How a Company Can Recover after Workplace Violence

Employco USA

Employment expert, Rob Wilson, explains HR procedure after an act of violence at the office

In the wake of the San Bernardino shootings, Americans are yet again reeling from the effects of a mass shooting.  And, much like the WDBJ-TV shooting in late August of 2015 which occurred on live television, workplace violence is now becoming a hot button topic for people across the country.

“The reality is that workplace violence is a growing concern for many people,” says Rob Wilson, CEO of Employco USA, “People deserve the right to feel safe at their workplaces, and when acts of senseless violence like this occur, it robs us of a sense of security.”

Here, Wilson outlines the steps that an employer should take in the event of workplace violence:

  1. Put emergency guidelines in your handbook. “Make sure that your employee handbook offers procedures on how to handle the unthinkable. We have everything from fire drills to tornado drills.  We should also have steps in place for how to handle a mass shooting. If possible, you can even discuss these steps with a local law enforcement officer to help ensure that the best procedures are given to your employees.”
  2. Offer grief counseling if appropriate. “For workers in the San Bernardino area, heading back to work on Monday morning was probably frightening and a bit unreal. It can be hard to forget the aftermath of the tragedy and switch back into work mode. For those companies in the nearby area that are most affected, a grief counselor can really be an invaluable resource.”
  3. Consider offering a limited work schedule. “Where possible, allow employees to personalize their own schedules in the week following a tragedy. Maybe it is advisable for some staff to work from home, or for the workday to be short and limited. Look for ways to cut stress from employees’ plates, such as letting them commute to work a little later so that they miss the heavy traffic and clean-up that could be required due to the shooting.”
  4. Try to find a silver lining. “The holiday season is an especially hard time to grapple with grief and terror, but it also offers many opportunities to make the world a better place. Try to bring cheer and a sense of office camaraderie to your workplace again by hosting a toy drive for a local charity or by inviting your staff to pitch in at a local homeless shelter. You can also remember victims through offering donations to the family.”
  5. Keep political talk of out of the office—and off social media. “This is an important time to remind staff that the office is not the place for political debate, and neither are their social media pages if they interact with clients and other coworkers on these sites. It’s not the time to post gun control memes or the time to debate how the President should handle terrorism. Focus on healing and unity, not on divisive debates.”
  6. Lastly, ask employees to follow the “see something, say something” motto. “Ask your employees to keep their eyes and ears open for anything that might be a sign of trouble,” says Wilson, “Have an open door policy and let employees know that they will not be penalized for sharing their fears, even if that fear turns out to be unfounded. We all need to be responsible for keeping our workplaces violence-free.”

Keep an eye out for warning signs, some of which may include:

  1. Sudden and frequent absences from the workplace
  2. Erratic Behavior
    • Complaints of unfair treatment
    • Disruptive to the work environment
    • Disrespect of management/supervisors
    • Frequent outbursts of anger
    • Depression
  3. Be aware of social postings.  Many companies implement tracking of employees’ social postings.
  4. History of violence
    • Fascinated with incidence of workplace violence
    • Shows an extreme interest in weaponry
  5. Personal/family issues.  Frequent talk about a troubled family life.

For more on this topic, please contact Rob Wilson at rwilson@thewilsoncompanies.com.

Federal Reserve Announces Plans to Leave Interest Rate Unchanged

Employco USA

Employment expert available to comment on what motivated this decision

The Federal Reserve just announced that it plans to leave the interest rate unchanged. Many believe that this is because the country’s slow economic growth has challenged the policy-makers’ confidence.

Rob Wilson, employment expert and CEO of Employco USA, says, “The Federal Reserve opted not to change the interest rate due to unreliable low unemployment numbers and slow wage growth.”

Wilson also believes that the Affordable Care Act played a large part in this decision.

“Due to the Affordable Care Act, employers have been slow to hire, and some have even been forced to let employees go or slash staff hours. Pending changes to the overtime laws also has employers worried, along with general anxiety over the economy as a whole.”

For more on this topic, please contact Rob Wilson at rwilson@thewilsoncompanies.com.

Why So Many Americans are Working Multiple Jobs

Employco USA

New research from the Labor Department reveals that 1 in 20 Americans work multiple jobs. While that is the national average, several states have higher numbers than that. 8.7 percent of job holders in South Dakota work two jobs, followed by 8.5 percent of job holders in Vermont, and 8.4 percent in Nebraska.

“Currently, it is difficult to say whether or not these numbers point to a troubling economy or a solid economy,” says Rob Wilson, employment expert and CEO of Employco USA, “On the one hand, it illustrates that many Americans have to work two jobs in order to make ends meet, but on the other hand it also illustrates that people are able to find work.”

