Unemployment rates are at historic lows and the economy is booming! That’s good news for business, right? Yes…and no. While low unemployment creates more demand for the goods and services offered by companies, it also means that employers will have to compete for an ever-shrinking pool of workers. This leaves employers with two options: offer workers better pay or benefits, or lower hiring standards.
The prospect of lowering hiring standards is sure to give employers heartburn since it can increase training costs and potentially decrease productivity, while increasing worker pay and benefits comes with its own costs that can hurt the bottom line. But a new service being offered to employers and their employees touts itself as providing a lower-cost solution.
I recently spoke at the SHRM 2018 Annual Conference & Exposition in Chicago. My topic was “Health Issues are Nothing to Sneeze at: Chemical Sensitivities, Bed Bugs, Zika and Flu Shots.”
Following the recent trend, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) terminated the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Honduras. TPS will terminate for qualifying citizens of Honduras on January 5, 2020. Hondurans currently in TPS status may continue working in the United States through January 5, 2020, if they re-register. 
In 2016, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) implemented Phase I of its Digital Charge System for employers to interact with the EEOC thru a Respondent Portal, and to access and respond to a Charge of Discrimination. If a Charge of Discrimination has been filed against your company, the EEOC now e-mails the Notice of Charge of Discrimination to employers and provides a password to access the online portal. When you log in, you can view and download the Charge and add your attorney’s contact information and provide him/her access to the Respondent Portal. You or your attorney also can respond to a mediation request, change contact information, and upload a position statement. 
After years of good fortune, the 2017 Hurricane Season severely impacted most of South Florida and the Gulf Coast. Even those of us who suffered little or no property damage probably lost power for at least a few days, and many had no electricity for weeks. Businesses had difficulty functioning without electricity, internet access, and safe drinking water. Many workers were simply unable to come to work – difficulty navigating roads full of debris or without working traffic lights, addressing personal needs, or providing childcare because schools were closed. Let’s hope that 2018 is a quiet hurricane season, but just in case, below are some steps and policies to prepare for the worst. 
Thank you to those of you who attended our 