Partying During the Pandemic: The Return of Holiday Office Parties

Employment trends expert weighs in

Holiday PartyWith the COVID-19 pandemic more under control, many offices are considering the idea of bringing back holiday parties. But, how can you safely host an office party during a pandemic, and are the risks worth the camaraderie?

“Our internal research has shown that many of our clients are going to do a holiday party this year. They’re very eager to start building connections between their staff again, and to bring back some cheer to the office after such a dark time,” says Rob Wilson, President of Employco USA and employment trends expert. “But hosting an office party right now can be difficult. There are several factors that companies need to consider before they start planning a party, big or small.”

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OSHA Releases Vaccination and Testing ETS

Emergency Temporary Standard

On Nov. 4, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced a federal emergency temporary standard (ETS) to address COVID-19 infection in the workplace. Affected employers will be required to comply with most provisions of the ETS by Dec. 5, 2021, and with its testing requirements by Jan. 4, 2022. Affected employers include private employers with 100 or more employees. State plans will have 30 days to adopt the federal ETS or implement their own vaccination standard.

ETS Requirements – Employers must determine the vaccination status of each employee, obtain acceptable proof of vaccination and keep a roster of each employee’s vaccinations status. The ETS also requires employers to:

  • Develop, implement and enforce a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy; or
  • Create a policy allowing employees to choose to get a vaccination or wear a face covering in the workplace and have weekly COVID-19 testing done.

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Employees of the Quarter (Q3, 2021)

We would like to congratulate our entire Payroll Department (Gerri LeCompte, Lauren Baldwin, Chrissie Chintalan, Elizabeth Goldenstein, Stacy Panagiotopoulos, Beth Sadowski, Kathleen Sampey, Joe Sartain) for being selected as Employees of the Quarter for Q3 2021. The team was nominated by their peers for their outstanding dedication and teamwork as trade shows are making a come back. Congrats everyone!

Employco Payroll Department

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(Podcast) Jobs: Where Are the People?

On this month’s podcast Rob, Scott, and Jason break down the latest jobs report. They discuss jobless claims, labor shortages, why employees are changing careers, recommendations for employers to recruit employees, corporate culture, flexible working conditions, and more.

We’re always happy to help with any questions you may have on the HR side: hiring, terminating, employee retention, employee engagement, or general HR. Send us a message at: hr@employco.com

(Podcast) Jobs: Where Are the People?

The Missing American Worker: Why Americans Keep Quitting Their Jobs

Employment trends expert weighs in

Missing WorkersAmericans are continuing to leave their jobs in droves. The number of people who quit their positions has skyrocketed to a record-high 4.3 million.

“According to the latest jobs report, there are 10+ million job openings, but only 194k Americans have recently taken a new position,” says Rob Wilson, employment trends expert and President of Employco USA, a national employment solutions firm. “Hiring managers around the country are scratching their heads, wondering: Where is everyone?”

Wilson says the disappearing American worker can be attributed to several factors.

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HR Newsletter: New Attraction and Retention Newsletter

Attraction and Retention

We recently released our 4th quarter edition of the Attraction and Retention Newsletter.  The newsletter includes the following topics:

  • Considering the role of vaccines in the workplace
  • Enabling the success of remote workers
  • Upskilling can help combat labor shortages
  • Workplace outlook and BLS data

Click the following link to read this quarter’s Attraction and Retention Newsletter:

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HR Newsletter: DOL Announces Final Rule on Tip Regulations

DOL (Department of Labor)

On Sept. 23, the U.S. Department of Labor announced a final rule that will amend Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) regulations for tipped employees. The final rule was publicized in the Federal Register on Sept. 24, 2021, and is expected to become effective on Nov. 23, 2021.

Tips for Managers and Supervisors – The final rule prohibits managers and supervisors from keeping any portion of an employee’s tips, regardless of whether the employer takes a tip credit. New language in the FLSA regulations clarifies that managers and supervisors may only keep the tips they receive directly from customers based on the services they directly and solely provide.

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