Still, Wilson believes it could be a troubling trend. “I believe that Obamacare could be partially behind American’s need to have multiple jobs,” he says, “Many employers balked at the idea of providing insurance to their full-time staff, so in order to skirt around the new rulings, they simply shaved hours off their employees’ schedules.”

Not only did this allow employers to avoid providing health insurance (as only firms with 50 or more full-time staff are required to provide insurance), but it also will allow them to navigate around other potential financial landmines.

“If the new overtime law goes into effect, shaving hours off employees’ schedules might become a must for companies who simply cannot afford to pay their staff these increased wages. Sadly, the people who suffer here are the average Americans—because they now have to find supplemental work just to make ends meet.”

New Research Reveals Americans’ Opinion of Employment 

Employco USA

A recent survey from the American Staffing Association found that most Americans have little faith that they can find a better job than the one they currently have. As for unemployed Americans, hope is equally dim as 38 percent of able-bodied workers say that they do not believe they can find a job in the coming year.

CEO of Employco USA and employment expert Rob Wilson says, “According to the old adage, there is no job harder than trying to find a job, and that can be true even if you are already gainfully employed. Many Americans are miserable in their current positions, but they don’t want to waste their precious time off looking for another job if they have little hope their hard work will pay off.”

Wilson believes part of the problem is that the job search is so terrifying to many people. “Looking for a job can make you incredibly vulnerable,” he says, “Even a confident person can become depleted after a slew of unsuccessful interviews.”

His advice? Work smarter, not harder.

“If you use an employment agency, you can immediately tap into a world of connections and possibilities that would not otherwise be available to you,” says Wilson, “And these experts can be invaluable in helping you improve your resume and interview skills.”

Wilson also believes a shotgun approach isn’t the best way to go. “Don’t waste your time applying to 50 jobs just so you can feel accomplished,” he says, “Chances are most of those jobs aren’t a good fit for you, so all you have done is waste your time and the employer’s time. Instead, hone in on jobs that are specific to your skills and interests. It’s better to apply to one job a week rather than 50, if that one job could actually open doors for you.”

Lastly, Wilson thinks practice makes perfect. “There is no such thing as a wasted interview. Every interaction gives you a chance to fine-tune your skills and improve your communication.”

For more on Wilson’s job hunting tips or to speak to him further, please contact me.

Confusion Runs Rampant as Millions Pay Obamacare Penalty

Employco USA

7.5 million Americans were required to pay a penalty last year due to not having health insurance. This is a higher number than the government predicted, and many worry it is a sign that the country is not prepared for Obamacare.

Rob Wilson, CEO of Employco USA, says “The Affordable Care Act is causing issues across the board. Not only did the IRS collect $1.5 billion dollars in penalty fees from hardworking Americans, but many people also were confused about filling about their tax forms. Taxpayers who paid a penalty to the IRS should have claimed an exemption on their tax forms, but thousands and thousands did not, simply because they were not informed. As a result, they overpaid the government on their taxes.”

Additionally, about five million Americans claimed no health insurance status on their forms, leaving the government struggling to find out how to categorize these folks. “We don’t know how millions of Americans in this country are able to pay for healthcare, or if they are receiving healthcare. It’s scary business.”

Critics Challenge Netflix’s Paternal Leave Plan 

Employco USA

The pros and cons of Netflix’s game-changing family leave.

Netflix recently announced that they will offer one year of paid leave for mothers and fathers after they have a child. Microsoft made similar changes to their paternal leave by offering 12 weeks of paid time off for parents. (Currently, America is one of the few developed nations that doesn’t mandate paid time off for new parents.)

Rob Wilson, CEO of Employco USA, says, “Many people are criticizing Netflix because they feel the plan is too open-ended. People have the option to come back when they desire (within a year’s time), but many employees say that they will feel pressured to come back sooner in order to protect their position and their upward mobility. No one wants to be the employee that takes a full year if everyone else is taking just a few months or less. Women might especially feel this pressure as they often have to work twice as hard to earn promotions and raises.”

Wilson says that majority of Employco’s clients follow the FMLA guidelines and provide 12 weeks of time off, although this time is not paid.

“Most of these companies do not offer paid leave, but they do offer short term disability insurance through our office which has no waiting period if purchased during open enrollment,” he says. “In most cases, employees use a combination of vacation/PTO and short term disability in order to survive those early days of parenthood. It’s not a perfect system, but things continue to improve as more people aren’t afraid to broach this topic with their employers and ask for what they need.”

What College Kids Need to Know about Part-time Jobs

Employco USA

Nearly 4 out of 5 college students have a job, with most spending almost 20 hours a week working along with attending classes. However, being a student and an employee can certainly be a strain, not to mention, competition for jobs on campuses can be fierce.

