News and Analysis
U.S. Manufacturers See Record High Quit Rate
April 1, 2022According to new federal data, 4.4 million U.S. workers left their jobs voluntarily in February, likely to take another job with better compensation or opportunities. At the same time, there were nearly 11.3 million job openings. (Nationwide, there are just 60 unemployed workers for every 100 openings.)
Total quits in U.S. manufacturing rose to 337,000 in February, a new record, with 808,000 manufacturing job openings — down from 858,000 a month earlier. Manufacturers hired 482,000 workers, up from 467,000 in January and the highest since 2001. 3/30/2022
U.S. Manufacturers Spend $41.13 an Hour on Employee Compensation
April 1, 2022Total U.S. employer compensation costs for private industry workers averaged $38.07 an hour as of December 2021, according to this summary from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In manufacturing, the average compensation cost was $41.13 an hour, with wages and salary comprising $27.38 of the total. Benefits cost an additional $13.76 on average. 3/29/2022
Court Reinstates Trump-Era Independent Contractor Rule
April 1, 2022A Texas federal court recently ruled that the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) overstepped its bounds by delaying and withdrawing a Trump-era rule on how employers could classify workers as independent contractors. OMA Connections Partner Vorys has published this analysis of what the court’s action means for employers. 3/30/2022
Tips for Employers Considering On-Demand Pay
April 1, 2022OMA Connections Partner Fisher Phillips has published this new guidance regarding earned wage access policies, which offer employees almost instant access to their pay. While these programs may give companies an edge in attracting and retaining talent, employers must ensure they are in compliance. 3/30/2022
Factors Women Value in a Job (Beyond Competitive Pay)
April 1, 2022Based on its research, Gallup reports the following five factors are the most important to women who are considering whether or not to take a job:
- Allows for greater work-life balance and personal well-being;
- Significantly increases my income or improves my benefits;
- Allows me to do what I do best;
- Provides greater stability and job security; and
- The organization is diverse and inclusive of all types of people.
Of these five factors, four are also present in the top five list for men. (Nearly 40% of men cited COVID-19 vaccine policies that “align with my beliefs.”) 3/31/2022
What Employers Need to Know About Ohio’s New Gun Law
March 25, 2022Ohio’s new gun law (Senate Bill 215) will take effect June 13, permitting all qualified adults to carry concealed, non-restricted firearms without a license.
In this new insight, OMA Connections Partner Fisher Phillips says that for private employers, little is changing. “You are still permitted to prohibit your employees — as well as customers and other third parties — from carrying weapons into company-owned buildings or company-owned vehicles,” the firm says, urging employers to ensure their policies clearly state their position to remove any confusion.
Fisher Phillips notes that “given the way the new law co-exists with Ohio’s parking lot law,” employer policies “may now not ban a person from transporting or storing a firearm or ammunition inside their privately owned motor vehicle” under conditions outlined in the parking lot law. Employers may need to revise their policies accordingly. 3/24/2022
Tips for HR Leaders Facing a Changing Workplace
March 25, 2022To address the current labor challenges, 10 experts from Forbes’ Human Relations Council recently provided advice regarding best practices for succeeding in the HR field. Read the article. 3/22/2022
At a Glance: Ohio’s Unemployment by County
March 18, 2022Ohio’s statewide unemployment rate was 4.3% in January, according to the latest labor market review from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. But unemployment rates vary widely throughout the 88 counties.
This unemployment map shows more than 30 Ohio counties saw jobless rates of 4.4% or less, while eight counties saw jobless rates of 7.1% or higher. Here are the latest county-by-county labor force estimates. 3/15/2022
Analysis of White House Labor Task Force Report
March 18, 2022The White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment recently issued a report to the president that lays the groundwork for significant changes in the labor relations field over the next several years.
OMA Connections Partner Fisher Phillips has published this summary, saying that despite the federal recommendations pushing employees toward unionization, there are effective strategies employers can use to help ensure positive employee relations. 3/15/2022
NLRB Considers Changes to Employee Handbook Rules
March 18, 2022Earlier this month, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) general counsel asked board members to overturn NLRB precedent related to employee handbook rules. OMA Connections Partner Frantz Ward has published this insight, advising employers to continue to monitor NLRB decisions, especially “given the significance of the issues the general counsel is looking to modify and the complexity associated with them.” 3/16/2022