Rob Wilson discusses how to “ICE-proof” your business, by remaining in compliance with the law, on TalkRadio 790 with Doug McIntyre.
Read more on this topic here:
https://www.employco.com/blog/2018/01/15/ice-proof-business/
Contact us with any questions you may have, we’re here to help: hr@employco.com
Employment expert explains how businesses can stay on the right side of immigration law
Last week, immigration officials descended on almost 100 7-Eleven stores in 17 states. They carried notices requiring owners of these establishments to produce hiring records for their employees within 3 days.
“These employment audits are part of President Donald Trump’s commitment to changing the face of immigration policy in this country,” says Rob Wilson, employment trends expert and President of Employco USA. “Businesses need to realize that this administration is taking immigration records very seriously, and if they fail to produce the proper paperwork when questioned, they could face fines or even criminal charges.”
Wilson says that states like California, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York and Texas should be on special alert, as it is known that these are the states with the highest number of undocumented workers.
“President Trump is going to start by cracking down in places that are known to have a history of undocumented workers,” says Wilson. “And, he’s going to be tough on employers. Unlike past administrations which focused more on the workers themselves, Thomas Homan, acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, promises a significant increase on work-site raids and he says that they will prosecute those who knowingly hire undocumented workers.”
The employment trends expert says that there are several things companies need to do in order to ensure that their businesses are “ICE-proof”:
For more on this topic, please contact Rob Wilson at rwilson@thewilsoncompanies.com.
The Washington Times
Rob Wilson, President of Employco USA, was recently mentioned in an article from The Washington Times. Read below for an excerpt from the full article, Big business backs Trump tax cuts with bonus payouts.
“After years of stagnant wage growth, many in the private sector say the tax cuts have provided a boost for middle-class workers even before the expected relief starts showing up in their paychecks next month.
“It’s a big win not just for businesses but for employees, and not just employees at big companies,” said Rob Wilson, president of Employco USA, a human-resources firm in Westmont, Illinois. “Bonuses like that for people who don’t typically get bonuses, that could be 3 percent [of their salary]. Across the board, we’ve seen many companies increase bonuses.”
He said the employment situation and wages this year should continue to improve, and that the bonuses are also a sign of companies trying to hold onto workers in a tightening labor market. He said surveys are showing that about two-thirds of employees will be looking for better jobs this year, with companies adding better benefits.
“It’s businesses trying to remain competitive,” Mr. Wilson said. “It does have a ripple effect for other businesses, not just wages but benefits. How can you attract and retain employees?”
With the unemployment rate already at a 17-year low of 4.1 percent, the improving job market also will provide more opportunities for people who had left the workforce permanently.
“One of the things that really has been ignored but was a big issue under the Obama administration was the ‘underemployed’ and the ‘unreported,’” Mr. Wilson said. “There’s now incentive for the underemployed to get back into their original careers. For those people who were not working, there’s an opportunity to get back out in the workforce.”
The workforce participation rate, a measure of how many people dropped out of the workforce altogether, has ranged between 62.5 percent to 63 percent during the last few years of the Obama administration. It hadn’t been so low since the 1970s.”
Employment trends expert explains why the tax cuts benefited more than just the uber-rich
President Trump’s tax cuts were heavily criticized by Democrats who feared they were merely cuts for the wealthy, but recent decisions by mega-employer Walmart could prove otherwise.
“Changing the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% might seem like it’s only a benefit for those in the higher-income bracket, but Walmart has just announced that one million employees are going to receive a new hourly rate as a direct result of the tax break,” says Rob Wilson, President of Employco USA and employment trends expert.
Wilson also says that full-time and part-time employees will also receive a one-time cash bonus based on their years of service, noting, “Employees who have been with the company for over 20 years are going to be treated to a $1,000 bonus.”
The average pay increase for hourly workers will go from $13.85 to $14.50, and Wilson says that employees will not be the only ones who benefit from Pres. Trump’s tax plan.
“Customers will likely see lower costs as a result, as well as a higher standard of customer care. Staff will receive better training and see better incentives as a reward for performance,” says Wilson.
For more on this topic, please contact Rob Wilson at rwilson@thewilsoncompanies.com.
What the recent self-service debate in Oregon reveals about the future of American employment
The state of Oregon recently made headlines when it changed a decades-old law which prevented self-service gas stations. Now, Oregonians will have the option to pump their own gasoline, provided they live in a county with less than 40,000 people. However, it has left many people questioning the role of “make-work” jobs in this economy, and whether the country is going to suffer from the impact of these small but crucial decisions.
“Most Americans pump their own gas, as New Jersey is now the only state which is strictly anti self-service stations,” says Rob Wilson, President of Employco USA and job trends expert. “However, this issue is about so much more than getting out of the car to pump your own gas. It’s about whether we are phasing out certain jobs faster than we can replace them, and what’s going to happen to unskilled laborers and those without job experience and education.”
Wilson says the phasing out of full-service stations in Oregon is similar to other industries such as fast-food and data collection and processing., which are predicted to lose 375 million jobs to automation by 2030. “It’s certain that many employees in Oregon service stations could be facing termination or a reduction in hours, provided that Oregonians are willing to pump their own gas in exchange for lower prices. The question is whether we are going to be making jobs for these unskilled laborers or those with little education and experience in order to make up for the jobs we are taking away from them.”
