HR Brief – OSHA Proposes Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Standard (August)
The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently announced an unofficial version of the proposed standard to protect workers from heat injury and illness. If finalized, the new standard would apply to all employers conducting indoor and outdoor work in all general industry, construction, maritime and agricultural sectors where OSHA has jurisdiction, subject to limited exceptions. According to OSHA, the proposed rule would apply to approximately 36 million workers.
HR Insights – How to Address Employee Burnout
Employee burnout is escalating globally, with a significant number of workers experiencing severe physical, emotional and mental exhaustion. The 2024 Global Talent Trends report reveals that approximately 82% of employees are at risk of burnout, primarily due to financial pressures and excessive workloads.
Legal Update: USCIS Extends Form I-9 Expiration Date
On Aug. 2, 2024, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced
that it updated its Employment Eligibility Verification form, also known as Form I-9, to extend the form’s expiration date from July 31, 2026, to May 31, 2027.
News Brief: Employers Plan to Raise Wages 3.9% in 2025
The latest Salary Budget Planning Report released by Willis Towers Watson (WTW) shows that salary budget increases areexpected to rise by 3.9% in 2025. The overall median pay raise for 2024 dropped to 4.1%, compared with 4.5% in 2023.Although these expected wage increases have diminished since 2023, this figure remains high compared to many previous paycycles, where 3% was common.
“As the workplace stabilizes and employers look more toward the future, companies are reviewing and updating their compensation philosophies to ensure they align with business strategy.”
–Lesli Jennings, North America leader of Work, Rewards and Careers,WTW
Compliance Overview – Open Enrollment 2025 – Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)
Employers who sponsor high deductible health plans (HDHPs) that are compatible with health savings accounts (HSAs) should prepare for open enrollment by:
-Ensuring that employees understand how HSAs work, including the benefits of opening an HSA; and
-Updating their HDHP’s design and communicating any plan changes to employees.
There are many advantages to selecting an HDHP/HSA option at open enrollment time—for example, HSAs have three levels of tax savings and HDHPs typically have lower monthly premiums. However, many employees may not be aware of these advantages or understand how the HSA rules apply to them. Employers should help their employees understand key HSA features during the open enrollment process.
Client and Employee Resources
The more your employees understand your benefit plans the more they become educated, empowered consumers. The programs you provide will also gain an enhanced value.
As your strategic partners in employee benefits, we can provide multiple avenues of ongoing support, including:
- Employee Meetings (English and Spanish)
- Webcasts
- Payroll Stuffers
- Poster Campaigns
- Newsletters
Carrier Directories
E-Verify is a web-based system that allows enrolled employers to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States. Click the image below to begin.
