Check out our PDF chart below for a list of states that have upcoming minimum wage increases beginning July 1st (click the image for the full report):
Continue readingHR Newsletter: Minimum Wage Changes Coming July 1st
HR Newsletter: New Quest Drug Testing Index Results
On May 15, 2024, Quest Diagnostics released their review of the 9.8 million workforce drug tests from 2023. Here are the key findings:
- Workforce drug test cheating increased over 600%
- Marijuana continues upward climb in general U.S. workforce
- Marijuana drug test positivity decreases in federally mandated, safety-sensitive workforce
- Post-accident marijuana positivity continues to climb
- Positivity increased in industries associated with office work
HR Newsletter: Checklist for Conducting Employee Terminations
Employee terminations are often complicated and, if not conducted properly, employers can open themselves up to costly legal challenges and negatively affect their business or reputation. Establishing procedures for employee terminations can help employers ensure that employee terminations are conducted in a manner that minimizes legal risks and accounts for various business considerations.
Continue readingHR Newsletter: New Overtime Rule – July 1st
As we approach the new overtime rule’s July 1st effective date, employers should prepare for the upcoming changes as soon as possible. On April 23, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a final rule to amend current requirements employees in white-collar occupations must satisfy to qualify for an overtime exemption under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
With this in mind, we recently released 2 new documents aimed at helping employers with the analysis and potential changes that could come as a result of the new rule.
Continue readingHR Newsletter: Employees Are Satisfied With Their PTO, but Don’t Exhaust It
A new Harris Poll survey found that most employed Americans are satisfied with their company’s paid time off (PTO) policy; however, 3 in 4 said they didn’t use the maximum PTO permitted by their employer. PTO broadly covers any paid absence from work – it includes various reasons such as vacation, illness, and personal days.
According to the survey, most U.S. workers get between 11 and 30 PTO days yearly. Consider these additional key findings from the survey:
- Most Americans (83%) are satisfied with their company’s PTO policy. Over half (60%) are given more than 10 PTO days annually.
- Most (78%) do not use the maximum PTO allowed by their employer. The average worker took 15 paid days off last year despite half (49%) being allowed more than that by their employer.
- The top barriers preventing workers from taking more time off are “pressure to always be available and responsive to demands” (31%) and “heavy workload” (30%).
HR Newsletter: Tips for Retaining Employees in 2024
Around 27% of U.S. workers quit their jobs in 2023, which, according to a common turnover calculation, cost employers nearly a trillion dollars to replace. Unfortunately, turnover is expected to climb this year, and labor experts predict another form of the “Great Resignation” to take place as workers choose to leave their jobs. Employee retention remains a critical challenge this year for employers across industries. A LinkedIn survey found that 85% of workers plan to look for a new role in 2024, which is almost a 20% jump from the previous year. The trend particularly applies to younger generations, including Generation Z, millennials, and Generation X.
Continue readingHR Chat w/Employco USA: New Hire Orientations
Join Rob and Jason in this HR chat as they discuss new hire orientations, emphasizing the first few days of the onboarding experience. The discussion covers best practices and highlights the significance of advance preparation, safety briefings, and social interactions like first-day lunches to make new employees feel valued.
Employco offers a comprehensive toolkit designed to streamline the orientation process, complete with checklists and guidelines to ensure nothing is overlooked – download it here.
Contact us for help putting together an effective onboarding experience, hr@employco.com.
HR Chat w/Employco USA: Maximizing Summer Internships
Join Rob and Jason in this HR chat as they discuss summer internships. They share valuable tips on hiring, from crafting a job offer letter to ensuring a seamless onboarding experience. They also emphasize the importance of making internships educational and well-structured, and highlight the potential for interns to become future hires.
Summer is just around the corner, contact hr@employco.com for help optimizing your internship program.
Podcast: Navigating the New Non-Compete Ban
Join Rob, Scott, and Jason in this month’s HR podcast as they unpack the FTC’s ban on non-compete agreements, set to take effect on September 4th. They go over the specifics, some exceptions and caveats, required actions for compliance, employee notification, non-solicitation and confidentiality agreements, and more. They also review some upcoming HR regulatory changes you should be aware of for mid-year.
Stay informed on how to comply with these new regulations and other upcoming HR changes. Need further assistance? Reach out to hr@employco.com for personalized support and resources.
HR Newsletter: State Legislative Updates
Chicago Issues Final Rules for Paid Leave and Paid Sick and Safe Leave – The Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BCAP) has published final rules for the city’s new Paid Leave and Paid Sick and Safe Leave Ordinance, which replaces Chicago’s current paid sick leave ordinance on July 1, 2024. This Legal Update provides information about key topics addressed in the final rules.
Read more: Illinois Legal Update
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