Human Resources

Private Employment Wages Up 5.7% Over Past Year

According to the latest update from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, compensation costs for America’s private industry workers increased 5.5% over the 12-month period ending in June. Wages were up 5.7% for the period, while benefit costs grew 5.3%. Manufacturers saw a 4.9% year-over-year increase in wages.

Meanwhile, U.S. job openings fell for the third straight month in June, according to this insight from OMA Connections Partner RSM. Manufacturing openings remain elevated, but contracted in June for the second consecutive month, dropping to 790,000 from April’s record 1,017,000.

The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits edged higher last week, hovering near the highest level of the year — while Ohio has seen three straight weeks of declining jobless claims. 8/3/2022

HR Roundup: Bill Would Expand Ohio’s Unemployment Eligibility

• Despite the ongoing labor shortage, state Sen. Teresa Fedor (D-Toledo) has introduced Senate Bill 355, which would make nearly a half-million more Ohioans eligible for unemployment benefits.
• OMA Connections Partner Fisher Phillips will host an Aug. 10 webinar to cover “the nuts and bolts of wage and hour law” — with emphasis on the Fair Labor Standards Act, including overtime and minimum wage requirements, record keeping, employment of minors, and other topics.
• OMA Connections Partner Vorys will hold its 2022 Employee Benefits Conference on Sept. 15 in Columbus and Sept. 27 in Cincinnati. Learn more and register.
• As unionization efforts continue nationwide, mid-sized companies have been “the sweet spot” for organizing activities, reports say.
• Businesses that establish a culture of recognizing employees could save millions of dollars due to fewer turnover costs, a Gallup study finds.
• Manufacturers should encourage more internal mobility within their organizations to enhance retention and engagement, according to the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies.

Meanwhile, EHS Today has published this article on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s new COVID-19 testing guidance, quoting experts that say employers should review their current practices and policies to ensure compliance. 7/28/2022

Webinar: Strategies to Address Unionization Attempts

On Aug. 2, OMA Connections Partner Vorys will host a webinar to provide employers with pro-active steps to address potential unionization at their workplace. The webinar will focus on ways companies can identify warning signs, while outlining key actions to take if organizing commences. Learn more and register. 7/19/2022

Survey: 64% of Employers Budget for Raises in 2023

U.S. employers are planning to increase employee salaries an average of 4.1% next year — the largest increase since 2008 — according to a new survey by Willis Towers Watson PLC. The survey found that roughly 64% of respondents have budgeted for higher employee pay raises in 2023, and 41% have already increased their salary budgets since their original projections. 7/20/2022

Webinar: Training for Active Shooters in the Workplace

On Aug. 19, OMA Connections Partner Fisher Phillips will host a complimentary webinar to help employers prepare for the possibility of an active shooter in the workplace. The online event will feature three experts who responded to tragedies at Sandy Hook, Charleston, Virginia Tech, and Ft. Hood. Learn more and register. 7/21/2022

Study: States With the Highest Quit Rates

A new study of employee resignation rates finds that compared to the other 49 states, Ohio posted the 13th lowest quit rate (2.7%) over the past 12 months. The study — conducted by personal finance website WalletHub — found the highest resignation rates were in Southern and Western states. 7/21/2022

EEOC: Employers Must Justify COVID-19 Testing

Employers must now justify mandatory testing for COVID-19, according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s most recent guidance. See the EEOC’s updated guidance, as well as OMA Connections Partner Fisher Phillips’ seven takeaways for employers. 7/14/2022

HR Roundup: Manufacturing’s Average Hourly Earnings Approach $31

• Ohio officials report a 78% spike in initial unemployment claims from mid-May to the first week of July.
• Gallup reports that disengaged employees cost the world $7.8 trillion in lost productivity — equal to 11% of global GDP.
• A new survey shows HR professionals are concerned about the effects of inflation on their organizations, including how inflation will affect annual pay raises. (More than 80% of manufacturers that responded were concerned.)
• Nationwide, the average hourly wage growth was 5.1% annualized in June, down slightly from 5.2% in May, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. In manufacturing, the average hourly earnings were $30.86.
• The general counsel for the National Labor Relations Board has asked the Board to impose harsher penalties on employers that refuse to bargain with unions, according to OMA Connections Partner Fisher Phillips.
• OMA Connections Partner Frantz Ward says a federal judge’s ruling provides an important reminder for employers navigating the Family Medical Leave Act and Americans with Disabilities Act when managing leaves of absence.

Meanwhile, job seeker confidence — an indicator of future growth in wages and labor force participation — declined significantly in June, according to a survey by ZipRecruiter. 7/14/2022

U.S. Manufacturing Compensation Costs Reach $42/Hour

Across the U.S. and all private sectors of the economy, employer costs for employee compensation averaged $38.61 an hour worked in March 2022, according to recent federal data. Wage and salary costs averaged $27.19 an hour, while benefits averaged $11.42.

For manufacturers, the average wage and salary costs were $27.85, while benefits cost $14.14. (In Ohio, the average hourly earnings for all manufacturing employees were $29.84 as of May.) 7/6/2022

New Unionization Efforts a Threat to Manufacturers

The continued push by federal policymakers for new unionization policies could harm manufacturers and their workforces, according to the National Association of Manufacturers. Key concerns are union-organizing legislation, such as the PRO Act, and decisions from the National Labor Relations Board to change current interpretations of labor law and enact card check nationwide, NAM experts say.

Contact your federal representatives about these concerns via NAM’s “Manufacturers United” platform. 7/6/2022