For several years now there has been a contentious divide between the Republican and Democratic parties, so much so that it seems that if one party says up the other party will say down just for spite. However, here in Michigan, at least on one subject, the parties managed to see past politics to give bipartisan support for a bill that will have a positive impact on the State of Michigan and many of its residents. House Bill 4980 was signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer on October 13, 2020.

Human Experience Management (HXM) is on the rise. We are all in this big experiment of remote work, return to work, and being an essential worksite.  Employees expect and need more than pay and benefits. They want experiences.  Their experience involves the technology they use, company culture, agility, and employee development and growth opportunities.   

On Thursday Governor Whitmer signed legislation that protects workers from employer discipline if they stay home because they have COVID-19 symptoms (PA 238). The legislation also grants immunity to businesses against lawsuits brought against them from independent contractors, customers, or guests who allegedly contract the virus from exposure at their place of business.

With benefit season upon us, many organizations still cling to the one size fits all baby boomer type benefits.   But the question is why?  For older workers, retirement is on the near horizon and their focus is on financial planning and healthcare for retirement. The next generation, their focus is on education and savings for retirement.  529 plans are good, but 401(K)s and HSAs are highly valuable. And what are employers doing for the younger generation, who holds the...

Deskless workers, also known as frontline workers, are people who don’t do their jobs from behind a desk. Unlike people who work in traditional office settings, deskless employees are on their feet or on the move throughout their workday. Deskless workers make up 80% of the global workforce, and yet research has focused largely on their employers, until now. A new TalentCards report, The State of Deskless Workforce Training, shines a spotlight on these deskless workers and the state of...

Family health premiums average over $21,000 in 2020:  Annual family premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance rose 4% to average $21,342 in 2020, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). 

I had the pleasure of seeing Barbara Corcoran speak at a conference about a year ago.  She is a very successful businesswoman and always has great advice.  I recently read an article where she gives five tips to help your team remain productive while working from home.  They are all great reminders as we enter month eight of working remote.

Employees are prioritizing their safety, security, and personal values over money and titles according to the results of the Worker Value Survey, conducted by WorldatWork. The study of more than 5,400 working professionals uncovered significant workplace shifts and reflects the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns and social issues.

October 5^th the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) issued an emergency order addressing public gatherings and masking rules. On October 24^th, the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Agency (MIOSHA) issued emergency rules addressing workplace safety. Both were issued to replace Governor Whitmer’s Executive Orders going back to March 2020.

In a recent survey by Time’s Up and the National Women’s Law Center, seven in 10 people (72%) who report sexual harassment faced some form of retaliation, including termination, lawsuits for defamation, and denied promotions.  The report is based on 3,317 requests for legal help submitted to Time's Up between January 1, 2018, and April 30, 2020.  In addition, one-third of workers (36%) said they experienced physical harassment, sexual assault, or rape. About 1 in 5 (18%)...

According to Cleo, a parenting benefits company, working parents in the U.S. are losing a cumulative 720 million hours each week to stress, anxiety, and caregiving.  This is according to their State of Working Parents Study published in late September.

Daylight Savings Time ends November 1: When clocks are turned back an hour in the early morning on November 1st, workers on the midnight shift at that time will actually work an extra hour. Assuming that these workers are nonexempt employees, meaning that they are governed by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)...

According to research by Glassdoor, great employee onboarding can improve employee retention by 82% and boost productivity by more than 70%.  Employee performance improves and turnover is reduced, which gives organizations a key advantage over their competition.

In today's constant state of change, we are all looking for ways to grow, adapt, and remain resilient amid uncertainty. A growth mindset thrives on change, challenges, and sees failure as an acceptable part of an organization’s culture and a springboard for growth and developing skills and abilities.  A fixed mindset stresses that risk should be avoided, and failure is not an option.  2020 is a growth mindset kind of year. It has presented organizations with multiple...

As our national election day approaches on Tuesday, November 3^rd, some employers, in addition to providing time off (paid or unpaid) to vote are providing other perks. Starbucks, with over 200,000 employees in the U.S., is offering free transportation to the polls. The coast to coast coffee shop’s program provides a free one-way Lyft ride for employees voting, volunteering as a poll worker, or just to drop off a ballot at the post office.