Congress has made another avenue of health coverage more accessible by fully subsidizing the cost of COBRA coverage (or the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985) from April 1 - September 30, 2021 for individuals who lost their health coverage due to an involuntary termination or a reduction in hours under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP).

Last week the National Labor Relations Board finished tallying the union election votes at Amazon’s Bessemer, Alabama warehouse facility. The union lost – 1,798 against vs. 738 votes for unionization. A huge defeat for organized labor.

The pandemic has created drastic changes for organizations and HR departments.  Certain aspects of work that were deemed trends or labeled the future of work are now happening and look like they are here to stay.  Let’s examine how HR has changed during the pandemic.

With cyberattacks increasing dramatically after the pandemic, TalentLMS and Kenna Security teamed up to gauge employees’ awareness and knowledge of cybersecurity risks. While 59% of employees received cybersecurity training from their companies in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the survey uncovered that these initiatives have been insufficient.

We've all been there – the awkward small talk. The fluorescent lights illuminating the sweat on your brow. The feeling like you're a used-car salesman — but the used car is yourself. Job interviews are the worst. And according to a new book, they're often pretty much useless for selecting the best candidate for a position.

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...

Unemployment requirements are now reverted back to the way it was before the pandemic hit Michigan.  Temporary expansions in unemployment eligibility and cost-sharing applicable to state unemployment claims established by Gov. Whitmer’s Executive Order 20-76, and temporarily codified in statute, expired on March 31, 2021. The last week that the flexibilities apply was the week ending March 27, 2021.

ASE is receiving calls asking whether worker pandemic safety rules are still in effect. Yes, they are. MIOSHA Emergency Rules put in place last October remain in effect until at least April 16^th and are, at this point with Michigan cases on the rise, expected to be extended possibly for another six months.

No matter your career level, personal development is always important. Personal development skills are qualities and abilities that help you grow both personally and professionally.

This is the last installment in the list of locations which have laws restricting the use of credit checks in employment decisions. Keep in mind that laws are constantly changing, and new laws can be enacted at any time.

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

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) held that an employer committed an unfair labor practice when it fired an employee for participating in an interview with a journalist about minimum wage law in Arkansas.

Think of one word to define the last year…uncertainty.  We all know what uncertainty brings on…anxiety.  Each week we do not know what will come next, and that is taking a toll on our workforce’s mental health. 

U.S. employers are taking measures to make vaccines more accessible to their employees and encouraging them to get inoculated, according to a new survey by Willis Towers Watson. Another survey by Challenger, Gray & Christmas shows that companies are developing, implementing, and clarifying plans to bring their employees back to the office.

Its official. We have survived one year of a global pandemic. While the world tries to navigate this new normal, both at home and in the workplace, employers are faced with an ongoing challenge: How to support employees in an ever-changing business environment. In 2021, compensation and flexibility will be a large part of that support.