Several state and local governments have set the minimum wage to increase effective July 1, 2022 (click the image for the full report):
HR Newsletter: Legislative Updates
Check out the following links and PDFs to help you navigate current state and local legislative updates.
- DOL Issues Guidance on FMLA and Mental Health Conditions – The Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has released new resources on workers’ rights to leave for mental health conditions under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). In a press release, the DOL said it published the new guidance in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month.
HR Newsletter: Attracting and Retaining Employees During the Great Reshuffle
While employees continue to quit their jobs at high levels, it no longer appears that massive numbers of workers are leaving the workforce entirely. Economists have begun referring to the situation as the “Great Reshuffle” as total employment in the United States continues to trend up. Employees have been finding better jobs, with key decision factors generally revolving around compensation, benefits, career advancement and workplace flexibility.
Here are some common strategies employers can explore when it comes to attracting and retaining workers in today’s labor market.
HR Newsletter: Employee Quits Fall Slightly in April
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently released its April Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary. This month’s reported number of employee quits fell from a record high of 4.5 million in March to around 4.4 million in April. April marks the eleventh consecutive month that more than four million workers left their jobs.
Despite the slight decrease in total employee quits, the April report reveals that the employee-quit rate held at 2.9%. Industries like real estate and rental leasing saw a slight increase in employee quits while state and local government education decreased somewhat.
Building a Strong Company Culture
66% of those looking for new jobs consider company culture and values to be an important factor when considering an organization and most successful companies have a strong company culture. Company culture is the shared values, mission, ethics, and expectations of an organization. It affects every part of your organization from leadership styles to goals and expectations, the work environment, communication policies, and even branding. It is evident in how decisions are made and how employees interact with each other and your customers. Here are four things to consider when building a strong company culture.
No NDAs or Non-Competes: Massive Workplace Changes Afoot as Employees Have All the Power
Employment trends expert says that Microsoft is not the only company trying to enhance the employee experience
Microsoft just made international headlines after they revealed four new workplace initiatives aimed at attracting and retaining talent. The tech giant says they will no longer require employees to sign non-disclosure agreements or non-competes. In addition, Microsoft is committing to pay transparency for new hires and to confidentiality agreements in dispute resolution, aimed at making sure that employees feel safer coming forward about misconduct.
“What we are seeing is a complete shift in the way companies like Microsoft are approaching their staff and the traditional workplace hierarchy,” says Rob Wilson, employment trends expert and President of Employco USA, a national employment solutions firm with locations around the country. “Employers have lost a lot of their upper hand in the last 2 years. Employees have options, and they are making it very clear that they realize this.”
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The Importance of Good Onboarding
Onboarding is a vital part of your hiring activities, helping new hires acclimate to their role, their coworkers, and the company culture. It also helps with retention, as a company with good onboarding processes can see a retention rate of 69% in the first three years.
But 22% of companies have no formal onboarding program, and only 49% have some onboarding processes in place. That can leave new hires feeling less equipped to do their job and make it harder to feel like a part of the team and the company.
Onboarding is a process of integrating new employees into your organization. It starts as soon as a candidate accepts your job offer. Let’s talk about the steps of onboarding and why they’re essential.
No Zoom for You! Elon Musk Says “Get Back to Work”
Employment trends expert talks about getting employees back in the office and dealing with COVID exposures
Elon Musk made a big announcement on Tuesday: He ordered all of his executive staff to spend at least 40 hours in the office every week, or risk losing their positions. “This is less than we ask of factory workers,” said Musk, in the employee memo which was leaked to the press.
Rob Wilson, President of Employco USA and employment trends expert, says that Elon Musk’s message is aligned with what he is hearing from his clients across the country.
“Employers want their staff back at work,” says Wilson. “Despite the fact that many employees are happy being hybrid or even fully remote, many companies want to get their productivity back on track after a rough couple of years. And since culture-leaders like Musk and other tech giants like Microsoft are pushing employees back to the office, I think this will set a precedent that smaller firms will also follow.”
HR Chat w/Employco USA: Increase in DOL Overtime Claims
In this video, Rob and Jason discuss an increase in the number of overtime claims from the Department of Labor. They cover compliance enforcement, penalties, the hiring of additional DOL investigators, the current overtime threshold and future predictions, handbook policies, employee training, and more.
Questions? We’re here to help: hr@employco.com