Breaking Study: Almost 50% Of American Workers Report Alcohol, Substance Abuse Issues

EmploycoUSA

Employment trends expert Rob Wilson discusses new study and how employers can facilitate a healthier work environment

Substance AbuseA new study has found that nearly 50% of American workers are currently struggling with substance and alcohol abuse. The numbers illustrate the stark ways in which the pandemic has impacted the mental and physical health of Americans.

“The data shows that the number of workers who are reporting lower work productivity or missed workdays due to alcohol or substance abuse issues has more than doubled since 2019,” says Rob Wilson, President of Employco USA and employee trends expert.

Wilson says that employers can help to protect employees from substance and alcohol abuse by enhancing their wellness programs in 2021 and taking advantage of high-tech sober support initiatives.

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HR Chat w/Employco USA: The Top 10 EEOC Complaints for 2020

EmploycoUSA

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 cover the top 10 EEOC complaints for 2020. They discuss retaliation complaints at number 1, down to genetic at number 10. They also outline what employers can do to be preventative, including: policy review and reinforcement, interactive discrimination and harassment training, and more.

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

New Study: Majority of WFH Employees Don’t Want to Return to the Post-COVID Workplace

EmploycoUSA

Employment trends expert advises employers on how to handle hesitant employees

Work from Home (WFH)With vaccines rolling out across the country and millions of Americans preparing for a post-COVID reality, research suggests that many people would rather continue working from home than returning to the office. A new ‘Return to Workplace Survey’ from Envoy has found that 66% of employees say that they fear for their health and safety, and nearly 48% say they would prefer a hybrid schedule in which they can continue to work from home a few days a week.

But is the desire to continue working virtually rooted in a fear of the virus or is it a preference for flexibility and the ease of working at home?

“Previous Pew research from late 2020 found that 90 percent of people said they didn’t want to return to the workplace even after it was deemed safe to do so. So, I think employers need to prepare themselves for the reality that they are going to get a lot of pushback from employees about starting to go back to work in person,” says Rob Wilson, President of Employco USA and employment trends expert. “Even with the vaccines and other COVID safety measures in place, the reality is that many WFH employees have simply become accustomed to the lifestyle and don’t want to return to long commutes, business attire, and other obligations that come with working in person.”

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HR Chat w/Employco USA: COVID-19 Vaccines and the Office Environment

EmploycoUSA

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 cover what the office environment looks like as COVID-19 vaccines continue to roll out. They discuss CDC guidelines, fully vaccinated employee gatherings, employer encouragement, challenges over the next couple of months, the economy reopening, and more.

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

HR Chat w/Employco USA: March Madness

EmploycoUSA

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 cover March Madness in the office. They discuss productivity loss, tips on how to embrace the tournament, team building, company sponsored brackets, creative ways to root for your team, and more.

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

HR Newsletter: EEOC Releases 2020 Discrimination Data

EmploycoUSA

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

On Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released its enforcement and litigation data from the 2020 fiscal year. The agency resolved 70,804 charges in 2020 and secured $439.2 million for victims of employment discrimination. Among their efforts, EEOC employees fielded over 470,000 phone calls and responded to more than 187,000 field office inquiries, including 122,775 online submissions.

According to the EEOC, the following are the top 10 reasons for workplace discrimination claims in fiscal year 2020:

  1. Retaliation—37,632 (55.8% of all charges filed)
  2. Disability—24,324 (36.1%)
  3. Race—22,064 (32.7%)
  4. Sex—21,398 (31.7%)
  5. Age—14,183 (21.0%)
  6. National Origin—6,377 (9.5%)
  7. Color—3,562 (5.3%)
  8. Religion—2,404 (3.6%)
  9. Equal Pay Act—980 (1.5%)
  10. Genetic Information—440 (0.7%)

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HR Newsletter: COVID-19: Returning Workforces and Vaccines

EmploycoUSA

COVID-19: Returning Workforces and Vaccines

The COVID-19 pandemic has been raging for months. In that time, many businesses have ceased operations out of safety concerns and have waited for the right opportunity to resume. Now, with COVID-19 vaccines becoming available, employers can finally start planning for their immediate futures.

There are still many unknowns related to the COVID-19 vaccines, but there is at least one agreed-upon factor: Vaccinating employees is the best way to reopen a business safely. However, while it may be the best tool in the arsenal, it is not the only one. Employers will still need to continue using safeguards such as masks and social distancing to ensure the safety of their workers and customers.

New Toolkit: With that in mind, we recently released an HR Toolkit that explores the COVID-19 vaccines and other workplace safeguards, and helps employers decide whether a vaccination policy is right for their organizations. Included at the end is a robust appendix with printable resources that employers can use right now, including policies, communications and more.  Click the following link to read or download the HR toolkit on Returning Workforces and COVID-19 Vaccines.

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HR Newsletter: Attraction and Retention Challenges Amid COVID-19

EmploycoUSA

Attraction and Retention Challenges Amid COVID-19

Attracting and retaining talent is often a top priority for employers across the country. Given the effect the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the job market, one might imagine this task is easier than ever. Unfortunately, that’s far from the truth. While there may be more candidates than usual, attracting quality talent and retaining top performers still remains a struggle, worsened by COVID-19 and its effects on the workplace.

Provide Meaningful Benefits – The pandemic has affected everyone in significant, yet unique, ways. While all employees may be struggling in some way, their situations aren’t the same. Employers can help lift up their workers by offering meaningful employee benefits. Robust health care offerings may seem like an obvious one-size-fits-all solution, but sometimes voluntary benefits are actually what employees need. These include caregiving assistance, financial counseling, increased paid time off and other nontraditional perks. There are many low-cost options available and, better yet, employees can choose their benefits a la carte to meet their individual needs. New Video: Click the following link to view our recent HR chat on Employee Benefit Trends.

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HR Newsletter: HR Edge Quarterly Newsletter (Q1 2021)

EmploycoUSA

HR Edge Newsletter

We’re excited to announce a new Employco publication – HR Edge Quarterly Newsletter! The newsletter is designed to provide quick, easy-to-read articles that are pertinent to small and mid-size employers. In this inaugural issue, we look at the following topics:

  • How HR Can Support Working Parents
  • The Impact of Employer Branding
  • Understanding Generation Z

Click the following link to view and download the HR Edge Quarterly Newsletter (Q1 2021).

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How Employers Can Approach Spring Break in a COVID-19 World

EmploycoUSA

Human resources expert discusses how employers can prevent a rise in COVID-19 cases during spring break season

Spring BreakDespite the fact that the pandemic is far from over, statistics show that that many Americans are planning to travel during the upcoming spring break season. After a year of COVID-19 lockdowns, research reveals that many Americans are planning to hit warm locales like Mexico and Hawaii, and even international destinations like London, as they take advantage of low-cost airline flights.

However, these travel plans can pose a significant risk to communities when these travelers return back home, or back to the office.

“We are definitely concerned about the fact that traveling employees may have an increased chance of exposing their coworkers and colleagues to COVID-19,” says Rob Wilson, President of Employco USA and employment trends expert. “Yet it’s important to be very sensitive about the message we send to employees about spring break travel. Many of these workers are parents with kids at home, some of whom have not been able to attend school for almost a year. Understandably, these families really want to travel and take advantage of their vacation days and low-cost travel options. We can’t downplay the negative impact lockdowns have had on mental health, and it’s important we attend to those needs as managers and employers. But there is no denying that traveling can be quite risky.”

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