Having trouble keeping your employees engaged while everyone is working from home? Are you getting the sense that they’re losing their motivation? (Maybe you are too?) Many employees have been working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. For a lot of employees, it looks like this will continue for a while. In some ways, we’re …
How to Support Your Exhausted Working Parents During COVID
An article from Today’s Parent popped up in my newsfeed this week describing how working parents are losing steam as they juggle working full-time jobs while also caring full-time for their children without the typical support systems. Being a working parent can already be a difficult juggling act. Add a COVID-19 pandemic shutdown to the …
Have Employees Who Don’t Want to Return to Work During COVID?
Here in Georgia, there’s a lot of attention on our state right now as we’ve started reopening. Some businesses were allowed to reopen last week, and restaurants are now allowed to reopen. It’s not “business as usual,” though. For businesses that do choose to reopen, there is a list of guidelines they are required to …
Navigating a Furlough or Layoff Announcement
For the week ending April 18, 2020, over 4 million U.S. workers filed for unemployment insurance. This means that, since March 15, over 26 million workers have filed for benefits. If you’re one of the many businesses struggling right now due to COVID-19, you may find yourself considering furloughs, layoffs, or pay reductions. This news …
Need to Initiate Pay Cuts? Lead by Example.
Earlier this week, SeaWorld disclosed that, while their top executives have received 20% temporary pay cuts, they also received $6.8 million in stock options. This occurred while 90% of their employees are furloughed, not receiving any pay since April 1 and, for the most part, not having their health benefits paid for either. While the …
Should You Hire a Furloughed Employee?
Many companies, including Papa John’s, 7 Eleven, and Walmart, have made headlines recently with plans to hire large numbers of full- and part-time employees to meet increased demand related to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, you don’t have to be a large company to have hiring needs. Companies of all sizes have current vacancies or may …
How to Maintain Professionalism During Video Conferences
With so many employees working from home right now – and many for the first time – you don’t have to look far to find stories of video conferencing fails. We’re hearing about people not wearing pants, pets interrupting meetings, children screaming, and people going to the bathroom while the cameras are still on. While …
Applying the FFCRA (Families First Coronavirus Response Act)
Today (April 1, 2020), the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) goes into effect. So, what is the FFCRA? It provides paid leave to those who are employed by businesses that have fewer than 500 employees in an effort to help those who need to take time off of work related to the COVID-19 illness …
COVID Tips for Working from Home (Plus Managing & Parenting)
A lot of employees are working from home during this COVID-19 pandemic. With schools and daycares closed and other caregiving options probably not available right now, many people are trying to work while also taking care of their children and playing the role of teacher. As a manager, you’re navigating your own dynamic while also …
Evaluating the FLSA Salary Threshold Change January 1, 2020
There are a number of factors to take into consideration in deciding whether a job should be exempt or nonexempt. Even once you’ve determined which jobs are exempt, you’ll need to monitor any changes to the salary threshold. According to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), one of the foundational criteria for whether an employee …