(Article) “Performance Review: Useless Procedure?”

Employco USA

Rob Wilson, President of Employco USA, recently had an article featured in the November issue of inBusiness magazine:

Performance Review: Useless Procedure?
The shift now is away from an annual review

Evidence from a recent survey by Gallup and others has found that two-thirds of organizations feel their performance reviews are not effective. Described as “subjective and highly ambiguous,” performance reviews can be a very impactful tool when used appropriately, but, as this research shows, most companies say they are falling short of the mark.

As a response, some employers are eliminating the annual performance review. However, we don’t see that as a good solution for the vast majority of companies. Without an annual review — even if it’s just a compilation of more frequent ones — it’s very difficult for employers to work on merit pay increases.

So, there is a purpose to be served. Instead of ditching performance reviews entirely, therefore, companies need to rethink the way they approach this measuring stick and bring performance reviews into the modern era.

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inBusiness Magazine

For more on this topic, please contact Rob Wilson at rwilson@thewilsoncompanies.com.

Employco USA Hires an Accounting Associate

Employco USA

A human resource and employment solutions firm, Employco USA is pleased to announce the growing expansion of its staff.

Employco’s newest team member:

Julian RaczkaJulian Raczka, Accounting Associate – Julian will maintain an accurate analysis of employee benefits and garnishments in conjunction with Human Resources, Payroll, and Accounts Payable, as well as assist the accounting staff with the analysis of various categories of accounts, including commissions, cash accounts, payroll taxes, etc.

“What drew me to Employco was the family centered atmosphere. I am excited to join the team and for my future at Employco.” -Julian Raczka

For more on this topic, please contact Rob Wilson at rwilson@thewilsoncompanies.com.

‘Fundamentally Broken’: Is the Debt Worth the Degree?

Employco USA

Employment expert weighs in on how Skilled Workers fare Vs. College Grads

Student DebtFormer Trump administration official A. Wayne Johnson recently described the student debt program in this country as ‘fundamentally broken.’ For the millions of college students who have an average of $37,172 in debt by the time they graduate, these words no doubt ring true.

And, students are not the only ones who are feeling the pain. Research shows that college debt leads to poor sleep and high anxiety, potentially causing employees to be unmotivated and unfocused while at work, in turn harming employers and their bottom line.

This begs the question: Is college for everyone? Or, would entering a skilled trade be a smarter choice for many young adults?

“We have this idea in our society that a college degree is the gateway to financial freedom and success,” says Rob Wilson, employment trends expert and President of Employco USA. “But the statistics don’t necessarily bear that out. Most college grads end up moving home after graduation to live with their parents, and it takes several months or more for them to find a job. In many cases, that job won’t be in their field of interest, and these young people end up spending a good chunk of their paycheck paying off their hefty student loans.”

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The Fearful Cost of Going Freelance

Employco USA

Employment expert reveals the hidden dangers of the gig economy

Gig EconomyMore than one-third of Americans are now participating in the new “gig economy,” in which they work part-time or contracted positions, instead of dedicated full-time positions. And research shows that over half of these freelancers view their gig positions as permanent, rather than temporary. However, a new study warns that the gig economy could be destructive for Americans’ health and well-being.

Rob Wilson, employment trends expert and President of Employco USA, says, “The research shows that a gig economy leaves most part-time workers without healthcare, retirement funding, dental care, or disability benefits. Meanwhile, many of these ‘giggers’ often have to work more than one job in order to make ends meet, and this is particularly increasing among female workers.”

In fact, Wilson says that holding multiple part-time jobs can actually be destructive to a woman’s earning potential, saying, “One study showed that women who held a number of part-time jobs in their 20s saw absolutely no increase in earnings in their 30s, meaning that even as their experience and their families’ needs grow, they do not earn a dollar more.”

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(Article) “Ban on pre-employment marijuana testing to impact HR policies nationwide, experts say”

Employco USA

Rob Wilson, President of Employco USA, was recently quoted in an article for amNewYork:

A new law that bans most private companies in New York City from testing job applicants for marijuana as part of the hiring process may have an impact that reaches far past city limits.

“You’re going to see changes in employment policies across the country because for a national company it becomes too hard to have different HR policies, and then you run into discrimination issues if you’re drug testing in New Jersey but not in New York,” said Rob Wilson, president of the human resources firm Employco. “The last thing you want is a national drug policy and you’re not on top of this law, you could find yourself with some big headaches.”

The law doesn’t go into effect until May 2020, which gives affected companies time to rework their policies, but Wilson said he’s already seen a shift away from pre-employment drug testing as more states legalize medical and recreational use of the drug.

“A lot of our clients, they’re adjusting their policies for after a job has been accepted,” he said. “So our clients that have zero tolerance are pretty much in the group [of exemptions], working at the airports or clients that have people driving vehicles for work.”

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For more on this topic, please contact Rob Wilson at rwilson@thewilsoncompanies.com.

Why You Shouldn’t Dress up as Donald Trump for Halloween…Plus, Other Do’s and Don’ts for Celebrating Halloween at Work

Employco USA

175 million Americans celebrated Halloween last year…but how should this holiday be approached in the workplace?

