Human Resources

WEBINAR: New PPP Loan Under the Consolidated Appropriations Act

Employco USA

Webinar 12/30/2020

Join Employco USA to learn about the LATEST UPDATES from the SBA including the new Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.

During this FREE webinar, we’ll:

  • Review the new tax deductibility provisions
  • Provide an updated list of the items that are eligible for forgiveness
  • Summarize the requirements for employers to request a new PPP loan
  • Discuss the changes to the forgiveness application process

You’ll also be able to get some clarity on human resource issues including unemployment and payroll. Employco provides HR and payroll solutions to businesses across the country.

There will be a brief presentation to begin the session, but most of the time will be dedicated to answering your specific questions!

FREE REGISTRATION
You’ll be able to join us at 2:00pm CT this Wednesday, December 30th from your computer, tablet, or smartphone (you can also dial-in):

REGISTER HERE

You can also use our registration form to submit questions you’d like to see answered/covered during the webinar.

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The Dangerous Rise of Unemployment Scams and How It Harms American Workers

Employco USA

Employment trends expert Rob Wilson discusses why unemployment scams are not a ‘victimless crime’

Unemployment FraudUnemployment scams are on the rise across the country, with organizations like the Better Business Bureau of Central Illinois reporting that this type of fraud has been on the increase in recent months. Over 200,000 Illinoisans have been targeted for such fraud, and Congressman Rodney Davis (R-IL) himself was a victim, with scammers filing for unemployment benefits under his name.

Employment trends expert Rob Wilson can speak personally to this troubling trend, as he was the target of an unemployment scam, along with other members of his staff.

“We’ve known these scams have been on the rise for months, and we have been helping our clients with how to best address the issue, but it was still a bit of a shock to find out it happened to me and employees within our office too,” says Wilson, who is the President of Employco USA, an employment solutions firm based in Chicago.

Wilson says that the perpetrators are stealing employees’ identities in order to access government funds under their name.

“It’s alarming to consider how much confidential information these scammers have,” says Wilson. “From your address to your birthday to your Social Security number, this a disturbing breach of privacy.”

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Can Your Employer Punish You for Traveling During the Holidays?

Employco USA

HR expert discusses employers’ rights and responsibilities this holiday season

COVID TravelMany employees were asked to sign waivers promising their employers that they would not travel or attend mass gatherings this Thanksgiving season. As we head into another round of holidays, it is expected that even more employers will ask employees to refrain from traveling or gathering with their families. But do employers have this right, and to what extent can companies enforce these COVID-19 policies?

“Yes, employers have the right to ask employees not to travel, and to even formally discipline if they do so,” says Rob Wilson, President of Employco USA and human resources expert. “For example, we have seen cases in which a worker has posted examples of their risky behavior on social media, such as going to a bar and not wearing a mask, or having a large party with friends indoors. When this is brought to the employer’s attention, they have the right and even the responsibility to discuss this problematic issue with the employee and cut the worker’s hours or take them off the schedule until they are proven virus-free.”

This will be happening a lot as we get deeper in the holiday season, says Wilson, and employers should become well-versed on how to handle employees who boldly refuse to limit their social interactions.

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The PTO Time Bomb That Will Explode by Dec. 31st

Employco USA

HR expert Rob Wilson comments on how employers can avoid ending up with a skeleton crew this holiday season  

Cancelled TravelWith the COVID-19 pandemic, many people were forced to cancel their vacations, weddings, cruises, and other planned leisure activities. As a result, workers across the country have collected many days’ worth (or even weeks’ worth) of paid time off, which will need to be used by year’s end or could be potentially lost forever.

Rob Wilson, President of Employco USA and human resources expert, comments on this breaking topic below:

“The COVID-19 shutdown impeded workflow in many ways, but it also created a situation in which employees could no longer travel or engage in their planned vacations. As a result, we saw many employees simply forgo their time off, and instead work through 2020 without a designated break. But this has now led us to a serious HR quandary: All of these workers who didn’t use their PTO have an impending deadline of December 31st, by which they need to use their paid time off or possibly see it disappear.”

