News Brief: Job Openings Dropped Slightly in June
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently released its June Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary. The report revealed that there were 8.18 million job openings in June, a decrease from 8.23 million in May. This is a total decrease of 941,000 over the year. The job openings rate held at 4.9% in June.
“Labor demand remains concentrated in just a few industries,workers are hunkering down and feeling less confident about job availability, and businesses are more reluctant to bring on new hires.”
–Wells Fargo economists Sarah House and Aubrey George
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
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.
