When workplace health and safety incidents happen, it’s important to respond appropriately—that’s where incident investigations can help. Conducting an investigation allows employers to identify potential health and safety failings that led to the incident and make necessary workplace adjustments to help prevent future incidents. Review this guidance for more information on what workplace health and […]

Estimates show that by 2030, Generation Z could make up over half of the workforce. As more of Generation Z begins to enter the workforce, figuring out how to attract and retain them will be essential. This toolkit provides insight into the typical characteristics of Generation Z and outlines recruitment and retention strategies for employers […]

HR Insights Blog HeaderIn response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, states have passed new laws and issued new regulations and guidance about employee leave taken for COVID-19 reasons.

These provisions are in addition to the federal Emergency Paid Sick Leave and Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion requirements passed on March 18 as part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).

On July 21, 2020, the IRS issued Revenue Procedure 2020-36 to index the contribution percentages in 2021 for determining affordability of an employer’s plan under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

For plan years beginning in 2021, employer-sponsored coverage will be considered affordable if the employee’s required contribution for self-only coverage does not exceed:
  • 9.83% of the employee’s household income for the year, for purposes of both the pay or play rules and premium tax credit eligibility; and
  • 8.27% of the employee’s household income for the year, for purposes of an individual mandate exemption (adjusted under separate guidance). Although this penalty was reduced to zero in 2019, some individuals may need to claim an exemption for other purposes.

Legal Update HeaderOn July 21, 2020, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a decision that eases the way for employers to discipline or discharge an employee based on abusive or offensive conduct—such as racist or profane remarks— committed while the employee was also engaged in activities that are protected under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).

Safe + Sound Week—an annual campaign conducted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and other safety organizations—will take place from Aug. 10-16.

Each year, this event aims to recognize the successes of workplace safety and health programs across the country and provide additional resources to help organizations kick-start or improve upon their occupational safety and health initiatives. Review the following guidance for further information on Safe + Sound Week and how organizations like yours can participate in this upcoming campaign.

Legal Update HeaderOn July 20, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced the agency’s publication of additional guidance on applying federal employment laws in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The guidance is in the form of questions and answers added to sets of Q&As the agency issued earlier in the year about the operation of the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) in workplace situations involving COVID-19.