Rob Wilson, CEO of Employco USA, says, “Most college kids need to work in order to help pay the bills. However, it’s a shame that so many get jobs that won’t be helpful to their careers in the long run, or jobs that don’t pay them fairly for their time.”

Here are Wilson’s top tips for how college students can make the most of part-time work:

1)   Think outside the quad. “A job on campus might seem ideal,” says Wilson, “You can be close to classes and see your friends. However, campus jobs don’t generally pay well, and you will be competing with thousands of others kids. If you have transportation options, I suggest looking off campus.”

2)   Don’t just look for “fun” places to work. “Yes, being a barback at your favorite bar would be cool,” says Wilson. “But it’s not exactly going to impress any future employers down the road. Look for jobs that have cache in the field you want to break into, even if you have to start at the bottom, such as working in the mail room at your city newspaper if you want to be a journalist.”

3)   Don’t stop at the Campus Career Center. “Your career center probably has some options for students looking for work,” says Wilson, “But I think students should go even one step further. Find a temp agency that can help you look for part-time work. Not only will they help you find jobs, they can help you work on your resume and perfect your interview skills.”

4)   Be professional. “People sometimes hesitate to hire college students because they picture an Animal House personality,” says Wilson. “Make sure that you dress professionally (ditch the college uniform of jeans and pjs), and that your social media doesn’t reflect poorly on you.  Look at your TA’s and grad students in your field. They dress the part and hence come off as more confident and capable.”

5)   Don’t be afraid to intern. “Taking a job for little or no pay can seem crazy,” says Wilson, “But, trust me, it might be the smartest thing you can do for your future. Gaining real world experience and collecting valuable contacts will make a world of difference when you finally graduate.”

Why Small Businesses Could Suffer under Changes to United States’ Employment Laws

Employco USA

A recent study from Duke University found that employment laws which protect employees from being fired affect small businesses to a much greater extent than large businesses. This is because these employee protection laws leave plenty of room for loopholes, loopholes which large companies can easily utilize to their advantage.

Employment expert and CEO of Employco USA Rob Wilson explains, “Under employee protection laws in places such as Europe, employees are kept safe from being fired under certain circumstances. This means small business owners are forced to keep them on and pay their wages. However, large companies can often sidestep this law by shunting employees off to new locations or rearranging their staff—a luxury a small firm cannot afford.”

Both Wilson and the study researchers conclude that implementing such employee protection laws in the United States could wreak havoc on small businesses.

Wilson says, “Companies large and small have already suffered under recent changes to employment laws. From Obamacare to the minimum wage to proposed changes to overtime, employers are facing new financial strain every day.”

Why “Obamanomics” is Bad for Business

Employco USA

From new minimum wage rulings to proposed overtime changes to the Affordable Care Act, President Obama has made significant changes in the way companies in this country can do business. According to Rob Wilson, employment expert and CEO of Employco USA, “Obamanomics” could spell disaster for many employers.

“It started with Obamacare,” explains Wilson. “Since many companies couldn’t afford to offer their staff health insurance, they slashed employees’ hours and made them part-time instead of full-time, thereby forcing Americans to cobble together multiple part-time jobs in order to make ends meet. Now, companies face another issue: Overtime.”

Currently, the Obama administration is proposing changes to overtime regulations, changes which would offer more employees the chance to earn this extra income. However, not everyone thinks this is such a good plan.

Wilson says, “Economists don’t think the proposed plan is tenable in the long-term. Overtime wages are projected to be $1.3 billion. The FICA taxes associated with the OT wages alone is roughly $200 million (employer and employee combined). Plus, many people fear that employers will simply dump employees rather than face the prospect of paying multiple people overtime. Others will decrease their employees’ salaries in order not to lose money as a result of all the overtime they will have to pay. It’s a lose-lose for everyone.”

What the New Minimum Wage Requirement Could Mean for Companies

Employco USA
As of last Wednesday, the new minimum wage in Chicago bumped from $8.25 to $10. By 2019, the new minimum wage requirement will be set at $13. However, employment expert Rob Wilson says that there are loopholes which people should look out for.
He says, “There are a few ways that people can possibly work around the minimum wage requirement. The main way is by keeping their company located outside of the city. For example, a company could be located in Deerfield, but still do business in the city, whether it is window-washing or tent rentals. In doing so, they can avoid paying their employees the new legal wage set by the city.”
Wilson, who is the CEO of Employco USA, an employment solutions firm, continues, “Virtual companies could also be confronted with new issues due to this law. For example, virtual companies in Chicago might have to leave if they have minimum wage workers elsewhere. All in all, this new wage ruling will have unexpected consequences as well as potential loopholes.”