One In 10 People In The United States Will Get The Flu In A Given Season, According To Estimates From The Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC).

And while viruses can live year-round, flu activity tends to rise in October and then peak between December and February. With COVID-19 a factor this year, it’s even more important to take precautions to prevent the flu from spreading.

HR Insights Blog HeaderThe Time We’re Living In Now Is Not Like Any Other Period From Recent Memory. Between The COVID-19 Pandemic, Global Economic Downturns And Lingering Job Shortages, It’s Safe To Say That We’re All Charting Unknown Waters.

It can seem like entire processes and workflows have gone out the window— sacrificed for the sake of staying afloat. And performance reviews are among the greatest casualties.

Legal Update HeaderOn Sept. 22, 2020, The U.S. Department Of Transportation (DOT) Extended Its COVID-19 Drug And Alcohol Testing Guidance To Dec. 31, 2020. The Extended Guidance Allows Substance Abuse Professionals (SAPs) To Perform Remote Assessments And Evaluations And Lengthens The Requalification Timeline For Service Agents Through The End Of The Year.

This guidance provides SAPs and other service agents with the flexibility they need to help employers comply with existing DOT drug and alcohol regulations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

News Brief headerOn Monday, Oct. 18, 2020, The Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC) Officially Encouraged Passengers To Wear Masks While On Public Transportation. This Guidance Comes More Than Seven Months Into The COVID-19 Pandemic, And Many States And Transportation Providers—Especially Airlines—Already Enforce Mask Requirements.

The CDC’s announcement is nowhere near a nationwide mask mandate; it is merely a “strong recommendation.” However, the CDC’s position may strengthen the efforts of transportation providers and state officials who have already been requiring masks while on public transit.

News Brief headerOn Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020, The Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC) Clarified What “Close Contact” Means As It Relates To COVID-19-Prevention Guidance.

Previously, the CDC defined close contact as spending 15 straight minutes within 6 feet of another person. Now, the organization redefined the term to mean a total of 15 minutes within a 24-hour period. That means short, repeated contacts throughout the day count toward that 15-minute threshold.

The COVID-19 Pandemic Has Upturned Everything This Year. So, It’s Understandable If You Are A Little Less Prepared For Open Enrollment At This Point. However, There’s Still Time To Address Open Enrollment With Employees In Meaningful Ways. Doing So Will Help Them Get The Most From Their Benefits, Which Are Especially Valuable In These Uncertain Times.

This article outlines a few last-minute strategies for maximizing open enrollment for your employees.