The current federal minimum wage rate is $7.25 per hour. However, many states have adopted minimum wage rates higher than the federal rate. When the state rate and the federal rate are different, employers must pay their employees the higher rate.
Click the image below or this link for a PDF with the full list of states that have upcoming increases, including: California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Oregon, and Washington DC.
On May 28, 2021, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) added new answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) to its existing guidance on how employers should comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) while also observing all applicable emergency workplace safety guidelines during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The agency also updated five of the FAQs from the existing guidance.
The new and updated FAQs clarify the types of programs employers may have to help ensure that their employees receive COVID-19 vaccinations. They also address the extent to which employers may require or provide incentives for employees or employees’ family members to receive vaccines. The new FAQs also provide expanded guidance on the types of information employers may request or require as part of their workplace vaccination policies and programs.
On May 18, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced it is reviewing the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations for fully vaccinated individuals.
OSHA has indicated it will update its Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace and their National Emphasis Program for COVID-19 accordingly once the review is complete. Until then, the agency is referring employers to the CDC’s guidance for information on appropriate measures to protect fully vaccinated workers.
National Safety Month 2021 – Join Employco and the National Safety Council (NSC) to recognize the 25th anniversary of National Safety Month, an annual observance to help keep each other safe from workplace accidents and injuries.
Employer’s Safety Initiatives and Reputation – The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic continues to validate the importance of an employer brand during a crisis. As employees return to the workplace, organizations must prioritize safety. If return-to-work plans go wrong and employee safety is not a top priority, not only will the health and safety of employees be at risk—but the organization’s reputation will be as well. A new HR Insights article was recently released to explore how safety impacts an employer’s brand, reputation and recruiting efforts—and how to transparently highlight safety measures taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace with current and prospective employees and the general public. Click the following link to read the article: Employee Safety Initiatives During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Burnout is a commonly discussed issue amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Burnout, in simple terms, is the feeling of mental exhaustion stemming from workplace duties. According to the World Health Organization, burnout may be shown through the following symptoms:
As these examples show, burnout doesn’t always look the same for everyone. Yet, the impacts of burnout are typically uniform—lower-quality work and detrimental health effects.
There are many different priorities and factors to be weighed and considered by organizations as they attempt to grow and pursue their goals. Prominent among these factors are diversity and inclusion initiatives. As greater attention has been paid to these concepts in recent years, organizations have realized that these are not just trends. Diversity and inclusion initiatives are here to stay.
Many employers that cultivate an inclusive work environment have noticed a positive impact on employee morale, productivity and the company’s bottom line. For example, inclusion can be a valuable component of employee retention, as employees who feel included are generally more likely to stay at an organization. And increased employee retention means that organizations can avoid excessive offboarding time, hiring costs and training expenses.
Human resources expert weighs in on shifting mask requirements and other COVID changes in the workplace
In recent weeks, mask mandates have lifted around the country. It should have been a moment of joy, but for many employers, it’s caused another wave of pandemic-induced stress.
“Employers are really confused right now,” says Rob Wilson, human resources expert and President of Employco USA, a nationwide employment solutions firm. “On the one hand, you have the CDC telling vaccinated Americans they don’t need to wear masks inside anymore. But on the other hand, you have customers and staff who want everyone to keep masking up and following previous pandemic guidelines. No wonder many employers are struggling with how to proceed.”
Complicating the matter is that many employers don’t know if they can mandate or inquire about employees’ vaccination status.
Rob Wilson, President of Employco USA, was recently quoted in an article for HRE (Human Resource Executive).
“Anything employers can do to encourage their staff to get the vaccine—or at least consider the vaccine and do more research into it before saying ‘no’ right away—will be incredibly beneficial not only for the company’s bottom line, but more importantly for saving countless lives,” says employment expert Rob Wilson, president of employment firm Employco USA.
For more on this topic, please contact Rob Wilson at rwilson@thewilsoncompanies.com.
We receive a number of questions from our clients as we consult them on a variety of HR issues.
In this video, Rob and Jason discuss if employers can ask job applicants if they’ve been vaccinated or had COVID-19. They cover what the EEOC has said, the importance of being consistent with both applicants and employees, if it’s reasonable to ask, and more.
Questions? We’re here to help, info@employco.com
Join Employco USA’s Rob Wilson and Jason Eisenhut as they discuss a number of workplace changes you may encounter after COVID-19. There will be a brief presentation to begin the session, but most of the time will be dedicated to answering your specific questions!
We’ll cover employee vaccines, relaxed safety requirements, recruiting and onboarding, video interviews, the new workplace, in-person vs remote, cybersecurity practices, updated pay strategy, the demand for skilled workers, and more!
FREE REGISTRATION
You’ll be able to join us at 10:00am CT on Thursday, June 24th from your computer, tablet, or smartphone (you can also dial-in):
You can also use our registration form to submit questions you’d like to see answered/covered during the webinar.