California: Preparing for the New Workplace Violence Prevention Law – On Sept. 30, 2023, California enacted the California Workplace Violence Prevention Law (WVPL), enforced by the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA). The WVPL takes effect on July 1, 2024, and requires most employers in the state to comply with expansive workplace violence prevention requirements.
Read more: California HR Compliance Bulletin
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Check out our PDF chart below for a list of states that have upcoming minimum wage increases beginning July 1st (click the image for the full report):
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On May 15, 2024, Quest Diagnostics released their review of the 9.8 million workforce drug tests from 2023. Here are the key findings:
Employee terminations are often complicated and, if not conducted properly, employers can open themselves up to costly legal challenges and negatively affect their business or reputation. Establishing procedures for employee terminations can help employers ensure that employee terminations are conducted in a manner that minimizes legal risks and accounts for various business considerations.
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As we approach the new overtime rule’s July 1st effective date, employers should prepare for the upcoming changes as soon as possible. On April 23, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a final rule to amend current requirements employees in white-collar occupations must satisfy to qualify for an overtime exemption under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
With this in mind, we recently released 2 new documents aimed at helping employers with the analysis and potential changes that could come as a result of the new rule.
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A new Harris Poll survey found that most employed Americans are satisfied with their company’s paid time off (PTO) policy; however, 3 in 4 said they didn’t use the maximum PTO permitted by their employer. PTO broadly covers any paid absence from work – it includes various reasons such as vacation, illness, and personal days.
According to the survey, most U.S. workers get between 11 and 30 PTO days yearly. Consider these additional key findings from the survey:
Around 27% of U.S. workers quit their jobs in 2023, which, according to a common turnover calculation, cost employers nearly a trillion dollars to replace. Unfortunately, turnover is expected to climb this year, and labor experts predict another form of the “Great Resignation” to take place as workers choose to leave their jobs. Employee retention remains a critical challenge this year for employers across industries. A LinkedIn survey found that 85% of workers plan to look for a new role in 2024, which is almost a 20% jump from the previous year. The trend particularly applies to younger generations, including Generation Z, millennials, and Generation X.
Continue readingChicago Issues Final Rules for Paid Leave and Paid Sick and Safe Leave – The Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BCAP) has published final rules for the city’s new Paid Leave and Paid Sick and Safe Leave Ordinance, which replaces Chicago’s current paid sick leave ordinance on July 1, 2024. This Legal Update provides information about key topics addressed in the final rules.
Read more: Illinois Legal Update
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We’ve compiled a report that contains case studies published in 2024 that explore the most recent, real-world examples of employers found to be in violation of wage and hour laws. These case studies include snapshots of violations and general guidance on how employers can prevent similar issues. Employers can examine these case studies to learn from the mistakes of others in comparable industries and avoid DOL violations.
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Effective new hire orientation plays a pivotal role in integrating employees into the company culture, setting expectations, and providing essential information for a successful start. It sets the tone for the employee’s experience and influences their productivity and long-term commitment to the organization.
Employee orientation serves as the initial welcome of new hires to a company, marking the beginning of their employment journey. Orientation provides a general overview of company policies, procedures, and culture. It is one of the first steps in the overarching onboarding process, which encompasses a series of events and training sessions. This process is designed to facilitate new hires’ transition into their roles, help them evolve into successful and productive employees, and acclimate them to the organization. As part of the broader onboarding process, orientation is critical to setting up a new hire for success—and often tenure—at the organization.
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