Articles on workplace-related issues from newspapers and Internet news sources around the country.
August 7, 2020
July jobs report, stimulus negotiations, sales tax holidays: 5 things to know Friday
Source: USA Today, USA Today
'We're Risking Our Lives': Front-Line Federal Workers Sue For Hazard Pay
Source: Brian Naylor, NPR
Heidi Burakiewicz, a Washington, D.C., attorney who brought the suit in collaboration with the American Federation of Government Employees, says such federal workers "are risking their health and safety to go to work. They have the types of jobs that are necessary to keep the country up and running and safe."
A wave of early retirement hits the workforce. How to negotiate the best package for you
Source: Lori Ioannou, CNBC
As companies look for ways to reduce their workforce to trim costs during the pandemic, more are offering early retirement packages to their employees. And it’s not just affecting individuals in their late 50s or older. Younger workers who are in their 40s are getting offers too.
4 million older workers will be pushed out of the workforce by October
Source: Alessandra Malito, MarketWatch
Older workers are disproportionately impacted with job losses during the current pandemic, especially because not all will be able to return to the workforce.
The Workforce Is About to Change Dramatically
Source: Derek Thompson, The Atlantic
In march, tens of millions of American workers—mostly in white-collar industries such as tech, finance, and media—were thrust into a sudden, chaotic experiment in working from home. Four months later, the experiment isn’t close to ending. For many, the test run is looking more like the long run.
August 6, 2020
EEOC issues guidance for employees who use opioids legally
Source: Judy Greenwald, Business Insurance
Employees who are using opioids legally are protected under federal disability law and can request an accommodation if its use creates a safety issue, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission says in employee guidance issued Wednesday.
Age Discrimination And Covid-19: What Are The Rights Of Older Employees?
Source: Tom Spiggle, Forbes
Even with the best of intentions, an employer’s concern for its employees could still lead to unlawful discrimination. Once such example applies to employers discriminating against their older workers.
Doubletree Hotel to Pay $45,000 and Change Policies and Procedures to Settle Sexual Harassment Lawsuit
Source: EEOC, EEOC
The DoubleTree Hotel in Jefferson City, Mo. will pay $45,000 and furnish other relief to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.
FDIC Loosens Requirements for Employment With Financial Institutions
Source: John Gerak, National Law Review
On July 24, 2020, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) released a final rule to revise and codify into the agency’s regulations the FDIC’s Statement of Policy (SOP) on Section 19 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.
August 5, 2020
167k workers added to private payrolls in July as US labor market rebound slowed: ADP
Source: Sylvan Lane, The Hill
U.S. private-sector businesses added 167,000 workers to payrolls in July as rising coronavirus cases across much of the country slowed the pace of the labor market recovery, according to the ADP National Employment Report released Wednesday.
Workers find ‘better’ jobs for their qualifications when unemployment insurance is extended, according to new study
Source: Alicia Adamczyk, CNBC
Another new study finds that longer periods of UI are actually beneficial for workers and the economy more broadly: Extending the number of weeks people can collect jobless benefits gives them the time to find a job actually suited to their expertise and skills, instead of forcing them to accept any job they’re offered.
Court Ruling Could Prove Costly, Remove Home Care Agencies from FFCRA ‘Exemption List’
Source: Andrew Donlan , Home Health Care News
When the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) was signed into law in March, home-based care providers were exempt from granting their workers a handful of benefits related to the coronavirus, such as extensive paid sick leave and paid time off.
But on Monday, the federal court for the Southern District of New York ruled that the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) was overbroad in how it defined the exemption for employees of “health care providers.”
KY women alleged hiring discrimination by Walmart. Retail giant to pay $20 million.
Source: Bill Estep, Lexington Herald-Leader
Retail giant Walmart will pay $20 million to settle allegations of discriminating against women who didn’t get jobs filling orders at the company’s grocery distribution centers.
Physician Late Career Policies Under EEOC Attack
Source: Michael R. Callahan, National Law Review
What do commercial pilots, FBI agents and air traffic controllers have in common? These individuals all face mandatory retirement ages.2 The Association of American Medical Colleges concluded that one-third of practicing physicians are 65 or older,3 but unlike other industries, there is currently no mandatory retirement age for physicians.
August 4, 2020
'Insulin or groceries': How reduced unemployment affects struggling Americans from California to Mississippi
Source: Jessica Menton, USA Today
Millions of struggling out-of-work Americans are in limbo after the additional $600 in weekly unemployment benefits expired at the end of July, leaving many fearful of how they will survive and pay their bills without the extra jobless aid.
Navigating A Pandemic And A Social Justice Movement In The Workplace
Source: Manon DeFelice, Forbes
With social justice and racism at the forefront of conversation, and the COVID-19 pandemic persisting, the workplace is bound to change — and hopefully for the better.
Companies In Their Cost Cutting Are Discriminating Against Older Workers
Source: Jack Kelly, Forbes
According to MarketWatch, “Age discrimination in the jobs market, which is supposedly illegal, goes up in recessions. Some employers take the opportunity to ax experienced workers who are paid a reasonable wage, and replace them with cheap, desperate kids who will put up with anything.”
