Human Resources

Ohio’s Minimum Wage Set to Increase Again

Seven states — including Ohio — are set to increase their minimum wages in January 2023 based on the Consumer Price Index numbers released Sept. 13. Earlier this year, the Buckeye State saw its largest minimum wage hike in 15 years, jumping from $8.80 to $9.30. 9/13/2022

Federal Bill Would Ban Right-to-Work Laws

Some federal lawmakers want to roll back the clock 75 years by banning right-to-work laws in all 50 states. According to this insight by OMA Connections Partner Fisher Phillips, a newly introduced bill would mandate private-sector union membership at closed shops, thereby requiring the payment of union dues and fees as a condition of employment nationwide. 9/14/2022

HR vs. Antitrust Laws: On a Collision Course

Federal agencies recently announced plans to join forces and scrutinize business arrangements tied to employment decisions to determine if there are antitrust violations.

To bring manufacturers up to speed on this development — and to help them identify potential red flags — OMA Connections Partner Fisher Phillips has authored this insight for OMA members. Members are encouraged to read this brief guidance, which includes best practices for employers.

The firm notes that companies could face individual and organizational criminal penalties should they be found in violation of federal law. 9/7/2022

HR Roundup: Small Businesses Continue to Hike Wages

• Wage increases at small businesses continue to escalate, according to the latest Paychex & IHS Markit Small Business Employment Watch report. Across the Midwest, the average hourly wage has hit $29.13.
• Employers in a dozen states — including Ohio — should expect significant hikes in minimum wage rates for 2023 due to laws tying the minimum wage to inflation, says OMA Connections Partner Benesch.
• The U.S. Department of Justice is set to secure its first successful criminal prosecution of a labor-side antitrust violation after a health care staffing firm plans to plead guilty to charges it suppressed wages. Read this insight from OMA Connections Partner Thompson Hine.
• “Quiet quitters” comprise at least 50% of the workforce, Gallup says. (OMA Connections Partner Fisher Phillips has published these tips on how employers can ensure more engaged employees.)
• These tips from OMA Connections Partner William Vaughan Co. can help businesses establish (or re-establish) their workplace culture to improve employee retention.

Members should be aware that the National Labor Relations Board on Sept. 6 took a first step towards changing the standard for when two employers that do business together are considered to be joint employers and thus liable for one another’s unfair labor practices. See this analysis by OMA Connections Partner Calfee. 9/8/2022

Ohio’s Key Labor Indicators: September 2022

As Labor Day approaches, here are some key labor-related indicators relevant to Ohio manufacturers:

• Ohio currently has an estimated 682,700 manufacturing jobs — about 21,000 fewer than in mid-2019, prior to the pandemic, but 16,000 more than a year ago.
• The average hourly earnings of all Ohio manufacturing employees was nearly $30 as of July.
• Ohio’s initial jobless claims have fallen steadily since early July.
• Ohio’s labor force participation rate continues to trail its pre-pandemic levels.
• Ohio’s unemployment rate stands at a low 3.9% — but the jobless rates of all 88 counties vary widely, as shown by this map.

The OMA salutes the men and women who comprise the powerhouse that is Ohio manufacturing. 9/1/2022

NLRB Rules Tesla Can’t Require Black Shirts

National media report that Tesla was recently handed a defeat by the National Labor Relations Board in a challenge to the automaker’s dress code.

The board ruled that Tesla’s policy of requiring workers to wear a plain black t-shirt or one bearing a Tesla logo is “unlawful” and a way to prohibit employees from wearing clothing which bears a union insignia. See the NLRB release. 8/31/2022

Survey: Cancer Is Fueling Employer Health Care Costs

Cancer has overtaken musculoskeletal conditions as the top driver of large employers’ health care costs, according to a new survey of businesses. Employers say they are deeply concerned about unsustainable health care costs, as well as the effects of the pandemic on employee health, said Ellen Kelsay, CEO of Business Group on Health.

EHS Today reports that surveyed employers expect to cover 82% of the cost of employee coverage in 2022, up from 80% the year before (employer support for family coverage remains at 80% of premium). 8/25/2022

FMLA Requests Via Facebook? A Jury Will Decide

A federal appeals court says a jury should decide if a former assembly line worker properly provided notice of his need for Family and Medical Leave Act leave by exchanging Facebook messages with his supervisor. According to HR Dive, a federal district court granted summary judgment for the employer because the employee didn’t follow the call-in procedure, but the 4th Circuit revived the claim. 8/24/2022

HR Roundup: Unions Want Senate Vote on PRO Act

• Labor unions want the U.S. Senate to hold a vote on the Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO Act) next month when lawmakers return from recess, reports say.
• The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and National Labor Relations Board have signed a joint memorandum of understanding to target employers that are perceived as violating labor organizing efforts.
• The Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) says DOJ’s “no-poach” policy creates “substantial risk to HR departments and professionals.”
• Skills-based hiring is gaining momentum as a new survey finds 79% of companies say skills assessments are just as or more important than traditional hiring criteria.
• At last check, Ohio Means Jobs had 223,113 jobs posted with 131,645 that pay more than $50,000 per year. Nearly 24,000 of the posted jobs mention “manufacturing.”
• A new WalletHub study finds Ohio employers have the tenth largest hiring struggle in the U.S.
• OMA Connections Partner William Vaugh Company has published these five tips to attract and retain talent.
• OMA Connections Partner Fisher Phillips will host a complimentary webinar at 1 p.m. Aug. 25 to examine Family and Medical Leave Act obligations for employers.

Also, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services is urging employers to respond to requests to complete the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics report. The data helps with state and local workforce development, training, and more. 8/18/2022

Is Your 2022 Employee Handbook Up to Date?

On Thursday, Aug.18, OMA Connections Partner Fisher Phillips will host a complimentary webinar to help employers review their employee handbook and policies. Topics will include handbooks for multiple locations and COVID-19 related policies. Register now. 8/9/2022