Employee Handbooks vs. Policies

What Is The Difference Between Employee Handbooks And Policies And Procedures Manuals? An employee handbook is written with employees as the intended audience. It is most often written using a straightforward layout for easy referencing of company policies and procedures and is a vehicle for familiarizing employees with basic company policies and benefit programs, as […]

Are You a ‘Covered Employer’ Under the FMLA?

It’s important to note that FMLA obligations don’t kick in unless an employer qualifies as a “covered employer” under the statute.

Sometimes, determining whether an employer is covered can get a little tricky. The questions abound: How many employees must be retained? For how long? What if we straddle the minimum number over the course of time? What about part-time employees? Those on leave? And the list goes on.

Department of Labor Guidance on Telework and FMLA

DOL Eligibility Rules Under FMLA When Employees Telework The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has published a Field Assistance Bulletin (FAB) that includes guidance on how to apply eligibility rules under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) when employees telework or work away from an employer’s facility. FABs provide guidance to DOL Wage and […]

HR Priorities for 2023

Learn more about three top priorities for Human Resources in 2023: Employee Well-Being, DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), and remote work flexibility.

Employer Information About Pay Transparency

Pay transparency is when an employer openly communicates pay-related information through established practices to current or prospective employees. Employers can provide this information through various channels, such as online job sites, job postings or during an interview. As a result of changing labor markets, more and more employees are demanding pay transparency. Further, some jurisdictions […]

Early Preparation Is Crucial For 2023 Open Enrollment

Early open enrollment prep can be an opportunity for retention by putting employee needs first. The job market is still dealing with the after-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Workers are taking stock of their circumstances and considering which employment perks matter the most. Specifically, employees are increasingly more concerned about their physical and mental health, […]

Recognizing Mental Health Trends During Mental Health Awareness Month

Employers Are Responding to Mental Health Concerns Mental health has been a hot topic this year, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past two years, so many people have experienced issues such as burnout, depression, anxiety, and substance addiction. In fact, 40% of U.S. adults said they have struggled with mental health or substance […]

Wearable Technology and the Workforce

Nearly 1 in 5 Americans (21%) say they regularly wear a smartwatch or fitness tracker. Pew Research Center Wearable tech: Pros and Cons For Employers Wearable technology isn’t a new feature. For years, personal gadgets such as smartwatches have been gaining popularity among people who want better insight into their health trends. In fact, wearable […]

All About Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRAs)

An individual coverage HRA (ICHRA) is similar to an HRA—it uses funds from your employer to help pay for certain medical expenses. However, there are some important features of ICHRAs that you should understand.

PPE Expenses are Reimbursable Under Health FSAs, HRAs and HSAs

In this article we talk about the fact that the recent IRS guidance provided that amounts paid by individuals for PPE—including masks, hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes used for the primary purpose of preventing the spread of COVID-19—are deductible medical expenses. Therefore, the amount you paid for the PPE that is not compensated for by insurance may be deductible as long as your total medical expenses are more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI).

Preparing For Open Enrollment In This Second Pandemic Year

Will Remote Workers Affect Open Enrollment? Open enrollment will be here before you know it—and it’ll likely differ than those held in years past, especially for remote employees. Benefit offerings may be changing, and you may be enrolling virtually as a remote employee. As such, it’s essential to come prepared. To avoid last-minute headaches, familiarize […]

What Does the Broker Compensation Disclosure Rule Mean for Employers?

Transparency and shared expectations are gold standards of any successful business relationship. When it comes to a broker, employers should look for someone who keeps them informed about important issues related to their interests. In that spirit, this article discusses new compensation disclosure rules and sets expectations for the future.    Broker Compensation Disclosure Rule  The Consolidated […]

4 Lessons Learned From Open Enrollment During the Pandemic

4 Lessons Learned From Open Enrollment During the Pandemic There’s no denying that the 2020 open enrollment season was unprecedented. It’s challenging enough most years to engage and educate employees to actively make decisions about their health care and other employer-sponsored benefits, and the prevalence of remote and hybrid workplaces added another level of complexity […]

What Employers Should Consider When Moving to a Hybrid Work Model

The pandemic has resulted in thousands of employees working from their kitchen tables or living rooms instead of the workplace. However, as more Americans receive a COVID-19 vaccination and organizations develop or update their return-to-work plans, some employees may still be eager to continue working remotely even if just for a few days each week. […]

Are Your Post-Covid Work Policies Up To Date?