As a result, says Wilson, workplaces could be looking at many empty desks for the next few weeks, as employees shoehorn their PTO onto the holiday season.

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Can Your Employer Require You to Get the COVID-19 Vaccine?

Employco USA

Human resources expert Rob Wilson weighs in on COVID-19 vaccines and the workplace 

COVID-19 VaccineQantas Airlines made global news this week when their CEO said they would require international travelers to be vaccinated for COVID-19.

“It’s called a digital vaccination passport, and we are expecting many airlines will follow suit and require their passengers to submit proof of their immunization,” says Rob Wilson, President of Employco USA and human resources expert. “Of course, this means that not only will internationally-bound passengers on Qantas Airlines need to be immunized,  but so will their employees.”

This raises one of the most pressing and complicated human resources issues of our time, says Wilson. Can employers require their employees or prospective employees to be vaccinated if they want to retain or attain a position at their company?

“Well, the short answer is yes,” says Wilson. “There is a precedent that has been set which allows for healthcare employers to require their medical staff to be immunized, and the same is true for those who work in the armed forces or in certain federal or state jobs. But, until now, most employers outside of these branches have not issued company-wide requirements for immunizations.”

However, Wilson says, that’s about to change.

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Podcast: The Top 5 Employment Law Changes Expected Under Joe Biden

Employco USA

On this month’s podcast Rob, Scott, and Jason discuss “The Top 5 Employment Law Changes Expected Under Joe Biden,” including: the Affordable Care Act (ACA), employee leaves of absence, labor relations, independent contractors, minimum wage, and more.

Podcast: The Top 5 Employment Law Changes Expected Under Joe Biden

Contact us with any questions you may have, we’re here to help: hr@employco.com

HR Chat: Is Another Shutdown Looming?

Employco USA

We receive a number of questions from our clients as we consult them on a variety of HR issues related to COVID-19.

HR Chat w/Employco USA: Is Another Shutdown Looming?

In this video, Rob and Jason cover preparing your business for another shutdown. They discuss technology and remote connectivity, higher-risk employees and underlying health conditions, FFCRA pay, remote employee engagement, federal relief, overcommunication (on company decisions, home work environments), and more.

Questions? We’re here to help, info@employco.com

Election 2020: 1 in 3 People Now Live in States Where Marijuana is Legal

Employco USA

Employment trends expert explains what employers in newly-legalized areas need to know

Marijuana RXFive more states including Arizona, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, and South Dakota voted to legalize marijuana for recreational use, medical use, or both yesterday. This leaves just a handful of American states in which marijuana use of any kind is fully illegal. So what does this mean for employers and drug use in the workplace?

Rob Wilson, an employment trends expert and President of Employco USA, a national employment solutions firm, offers his timely expertise on this breaking topic.

“The federal government still classifies marijuana as a schedule 1 substance, which is the same class as heroin and ecstasy,” says the human resources specialist. “However, since many more states now permit the use of marijuana, either medically or recreationally, this leads to very murky waters for employers, especially as it can potentially be illegal to discriminate against employees with a medical marijuana card.”

So how do these changes to long-standing drug laws impact the way that employers can monitor possible drug use among their staff?

“Your ability to monitor drug use among your employees is going to depend on whether or not you are a unionized or private workplace,” says Wilson. “While you have the right to expect and require sobriety from workers on the job, it can become a bit tricky when you suspect drug use and want to act on your fears.”

Wilson says that if you work in a non-unionized environment, you should ask a supervisor or human resources team member to help you determine if an employee is under the influence of marijuana.

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HR Chat: The Upcoming Election and Employer Responsibilities

Employco USA

We receive a number of questions from our clients as we consult them on a variety of HR issues related to COVID-19.

HR Chat w/Employco USA: The Upcoming Election and Employer Responsibilities

In this video, Rob and Jason cover employer responsibilities during the upcoming election. They discuss state and local level laws, paid or unpaid time off to vote on election day (whether you are in office or remote), employer posting/notice requirements, if voting proof is needed, and more.

Questions? We’re here to help, info@employco.com