Nearly half of all furloughed workers now believe their temporary layoff will become permanent
Source: Jennifer Liu, CNBC
Workers furloughed in the spring are seeing their temporary layoff status become permanent as the coronavirus pandemic deepens across the United States.
Colleges Are Deeply Unequal Workplaces
Source: Jeffrey Selingo, The Atlantic
As universities plan to reopen, they continue to overlook the concerns of campus staff.
August 3, 2020
Politicians still at odds days after enhanced unemployment benefits dried up
Source: The Washington Post
Lawmakers on Aug. 2 did not point to an imminent agreement on a new coronavirus stimulus package, days after enhanced unemployment benefits expired for millions of Americans.
Sickened by COVID-19, low-wage workers lose jobs. Others are denied paid leave.
Source: Alexia Fernández Campbell, NBC News
McDonald's and Marriott franchises are among hundreds of businesses that have illegally denied paid sick leave during the pandemic, records show.
6 Common Misconceptions About Workplace Culture That Are Hurting Your Employee Experience
Source: Heidi Lynne Kurter, Forbes
Workplace culture needs to be prioritized from the very beginning and worked on every single day. It’s not exclusive to a select few individuals or departments rather to everyone from contract workers, hourly, full-time, entry-level, board members and even the C-suite. Toxic or healthy, a culture sets the tone of how individuals communicate, interact and work as well as the beliefs, behaviors and values they embody.
The pandemic has shown just how much workers need unions | Opinion
Source: Jennifer Dorning, The Philadelphia Inquirer
The employees’ effort to unionize the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh began before the COVID-19 pandemic. But their management’s response to the pandemic further emphasized the need for a union.
July 31, 2020
Democrats reject White House offer for short-term extension of unemployment benefit
Source: Grace Segers, CBS News
In late-night negotiations with congressional Democrats on Thursday, White House officials offered a short-term extension of the popular unemployment benefit paying out-of-work Americans $600 per week, a CARES Act provision that formally expires Friday. But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer rejected the offer, arguing that Republicans don't understand that the situation requires a solution that is larger in scope.
Retail workers shouldn't be tasked with enforcing store mask rules, union head says
Source: Joe Murphy, NBC News
Many store owners have "abdicated their responsibility" and left it up to rank-and-file workers to enforce mask policies, said Stuart Appelbaum of the retail workers union.
Why School Openings Matter to Your Small Business
Source: Suzanne Lucas, Inc.
As schools debate whether to open in the fall, now's the time to talk with employees about the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.
What Is “Sex-Plus” Discrimination And Why Are These Employment Claims On The Rise?
Source: Eric Bachman, Forbes
“Sex-plus” discrimination claims expand Title VII’s protection to subgroups of employees who suffer discrimination based on multiple characteristics.
COVID-19 And Unemployment: The Robots Are Coming
Source: Glenn Gow, Forbes
Robots are going to help us return to normal business faster, but they are going to contribute to higher unemployment.
July 30, 2020
How the Pandemic May Change ‘Work-Life Balance’ Forever
Source: Breanna T Bradham, Bloomberg
U.S. companies known to treat workers right pivot to a new reality, offering perks employees may want to keep when the virus recedes.
Returning to the workplace with wearable tech, robots and QR codes
Source: Jia Jen Low, Tech HQ
Many companies are reluctant to step away from the new-found benefits of remote or flexible working – tech giant Google, for one, extended its work from home mandate until next July. And while a shift to remote working has gained momentum, other businesses – by necessity or habit – are readying to bring their workforces back into the office.
UPS Ground, EEOC Reach $75,000 Pact for Driver Who Had Stroke
Source: Patrick Dorrian, Bloomberg Law
UPS Ground Freight Inc. will pay $75,000 to settle an EEOC case alleging the company violated disability bias law when it failed to assign an employee to a full-time dock worker position after he had a stroke and needed to wait a year to be recertified as a driver, federal court records show.
What to Do If Your Boss Doesn’t Like You
Source: Liane Davey, Harvard Business Review
Do you worry that they don’t trust you or, even worse, don’t like you? Before you work yourself into a frenzy, take a moment to assess what’s really going on and identify what’s causing the strain in your relationship. Once you do, you can build a targeted plan for how to make things better.
July 29, 2020
The Black-White Disability Gap Increases with Age
Source: Shawn Fremstad, CEPR
With the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) happening this weekend as Black Lives Matter protests continue, it’s a good time to look at the intersection between race and disability in the United States.
Disability and Employment in the Time of Coronavirus: The 30th Anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act
Source: Haley Brown, CEPR
This Sunday, July 26th, marks a major disability rights milestone — the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The passage of the ADA in 1990 represented a landmark shift in the way the United States approaches opportunity for those with disabilities, reframing access and inclusion as matters of civil rights rather than charity.
Survey Shows 90% Of Remote Workers Want This From Companies
Source: Chris Westfall, Forbes
Another major employer is embracing the remote work culture: Google has announced that their employees work from home until summer 2021. Working from home is here to stay as companies are committing to greater safety, flexibility and online collaboration. A new survey conducted by Prodoscore shows that the vast majority of remote workers - 90% - are open to a proposed increase in productivity.
