In the just released 2021 National Business Trends Survey from the Employer Associations of America (EAA), 44% of executives expect the overall outlook for the 2021 economy to be improving. This annual survey shares information on what executives nationally are doing to address the changing business climate. Survey responses also reflect the impact COVID-19 has had on this year’s business trends.

According to the latest U.S. Census report on employment characteristics on families, of the nation's 82.6 million families, 33.4 million families, or two-fifths of all families, included children under age 18. At least one parent was employed in 91.3% of families with children.  Among married-couple families with children, 97.5% had at least one employed parent in 2019, and 64.2% had both parents employed.

Biden’s long-standing position as a labor supporter will translate into policy change. That change will be implemented by his appointees. The list as it currently reads is a Who’s Who of the contemporary labor scene.

As companies make their employee benefit decisions for the new year, HR leaders and benefit brokers are focused on the new realities of the ongoing pandemic and its effect on the workplace. Purchasing Power®, a voluntary benefit company, HR professionals and benefit brokers to assess the impact that both COVID-19 and financial stress is having on workforces.

CDC changing guidelines for when workers exposed to COVID-19: The CDC will be changing their 14-day guideline for COVID-19 exposure.  The new guideline still has 14-day quarantine without a test, but with a negative test, the time period may be reduced to 7 to 10 days.  

Office parties are so last year. Planning an office party in 2020 is not an easy task.  Its time to think of alternatives to the annual event. Your employees will appreciate any effort you take to make the office holiday party one they look forward to, even if it is through a Zoom call. They deserve it, after all, 2020 has been quite a year.

Both courts as well as state and federal agencies struggle with what the correct definition of employer and employee is depending on the situation they are asked to untangle.  For years federal agencies within the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) – Wage and Hour, NLRB, and OSHA – have wrestled with whether two businesses that use the same worker are in fact both the worker’s employer.

Listing the things we’ve missed out on in 2020 is easy, but what about the things we are thankful for?  Even during challenging times, it’s important to reflect upon the things in your life that you are thankful for.

As a general par for course, many organizations routinely use a nondisclosure agreement (NDA) in settlements of discrimination claims.  What the NDA includes are confidentiality provisions and nondisparagement clauses to settle discrimination and other workplace complaints.

Time to fill, time to start, days open, response rate, time to conversion, cost per hire, candidate experience…which one is the most important metric to hiring managers? 

DHS Extends Form I-9 Requirement Flexibility: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced an extension of the flexibility in complying with requirements related to Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, due to COVID-19. 

This has been a challenging year to say the least. COVID has drastically changed our lives both at home and work. Human resources professionals have had to pivot on a dime many times over the past nine months. One of those areas is in drug testing.

Last week, Pfizer announced it has a Coronavirus vaccine with a reported 90% efficacy. Shortly following, Moderna announced their vaccine has similar efficacy at 95%. Though they estimate March or April 2021 before it’s widely available, it is clear that the government will be encouraging everyone to vaccinate.

The issue of independent contractor (IC) versus employee classification has long been around, but since the Reagan administration, has been a focus of review. It could be argued that employers have long misused the IC classification to avoid a litany of employment law obligations. In addition, employers have been accused of abusing the IC relationship, especially if ICs are required to work during specific times, with deadlines, are supervised like an employee, and have performance...

Many organizations have had to tighten their budgets due to the pandemic.  Employees understand this, but it’s still nice to feel appreciated, and employees have become accustomed to employers expressing that appreciation at year-end.  It doesn’t have to cost a fortune to show your employees you appreciate them.