Pumpkin“Countless workplaces across the country permit or even encourage Halloween costumes in the office,” says Rob Wilson, human resources expert and President of Employco USA, a national employment-solutions firm. “Some even have costume competitions. Other offices have Halloween parties and put up decorations for the holiday. But, in this day and age, it is crucial to consider how your Halloween costume could impact your employer’s opinion of you, or what legal ramifications these common Halloween practices could pose for employers.”

To that end, workplace expert Rob Wilson has provided the below Do’s and Don’ts for celebrating Halloween in the workplace:

  • No Drag & No Donald. “Don’t wear any costume which mocks a certain religion, ethnicity, culture, gender or sexual orientation,” says Wilson. “For example, transgender people often find it offensive when cisgender people dress in ‘drag’ because they don’t want their identity to be seen as a joke. And, in our current political climate, it would be a bad idea to show up to the office in a Donald Trump costume or a peach costume, which is a popular choice for those who want to see the president impeached. Play it safe: Don’t dress up as any current celebrities or politicians, and avoid nun costumes, priest costumes, and certainly any costumes which would involve you making yourself over to look like a person of another ethnicity, i.e. “blackface,” or wearing Native American costumes or Geisha costumes if you are not of those ethnic backgrounds.”
  • Don’t decorate with ghastly or gruesome décor. “It can be festive to have a brightly colored pumpkin on your desk or a collection of gourds on the office break table, but avoid things like demons, dismembered body parts and witches. Many people are offended by such imagery or others might find gruesome displays triggering,” says Wilson. “Keep it professional and tasteful. Think harvest, not graveyard.” 

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Why so Many Millennials Are Leaving Jobs Due to Mental Health Issues

Employco USA

Employment trends expert talks new study which says that half of millennials have left a job due to a mental health crisis

Mental HealthA new study found that 50 percent of Millennials and 75% of Generation Z’ers say that they have left a job due to pressing mental health concerns. The study, led by Mind Share Partners, SAP, and Qualtrics has discovered that younger generations of workers are much more likely than older employees to leave a job due to the need for mental health care.

“The study is very important because it reflects generational differences as far as employees’ approach to therapy and self-care,” says Rob Wilson, President of Employco USA and employment trends expert. “Today’s incoming workforce is much more well-versed in therapy and the need for mental health services, and as this research shows, they seek out these resources when needed, even if it means leaving their current job.”

Wilson says this study helps reveal where companies and employers can do better in attracting and retaining younger talent.

“Offering benefits that include comprehensive mental health care can go a long way in attracting younger employees,” says Wilson. “Therapy is costly, but as research shows, there has been a 47 percent increase in major-depression diagnoses among millennials since 2013. Since therapy is the front-line recommendation for depression treatment, you can expect that nearly half of millennial workers are either in therapy, seeking therapy, or being advised to see a therapist by their doctor or family and friends. Hence, offering a benefit plan which covers these life-saving services and is in-network with many mental health providers would be a smart idea for employers.”

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Sexual Harassment at University of Illinois: Did UIUC Fail Employees?

Employco USA

Chicago-based employment expert explains how IL employers will have new training requirements soon

UIUC IllinoisIt was recently revealed that several professors and one staff member at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have been accused of sexual harassment. As the University faces criticism for not handling these cases swiftly and with transparency, upcoming changes to Illinois employment law such as the Workplace Transparency Act (“WTA”) could change the way Illinois employers handle such cases in the future.

Employment expert Rob Wilson says that the UIUC case offers an opportunity for Illinois employers to better examine their policies regarding sexual harassment, especially as new regulations are going into effect on Jan. 1, 2020.

“If you are an Illinois-based employer or you have at least one employee located in Illinois, you will now have new requirements for sexual harassment prevention,” explains Wilson, who is the President of national employment solutions firm Employco USA, which is based in Chicagoland. “You must provide sexual harassment training to all of your employees at least once a year. Additionally, the Workplace Transparency Act will prevent employers from using confidentiality clauses to protect employees or hide past charges, as U of I is accused of doing in these recent sexual harassment cases.”

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What the New Overtime Ruling Means for Employers

Employco USA

Employment expert explains the recent DOL decision

DOLThe U.S. Department of Labor’s recent decision on overtime extends to 1.3 million U.S. workers. The number is much lower than what the Obama administration tried to accomplish during President Obama’s tenure in office.

“Since 2016 when President Obama signed an overtime law which made employees who earned less than $47,000 a year eligible for compensation, many small business owners were fearful that they would not be able to keep pace with new requirements for overtime compensation. When a Texas judge blocked that ruling, it offered a small reprieve until President Trump took office,” says Rob Wilson, President of Employco USA and employment compensation expert.

In the following years, both Republicans and Democrats have struggled to agree on an overtime solution, until revealing their new decision last week.

Previously, workers were automatically entitled to overtime pay only if they earned $23,660 or less a year, says Wilson. But, starting on Jan. 1, 2020, that salary ceiling will be raised to $35,568.

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