The 'she-cession': Teachers, a majority-female workforce, grapple with what's next
Source: Ali Vitali, NBC News
There are no good options, and no playbook.
Across the country, schools are grappling with what “back to school” looks like in the time of a pandemic. And pressure from the White House and President Donald Trump to send kids back into classrooms, comes with questions from educators about how best to do that while keeping everyone — including themselves and their loved ones — safe.
Guidewire Software to Pay $200,000 to Settle EEOC Disability Discrimination Lawsuit
Source: EEOC, EEOC
Foster City-based software publisher Guidewire Software, Inc. will pay $200,000 and hire a consultant to facilitate changes to its policies and training practices to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.
July 28, 2020
Senate Refuses Hazard Pay For Essential Workers In Next Stimulus Bill?
Source: Terina Allen, Forbes
As a country, we ought to do more than just praise essential workers. We need to ensure they get hazard pay.
How The Pandemic Could Force A Generation Of Mothers Out Of The Workforce
Source: Neil Paine, FiveThirtyEight
Child care just isn’t as available as it was before the pandemic. Data shows that child-care services have been much slower to hire again than other areas of the economy. Combine that with the news that many schools will remain closed in the fall, and it’s easy to see the crisis at hand. If polling is any indication, the vast majority of the fallout is being weathered by mothers, who were already doing the majority of household work even before the pandemic began.
Disabled Americans mark milestone as crisis deepens job woes
Source: Lindsay Whitehurst, The Associated Press
The Americans With Disabilities Act was a major turning point in opening large parts of U.S. society to disabled people, but three decades after its passage disabled workers still face higher unemployment than other adults -- a problem compounded by the coronavirus pandemic.
Women Plaintiffs ‘Sex-Plus-Age’ Discrimination Claim Stands
Source: Sheila Callaham, Forbes
A new precedent was set by the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals earlier this month when the federal circuit court covering Oklahoma ruled that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 permits “sex-plus-age” claims.
July 27, 2020
Could New Shutdowns, Lower Unemployment Benefits Drag Down the Hot Housing Market?
Source: Clare Trapasso, The Telegraph
The hot housing market has defied the odds. However, there are fears the battered economy is on the verge of taking another hit that could hurt real estate.
No Rest for the Weary—Government Contractors’ EEO-1 Deadline Delayed Due to COVID-19, but VETS-4212 Filings Still on Schedule
Source: James A. Patton, National Law Review
While the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) postponed the 2019 EEO-1 filing deadline due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS), which is in charge of the VETS-4212 filings, has taken no such action—which means that government contractors may want to begin preparing promptly for the September 30, 2020, filing deadline.
It's been a record 11 years since the last increase in U.S. minimum wage
Source: Aimee Picchi, CBS News
It's been 11 years since the last federal minimum wage hike, the longest span the baseline wage has gone without an increase since it began in 1938.
New bill may reduce $600-a-week checks to as low as $100: ‘We’re not going to pay people more money to stay at home’
Source: Gili Malinsky, Acorns + CNBC
On July 31, the federal government’s enhanced unemployment insurance providing unemployed Americans an extra $600 per week, provided for in the CARES Act, is set to expire. If Congress doesn’t pass another stimulus bill extending these benefits soon, most states will send out their final payments on July 25 or 26. That’s despite the fact that the economy has not made a swift, large-scale recovery: The national unemployment rate was 11% in June, and the week ending July 18 saw 1.4 million new jobless claims.
Here’s how upcoming stimulus legislation could affect your Social Security
Source: Lorie Konish, CNBC
Congress is expected to make some big decisions that will affect how much money flows to Americans in the coming weeks. But its actions could also have big consequences for payments Americans receive years down the road, namely Social Security.
Millennials Want A Healthy Work-Life Balance. Here's What Bosses Can Do.
Source: Franziska Alesso-Bendisch, Forbes
Approximately 50% of workers are now considered Millennials. Many companies are struggling to attract and retain these individuals, though there is no denying that Millennials are dramatically shaping the culture of corporations across the globe.
July 24, 2020
Parents Forced To Choose Between Keeping Their Jobs Or Taking Care Of Their Children
Source: Jack Kelly, Forbes
One of the less-discussed critical issues facing families during the Covid-19 pandemic is the balancing act of working from home and taking care of children. When it seemed that the shelter-in-place orders would be temporary, the mentality was that—while challenging—parents could figure out ways to accommodate both their careers and taking care of and homeschooling their children.
The coronavirus threatens auto industry recovery as cases rise and more employees miss work
Source: Michael Wayland, CNBC
So many employees are missing work that it’s causing issues on production lines at plants in states such as Michigan, Missouri and Kentucky where Covid-19 cases are surging. It’s not just employees who are sick with the coronavirus. Many employees on sick leave are perfectly healthy, but they’ve been exposed to the virus and are missing work because they have to self-quarantine for 14 days.
