HR Insights: Vol 4, Issue 1

volume IV
issue I

January 2016

5 Powerful Human Resource Trends in 2016

In 2016, the biggest barrier to business success will be the subject of talent and, specifically, how we as business leaders will hire, retain, and train not just our future organizational leaders, but also the average employee. This simple fact is the reason that human resources and recruiting are forever linked; HR is responsible for the entire

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The Easiest Thing You Can Do To Be a Great Boss

Most leaders receive surprisingly little development before assuming their first supervisory roles. In fact, many get no leadership training at all until they’ve been in the executive ranks for nearly a decade–reaching, on average, age 42.

But whether you’ve had formal training or not, there’s one simple action that can dramatically increase any manager’s success in gaining the support and engagement of subordinates: recognize great work. That means calling out excellent accomplishments by your employees right away–and doing so in consistent and regular increments from the start.

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Will the Cadillac Tax Be Delayed?

Question:

I heard news before the holidays that the Cadillac tax was delayed. Is it true?

Answer:

As everyone was guessing, yes, taxes related to the ACA and other fees related to the law continue to morph. On December 18, 2015, President Obama signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2016, which delayed the effective date of the 40% excise tax (Cadillac tax) to 2020. There were other small changes that impacted tax and insurance fees. See the related article from The Hill (www.thehill.com) regarding the repeal of the tax for additional information. Your insurance broker could also provide you with details on how it may impact your organization.

NLRB Strikes Down Policy Prohibiting Recordings by Employees

The National Labor Relations Board ("Board") finished the 2015 year in the same way it started: With continued scrutiny of seemingly neutral employer policies. The Board continues to assume that employees will read these policies and assume that their rights to engage in protected activities are being prohibited. The latest policies under assault? Policies that prohibit unauthorized recordings in the workplace.

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High Fines Continue to Provide "Additional Motivation" for I-9 Compliance

Although Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has recently eased off of its record pace for commencing new I-9 inspections, employers can take no comfort. ICE continues to use these inspections as a key enforcement tool to build a "culture of compliance" among employers, as shown by a recent decision issued by an administrative law judge (ALJ) in the Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer. This decision demonstrates the need to make I-9 compliance an important part of your normal business operations and to train employees to handle I-9 compliance duties properly.