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. 

DOL Wage and Hour clarifies telehealth visit with FMLA requirements:  FAB (No. 2020-08), Telemedicine and Serious Health Conditions under the Family and Medical Leave Act FMLA) outlines the circumstances under which telemedicine counts as an “in-person” visit under the FMLA. 

OSHA 300A posting requirements in 2021:  Covered employers must electronically submit Form 300A data for calendar year 2020 between January 2, 2021 and March 2, 2021. A paper copy of the 300A form must also be posted for each establishment from February 1 through April 30. 

HR Trends for 2021 are predicted to be broadly the same no matter where you look – DEI initiatives, the growth of remote work, digital transformation, and HR being thrust into the spotlight.  But ASE’s newest report now available in the ASE Member Dashboard, shows how ASE members are responding to those trends.

EEO-1 reporting dates published by EEOC:  After delaying the opening of the 2019 EEO-1 Component 1, the 2020 EEO-3, and 2020 EEO-5 Data Collections on May 8, 2020 in light of the COVID-19 public health emergency, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced that the collections will open in 2021.