Parents Forced To Choose Between Keeping Their Jobs Or Taking Care Of Their Children
Source: Jack Kelly, Forbes
One of the less-discussed critical issues facing families during the Covid-19 pandemic is the balancing act of working from home and taking care of children. When it seemed that the shelter-in-place orders would be temporary, the mentality was that—while challenging—parents could figure out ways to accommodate both their careers and taking care of and homeschooling their children.
Latino workers largely affected by COVID-19 as essential jobs expose them to risk
Source: Rachel Scott, ABC News
For years, this was the highlight of the day. Returning home from work to his wife and children, Caleb and carrying with him the daily pride of his job as an essential worker in the construction industry until everything changed, and he brought home something terrible.
The coronavirus is changing tipping as you know it
Source: Irina Ivanova , CBS News
The coronavirus has forced many restaurants to overhaul how they do business, and America's best-known restaurateur is no exception. Danny Meyer, CEO of the upscale Union Square Restaurant Group, announced this week that his restaurants would be moving away from a five-year-long no-tipping policy when they reopen this week.
July 23, 2020
Nurses hold vigil for colleagues, call on Congress to pass HEROES Act
Source: CBS News, Yahoo News
Nurses from across the country came together on Capitol Hill to hold a vigil for fellow nurses who died from the coronavirus. Jean Ross, the president of National Nurses United union, joins CBSN to discuss why they believe it's crucial for Congress to pass the HEROES Act to help frontline workers.
House Majority Leader Hoyer: Providing only 70% of wage replacement for workers is insufficient
Source: CNBC
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D—Md.) joins "Squawk Box" to discuss the progress on the stimulus bill negotiations, how far apart the Democrats and Republicans are on the content of the bill and more.
Another 1.4 million workers filed for unemployment insurance last week
Source: Catherine Thorbecke, ABC News
Another 1.4 million U.S. workers filed for unemployment insurance last week, the Labor Department said Thursday.
This marks the 18th straight week that weekly jobless claims surpassed 1 million. It is also is an increase from last week's 1.3 million figure -- possibly a reflection of some businesses being forced to roll back on reopening plans or even shutter their doors again as coronavirus cases surge.
Walmart to spend $428 million on new round of worker bonuses, retailer will close on Thanksgiving
Source: Melissa Repko, CNBC
Walmart said Tuesday that it will give another round of bonuses to hourly employees and close its stores on Thanksgiving Day.
The big-box retailer said in a news release that it will spend about $428 million on the bonuses to thank employees for working during the coronavirus pandemic. Full-time hourly employees will receive $300 and part-time and temporary workers will get $150. The company will pay the bonuses on Aug. 20.
Retail workers slammed by job cuts, pushed into new roles as coronavirus shakes their industry
Source: Melissa Repko, CNBC
Retailers and their employees are staring down challenges that could determine their longer-term fate — such as the spread of the coronavirus across the sunbelt and the risk of a second Covid-19 wave in the fall.
The retail workforce has gotten smaller, but employees are also taking on new roles like fulfilling e-commerce orders or focusing on safety. But uncertainty remains for workers as retailers try to predict sales patterns and adjust their staffing budgets accordingly.
July 22, 2020
Sexual Harassment in the Remote Workplace: How Training Can Respond
Source: Sarah Gallo, Training Industry
A lingering hand on your shoulder. A supervisor who tends to stand too close for comfort. A co-worker who continues to make lewd comments despite being told not to.
The tell-tale signs of sexual harassment have become all too clear to employees across industries
Job hunting amid the coronavirus pandemic: How to network … from your couch
Source: Kyle Clark, CNBC
Networking is an essential part of finding a job — especially your first job. But coronavirus has dramatically impacted the job search process for students, forcing them to get creative when it comes to building contacts and breaking into their field.
Employment recovery going backward in states hit hard by virus, small business data shows
Source: Jesse Pound, CNBC
The jobs recovery has slowed and, in some cases, reversed as coronavirus cases have surged in sunbelt states where case numbers are climbing and governors have reinstated economic restrictions.
When The Recovery Finally Comes: How To Connect Workers With Jobs
Source: Michael Mandel, Forbes
The latest job market report made one thing eminently clear: The Covid Recession is the most uneven economic downturn in history. But it also may be the fastest labor market recovery—if policymakers can take advantage of the new digital infrastructure in the labor market that enables workers to be quickly matched with jobs.
Biden announces $775 billion plan to fund universal child care and in-home elder care
Source: Christina Wilkie, CNBC
Former Vice President Joe Biden announced a sweeping new plan Tuesday that aims to fundamentally shift the way American families care for each other, both at the beginning of life and at the end.
July 21, 2020
Trump and GOP leaders lay out priorities for $1 trillion coronavirus relief bill
Source: Melissa Quinn, CBS News
With the coronavirus crisis worsening in more than 40 states and the District of Columbia, President Trump and Republican leaders met Monday to outline their priorities for another federal relief package that is expected to carry a price tag of at least $1 trillion.
August is shaping up to be ‘ugly’ if stimulus, extra unemployment runs dry for millions
Source: Greg Iacurci, CNBC
August is shaping up to be a tough financial month for millions of Americans.
