by admin | Feb 27, 2023 | Human Resources
Employee engagement is the top priority of respondents to HR Exchange Network’s latest State of HR survey. Obviously, employers are keen to engage employees to increase productivity and retention. However, the economic downturn and inflation is complicating matters, and Human Resources leaders are seeking new ways to reach talent.
Recently, Eric Mochnacz, strategic senior HR leader and Director of Operations at Red Clover, shared his ideas about how to move forward and keep morale up, even in lean times. Here’s what he had to say:
HREN: First of all, do you think employees are going to continue with the leverage that they have? Or is that going to shift again?
EM: We’ve argued that it’s a job seekers market. Job candidates and employees can demand more. I think job seekers are more in the driver’s seat. However, they will probably come to future employers with more reasonable expectations. Recently, I got into it on LinkedIn with an individual who was honest. He said that if you were in talent acquisition, and you were making x amount of dollars, you have to be realistic about what some of these companies are willing to offer you. You may need to take a salary cut.
Obviously, we want people to feel like they are paid their worth. But I think what happened – and this is true for many of our clients – is they were getting people stolen from them because these companies were just throwing an exorbitant amount of money to win talent. That’s where a lot of people got burned.
Employees and job seekers will have the opportunity to say, ‘Listen, I still want remote work. I still want flexible scheduling. I think that’s still a good negotiating point for people. I think where employers will get savvier is that they will not throw money at job candidates like they did before. They’re going to be a little more conservative. Job seekers will have more realistic expectations about what they’re going to be able to find. If you’re from Meta or Twitter, when you think about becoming a software engineer at a 10- to 15-person firm, you must realize that they probably cannot afford what Meta and Twitter were able to provide.
However, we tell our tech clients to remind people that they will have a constant stream of customers, so they can offer job security. That’s the difference.
HREN: What are some of the best practices for employee engagement to keep productivity and morale up?
EM: It’s critical that how they communicate from this point on with employees helps them understand their standing in the organization. There’s been a lot of hot takes, and I’ve participated in some about how Elon Musk handled Twitter versus how Mark Zuckerberg handled Facebook.
If the company ultimately believes that the decisions they make will right set the organization, and they don’t think they’re going to need to make any layoffs in the near future, HR should say, ‘Listen, this was why we did X, Y, and Z. We think we will be successful in addressing the problem. We are relatively confident that we won’t need to do another round of layoffs.’ Again, nothing is ever guaranteed. I also think it probably requires HR leaders to get a little more face time with employees.
There’s probably this pervasive feeling of I’m doing more with less, and I’m not going to have the opportunity to find someone to relieve some of the work pressure. So, what are we doing? What’s the company doing? What are we doing to look forward? HR – I hope it’s part of the strategic leadership team – should be able to adequately respond to those questions. They must be able to listen and say, ‘So, you’re saying that you’ve now taken on the work of two other people, because we let them go? The solution to this problem is that we need to show your value. We don’t want to lose you.’
What needs to happen? I think it’s just more intentional communication with the remaining workforce, helping them feel valued, really listening to what they have to say. Then, you must use that to develop strategy into Q1 and Q2. Continue to communicate that effectively. Say, ‘We can’t hire more people now, but if things adjust, we might be able to do so in the next quarter.’
By Francesca Di Meglio
Originally posted on HR Exchange Network
by admin | Feb 20, 2023 | Health Insurance, Hot Topics
The pandemic gave us more reasons, and more options, to see doctors online. More and more, people are seeking out telemedicine services versus the traditional brick and mortar physician’s office. This trend includes telemental health services as well. And much like the necessity of remote work proved its potential to employers, telemedicine took hold as a convenient, safe and effective approach to healthcare.
While telemedicine services perform an important role in filling gaps in care, they do not address chronic care and primary care of people. This shortcoming has led to the creation of an entirely new category: virtual primary care (VPC). Today, many employers are exploring incorporating VPC into their employee benefits offering.
In practice, virtual primary care gives patients face-to-face time with their physicians across electronic devices. VPC combines the convenience of telehealth technology with an emphasis on building and maintaining strong relationships between patients and the primary care providers (PCPs). It can be used for chronic conditions such as asthma and diabetes or screening for issues like anxiety and depression. During these visits, doctors can refer patients to specialists or even write prescriptions for some acute illnesses that do not require an in-person assessment.
