EverythingPeople This Week!

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.

On September 22, 2020, President Trump issued Executive Order (EO) 13950 titled “Executive Order on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping.”  The EO arose because various federal agencies had a private diversity-consulting firm conduct a training session last June titled “Difficult Conversations About Race in Troubling Times.”  This EO is now enjoined as of December 23, 2020 and cannot be enforced by the federal government.

One in five U.S. workers (21%) indicate their confidence in their ability to retire comfortably has declined in light of the coronavirus pandemic, and only 27% are very confident that they will be able to fully retire with a comfortable lifestyle, according to a new survey report released by nonprofit Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies (TCRS).

It might come as a surprise, but research reveals that emoji are fast becoming a staple in business communications, enhancing employee engagement, speeding interactions, and reducing conflict. 

A new survey conducted by TalentLMS looked at how remote work training and work habits have changed since 2019 – now that remote work is the norm rather than the exception.  They strived to answer one main question – does offering your remote workforce training opportunities make a difference in their performance, happiness, and company loyalty?

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, surveyed HR professionals and benefit brokers to assess the impact that both COVID-19 and financial stress is having on workforces.

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.

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.

When workers went remote back in March, corporate culture went with them. And if that culture was toxic, it’s likely still toxic. The toxic environment formerly housed in cubicles and offices, has now moved into workers’ homes.

Mental Health America (MHA) recently released data from its online screening tool showing that the number of people reporting signs of anxiety and depression since the start of the pandemic hit an all-time high in September. The new data accompanies the release of the annual State of Mental Health in America report, showing that nationwide, 19% (47.1 million) of people in the U.S. are living with a mental health condition, a 1.5 million increase over last year’s report.

Deskless workers, also known as frontline workers, are people who don’t do their jobs from behind a desk. Unlike people who work in traditional office settings, deskless employees are on their feet or on the move throughout their workday. Deskless workers make up 80% of the global workforce, and yet research has focused largely on their employers, until now. A new TalentCards report, The State of Deskless Workforce Training, shines a spotlight on these deskless workers and the state of...

Family health premiums average over $21,000 in 2020:  Annual family premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance rose 4% to average $21,342 in 2020, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). 

Employees are prioritizing their safety, security, and personal values over money and titles according to the results of the Worker Value Survey, conducted by WorldatWork. The study of more than 5,400 working professionals uncovered significant workplace shifts and reflects the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns and social issues.

A new study, Workplaces in Crisis: Employee Care Still Missing the Mark, was recently released by an employee experience software company, Limeade. The study revisits the Limeade 2020 Employee Care Report from March, comparing results from before the pandemic with today. The findings reveal how COVID-19 has impacted employee burnout, emotional health, overall well-being, and engagement – and how both managers and companies are falling short on showing employees they authentically care.

More than half of working parents fear being a parent is a strike against them in the workplace during COVID-19. According to the new Catalyst-CNBC survey, The Impact of COVID-19 on Working Parents, nearly 40% of working parents say that their employer does not have enough benefits for parents to support blended or virtual learning amidst the uncertainty of students of all ages returning to school.