On August 11th, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced relaxed guidance related to COVID-19 exposure. The agency is no longer recommending that people quarantine after close contact with an infected person. The CDC also removed the recommendation that people stay at least 6 feet away from others.
According to the CDC, about 95% of Americans ages 16 and older have developed some level of immunity, either from being vaccinated or infected.
The U.S. inflation rate has increased by 9.1% year over year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS also reported that this is the highest the inflation rate has been since 1981. This has led to significant price increases across many consumer goods, and employers are responding in various ways. As employees face increased financial difficulty during this time, it has become crucial for employers to respond. While every employer may take a different approach to addressing inflation and its impact on their employees, the following are some common strategies that have emerged.
Heading into the latter half of 2022, there are several trends impacting Human Resources (HR) and Benefits. Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, employers have faced challenges ranging from the health impacts of COVID-19 on workers to ongoing attraction and retention challenges. Challenges that are both similar and new will likely be present in quarters three and four of 2022. The workplace continues to transform, and while the pandemic has had a significant impact on these changes, various social movements and technological advancements have also played a role.
Today’s labor market is forcing employers to do everything possible to attract and retain workers. Rising inflation and labor shortages are pressuring employers to respond to employee demands.
A human resource and employment solutions firm, Employco USA is pleased to announce the growing expansion of its staff.
Employco’s newest team member:
Mary Gulczynski, Receptionist – Mary comes to us as a clerical professional adding a broad range of experience and expertise to assist our team in day-to-day operations. She will be handling phone calls, mail/deliveries, greeting guests, verifications of employment, and other duties.
“Everyone seemed very down to earth and I suddenly realized this is not an ordinary company. This was a multi-faceted company that intrigued me and therefore I wanted to be a part of that team.” –Mary
A human resource and employment solutions firm, Employco USA is pleased to announce the growing expansion of its staff.
Employco’s newest team members include:
Katie Clancy, HR Generalist – Katie is a creative and enthusiastic addition to our team. She will be handling HR support and her duties will include employee relations, training, and benefits for our Employco clients.
As Albus Dumbledore once said, “Help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it.” This was my first impression of Employco, which makes me excited to join the growing team! –Katie
Kristen Kelly, Payroll Specialist – Kristen is hard-working, dedicated and brings a coveted set of HR, accounting and payroll skills to our team. She will be handling payroll support for Employco clients.
After 17 years with my previous employer, I am looking forward to a change of scenery! –Kristen
Effective for plan years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2023, group health plans and health insurance issuers must make an internet-based price comparison tool available to participants, beneficiaries and enrollees. This requirement comes from final rules regarding transparency in coverage (TiC Final Rules) that were issued by the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and the Treasury (Departments) in November 2020.
According to the Departments, this tool will provide consumers with real-time estimates of their cost-sharing liability from different providers for covered items and services, including prescription drugs, so they can shop and compare prices before receiving care.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) each recently issued new technical assistance documents about how employers’ use of artificial intelligence (AI) and other software tools to make employment decisions may result in unlawful disability discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
EEOC Guidance – The EEOC’s new guidance focuses on the following three ways an employer’s use of software tools for employment decisions may violate the ADA:
In its recent spring regulatory agenda, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced its plans to issue a proposed overtime rule in October 2022. According to the agency’s regulatory agenda, this proposed rule is expected to address how to implement the exemption of executive, administrative and professional employees from the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) minimum wage and overtime requirements.
The DOL provided a similar notice last fall but has yet to specify what changes it may be considering. In recent years, some experts note that the agency has contemplated modifying the duties test and salary thresholds for exempt employees.
In light of the recent tragic shooting at a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois, employers can take this opportunity to prepare their business for an active shooter. These incidents have become increasingly common in the United States. According to the FBI, the number of active shooter incidents jumped by 96.8% between 2017 (31 incidents) and 2021 (61 incidents). These incidents have also grown in severity, with 3 out of the 5 deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history occurring in the past decade.
Active shooter incidents can carry various consequences. These incidents often result in fatalities, serious injuries and prolonged trauma among those involved. Additionally, such incidents can leave lasting impacts on the locations where they occur, such as workplaces. Organizations that encounter active shooter incidents could face substantial recovery expenses, regulatory penalties and liability concerns, along with lasting effects on the employees and the work environment.
We recently released our 3rd quarter Attraction and Retention Newsletter. This edition of the newsletter includes the following information:
Click on the following link to read the Attraction & Retention Quarterly Newsletter where we elaborate on each of the topics above.