Unfilled manufacturing jobs could cost $1 trillion to the economy: Even though U.S. manufacturing activity surged to a 37-year high in March, the industry has more than half a million job openings. Factories are struggling to find skilled workers for specialized roles such as welders and machinists. 

Medicare at 50? A group of Democratic senators re-introduced legislation, dubbed the "Medicare at 50 Act," that would expand Medicare access to Americans who are between 50 and 64 years old. A 2019 survey by the University of Michigan found that 27% of adults approaching retirement had little or no confidence in being able to afford health insurance over the next year, and 45% had little or no confidence to afford the cost of their health insurance once they retired.

OSHA requires employers to record COVID-19 vaccine adverse reactions: On April 20, 2021, the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued guidance regarding employers’ obligation to record adverse reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine.  The guidance, which is in the form of answers to three frequently asked questions, clarifies that if an employer adopts a mandatory vaccination policy, an adverse reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine is...

Update on Michigan quarantine guidelines:  On April 5, 2021, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) reinstated the standard 14-day quarantine for close contacts of COVID-19 cases. 

State of Michigan establishes a communication toolkit for COVID-19:  The State of Michigan has created a communication toolkit that will assist employers with access to important communication resources as they work to educate their employees about the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine. This toolkit includes graphics, videos, and handouts that are ready to share with your networks in newsletters and on social media. New content will be added frequently.  Please visit ASE’s...

Remote I-9 extended to May 31, 2021:  ICE has extended permission for remote Form I-9 document review until May 31, 2021. 

EEO-1 reporting due July 19, 2021:  After delaying the opening of the 2019 EEO-1 Component 1 Data Collection on May 8, 2020 in light of the COVID-19 public health emergency, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced that the 2019 and 2020 EEO-1 Component 1 data collection will open on Monday, April 26, 2021.  

Marty Walsh confirmed as new U.S. Secretary of the Department of Labor:  Marty Walsh was confirmed Monday by the U.S. Senate, putting a self-proclaimed ally of workers and unions in charge of the agency tasked with overseeing enforcement of some of the nation's labor and employment laws.

Registration now open for Michigan COVID-19 vaccination at Ford Field: Michiganders can now begin registering for the COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Ford Field in Detroit. The community vaccination site is set to officially open on March 24. 

Michigan’s Workplace Safety Ambassador Program going strong: Be the next business to schedule a free COVID-19 safety consultation and earn a "Proud Participant of the COVID-19 Workplace Safety Ambassador Program" window decal as a part of the Michigan Occupation Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) Ambassador Program. 

Daylight Savings starts March 14th:  Set your clocks forward one hour Sunday morning, March 14^th. Daylight Saving Time was first proposed by George Vernon Hudson in 1895, and its use in the U.S. was first mandated during World War I. It was subsequently used on and off for years by various countries and U.S. states. 

Are you having a difficult time recruiting?  Some industries are thriving and eager to hire, which should be welcomed in an economy that has recovered only a little over half of the 22 million jobs lost during the coronavirus pandemic.  

Employers share concern about talent pipelines reaching diverse candidates:  According to the data released in the 2021 Workforce Report by iCIMS, more than 90% of employers report they are hiring for new roles this year. The overwhelming majority (97%) of employers are planning to invest in technology expansion to accommodate virtual hiring needs and reach evolving talent acquisition goals

Employees want better benefits and lower costs:  According to the Willis Towers Watson 2020 Global Benefits Attitudes Survey of nearly 5,000 U.S. employees, more than a third of respondents (37%) cited reducing benefit costs as their top benefits priority for 2021, followed by receiving greater benefits security from their employer (26 %). 

Inoculated employees should still wear masks and social distance:  OSHA issued updated guidance last Friday stating that inoculated workers with a vaccine should still be required to wear masks and social distance.