Employers & HR In The News
Here's what's happening in HR.
Justworks, one of the nation's fastest-growing HR technology companies, is going to require all employees to be vaccinated. Their mantra: If everyone is vaccinated, the virus loses its ability to spread and ultimately loses its power.
The company, based in New York City, just announced a new policy that requires all new hires to be vaccinated against COVID-19, unless they qualify for an accommodation, effective July 31, 2021.
Vaccination will be required for all employees to enter the office (which is open as an option for team members) effective August 2, 2021.
To encourage as many people to get vaccinated as possible, the company is also incentivizing current employees to get vaccinated with a cash reward.
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Walmart just upped the benefits game fro everyone else. They announced 100% tuition reimbursement.
The retailer says it will pay 100% of college tuition and books for associates through its Live Better U (LBU) education program. Starting Aug. 16, the $1 a day fee will be removed for associates, making all education programs paid for by Walmart.
This means approximately 1.5 million part-time and full-time Walmart and Sam’s Club associates in the U.S. can earn college degrees or learn trade skills without the burden of education debt. As the largest U.S. private employer, Walmart is committing to invest nearly $1 billion over the next five years in career-driven training and development.
“We are creating a path of opportunity for our associates to grow their careers at Walmart, so they can continue to build better lives for themselves and their families,” said Lorraine Stomski, Senior Vice President of Learning and Leadership at Walmart. “This investment is another way we can support our associates to pursue their passion and purpose while removing the barriers that too often keep adult working learners from obtaining degrees.”
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U.S. wage growth among job switchers increased 5.8 percent since June 2020 according to the ADP Research Institute® Workforce Vitality Report (WVR) released today. Overall wage growth decelerated to 2.3 percent in the second quarter, down from a 6 percent average in the first quarter 2021. Employment growth took a positive turn in the second quarter and increased by 3.5 percent in June 2021.
Employment growth year-over-year increased 3.5 percent, although construction, manufacturing, resources and mining, as well as information sectors saw employment shrink. Leisure and hospitality saw the biggest gain with 13 percent employment growth. This sector also experienced the smallest wage growth, likely due to the increase in low wage workers entering the sector. Specifically, job holders and job switchers both reported a decline in wage growth at -1.39 percent and -1.27 percent.
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New Paychex Pulse of HR Report: Renewed Focus on Employee Wellness
Overwhelmingly, HR leaders agree that companies have a role to play in supporting the mental health of their employees, with only four percent stating they do not see employee mental health as a company responsibility.
HR decision-makers also realize the renewed importance of supporting a healthy work-life balance for their employees with 72 percent of those surveyed reporting they have evaluated and/or adjusted their time off policies in the last 12 months.
Additionally, employers are becoming more flexible regarding where and when work gets done. For example, as a result of the pandemic, 40 percent of respondents say they are providing flexible scheduling as a benefit and 49 percent will similarly continue to offer telecommuting and remote work options as a benefit. In fact, offering remote work options is tied with providing financial incentives as the most common way HR leaders are encouraging employee retention, both at 41 percent.
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FlexJobs’ Summer 2021 Unemployment Survey revealed that 48% of unemployed job seekers are frustrated in their job search because they are not finding the right jobs to apply to, causing many to rethink the parameters of their job searches. Forty-seven percent are actively looking outside their current career to find employment, the vast majority (85%) are willing to take a pay cut in order to secure a job, and 40% have applied to jobs they think they’re overqualified for.
“Obviously this is a very unusual time in the job market, and unfortunately, it’s difficult to project when it will stabilize,” said Sara Sutton, CEO & Founder of FlexJobs. “Despite the uncertainty, however, the key strategies and tactics to successful job searching do remain the same. I definitely encourage job seekers right now to stay focused on what they can control, such as networking, submitting tailored job application materials, using high-quality job search services, and staying positive in the process,” Sutton concludes.