Chicago Paid Leave Changes Delayed Until Jul 1, 2024 – The Chicago City Council has voted to delay a new law that will expand the city’s paid leave mandate to 40 hours of paid leave (PL) plus 40 hours of paid sick leave (PSL). The implementation has been delayed to July 1, 2024. Until the new law is effective in July, Chicago employees will continue to earn one hour of paid sick leave, not paid time off, for every 40 hours they work (or at least five days per year).
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Check out our PDF chart below for a list of states that have upcoming minimum wage increases in 2024 (click the image for the full report):
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As a small business, it’s challenging to stay on top of effective and efficient people practices. With this in mind, we released a new Small Business Bulletin for December 2023. In the bulletin, we discuss the following topics:
The traditional concept of a vacation often involves escaping the daily grind and relaxing in a faraway destination. However, the landscape of work and leisure has recently been transformed, with remote and hybrid work becoming more prevalent. This shift has led to workcations, where remote employees take vacations while still working, and “hush trips,” which are workcations not disclosed to the company.
Even before the rise in hybrid and remote work arrangements, it was common for workers to add paid time off (PTO) to their scheduled business trips. That could include taking some personal time off while already traveling somewhere for work or bringing along their friend and family while they’re traveling.
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A recent report by JLL, a global commercial real estate and investment management company, found that U.S. workers now spend an average of two days per week in the office. This is consistent with recent findings from management consulting company McKinsey & Co. that revealed spending half of working time in the office was the ideal setup for hybrid work, balancing employees’ wants and expectations of flexibility with the isolation of working remotely full-time.
Survey Findings – JLL reported that 87% of organizations are encouraging employees to work on-site at least some of the time. In fact, just 20% of employees work fully remotely or fewer than two days in the office per week, a decrease from 39% two years ago. This indicates that hybrid work is likely to remain popular as organizations increasingly push employees to return to the office in 2024.
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We recently released a new checklist that outlines the steps to help employers comply with federal and state fair employment laws that affect the process of interviewing job applicants. The checklist also includes general information about laws that protect applicants against discrimination based on certain personal characteristics, disabilities, and medical conditions, as well as laws that aim to promote equal pay by prohibiting questions about an applicant’s past salary or wages.
Continue readingJoin Rob and Jason in this HR Chat as they delve into the latest updates from the IRS regarding 2024 annual limits for benefits. They cover new thresholds effective January 1st for FSA plans, 401(k) contributions, and commuter benefits. They also highlight distinctions between FSA and HSA plans, healthcare premium hikes, and more.
For an overview of the 2024 limits, reach out to us at hr@employco.com for a helpful document summarizing all of the details. Stay informed with Employco and optimize your benefits strategy!
Employco USA is pleased to announce the growing expansion of its staff.
Emily Spencer, HRIS Specialist – Emily will be responsible for responding to employee portal and new hire onboarding access issues. Additionally, she will address inquiries related to client and internal employee reporting, and will serve as a back-up for various PrismHR responsibilities. Emily brings a wealth of experience to her new role, having graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Illinois State University and holding a Certificate in Human Resources.
“I am very excited to become a part of the Employco team! I am looking forward to contributing to the company’s continued growth and building new relationships.”
Emily’s dedication to fostering a positive workplace environment aligns seamlessly with Employco’s values.
Running a business involves a myriad of responsibilities, often leaving owners stretched thin. Amidst the hustle, effective communication during the holiday season becomes pivotal. In this post, we’ll delve into the challenges of holiday communication in the workplace and how leveraging outsourced HR, like Employco USA, can fortify your business during this festive period.
Continue readingAs companies gear up for the holiday season, Rob and Jason provide essential tips for employers, covering topics such as managing alcohol consumption, offering ridesharing options, establishing dress code policies, handling gift-giving, and more. Discover how to maintain a professional atmosphere while ensuring a joyful celebration for all.
For any questions or additional guidance, reach out to Jason or Rob at hr@employco.com.
Don’t miss this insightful conversation on creating a seamless and enjoyable holiday party experience.