| THE FUTURE OF OBAMACARE |
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With President-elect Donald Trump set to take office on January 20, we are likely to see changes to the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”). Since an outright repeal faces difficult odds to overcome, Trump and Republicans are expected to use a budget reconciliation method to change significant aspects of the law as long as the end result is budget-neutral. Over the next few weeks, Congress will likely proceed with measures to abolish Obamacare. At that point, they will work on a replacement that may maintain certain attractive aspects of the current law.
Parts of the law that are likely to stay
- Children are eligible up to age 26 – Parents can cover children, up to age 26, on their medical plan regardless of the child’s student status
- Pre-existing conditions – Insurance carriers must disregard a covered member’s pre-existing health conditions
Parts of the law that are likely to change
- Employer mandate – Companies with at least 50 employees would no longer be required to offer coverage to employees working at least 30 hours per week
- Individual mandate – The tax penalty for people without health insurance is likely to end
- Tax subsidies – Premium discounts for low wage earners is expected to be discontinued
- Medicaid expansion – A full repeal would mean Americans that earn slightly more than the old Medicaid’s wage rules would pay more for their coverage
- Medicare Rx additional coverage – The prescription drug donut hole (claim gap) would be reintroduced
- Nationwide insurance market – Plans call for insurance carriers to have the ability to sell health insurance across state lines
- H.S.A. expansion – Enhancements are predicted for Health Savings Account (H.S.A.) contribution limits, inheritance eligibility and government funding options
We will continue to monitor this issue and provide on-going updates.
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| HIRING SEASON |
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January and February are the peak months for companies to recruit and hire new employees. Hiring typically picks up early in the year because full staffing levels return from the holidays and hiring budgets have been approved. With demand exceeding supply, employers who execute an effective recruiting strategy increase their odds of finding the right person.
Here are 6 tips to find the best candidates:
- Post an attractive help wanted ad. Thoroughly describe the job responsibilities, but keep in mind you also need to sell your company to potential applicants
- Look for passive candidates. Some of the best candidates are working and aren’t actively looking for a new job. Sources like LinkedIn and other social media sites can produce excellent candidates
- Keep in touch with local schools. Depending on the position, build a relationship with nearby high schools, colleges and universities to get access to their top pool of candidates
- Offer an employee referral bonus. Companies often times provide referring employees a percentage of the new hire’s salary up to a maximum (e.g., 1% of new hire’s salary up to $500 max payout)
- Maintain your own network. Keep a list and periodic contact with people that would be a good fit for your company, even though you may not currently have a position for them
- Consider part-time workers or remote employees. If your search isn’t producing quality applicants, multiple part-time employees or an employee working from home might produce surprising results
Employco offers a recruiting solution at a discounted rate for current clients. We work with companies and hiring managers to eliminate the complexity of their search for qualified professionals. Our recruiting service includes the job posting, review of applicants’ qualifications, passive candidate search, interviews, job offers, drug testing and criminal background screens. Contact Employco's recruiter, Elizabeth Rogowski, at 630-286-7338 or erogowski@employco.com for help with your recruiting efforts.
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OSHA RULE ON WALKING-WORKING SURFACES
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Starting January 17, 2017, general industry employers will be subject to a new Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rule that updates the standards specific to slip, trip, and fall hazards. The new rule will affect approximately 112 million workers at 7 million worksites.
The changes are intended to reduce the number of fall-related employee deaths and injuries following a slip, trip or fall on floors, aisles, stairs, ladders, platforms, roofs, etc. The rule allows employers to select a fall protection system from an approved list of options including guardrails, safety nets, and personal fall systems.
If you’re not sure how the new final rule applies to your company, contact Employco for more information. Our staff includes industry professionals who specialize in OSHA and worker safety. Contact us to discuss the best ways to prevent and respond to a work-related accident or injury.
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| LABOR LAW POSTERS |
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The start of the new year is also a good time to make sure your labor law posters are up-to-date. Companies are required to post the notices at each facility in a conspicuous place where it can be easily seen by employees. Employco offers clients a no-cost labor law poster and employee handbook service to ensure compliance with employee notice requirements. For more information or to request a new supply of posters, please contact us. |
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| NEW FORM I-9 REMINDER |
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The USCIS recently released a new Form I-9 for verifying the identity and authorization of employees to work in the United States. By Jan. 22, 2017, employers must use only the new version, dated 11/14/2016. Until then, they can continue to use the version dated 03/08/2013 or the new version. Employco provides clients with a legally compliant new hire packet that includes the new Form I-9 along with other documents such as the Form W-4, anti-discrimination and drug abuse policies and can customize the paperwork for the client’s needs. We will be distributing updated new hire packets to clients over the next couple weeks. |
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| LISTEN TO EMPLOYCO'S HR PODCAST! |
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Employco’s HR podcast offers listeners valuable insight into employment-related topics. In a roundtable format, Employco’s executive team discusses current legislative and strategic issues related to all areas of human resources. Topics range from labor law compliance, recruitment, employee engagement, retention, compensation and benefits, and employee relations. |
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