Tag: COVID

Biggest Skills Gaps for Gen Z

Generation Z, a.k.a. “Gen Z,” a.k.a. “Zoomers,” are poised to become the largest cohort in the American workforce in a few short years. By the end of the current decade, they’re expected to make up 30 percent of the U.S. workforce. A Look at Gen Z It’s crucial for employers to understand what makes this […]

Two Years into COVID-19

On March 12, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. The past two years felt both long and short as the world changed at a breathtaking pace. Between mask mandates, vaccines, and remote work, almost every aspect of our lives was affected. The world of work, in particular, has changed. We teamed up […]

Kicking Off a New Season and Moving Toward the End Zone

It’s September, which happens to be my favorite month.  The leaves start changing, and we Midwesterners get to pull cardigans and boots out of storage in preparation for the inevitable chilly day that will hit within these next thirty days.  (Indeed, here in Chicago, we often get to experience a full year of seasons during […]

How to Draft a Reasonable COVID-19 Vaccine Policy That Protects Everyone

Now that COVID-19 vaccines are widely available, HR leaders must figure out how to craft vaccination policies. According to a recent survey, 44% of employers plan to require vaccination, 31% will encourage vaccination, and 14% will require some employees to get the vaccine. Additionally, more than 60% of companies in the United States will require proof […]

Rethinking Your Employee Benefits for Post-COVID-19 World

COVID-19 had an immediate impact on the workplace back in March 2020, shifting employees from the office to the home office. As active numbers continue to be monitored, we’re seeing the pandemic may have a lasting effect on the workplace and how, where, and when people work. The crisis also has opened up new opportunities […]

Texas Court Rules Vaccine Mandates Are Legal

Texas’ Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is granted the authority to set immunization requirements by the Texas Education Code, Chapter 38. If you attended school from grades K-12, then you are familiar with these mandatory vaccines, e.g., measles, tuberculosis, tetanus, and polio. Vaccine mandates didn’t start with COVID-19, and they won’t end there, either. […]

EEOC Offers Clarifications, Cautions in New COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance

Updated technical assistance from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) clarifies how employers can require or encourage employees to take a COVID-19 vaccine, but attorneys advising employers point out how the document also contains cautions. The EEOC updated its technical assistance on May 28 to address questions about how federal equal employment opportunity (EEO) laws may be […]

What Has the Pandemic Taught Us About Crisis Management?

The pandemic has changed the business landscape as we know it. Perhaps one of the biggest lessons it has taught us is how to manage during a crisis. During these past 12 to 14 months, we have seen some organizations succeed, as they were able to pivot their business models and mitigate internal risk, while […]

Skills Needed Post-COVID

The COVID pandemic has taught us a lot about ourselves. It has also shown employers just how much work can be completed remotely. As the world shifts again with the vaccine rollout, the coming months will be a bit of a transition time for employees and employers alike. This means that changing skill sets will […]

Watercooler

How to Replicate Watercooler Conversations in the Age of COVID

In a typical workday, it’s almost certain that employees aren’t engaged in their specific job duties for a full 8 hours. Instead, employees frequently spend time tending to biological needs; scanning the Internet; and, of course, chatting with coworkers. Often, this chatting occurs around a literal or metaphorical watercooler—hence the term “watercooler conversations.”