Can Employers Re-Instate Mask Mandates?

Employment expert addresses whether employees should be required to mask up again

COVID-19 MaskWith the Delta variant complicating our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, many local officials are starting to reinstate their mask mandates. However, this poses a tricky issue for employers, particularly those who encouraged vaccines among their employees with their promise that vaccinated staff could drop their masks at work.

“Many employers tried to encourage vaccine compliance among their workers by saying that vaccinated workers would be able to go mask-free,” says Rob Wilson, President of Employco USA, a national employment solutions firm. “But, now, we’re looking at new mask requirements across the country in which Americans are being asked to mask up once more. So can employers go back on their original agreement and tell everyone, even vaccinated employees, to put their masks on again?”

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HR Newsletter: Attraction & Retention Update

Attraction and Retention

We recently released the latest version of our quarterly newsletter dedicated to attraction and retention topics. This newsletter covers:

  • Market Recap: No Consensus Among Employers About Return-to-Work Strategy
  • Securing Talent: 3 Tips for Strategic Recruiting and Improving Employee Mental Health to Ease Return-to-Work
  • Workplace Outlook: Updated Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Unemployment Data

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HR Newsletter: Preventing Turnover Post-Pandemic

Employee Quit

The COVID-19 pandemic is finally getting under control. Americans are getting back to the tasks they’ve been postponing for more than a year. Unfortunately for employers looking to retain employees, some employees are now ready to find new jobs.

That’s why experts are predicting a “turnover tsunami” coming in the latter half of 2021; all the turnover that would typically take place in a given year is expected to come virtually all at once.

What do employees want?

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HR Newsletter: Considering a Hybrid Work Model

Work From Home

The pandemic has resulted in thousands of employees working from their kitchen tables or living rooms rather than the office or other workplaces. However, as more Americans receive a COVID-19 vaccination and organizations develop or update their return-to-work plans, some employees may still be eager to continue working remotely, even if just for a few days each week.

In an effort to provide a summary of the issues related to a hybrid workforce, we developed an article that provides information on the following topics:

  • An overview of hybrid workplaces
  • Location considerations
  • The work model’s advantages and challenges
  • Tips for accommodating distributed employees.

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HR Newsletter: Managing Re-Entry Anxiety Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Re-Entry Anxiety

With the COVID-19 vaccine becoming much more widely available across the country, the topic of returning to in-person work, school and other activities is being discussed constantly. The reopening of the country, though, comes with some uncertainties and may lead to feelings of re-entry anxiety.

Re-entry anxiety is an overall uneasiness or uncertainty about returning to the way things were before the pandemic. This feeling may be triggered when meeting socially with friends and family, going back to the workplace or pursuing other important aspects of social interaction. After being separated from life as we knew it before the pandemic, it might be difficult to get reacclimated.

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HR Chat w/Employco USA: Affordable Care Act Update

We receive a number of questions from our clients as we consult them on a variety of HR issues.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKZD0Dl1Hx4[/embedyt]

In this video, Rob and Jason give a quick update on the Affordable Care Act. They cover the results of a recent Supreme Court challenge, what the law states, penalties, if anything has changed for businesses, a high-level ACA recap, and more.

Questions? We’re here to help, info@employco.com

HR Chat w/Employco USA: DOL is Reviewing Overtime Rule

We receive a number of questions from our clients as we consult them on a variety of HR issues.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OII2QRqMoRc[/embedyt]

In this video, Rob and Jason discuss the Department of Labor’s review of the overtime rule. They cover where it was, talks of adjusting it, pay limits and thresholds, a wait and see effective date, and how this is an important topic to keep an eye on.

Questions? We’re here to help, info@employco.com

New Survey: Americans Don’t Want Their Boss to Require Vaccines…but Should Employers Do So Anyway?

Employment trends expert talks requiring employee vaccines & other COVID-19 considerations in the workplace

COVID Vaccine CardA new survey found that while many Americans say they support employers requiring vaccines, that number greatly decreases when it comes to their own employer requiring the jab.

“The recent poll results from the Kaiser Family Foundation show that while many Americans support the idea of requiring the COVID-19 vaccination, a far greater number have a strong opposition to their own employer requiring them to get vaxxed,” says Rob Wilson, President of Employco USA and employment trends expert.

Wilson says Americans report they will be more likely to get the vax if they are offered incentives like paid time off. However, the HR expert cautions that employers can’t go overboard when incentivizing the jab.

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HR Chat w/Employco USA: Webinar Recap on Workplace Changes After COVID-19

We receive a number of questions from our clients as we consult them on a variety of HR issues.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIyrWT5DWw0[/embedyt]

In this video, Rob and Jason recap our recent webinar on “Workplace Changes After COVID-19.” They cover employee vaccines, proof of vaccination, recruiting and onboarding, video interviews, the new workplace, in-person vs remote, employee mental health benefits, and more.

Questions? We’re here to help, info@employco.com

RECORDING: Workplace Changes After COVID-19

Webinar Recording

Did you miss Employco’s most recent webinar on “Workplace Changes After COVID-19” or would you like to review a portion? The full webinar recording can be viewed here, along with all of the questions and answers that followed: WEBINAR: Recording

Webinar Recording

You can view/download the slides we used during the presentation as a PDF here: WEBINAR: Presentation Slides

Please do not hesitate to reach out if there are any questions you still have or topics you were unclear on. We’re here to help!