For more on this topic, please contact Rob Wilson at rwilson@thewilsoncompanies.com.
Employment solutions expert explains how Americans are missing out on employment opportunities
Millions of Americans made a resolution to find a new job in 2018. And, with the job market on the upswing, now is a great time to begin a job search in earnest. However, many Americans could be going about their hunt the wrong way…by looking online for positions. In fact, it is estimated that 80 percent of jobs are not posted on jobs boards like Monster and CareerBuilder.
“Known as the ‘hidden jobs’ market, these positions are often more lucrative, and they often involve less competition,” says Rob Wilson, employment expert and President of Employco USA, a nationwide employment solutions firm. “If you want access to these job opportunities, you have to have connections. You can’t just hop onto Craigslist and see the job posting.”
So how does Wilson suggest that job-seekers find these desirable jobs in 2018?
“There is no replacement for in-person connections,” says Wilson. “Yet networking events can often be a bust, as most people at these events will be job-seekers such as yourself. This doesn’t mean that this won’t be valuable and a good way for you to brush up on your speaking skills, but really, the people who hire folks aren’t going to be at a networking event on a Thursday night.”
To that end, Wilson believes that the real power of networking lies in temp agencies and part-time positions. “You need to get in the door. You need to get out of the hotel lobby networking over a plastic cup of red wine, and into the office where you can prove your mettle and earn those relationships day-in, day-out. Not to mention, employment solutions firms can help to ensure that you aren’t left with large gaps in your resume or your skill-set.”
Wilson also believes that temp agencies and employment firms are a boon for employers as well. “It gives you a chance to take a risk on people you wouldn’t normally go for,” he explains. “Maybe you meet someone who has very little experience, but you just have a strong feeling about their potential and work ethic. A temp position gives you the chance to test them out and to see how they respond to your company culture.”
For more on this topic, please contact Rob Wilson at rwilson@thewilsoncompanies.com.
Employment expert discusses the hidden costs of employment
Presently, teachers are greatly concerned about possibly losing the ability to deduct for the classroom supplies they purchase out of pocket. No matter what side of the aisle you’re on, it raises an important topic that is rarely discussed: The amount of money it costs to keep your current job.
Rob Wilson, employment trends expert and President of Employco USA, says, “There are many costs associated with working that people don’t always consider. Yet, it’s crucial to factor in these expenditures in order to ascertain if your job is worth what you are putting in.”
Here, Wilson explains some of these hidden costs.
“One of the most obvious is the cost of commuting. This includes not just gas money, but also parking, tolls, and fees associated with your car’s upkeep. Driving to and from work each day is hard on your car, especially when it comes to extreme weather and idling in traffic. In fact, sitting in stop-and-go traffic can actually be very harmful to your vehicle.”
Rob, Scott, and Jason give HR tips and advice for office parties this holiday season, touching on: alcohol consumption, ridesharing, dress codes, politics, gift giving, and more…
Contact us with any questions you may have, we’re here to help: hr@employco.com
Rob Wilson speaks with Ken Lanphear from WKZO out of Kalamazoo regarding HR tips for office parties this holiday season.
Read more on this topic here:
https://www.employco.com/blog/2017/12/04/office-parties-need-change-metoo/
Contact us with any questions you may have, we’re here to help: hr@employco.com
H.R. expert explains how Weinstein, Spacey and Lauer can impact our holiday festivities
After America’s perennial nice guy Matt Lauer was accused of sexual misconduct in the workplace, many people were left shocked. His name is just one of many in the ever-growing pile of powerful men who have been disgraced after their egregious (and sometimes criminal) behavior was brought to light by their female colleagues.
And now, many H.R. experts are saying massive changes need to take place in American workplaces if companies want to protect their employees and their reputation as a safe place to work, especially as it relates to office parties around the holidays.
“We need to be very careful around our choices this holiday season,” says Rob Wilson, H.R. expert and President of Employco USA. “As the #MeToo campaign proved, it would behoove us all to take a closer look at our behavior towards women in the workplace and beyond.”
So, what does Wilson recommend?
First, he says, no booze at the holiday party. “I know this is not going to be well-received by every employee, but the reality is that alcohol is a match which can ignite a powder-keg. You can still serve festive ‘mocktails,’ or serve coffee, cider and cocoa. Better yet, have your party early in the day, such as at brunch. People won’t be as likely to expect alcohol or a ‘wild’ atmosphere.”
Second, he advises that companies need to be careful when wording their dress code policy. “In the light of these sexual assault accusations, many people have blamed the victims and suggested that they invited the attention due to their dress or appearance. This has created a tricky line for employers to walk: You want to require appropriate clothing at your holiday party, but you also don’t want to contribute to such victim-blaming. Hence, when wording your dress code policies make sure to focus on your employees dressing professionally rather than modestly. The goal is not to police women’s bodies or suggest they mustn’t lead men astray, but to create a workplace in which every person is dressed appropriately for their position and title.”