The Senate has indicated it will soon start hashing out the contours of another round of coronavirus relief measures.
Rule Change Gives Laid-Off Workers More Time To Sign Up For COBRA Insurance
Source: Michelle Andrews, NPR
People who have been laid off or furloughed from their jobs now have significantly more time to decide whether to hang on to their employer-sponsored health insurance, according to a recent federal rule.
This is the last week of $600 unemployment benefits
Source: Tami Luhby, CNN
The end is near for the $600 federal lifeline for millions of unemployed Americans -- even though the economy is still far from recovered from the coronavirus pandemic and new layoffs are being announced regularly.
The Diversity Employers Need To Remember: Age Diversity
Source: Stefanie K. Johnson, Forbes
There is little doubt that diversity and inclusion in the workplace enhance engagement, innovation, decision-making and performance. The benefits of diversity and inclusion have been most widely examined in terms of race and gender, possibly because of the social justice implications of a lack of diversity in those areas. But workers over 40 also represent a major segment of the population facing workplace discrimination. It’s essential that employers remember the importance of age diversity, too.
July 20, 2020
Companies are canceling coronavirus hazard pay. That's a mistake
Source: Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN
In March, as coronavirus cases started to rise and governors issued stay-at-home orders, major retailers took a cue from a decades-old practice used in the military.
The companies turned to a concept known as hazard pay, which rewards workers for doing dangerous jobs.
Workers turn into amateur sleuths to track virus cases
Source: Joseph Pisani, ABC News
Major companies are keeping their employees in the dark on just how prevalent the virus is in their warehouses, stores and meatpacking plants.
Rethinking the post-pandemic workplace
Source: John Goodwin, CBS News
From skyscrapers in Manhattan to sleek campuses in Silicon Valley, offices across the country have been mostly empty for months.
"In some ways, this virus is a workplace virus, it's an office virus," said Amol Sarva, co-founder and CEO of Knotel, a company that designs and rents office space to major corporations internationally. "This is one of the few things that ever happened that shut every office in the world down."
Par Ventures, McDonald’s Franchisee, to Pay $12,500 to Settle EEOC Sexual Harassment Lawsuit
Source: EEOC
Par Ventures, Inc., a North Carolina corporation which operates a chain of seven McDonald’s fast food restaurants, will pay $12,500 and provide other relief to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today. The EEOC had charged that Par Ventures violated federal law when it subjected a teenaged female employee to a sexually hostile work environment.
National coalition of labor unions to stage July 20 walkout against racism, police brutality
Source: Chelsia Rose Marcius, New York Daily News
A national walkout in protest of police brutality and racism will take place in various cities across the country on July 20 — part of a series of social justice events organized by a new coalition of labor unions and police reform groups.
5 Actionable Steps To Repair A Toxic Workplace And Cultivate One That Thrives
Source: Heidi Lynne Kurter, Forbes
Employers are grappling to address their current workplace situations before potentially being exposed by their own employees. Recently, companies such as the New York Times NYT -0.9%, Refinery29, Essence and Ubisoft, to name a few have been publicly accused of having poor leadership and toxic cultures. Time’s up for toxic workplaces. Employees are using their voices and fighting back.
July 16, 2020
Macy’s doled out $9 million in bonuses to top execs after thousands of jobs are cut
Source: Lauren Thomas, CNBC
Macy’s doled out $9 million in equity awards to six top executives days after it laid off roughly a quarter of its corporate workforce. The ailing department store chain’s CEO, Jeff Gennette, received restricted stock worth $3.7 million on July 9, according to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Why WFH Isn’t Necessarily Good for Women
Source: Herminia Ibarra , Julia Gillard and Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Harvard Business Review
By altering attitudes toward working from home (WFH), COVID-19 may have forever changed the way we work. According to a new MIT study, half of those who were employed before the pandemic are now working remotely.
Trump demands payroll tax cut in next Covid relief bill
Source: John Bresnahan, Jake Sherman and Marianne Levine, Politico
President Donald Trump has signaled to Hill Republicans that he will not sign a new coronavirus stimulus package without the inclusion of a payroll tax cut, according to three sources close to the issue.
Fast-food workers strike, alleging inadequate coronavirus protection in the workplace
Source: Karma Allen, ABC
Fast-food staffers across Illinois and California filed complaints with city officials, walked from their jobs and staged strikes against quick service giants McDonald's and Burger King on Wednesday, demanding better treatment and proper workplace protections from the raging pandemic.
1.3 million workers filed jobless claims last week
Source: Catherine Thorbecke, ABC
The Labor Department on Thursday said 1.3 million more U.S. workers filed jobless claims last week. The weekly figure from the federal government is slowly declining since peaking in late March, but remains at historically high levels and has been over 1 million each week for nearly four months.
July 15, 2020
New Medscape Report on Women Physicians Finds Work-Life Balance the Major Career Challenge
Source: PR Newswire
A new Medscape report on the lives of women physicians finds that the demands of a career in medicine put stress on primary relationships, influence decisions regarding how many children to have and may have an impact on whether to seek promotions.
