Illinois joins states with Paid Sick Leave for any reason: On January 10, 2023, the Paid Leave for All Workers Act (the “Act”), S.B. 208, passed both chambers in the Illinois Legislature, mere days into the new legislative session.

Federal Contractors, OFCCP’s Corporate Scheduling Announcement Letter (CSAL) is out:  On January 20, 2023, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs published the latest Corporate Scheduling Announcement List (CSAL) for supply & service contractors, which is comprised of 500 federal contractors and subcontractors. 

Telehealth flexibility extended two more years: The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 has extended telehealth flexibility for two years. These provisions are now set to expire December 31, 2024, for calendar-year plans.

IRS mileage rate is 65.5 cents per mile in 2023:  The rate for business use of a car, van, pickup, or panel truck is now 65.5 cents per mile. This represents an increase of 3 cents from the agency’s midyear increase back in June for the second half of 2022, when the IRS set the per mile rate at 62.5 cents.

Michigan minimum wage could be $13.03 starting February 19^th:  In a press release issued December 5, 2022, the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity confirmed that the state’s minimum wage will increase to $10.10 on January 1, 2023, and may increase again to $13.03 on February 19, 2023, pending ongoing litigation.

Are you overwhelmed by email? Join the club.  67% of people feel overwhelmed by their inbox, and 82% say they miss important emails because their inboxes are bogged down, a survey released by email service provider Gated, found. 

Going Pro Talent Fund Application Period Closes Next Week: If your company is applying for 2023 Michigan Going Pro Talent Funds the application deadline is next week – December 12, 2022. Employers are advised to work with their local Michigan Works office to get some of the $55 million of funds to put toward training current and newly hired employees. ASE’s Principles and Practices of Supervision classes qualify.

Who’d expect religious discrimination raising its head: Kanye West (who now goes by Ye) and his latest headline-making commentary may be the most public example of the insidious nature of antisemitism — which could be more widespread in recruiting than assumed, data released Nov. 22 by ResumeBuilder shows.

Congress passes bill voiding NDAs in cases of sexual assault, harassment:  The Speak Out Act would allow those who have experienced sexual assault or sexual harassment in the workplace — and who have signed Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) — to talk about their experiences. The Speak Out Act would render unenforceable workplace pre-dispute non-disclosure and non-disparagement clauses involving sexual assault and sexual harassment.  Source:  HR Dive 11/16/22

Minimum wage increases for 2023:  Minimum wage increases already scheduled for 2023 are found for the following 12 states:

Are COVID-related absences an issue for your organization? Nearly half of large employers (500 or more employees) surveyed by Mercer say that COVID-related absences and disabilities remain an issue for their organization.

Allowing or encouraging social media posts leads to cyber risks at work: Tweeting, Instagramming, and even TikToking through the workday has become a common (and even encouraged) practice. But are those seemingly harmless social media habits creating potentially harmful cybersecurity risks?  On average, organizations experience 13 data exposures and risks per employee per day, according to Code42, a risk management platform.

Daylight Savings Time ends November 6: When clocks are turned back an hour in the early morning on November 6th, workers on the midnight shift at that time will actually work an extra hour.

Continue using the current I-9 until further notice: Employers should continue using the Form I 9, Employment Eligibility Verification, after its expiration date of Oct. 31, 2022, until further notice. DHS will publish a Federal Register notice to announce the new version of the Form I 9 once it becomes available.  Source:  USCIS 10/12/22

Michigan court allows City of Jackson, Michigan to tax remote worker who works for company located in city: The Michigan Court of Appeals held that it was not illegal for the City of Jackson to require a company located there to withhold city income taxes from the pay of an employee working remotely outside the city.

Another California first, protecting off-duty marijuana use: Beginning on January 1, 2024, California employers will be prohibited from discharging employees or refusing to hire individuals based on their off-duty use of marijuana.

If you have a policy how to communicate absences, don’t let managers deviate:  In a recent ruling, Roberts v. Gestamp (Decided August 15, 2022), the Fourth Circuit reversed, in part, the lower court’s decision to grant the Company’s motion for summary judgment on the grounds that the employee did not follow the Company’s “usual and customary” absence notice procedures as required by the Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”). 

OFCCP extends deadline for EEO-1 Type 2 report objections to October 19: OFCCP announced an intention to produce federal contractors’ Type 2 EEO-1 data in response to a FOIA request from the Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR). 

Is there a growing drug problem in the workplace?  With the legalization of marijuana in many states, drug use appears to be growing for young working age employees.  Marijuana and hallucinogen use among young adults has reached a new high.

And you wonder why you cannot find employees:  Detroit unemployment rate dropped 1.1% to 3.5%. Grand Rapids is 3.6%.  Maybe you need to look at other areas in the state-unemployment rates range from 4-6%.  Flint is at 6.7%, Muskegon at 6.2%.  Even Ann Arbor is at 4%.  Source BLS 8/31/22

ICE is moving to permanent review of I-9 forms remotely:  The federal government has moved to permanently allow employers to review Form I-9 identification documents remotely, according to a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking published August 18.  

Michigan’s unemployment rate is down to 4.2%: A drop of 2% since July 2021.

CDC updates COVID guidance:  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention unveiled significant changes last Thursday as part of a sweeping effort to overhaul the agency's COVID-19 guidance.  "This guidance acknowledges that the pandemic is not over, but also helps us move to a point where COVID-19 no longer severely disrupts our daily lives," CDC's Greta Massetti said in a statement announcing the changes.  Among the biggest differences...

VETS 4212 reporting cycle has begun:  Starting last week, the VETS 4212 reporting cycle is on.  For more information, go to VETS-4212 Federal Contractor Reporting | U.S. Department of Labor (dol.gov). This report applies to any federal contractor or subcontractor with $150,000 or more in contracts regardless of the number of employees

Are Millennials utilizing employers’ saving plans?  Likely not.  According to Bank of America’s “2022 Financial Life Benefits Impact Report,” despite 58% of eligible employees participating in a 401(k) plan, 61% of them contributed below $5,000 last year. The study also found that fewer than one in 10 participants’ contributions reached the ceiling on elective deferrals, under IRS Section 402(g)—that is, $19,500, last year.