The COVID-19 pandemic definitely thrust the use of telemedicine forward, but many healthcare providers have been using this type of service for years. What the pandemic did do is encourage patients’ use of the telehealth services already in place. In fact, in 2020 telehealth visits increased 8,336% over visits in 2019 and telehealth appointments continue to rise.
Patients and medical professionals struggle to stay afloat in the current healthcare space. Long wait times have become the norm at doctor’s offices. As a result, more people are avoiding medical appointments altogether. Alongside outrageous wait times, patients are also plagued by high medical costs.
VPC is a cost-effective way for more people to access healthcare more easily, as it reduces taking time off from work and traveling to see a doctor – especially for those living in remote areas. Not every visit can be a digital visit, but many can be.
The shift to virtual primary care is a solution appealing to younger generations who enjoy the ease of digital appointments. A poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation found one-fourth of all adults and nearly half of adults under 30 don’t have a primary care provider – and don’t want one. Millennials and Gen Z (those born in 1997 or later) are “digital natives” and do not remember a time when the internet and social media didn’t exist. As a result, they communicate, shop and manage all aspects of their lives differently than generations before them. When it comes to healthcare, their expectations are no different. They want to schedule and complete a medical consultation from the same place they order dinner – their couch.
Today, all generations of health consumers are demanding a focus shift from just healthcare to health and well-being. VPC is a healthcare evolution that could open doorways for patients to interact with more doctors, receive a better diagnosis, and reduce the common healthcare concerns that are so prevalent today.
by admin | Feb 13, 2023 | Human Resources
There aren’t rules for how frequently you should update your handbook, but given laws do change, it’s smart to be proactive so you don’t get caught off guard.
An updated employee handbook helps employees understand what’s expected of them, and helps managers ensure company policies are followed.
We’ve identified four reasons to revisit your employee handbook in 2023.
New year, new employee handbook? There aren’t any hard and fast rules that require your handbook to be updated at specific intervals. But instead of assuming it’ll get you through 2023, there are good reasons to treat it like the living document it is.
First, the implementation of updated, clear policies that both employees can understand, and managers apply consistently will help employees feel like they’re being treated fairly.
Next, having a handbook that you know is up to date with current laws (and well understood by managers) can help reduce the likelihood of a claim against your business. Plus, if an employee or former employee does file a claim, a handbook can provide valuable documentation to demonstrate that your business has equitable and compliant workplace policies in place.
Here are 4 policies we think you should pay attention to in 2023:
- Personal Appearance/Grooming (CROWN Acts): Employers with dress codes or appearance policies need to keep an eye out for CROWN Acts, as these laws generally protect traits associated with race, including natural and protective hairstyles. If you have policies that prohibit afros, dreadlocks (a.k.a. locks), or hair past a certain length, they’ll need to be revisited. Even if you aren’t subject to a law that protects natural hairstyles, we recommend removing restrictions that are more likely to affect employees of a particular race, sex, or religion, in order to increase inclusivity.
- EEO (for CROWN acts and many others): Equal Employment Opportunity policies generally list the classes or characteristics that are protected by federal and state law. We see a handful of new state-level protections every year, so employers (especially those operating in multiple states) need to ensure that their EEO policies are up to date.It’s common for employee handbooks to say that they won’t discriminate based on the federally protected classes, and then say, “and any other class protected by state or federal law”. This catch-all is a nice idea, but many employers aren’t aware of all the classes that are protected by federal and state law. As a result, they can be caught off guard – and in a lawsuit – because they simply didn’t know the actions they were taking were considered illegal discrimination.That’s why we recommend including the full list of protected classes in the employee handbook. More knowledge is better. Also, managers have a duty to ensure that employees aren’t harassing one another based on their inclusion in a protected class. And if your managers aren’t aware of the full extent of their responsibilities, they’re going to have a much harder time keeping your workplace in compliance.
- Sick leave policies: State sick leave laws were trending even before the pandemic and that hasn’t let up. Even when we’re not getting brand-new laws, we’re seeing expansions of the existing requirements to cover more situations. Given employees’ heightened awareness of how disease spreads and an increased desire to avoid illness, we recommend revisiting your sick leave policies — even if they aren’t required by law – to ensure that employees are encouraged to stay home when sick.
- State Family and Medical Leave: State family leaves, whether paid or unpaid, are being passed at a steady clip. These usually interact with FMLA as well as benefits offered by the company, so it’s appropriate for employers to have this laid out in their handbook so that both managers and employees know when these leaves apply.
