Human Resources

Impact of the HIPAA Privacy Rule on COVID-19 Vaccine Inquiries

From OMA Connections Partner One Source Advisors: On Sept. 30, 2021, the Department of Health and Human Services issued an FAQ on the application of the Health Insurance Privacy and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule on COVID-19 vaccination and the workplace.

The FAQ provides that the HIPAA Privacy Rule does not prohibit any person (or an entity, such as a business) from asking whether an individual has received a COVID-19 vaccine. Rather, the Privacy Rule regulates how and when a covered entity or its business associate may use or disclose protected health information, including information about an individual’s vaccination status. 11/1/2021

Federal Contractor? Here’s Info About Your Vaccine Mandate

The publication EHS Today has posted several articles addressing the requirement for federal contractors to implement the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. This most recent (Nov. 1) article covers reasons a federal contractor might delay vaccine compliance. 11/2/2021

Webinar on Demand: Addressing Workplace Harassment in Post COVID, #MeToo Environment

Here’s the link to the one-hour webinar presented this week by Christina Niro, partner with OMA Connections Partner Frantz Ward. She describes the nature of workplace harassment now, why it has escalated, and offers suggestions to protect your company and employees. Here are the handouts. 11/3/2021

EEOC Updates Guidance on Religious Objections to COVID-19 Vaccine

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) this week updated its technical guidance for employers addressing questions about employees’ religious objections to COVID-19 vaccine requirements.

OMA Connections Partner Dinsmore has provided this summary of the EEOC’s guidance, while OMA Connections Partner Fisher Phillips has published its “seven employer takeaways” following the EEOC’s update. 10/26/2021

Navigating Third-Party Vaccine Mandates on Visitors, Vendors

Many employers are now facing the burden of complying with third-party COVID-19 vaccine policies, or enforcing their own vaccine policies upon non-employees — including independent contractors, vendors, and visitors. Such policies raise various concerns, from accommodations to recordkeeping.

OMA Connections Partner Fisher Phillips has published this guide to navigating third-party vaccine mandates. 10/28/2021

By the Numbers: Ohio’s Unemployment Figures and Manufacturing Jobs

Here’s a look at Ohio’s latest employment figures:

• Ohio’s jobless rate held at 5.4% (303,000 Ohioans) in September.
• Over the past 12 months, the number of unemployed Ohioans has decreased by 115,000.
• Here are the unemployment rates for each Ohio county.
• Ohio manufacturing shed 2,800 jobs last month as supply disruptions continued.
• From September 2020 to September 2021, Ohio manufacturers added 3,400 jobs.

Ohio’s labor force participation rate remained depressed at 61.1% in September. At last check, there were nearly 270,000 available jobs at Ohio Means Jobs. 10/28/2021

At a Glance: ‘Quit Rates’ of All 50 States

As previously reported, a record 4.3 million Americans (3% of the labor force) quit their jobs in August alone. Now new federal data show which states have been most impacted by the so-called “Great Resignation.” (Business Insider published this map.)

Meanwhile, as employers nationwide seek to fill openings, automated hiring systems may be keeping as many as 27 million viable candidates from landing an interview, according to a study by Harvard Business School. 10/27/2021

Whirlpool CEO: U.S. Labor Shortage May Become Structural

Whirlpool Corp. CEO Marc Bitzer recently told CNBC he’s “starting to get worried” the U.S. labor market could face structural challenges in the years ahead — even after various pandemic-related hurdles have been cleared. Bitzer noted the country’s declining birthrate, which fell for a sixth straight year in 2020. 10/25/2021

‘Hot Topics’ Webinars Will Address Key HR Issues

At noon on Nov. 2, Nov. 9, and Nov. 16, OMA general counsel Bricker & Eckler will host its annual “Hot Topics” virtual seminar series to provide insight into ongoing and emerging labor and employment issues. Topics will include COVID-19-related HR developments; FMLA, ADA, and workers’ compensation law; and workplace discrimination. Learn more and register. 10/26/2021

How Often Should You Pay Employees?

An OMA member recently inquired about best practices regarding the frequency of pay for hourly production workers. In Ohio, state law requires employers to pay employees on at least a semi-monthly basis.

OMA Connections Partner Paycor has published this comparison of pay periods. It notes that weekly pay periods are most attractive for employees, while bi-weekly pay periods are preferred by companies with both salaried and hourly employees because it is easier to process both groups at the same time. 10/27/2021