Tag Archives: UniqueHR news
Unprecedented Workplace Challenges of 2020 Spill into New Year
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by Jennifer Sims If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it 2,020 times: “That’s 2020 for you!” The past year has certainly taught us to expect the unexpected. After all, when is the last time employers encountered a nationwide pandemic, mass economic shutdowns, and a hotly contested presidential election, much less all in the sameContinue Reading
$900 Billion COVID-19 Relief
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The U.S. Congress passed a $892 billion COVID-19 relief act December 21, 2020, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. President Trump reluctantly signed the bill into law Sunday, December 27, 2020, demanding Congress increase stimulus payments from $600 to $2,000 per individual. The House passed the stimulus increase to $2,000 per individual. The bill heads to theContinue Reading
Vacation and Holiday Checklist
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The more questions to which you answer “yes,” the more complete your policy is regarding vacations and holidays. General Do you have a policy: Regarding vacation days? Regarding holidays? Are these policies in writing? Do you have a system for tracking when vacation days and holidays are used? Do you use a computer system forContinue Reading
Can You Fire an Employee for Facebook Posts?
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Two things are eminently clear as the 2020 election season ramps up: (1) Everyone has an opinion, and (2) they aren’t shy about sharing it. So, what’s an employer to do when an employee likes or shares an inflammatory article on Facebook or uses his 280 characters on Twitter to start a battle with aContinue Reading
Texas Workforce Commission Nov 1 Changes
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European countries like France and Germany are reinstating lockdowns amidst the second wave of Coronavirus. Here in the United States, Texas continues on the path to reopen its economy. One of the latest measures comes from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) reinstating the state work search requirements effective November 1, 2020. Work search is aContinue Reading
Checklist for Benefits Communications
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Most companies are receiving employee benefit renewals. In order to avoid benefits communication errors, it is wise to periodically review communications that employees have received in the past to gauge their perception and understanding. Ask yourself the following questions: Were these communications meant only to fulfill ERISA compliance regulations, and do they comply with currentContinue Reading
3 Benefits You’ll Need to Offer Post-Pandemic
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By Emily Muhoberac, COO, Sapper Consulting Have you reevaluated your employee benefits package since social distancing was implemented? It’s likely that your pre-pandemic perks, plans, and promises won’t hold up after COVID-19 passes. You’ll need new, creative benefits to retain talented employees and snag new superstars. How your company reacts and realigns during this crisisContinue Reading
4 Ways to Help Workers Build Emergency Savings, and How Much Is Enough?
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By Amanda Utevsky, PhD As employers reevaluate employee benefits following the labor shock of 2020’s COVID-19 pandemic, they must look at ways to both shore up financial health and help reduce potential future stressors. Evidence shows that having enough savings on hand is one of the largest predictors of financial well-being, making employee financial health programs focusedContinue Reading
Red Alert
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By Steve Sanders Any event like the COVID-19 pandemic is accompanied by increased risk of cybersecurity threats. Unfortunately, cyber criminals are adept at taking advantage of the increasing vulnerabilities stemming from remote work environments. During this time, it is critical that you and your institution’s employees exercise caution and remain nimble in your cyber defensesContinue Reading
PEO and the Pandemic
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A new study by McBassi & Company surveyed PEO clients across the nation concerning the COVID-19 Pandemic. The results are right in line with the feedback UniqueHR received from our clients. Concerning PPP Loans: 98% of PEO clients’ PPP loan applications were successful. PEO clients were more than twice as likely to receive PPP loans–65.9%Continue Reading
Payroll Tax Delay- The Memorandum in 6 Points
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Summary of President Trump’s Payroll Tax Memorandum Prepared by Davis and Harman The payroll tax memorandum was signed by President Trump on August 8, 2020. It directs the Secretary of the Treasury to implement a delay of certain employees’ obligations to pay certain Social Security taxes. The Payroll tax provision awaits Treasury guidance and accordingContinue Reading
Employee Tests Positive for COVID-19, Now What?
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Across the country the number of people who test positive for COVID-19 has taken a sharp turn upward. In Texas, the daily number of positive tests for COVID-19 increased from 864 on May 1, 2020, to 1,312 on June 1, and 6,991 on July 1. This spike prompted Governor Abbott to declare a pauseContinue Reading