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HR Insights Blog Header Burnout is a commonly discussed issue these days—particularly while many workforces are still working from home amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Being isolated, stressed and overworked puts employees in a difficult position and can lead to increased burnout. Oftentimes, its HR’s responsibility to help employees cope with burnout and its contributing factors.

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HR Insights Blog Header Employers play a critical role in helping promote and provide accurate information about COVID-19 vaccines.

Employees getting vaccinated can be a driving force for a safe return to work. As employers navigate the legal risks and logistics of return-to-work plans and employee vaccinations, this article explores considerations for increasing employee vaccine acceptance across their organizations.

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News Brief header U.S. directors and officers (D&O) insurers continue to see underwriting losses despite taking in more premium to correct years of competitive pricing and adverse claims trends, such as growing verdicts, settlements and defense costs, according to reports from two rating agencies.

According to Fitch Ratings and AM Best, D&O insurers increased direct premiums written in 2020 by 40%, following an increase of 20% in 2019. However, this did not stop the line of business from recording an underwriting loss for the fourth straight year in 2020. Per Fitch Ratings, the combined ratio over the same period was 107%.

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Legal Update Header On Dec. 30, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published a final rule to amend employee tip regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

On Apr. 29, 2021, the DOL published another final rule delaying the effective date of three provisions of the 2020 employee tip rule (the Rule) to Dec. 31, 2021.

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News Brief header In a joint statement, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have recommended lifting a pause on the distribution of the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine.

On April 13, the agencies recommended a pause on the J&J one-dose vaccine after reports of six cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals following administration of the vaccine. Reports of adverse events following the use of the J&J vaccine suggested an increased risk of a rare adverse event called thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS). Nearly all reports of this serious condition, which involves blood clots with low platelets, have been in adult women under the age of 50.

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News Brief header Wildfire Community Preparedness Day is Saturday, May 1, 2021. This national event is managed by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and encourages people and organizations to come together to promote wildfire awareness and participate in projects to reduce wildfire risks.

In-person gatherings continue to be limited in many areas of the country due to COVID-19. As a result, this year’s event will focus on what people can do around their homes and properties to protect against the threat of wildfires.

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Legal Update Header As of Apr. 16, 2021, certain employers are required to give preference to rehiring and retaining employees displaced by COVID-19 when filling new positions.

This new law applies to hotels, private clubs, event centers, airport hospitality operations, airport service providers and enterprises that provide building service to office, retail or other commercial buildings. The law expires Dec. 31, 2024.

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News Brief header On April 27, 2021, President Joe Biden issued an executive order raising the minimum wage of federal contractors to $15 per hour.

Beginning Jan. 30, 2022, agencies must incorporate the new rate into contract solicitations, implementing the wage into new contracts by March 30 of that year, according to the order. Organizations must also implement the $15 per hour wage into existing contracts if they are extended.

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Legal Update Header The portal for private-sector employers to submit equal employment opportunity (EEO-1) workforce data from 2019 and 2020 is now open, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced April 26, 2021.

The deadline for submissions is July 19, 2021. This data collection was previously delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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News Brief header Restaurants may begin submitting applications May 3, 2021, to the Small Business Association (SBA) for a grant program geared toward combating the economic impact of COVID-19 on the restaurant industry.

The grant program, the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, was allocated $29 billion from the $1.9 trillion economic relief bill passed earlier this year. Through the fund, eligible restaurants can receive up to $10 million per business or up to $5 million for a single physical location. Recipients are not required to repay the funding as long as funds are used for eligible uses no later than March 11, 2023.