Human Resources

HR Roundup: Ohio’s County Jobless Rates

• Here are the latest jobless rates for all 88 Ohio counties.
• Statewide, Ohio’s average unemployment rate remained at 3.6% during November.
• Ohio manufacturers added 700 jobs in November, according to the latest jobs report. But Ohio’s labor force participation continues to lag the U.S. average, continuing a trend that started in mid-2021.
• This insight from OMA Connections Partner Fisher Phillips helps employers avoid the appearance of retaliation against employees who request Family and Medical Leave Act leave.
• Fisher Phillips has published this guidance to help employers update job descriptions for 2024.
• Whole Foods Market did not violate workers’ rights by banning Black Lives Matter apparel, an NLRB judge has ruled.

Meanwhile, Gallup has published six workplace trends that leaders should monitor in 2024, including an uptick in employee engagement.12/28/2023

Expert: Watch for Post-Christmas Labor Organizing

Matt Austin, a Columbus-based attorney specializing in labor relations for the OMA, is warning employers about increased labor union organizing activity starting this week.

In a post on LinkedIn, Austin noted the National Labor Relations Board chose the post-Christmas period to resurrect the Obama-era “ambush elections.” Meanwhile, the NLRB’s “quickie elections” rule took effect Dec. 26. This follows recent NLRB moves to impose card-check-like standards and allow “micro units” to organize, Austin wrote. 12/27/2023

Updated HR Forms and Guidance Available

The OMA has updated its HR guidance and forms for the new year. Revised documents include:

• 2024 absentee calendar;
• Workplace harassment complaint form;
• State and federal posting requirements; and
• 2024 vacation schedule.

Meanwhile, OMA Connections Partner Fisher Phillips has published its top 10 lists of the most important workplace law developments from 2023. 12/21/2023

Non-Union Automakers Implement Pay Increases

Automobile manufacturers with U.S. production facilities are increasing compensation for their non-union workers following the recent United Auto Workers strike. Reuters published this list of automakers that have raised wages in response to the UAW deal. 12/20/2023

EEO-1 Reporting Deadline Is January 9

Although EEO-1 reports were due on Dec. 5, employers that have not submitted and certified their data to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission can still comply, according to OMA Connections Partner Fisher Phillips.

In this guidance, the firm writes that covered employers — those with 100 or more employees, or federal contractors with 50 or more employees — must submit and certify their reports by Jan. 9. 12/11/2023

HR Roundup: Pay Raises to Dip, but Remain High

• EHS Today has published these “10 things to say” to recognize employees.
• U.S. employers plan to increase salaries 4% in 2024, down slightly from an average increase of 4.4% in 2023, a new survey finds. Raises remain above historical averages of 3.1% in 2021 and years prior.
• In this alert, OMA Connections Partner Benesch advises employers to “pro-actively prepare for union campaigns” following recent actions by the NLRB and its staff.
• OMA Connections Partner Fisher Phillips has published this guidance for employers on responding to controversial opinions voiced by employees.
• More than 2.4 million U.S. workers over age 50 may retire early because they can’t keep up with technological changes in the workplace, a new study finds.

Meanwhile, OMA Connections Partner RSM has published this summary on HR analytics and how it can improve company’s ROI. 12/14/2023

HR Roundup: Older Americans Are ‘Unretiring’

• About 12% of U.S. retirees say they’re likely to start working again next year mostly due to inflation, reports say. About 25% of those over 62 say they had been retired but are now back to work.
• More companies are reconsidering college degree requirements in certain positions due to labor shortages. ZipRecruiter says 45% of surveyed employers have done away with degree requirements for certain roles over the past year.
• OMA Connections Partner Clark Schaefer Hackett has posted this on-demand webinar, titled “How to Reward and Retain Key Employees.”
• Arrowhead Talent Solutions, an OMA Connections Partner, has published this list of distinctions between good and bad job descriptions when advertising openings.

Meanwhile, OMA Connections Partner Fisher Phillips has published its Workplace Law Forecast 2024. 12/7/2023

HR Roundup: More Than 20K Manufacturing Jobs Open in Ohio

• The jobs board at OhioMeansJobs listed 20,352 manufacturing-related openings statewide as of Nov. 30.
• The average per-worker cost of employer-sponsored health insurance has risen 5.2% this year, according to a new survey. For employers with 50-499 employees, costs have risen 7.8%.
• OMA Connections Partner Fisher Phillips has published this summary of the NLRB’s 2024 priorities. It includes practical tips for employers to ensure compliance.
• The IRS has released 2024 inflation-adjusted amounts for health flexible spending accounts (FSAs), as reported by OMA Connections Partner Plante Moran.

Meanwhile, SHRM has published this list of compensation and benefit ideas for employers considering providing employees with holiday gifts. 11/30/2023

HR Roundup: Mandatory E-Verify Bill Introduced in Ohio

• Under House Bill 327 recently introduced in the Ohio House, employers with 75 or more employees would be required to verify the immigration status of their workers. The bill would also impact construction firms.
• OMA Connections Partner Fisher Phillips has published this 10-step compliance plan for employers hiring seasonal workers.
• Even workers who are exempt from many of the Fair Labor Standards Act’s provisions may be entitled to protections for nursing employees under the federal PUMP Act, reports say.
• This guidance from OMA Connections Partner Clark Schaefer Hackett summarizes recent federal changes to employee benefit plans.
• Only 20% of white-collar employees are now working completely remotely, down from 39% a year ago, according to a new report. But in the U.S., employees are spending an average of only two days a week in the office.

Meanwhile, this analysis published by IndustryWeek states that the retreat from globalization and free trade is giving labor unions new power and credibility. 11/22/2023

Ohio’s Unemployment Increased in October

In October, Ohio’s unemployment jumped from 3.4% to 3.6%, while labor force participation declined from 62.1% to 62%. Here are the jobless rates in every county.

From October 2022 to October 2023, Ohio’s manufacturing employment increased by 2,800 as gains in durable goods (+6,600) exceeded losses in non-durable goods (-3,800). See this release from the Department of Job and Family Services, as well as the latest edition of Ohio’s Labor Market Review.

Meanwhile, this payroll survey shows a record number of Ohioans were working last month. 11/20/2023