HR Newsletter: The ABCs of PIPs

HR Newsletter: The ABCs of PIPs

It can be difficult for management to understand why an employee may be excelling in one area of a job, while underperforming in another. Many employers have found performance improvement plans (PIPs) to be a great tool when trying to identify and resolve employee behavior or performance issues. PIPs are typically implemented when an employee has developed a pattern of performance issues that may be affecting their individual success, or that of their department or company.

Continue reading

HR Newsletter: Best Practices to Prepare for Form I-9 Audits

HR Newsletter: Best Practices to Prepare for Form I-9 Audits

Federal law requires employers to hire only individuals who may legally work in the United States—either U.S. citizens or authorized foreign nationals. To comply with the law, employers must verify the identity and employment authorization of each individual they hire by completing and retaining the Employment Eligibility Verification form (Form I-9). Employers must have a completed Form I-9 for every employee hired after Nov. 6, 1986.

Continue reading

HR Newsletter: New DOL Opinion Letters

HR Newsletter: New DOL Opinion Letters

On May 29, 2026, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued four opinion letters to help employers understand several federal labor laws:

Continue reading

HR Newsletter: Training for High-Turnover Roles

HR Newsletter: Training for High-Turnover Roles

High turnover has long been treated as an unavoidable cost of doing business in industries such as retail, food service, hospitality, manufacturing, and other frontline operations. For roles with frequent turnover in any industry, organizations often hesitate to invest in training, questioning the value of developing employees who may not stay long. Yet this assumption is increasingly being challenged by workers themselves, who consistently say that access to training and skills development is a key factor in whether they stay, engage, and perform well at work. As the gap widens between what employees expect and what employers deliver, underinvestment in learning can quietly become a driver of the very turnover organizations are trying to manage.

Continue reading

(The ESCA Digest) 30 Years of Employco

Employco’s 30th anniversary was highlighted in The ESCA Digest (May 2026) under Industry History.

“On April 16th, Employco marked a milestone that few companies reach: 30 years in business. What began in 1996 as a small, family-run startup in Chicago has grown into one of the country’s leading HR outsourcing firms, serving businesses nationwide while staying true to the same philosophy it started with.

In the early days, the goal was straightforward. Bob Wilson and his sons, Rob and Scott, saw how overwhelmed business owners were by administrative tasks like payroll, workers’ compensation, and HR compliance. These weren’t just minor inconveniences—they were constant distractions pulling focus away from growth. With just $5,000 in sales in the first year, Employco set out to take that burden off their shoulders.”

Read the full piece here: 30 years of Employco

(Food Industry News) How to Maximize Savings and Value on Employee Benefits
Continue reading