandemic. As such, many employers will factor in hybrid work when creating or updating workplace policies and processes.

2. Attraction and Retention Amid Labor Shortages – The current labor shortage has been an obstacle for most employers and is likely to continue into the new year. Generally, employees are seeking opportunities that offer better compensation, benefits and flexible work arrangements.

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