How Identity Management Interacts with Human Resources (HR)
Source: Solutions Review
Normally, IT decision-makers consider identity management a stand-alone technology. After all, it contributes to businesses’ cybersecurity posture, securing the new digital perimeter. But the question of what it could provide for other departments often goes unasked.
$600 weekly jobless benefit will likely lapse before more aid is passed
Source: Rebecca Rainey, Politico
Laid off workers would see a lapse in the additional benefits — reducing their weekly income by more than two-thirds in many states.
Delta takes $3 billion charge on buyouts, American Airlines workers brace for furlough warnings
Source: Tracy Rucinski, Yahoo
Delta Air Lines said on Wednesday it would record charges of up to $3 billion in the current quarter for buyout packages aimed at reducing costs while avoiding involuntary furloughs in the fall.
Verizon's alternative to layoffs: Retraining 20,000 workers
Source: Matt Egan, CNN
Verizon hasn't laid off any of its 135,000 employees during the pandemic. Instead, the company has retrained around 20,000 workers for new careers. It's part of Verizon's (VZ) responsible business plan announced Tuesday.
July 14, 2020
Rise of the 5-Hour Workday: The Shift from "Hours" to "Output"
Source: Jocelyn Kung, The Stamford Advocate
The 12-hour workday culture that has permeated Silicon Valley has been upended by the global health crisis. In its stead, a new culture is forming that values "output" over "hours" - and this new culture may be here to stay.
CBA Broadcast Affiliate in Texas to Pay $215,000 to Settle EEOC Age Suit for Female Reporter
Source: EEOC
CBS Stations Group of Texas will pay $215,000 and furnish significant equitable relief to settle a federal age discrimination lawsuit, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced today.
Minimum wage workers cannot afford rent in any U.S. state
Source: Alicia Adamczyk, CNBC
Full-time minimum wage workers cannot afford a two-bedroom rental anywhere in the U.S. and cannot afford a one-bedroom rental in 95% of U.S. counties, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s annual “Out of Reach” report.
Pandemic fuels demand for skilled workers
Source: Finance & Commerce
Economists, business leaders and labor experts have warned for years that a coming wave of automation and digital technology would upend the workforce, destroying some jobs while altering how and where work is done for nearly everyone.The rapid change is leading to mounting demands — including from typically opposing groups, like Republicans and Democrats, and business executives and labor leaders — for training programs for millions of workers.
Amazon launches neighborhood health clinics for warehouse workers
Source: Annie Palmer, CNBC
Amazon is launching neighborhood health clinics for warehouse workers and their families in a handful of cities, the company announced Tuesday.
July 13, 2020
EEOC Sues Conroe Hospital for Retaliation
Source: EEOC
The Woodlands Psychiatry and Counseling Company, a hospital in Conroe, Texas, violated federal law when it fired an employee for making a discrimination charge to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.
EEOC expands mediation, conciliation to increase voluntary charge resolutions
Source: Ryan Golden, HR Drive
The EEOC has described its mediation process as an "informal and confidential way" to resolve disputes between employees and employers, according to a webpage that also states it can take less than three months to resolve a charge through mediation on average compared to charge investigations, which can take 10 months or longer.
After lobbying, Catholic Church won $1.4B in virus aid
Source: Politico
The Archdiocese of New York received 15 loans worth at least $28 million just for its top executive offices.
Wells Fargo workers told to delete TikTok from work devices
Source: Brian Fung, The Mercury News
Wells Fargo has banned the social media app TikTok from company devices amid what it says are concerns about security. In a statement to CNN Business on Monday, a Wells Fargo spokesperson said the company had identified a “small number of employees with corporate-owned devices who had installed the TikTok application.”
The Pandemic Has Accelerated Demands for a More Skilled Work Force
Source: Steve Lohr, The New York Times
Even groups that regularly disagree on labor issues said there should be significant public investment in programs that can upgrade the skills of American workers.
July 10, 2020
Why Remote Working Is Not Just For Lockdown, It’s For Life
Source: Phil Lewis, Forbes
While some businesses have embraced the possibilities of remote working during lockdown, and others have merely tolerated it, it’s hard to imagine a near-to-mid-term future in which white-collar employees feel happy to put on their restrictive work clothes again, return to their tidy desks and accept the inflexible routine of office working full time.
How To Put The Human In Human Resources
Source: William Arruda, Forbes
The Human Resources organization should be the most humane department in your company; after all, it has the word “human” right there in its name. Yet, according to research done by Zety, a publisher of guides and articles for job seekers, the idea of humanity is missing from many HR departments.
Target’s Gig Workers Will Strike to Protest Switch to Algorithmic Pay Model
Source: Lauren Kaori Gurley, Vice
Gig workers on Target’s delivery app Shipt will strike on July 15 to protest the rollout of an algorithmic pay model that they claim has reduced wages by 30 percent in cities where it has been tested. The striking workers have also asked customers to boycott the app.
'I beg them': Still-unemployed workers plead for Congress to extend federal $600 benefit
Source: Tami Luhby, CNN
Just thinking about the end of July fills Cathy Munzer with terror. That's when the extra $600 in weekly federal unemployment benefits is set to expire, with no sign of agreement in Congress on an extension.