Protect Your Workplace In A Post-Covid Time. 8 Policies To Review For New Post-Covid Office Norms Returning to in-person work is a top priority for many workplaces. As the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic lessens, employers are eager to get employees back in their buildings. But that comes with a series of complications. New policies, […]

Mental Health Awareness Month of May

May is Mental Health Awareness month and a good month to reflect on the needs of our employees from a mental standpoint. The past year has been hard on us in many ways, but it is important to acknowledge the challenge that the COVID-19 pandemic has posed on us mentally. Many employees may have psychiatric […]

House Passes $1.9 Trillion COVID-19 Economic Relief Bill

(Updated information will continue to be provided as details are made public.) The House of Representatives has passed its version of President Joe Biden’s proposed stimulus bill, which includes extended unemployment benefits, direct checks to individuals and more. The bill is now with the Senate, where some provisions will likely change. Democrats hope to pass […]

What’s In The Newest Covid-19 Related Bill: Unemployment Funding And More…

On Monday, Dec. 21, 2020, Congress passed an emergency stimulus package designed to deliver approximately $900 billion in COVID-19-related aid. On Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, President Donald Trump signed the bill into law. The bill was part of a $1.4 trillion spending package that will keep the government open for the fiscal year. Notably, the […]

Employee Mental Health, the Holidays and the COVID-19 Pandemic

Learn more about how to support employee mental health during the holiday season.

Time Tracking in the Time of COVID-19

Keeping track of employee productivity has always been important, but it’s even more significant in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the majority of employers allowing remote work, accurate time tracking isn’t always a guarantee.

Open Enrollment May Feel Different Among 2020 Pandemic

Post COVID-19:  Preparing for an Unprecedented Open Enrollment Period Open enrollment following the COVID-19 pandemic will be unlike any other in recent memory. Many organizations are still trying to recover from extended closures and maintain safe working environments—open enrollment is the last thing on their minds. Yet, procrastinating on enrollment planning can actually cause more […]

COVID-19 Next Steps: If Workers Refuse to Return

As we near a re-opening phase of the Coronavirus crisis, many workers are leery about stepping back into the workforce. Some essential workers are even refusing to come to work out of fear of contracting the coronavirus. It’s important for employers to think about the employees’ legal rights and health concerns as well as trying to meet the organizations’ business needs.

COVID-19 Layoffs? Beware of WARN Act

Employers should heed compliance WARN Act will be important during COVID-19 fallout As the COVID-19 quarantines continue, many companies are struggling and will be forced to perform mass layoffs or plant closings. As companies go through the decision-making process related to these layoffs, they should make sure they stay compliant with the Workers Adjustment and […]

Holiday HR to Ring in the Season

Holidays in the office can be challenging. Implement smart HR and create an all inclusive feeling with diversity in your office celebration.

New DOL Overtime Law Ruling May Affect You

The new ruling, which goes into effect January 1, 2020, updates the earning thresholds that are required to exempt employees from overtime pay requirements.

How to Create a Modern Workplace

Getting Inspired by Industry Leaders In late June, John Yerger, my business partner, and I attended what some call  “the best – and the biggest HR conference in the world,” the 2019 Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) Conference. After our trip, we realized two things are crystal clear: Share Modern, New Ideas Out-of-the-box thinking […]

ALERT: MyHRConcierge Partners with FMS Solutions for the 2019 FMS Compensation and Benefits Survey

MyHRConcierge has partnered with FMS Solutions in the 2019 Compensation and Benefits Survey. Grocers need to stay up to date and compliant with today’s complex labor laws. The 2019 Compensation and Benefits Survey summarizes operational findings for 156 food retailing companies and more than 5,000 stores. This survey offers a detailed look at pay ranges and provided benefits.

The Shelby Report: 2019 HR Compliance Checklist

HR & Benefits News is a monthly column by Chris Cooley, co-founder of MyHRConcierge and SMB Benefits Advisors. As we begin a new year in 2019 and approach the end of a decade, the grocery industry and the workplace in general is changing and growing at an unprecedented rate. By the year 2020, there will be five generations […]

The Shelby Report: Stop Rolling the Dice with Employee Health Benefits

Editor’s note: HR & Benefits News is a monthly column by Chris Cooley, co-founder of MyHRConcierge and SMB Benefits Advisors. Independents face so many conflicting choices about employee health benefits. It’s crucial to control escalating benefits expense, but if you reduce benefits or cut hours, you risk losing workers, customers and profits. There’s a better way, and I […]

The Shelby Report: Cooley to Talk Balancing Benefits, Employee Retention at NGA Show

Chris Cooley, co-founder of MyHRConcierge and SMB Benefits Advisors and author of The Shelby Report’s HR & Benefits News column, will present a working session called “Stop Rolling the Dice with Employee Health Benefits,” on Feb. 11 at the NGA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. The session, one of four taking place at the show, will focus on helping independent grocers attract and […]

The Shelby Report: Lower Costs with Annual Benefits Plan Review

With an Annual Benefits Plan Review, employers can make sure they are offering benefits their employees want and identify areas to lower costs.