Taking steps to ensure your employee handbook reflects today’s workplace just makes sense. Your company isn’t stagnant, and the regulatory environment in which it operates certainly isn’t standing still. So, whether you review it annually, every six months, or quarterly, be proactive about updating your employee handbook in 2023. You’ll be glad you did.
Originally posted on Mineral
by admin | Feb 6, 2023 | Employee Benefits, Health Insurance
Getting sick can be expensive. Even minor illnesses and injuries can be very costly to diagnose and treat. Health care coverage helps you get the care you need and protects you and your family financially if you get sick or injured.
We’re breaking down the health insurance basics. Because, when you understand it, you’re more likely to get preventive care, make better health decisions and even reduce your costs.
55% of people can’t answer basic health insurance questions and younger generations struggle with understanding the fundamentals of insurance even more. 69% of millennials and 64% of Gen Zers admitted they’ve opted not to seek care due to uncertainty about their health insurance.
Put simply, health insurance is a way to pay for your health care. Your health insurance protects you from paying the full costs of medical services when you’re injured or sick. And it works the same way your car or home insurance works: you or your employer choose a plan and agree to pay a certain rate, or premium, each month. In return, your health insurer agrees to pay a portion of your covered medical costs.
How Health Insurance Payments Work
Your premium, or how much you pay for your health insurance each month, covers some or all the medical care you receive – everything from prescription drugs to doctors’ visits. Most people choose a health insurance plan based on the benefits and medical services the plan covers, as well as on monthly cost. But there are other factors to consider as well, like what you will be required to pay when you see a doctor or a health care facility.
These out-of-pocket payments are important to understand and know the differences between them:
- Deductible – A deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket on healthcare costs before your insurance company starts to contribute to your healthcare costs for the year. Generally, a plan with a lower deductible will have a higher monthly premium than a plan with a higher deductible.
- Co-pay – A co-pay is a set fee you pay for a doctor visit. For example, if your policy lists a co-payment of $20 for a doctor visit, you pay that amount each time you see the doctor. Keep in mind that the co-pay will differ for different services. What you pay for a trip to the emergency room will probably not be the same as a co-pay for a visit to your primary care physician.
- Co-Insurance – Co-insurance is the amount you pay for covered health care after you meet your deductible. This amount is a percentage of the total cost of care – for example, if your co-insurance is 20%, your insurance covers the other 80%. Co-insurance levels vary by plan, as do deductibles.
- Out-of-Pocket Maximum – An out-of-pocket maximum is a limit on the amount of money you have to pay for covered services in a plan year. After you spend this amount on your deductible, co-payments and co-insurance, your health plan pays 100% of the costs of covered benefits.
Knowing how your insurance and healthcare costs are structured is an important part of your personal finances. When you choose a plan, look at your typical healthcare needs and costs so you can make the best decision for your health, and your wallet.
by admin | Feb 1, 2023 | Health & Wellness
It is important to keep track of how much you exercise, your blood pressure, your weight, and your cholesterol numbers as ways to meet your heart health goals.
Here’s some ways you can do this:
- Keep a log of your activity to help you track your progress. Consider wearing a device that counts your steps to track how much you walk every day.
- Calculate your body mass index (BMI). BMI is an estimate of body fat. The higher your BMI, the higher your risk for certain diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and more. Check your BMI using this online tool.
- Track your blood pressure. It’s important to get your blood pressure checked at least once a year at your doctor’s office. While you’re there ask your doctor what your target numbers should be and how often you should check it on your own. Use this blood pressure tracker or wallet card to help you keep track of your numbers.
- Get your cholesterol checked. A blood test can show whether your cholesterol levels are healthy. Talk with your doctor about having your cholesterol tested, how often you need it tested, and what your levels should be.
- If you have diabetes, check your blood sugars. Talk with your health care provider about how often to check your blood sugar.
- Keep a record of what you eat. Write down what you eat and drink each day in a food diary to help you stay on track when trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight. Keep your diary in a noticeable place such as on the refrigerator, so you’ll remember to update it each day.
- Follow the DASH Eating Plan. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan is a science-based way of eating that can help you reduce high blood pressure and has other heart health benefits. Find healthy recipes, calorie trackers, tips for following the eating plan, and more.
Ask your friends or family to remind you to do these or join you in the effort.
Originally posted on National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
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