COVID-19 heroes must jump through hoops for workers' comp
Source: Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, ABC News
Lauded for their service and hailed as everyday heroes, essential workers who get the coronavirus on the job have no guarantee in most states they'll qualify for workers' compensation to cover lost wages and medical care.
July 9, 2020
Discrimination Ruling Boosts LGBTQ Groups Challenging Military Ban
Source: Stephanie Colombini, NPR
Those challenging the military's ban on transgender service have been encouraged by a recent Supreme Court decision that protects many LGBTQ employees from discrimination.
Labor Board Makes It Easier for Federal Employees to Cancel Union Dues
Source: Erich Wagner, Government Executive
The board tasked with overseeing labor-management relations in the federal government on Wednesday issued final regulations making it easier for workers to cancel their union dues, despite opposition from labor groups and accusations of shifting rationale from its own member.
Labor Group Pushes For Nationwide ‘Strike For Black Lives’ On July 20
Source: Karen Robinson-Jacobs, Forbes
A coalition of labor unions and social justice organizations is organizing a mass walkout from work July 20, as part of the ongoing response to systemic racism and police brutality in the U.S.
INSIGHT: Employees Can Refuse Workplace Vaccinations
Source: Matthew Finkin, Bloomberg Law
Employers have a duty to provide a healthful workplace and may consider requiring vaccinations to stem diseases, like Covid-19. University of Illinois College of Law Professor Matthew Finkin warns they might face legal challenges from applicants and incumbent employees based on religious objection, objection due to a medical condition, or objection based on ethical or ideological grounds.
Working Parents, Your Family Needs a “Board of Directors”
Source: Priscilla Claman, Harvard Business Review
Covid-19 has brought this into high relief, by significantly eroding the distinction between work and home. Coping with life’s challenges in this ambiguous context can become a real challenge, but there’s an office practice that can help: mentoring.
July 8, 2020
Supreme Court rules against 2 teachers at religious schools
Source: Politico
The court said constitutional language that protects religious freedom barred the teachers from suing their religious schools for employment discrimination.
Loans Intended For Small Businesses To Retain Workers Were Hijacked By Large Corporations And The Rich
Source: Jack Kelly, Forbes
The Paycheck Protection Program, part of the multitrillion dollar government stimulus package, was primarily intended to help small businesses retain workers. The loosely managed and poorly regulated process was perverted and hijacked by thousands of companies that gamed the system.
Targeting Podcast Content Toward Remote Workers
Source: Jen Grogono , Forbes
As more employees shift to working off-site, there’s no reason for the personal bonds that underpin a successful work environment to fray.
CDC says 9% of meatpacking plant workers have been diagnosed with Covid-19
Source: Amelia Lucas, CNBC
About 9% of workers at meat and poultry processing facilities across 14 states have been diagnosed with Covid-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Research: How Workers Shift from One Industry to Another
Source: Michelle R. Weise , Harvard Business Review
With unemployment claims in the United States now reaching more than 45 million, the pandemic is laying bare the great deficiencies of the American education and workforce infrastructure, which has never been well-suited to helping low-wage workers navigate to higher economic ground.
July 7, 2020
Congress pressed to rescue struggling Black-owned businesses
Source: Zachary Warmbrodt and Megan Cassella
A bipartisan proposal by Sens. Steve Daines and Cory Booker would make $50 billion in grants available for the smallest businesses and nonprofits.
Rethinking Work Schedules? Consider These 4 Questions.
Source: Mark C. Bolino , Thomas K. Kelemen and Samuel H. Matthews, Harvard Business Review
Perhaps the most common change designed to address all of these areas is rethinking employee schedules, whether it is to support changes in work-life balance, to minimize social contact, or to meet wavering business demands. The traditional nine-to-five workday is no longer the gold standard.
Working Through a Personal Crisis
Source: Sabina Nawaz, Forbes
One day amid a flourishing career, you might find your personal life in crisis and threatening to upend your professional life. If so, you’re not alone.
How Do You Intervene When You Witness Racism, Bias And Bigotry In The Workplace?
Source: Janice Gassam, Forbes
Kelly sat down with Forbes to discuss the bystander effect and how to intervene if you ever witness discrimination taking place at work.
Deadly Discrimination: The Forgotten Impact Of Covid-19 On People With Disabilities
Source: Stephen Frost, Forbes
During the coronavirus pandemic, it is precisely these legal protections that should safeguard people. However, according to Marcie Roth, CEO of World Institute on Disability, “of the 43% of COVID-19 deaths attributed to congregate facilities, almost 100% are disabled people.”
July 6, 2020
How our new work-life reality is chipping away at equity and inclusion
Source: Sandra Feder, Fast Company
For the first time in modern history, three of our major social institutions—work, school, and family life—are all happening in one physical place: our homes. And that shift may have a greater adverse effect on women, according to Shelley Correll, a professor of sociology in Stanford’s School of Humanities and Sciences and a professor of organizational behavior (by courtesy) at Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Virtual reality is booming in the workplace amid the pandemic. Here’s why
Source: Justin Higginbottom, CNBC
After years of promises and false starts, Covid-19 has driven a record number of workers remotely and could finally usher in their regular use of VR and AR at home — or at least give the tech a push on the path to mainstream.
