12 Mar

Posted at 18:03h in COVID-19, HR and Operations by . .

The $1.9 trillion relief bill, known as the American Rescue Plan, has been signed into law by President Joe Biden. Highlights of the bill include extended unemployment benefits, direct checks to individuals and more.

While some of the bill was changed during its time with Congress, it’s largely similar to the initial version passed by the House. However, some key provisions, such as a higher minimum wage, were scrapped amid efforts to pass the bill swiftly. This article outlines the most relevant provisions included in the bill.

12 Mar

Posted at 17:51h in COVID-19, Employee Benefits by . .

News Brief header President Joe Biden recently announced that he is directing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to purchase an additional 100 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.

The White House had announced earlier in March that drugmaker Merck & Co. will help produce competitor Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine to expand its production and supply. The administration invoked the Defense Production Act to get two Merck facilities up to the standards necessary to safely manufacture the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. However, it will take months to fully equip these plants.

12 Mar

Posted at 17:46h in COVID-19, HR and Operations by . .

News Brief header On Thursday, March 11, 2021, President Joe Biden directed states to make all adults, ages 18 and older, eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations by May 1.

The directive came during Biden’s first prime-time address, one year after the COVID-19 pandemic began and hours after signing his administration’s $1.9 trillion relief bill into law. The president announced that the country will have enough vaccines to open eligibility to everyone by May 1, two months sooner than original estimates. This tracks with Biden’s new goal: having in-person celebrations on the Fourth of July.

12 Mar

Posted at 17:43h in Human Resources White Papers by . .

HR Insights Blog Header The remote workplace is here to stay, but its role may change.

As the pandemic shifts, organizations may be planning a combination of remote and onsite working. In a hybrid model, some employees work on-site, while some employees work from home. This article discusses post-pandemic workplace trends, the advantages and challenges of on-site and remote workplaces, and strategies for hybrid model workplaces.

05 Mar

Posted at 20:33h in Risk Management White Papers by . .

News Brief header Fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death for construction employees.

In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, falls account for the 30% of fatalities in the construction industry. To raise awareness about falls and to help prevent them, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) created the National Stand-down to Prevent Falls in Construction, which runs May 3-7, 2021.

What Is a Safety Stand-down?

05 Mar

Posted at 20:29h in Risk Management White Papers by . .

News Brief header The grain-handling industry is a high-hazard one. Workers can be exposed to serious and sometimes life-threatening hazards, including fires and explosions from grain dust accumulation, suffocation from engulfment and entrapment in grain bins, falls from heights, and crushing injuries and amputations from grain-handling equipment.

Stand Up 4 Grain Safety focuses on the importance of addressing these hazards.

05 Mar

Posted at 20:24h in Risk Management White Papers by . .

Safety Matters Header image Soil classification is an important part of preparing for excavation or trenching work.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), trenching is one of the most dangerous types of work in the construction sector. In fact, 40 construction workers are killed annually from being caught in trench cave-ins. However, with proper precautions, these deaths are largely preventable.\ One method for detecting hazards in trenching operations is to conduct investigations in order to identify trenching conditions. Part of the identification process is having a competent person classify the soil that is being excavated to determine the hazards that could occur with that particular soil.

05 Mar

Posted at 19:42h in Employee Benefits White Papers by . .

The foods and beverages you consume have a significant impact on your health. Diet-related chronic diseases—such as cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, obesity and some types of cancer—are prevalent among Americans and pose a major public health problem.

In fact, 60% of adults have one or more diet-related chronic diseases. Every five years, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture publish nutrition advice. The newest version of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2020-2025) offers science-based nutrition advice to develop healthy eating habits and reduce chronic disease risk. For the first time, this edition provides recommendations by life stage, from birth through older adulthood.

05 Mar

Posted at 19:36h in Human Resources White Papers by . .

News Brief header On Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released its enforcement and litigation data from the 2020 fiscal year.

The agency resolved 70,804 charges in 2020 and secured $439.2 million for victims of employment discrimination. Among their efforts, EEOC employees fielded over 470,000 phone calls and responded to more than 187,000 field office inquiries, including 122,775 online submissions.