Black Facebook employee and two job applicants file EEOC complaint alleging discrimination
Source: Kaya Yurieff, CNN
One current Facebook manager and two job applicants have filed a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging that Facebook has "a general policy of discrimination against Black applicants and workers, including in hiring, evaluations, promotions, and pay."
Department of Labor gives Americans more retirement options
Source: Sarah Motter, WIBW
The U.S. Department of Labor announced the proposal of a new exemption giving Americans more options for retirement.
Call it the ‘boss tax:’ Seattle finally finds a potent way to tax the rich
Source: Danny Westneat, Seattle Times
After years of trying to mine the wealthy around here, and instead hitting themselves in the face, the Seattle City Council has finally fixed on a potent way to tax the rich.
July 2, 2020
How the American Worker Got Fleeced
Source: Josh Eidelson, Bloomberg
Over the years, bosses have held down wages, cut benefits, and stomped on employees’ rights. Covid-19 may change that.
Unemployment rate at 11.1% in June, another 1.4 million workers filed jobless claims last week
Source: Catherine Thorbecke, ABC
The unemployment rate in the U.S. fell slightly to 11.1% in June, according to data released Thursday by the Department of Labor. Meanwhile, another 1.4 million workers filed for unemployment insurance in the last week.
Busse Combat Knife Company Pays $20,900 to Settle EEOC Disability Discharge Suit
Source: EEOC
A Wauseon, Ohio knife manufacturer will pay $20,900 in back pay and non-economic damages and provide other relief to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today. The EEOC charged that Busse Combat Knife Company violated federal law by discharging a worker after he revealed a disability.
6 Ways To Cultivate A Workplace Culture That Inspires Diversity And Inclusion
Source: Heidi Lynne Kurter, Forbes
True diversity isn’t about checking the box. It’s about recruiting a workforce that includes individuals with different worldviews, ethnicities, religions, backgrounds, abilities and ages.
Stripping Away Bias, One Avatar At A Time
Source: Rebecca Ahmed, Forbes
What will the future of the workplace look like post COVID-19? This is the million-dollar question on everyone’s minds! While the logistics of returning to work are the primary focus, a beautiful opportunity is arising within diversity and inclusion.
July 1, 2020
Switching Off Stress: Five Ways To Achieve Work-Life Balance During A Crisis
Source: Sunshine Farzan, Forbes
Although working times appear to be on the rise during this crisis, stress can compromise overall productivity. Eventually, if we’re not careful, it can lead to information overload, constant distraction and burnout.
Schumer, Wyden bill would tie worker benefits to jobless rate
Source: Victoria Guida, Politico
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) on Wednesday introduced legislation that would tie enhanced unemployment benefits to joblessness levels in each state, the most prominent effort yet to expand federal policies that kick in automatically during a recession.
Human Resources Boss At Adidas Quits As Diversity Continues To Dominate The Retail Agenda
Source: Andrew Busby, Forbes
The head of human resources at Adidas, Karen Parkin, has resigned over comments she reportedly made at an Adidas meeting last year. And this is just another example of global brands having to take action over racial inequality in the wake of the death of George Floyd in May.
Coronavirus impacts self-employed workers most in hardest-hit states: Report
Source: Ann Schmidt , Fox
Self-employed workers were most affected in states that were hit harder by the coronavirus pandemic, according to recent data.
Private sector rehires 2.37 million workers in June, ADP says
Source: Greg Robb, MarketWatch
Private-sector employers added 2.37 million jobs in June, Automatic Data Processing Inc. reported Wednesday. Economists surveyed by Econoday expected a gain of 3.5 million.
June 30, 2020
Workers Filed More Than 4,100 Complaints About Protective Gear. Some Still Died.
Source: Christina Jewett and Shefali Luthra and Melissa Bailey, Kaiser Health News
The grief and fear gripping workers and their families reflect a far larger pattern. Since March, more than 4,100 COVID-related complaints regarding health care facilities have poured into the nation’s network of federal and state OSHA offices, which are tasked with protecting workers from harm on the job.
Las Vegas workers sue, saying casinos failed to protect them from coronavirus
Source: Katherine Sayre, MarketWatch
Las Vegas Strip hospitality workers filed a lawsuit against casino operators on Monday, accusing the companies of failing to protect employees from COVID-19, one of the first efforts to hold employers legally responsible for infections as cases in the U.S. surge.
Fired vs. Laid Off vs. Furloughed – What’s the Difference?
Source: Hallie Crawford, U.S. News
Many professionals are currently experiencing career loss, such as being fired, laid off or furloughed. This can feel frustrating and confusing, so it's best to understand the basic differences between these common scenarios. Then you can take the adequate steps to take control of your career.
What to Say When Someone Cries at Work
Source: Deborah Grayson Riegel, Harvard Business Review
I was recently coaching a leader who asked me, “Is it OK for me to tell someone on my team that they can’t cry at work?”
