Blog
June 21, 2021
8 Policies to Review Before Returning to Work
Returning to in-person work is a top priority for many workplaces. As the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic lessens, employers are eager to get employees back in their buildings. But that comes with a series of complications. The most significant complication is the fact that every workplace decision in the immediate future will be viewed...
June 17, 2021
How to Evacuate a High-Rise Building
When asked, most people would say that they should “stop, drop, and roll” if their clothes caught fire. There are a few other basic rules most people know to follow, such as crawling on the ground because smoke rises. But many residents of apartment buildings are fuzzy on the details when it comes to emergency...
June 16, 2021
Workers Will Need Support From Employers to Deal with COVID Mental Health Fallout
From casual Fridays to after-work drinks, those weekly rituals once taken for granted are returning as Americans head back to the office. And while masks, plexiglass and empty conference rooms will alter the cubescape, employers are nevertheless invested in getting things back to normal — or at least as normal as possible. But that won’t...
June 14, 2021
Work Zone Safety for CMV Drivers
Commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers have a lot to consider when it comes to operating their vehicles safely. This is especially true during various seasons throughout the year—such as road construction season, which generally takes place from June through November. After all, road construction can create numerous hazards for CMV drivers, seeing as they must...
June 10, 2021
Why HR Will Need to Use More Video in the Hybrid Workplace
As we transition to whatever a post-pandemic workplace might look like, employees are showing a preference for continuing some form of work from home situation. A getABstract survey done in April 2020 showed that nearly 43% of US workers preferred to work from home compared to only 12% who preferred the office. And PWC’s US Remote Work Survey in January of...
June 9, 2021
How to Engineer and Maintain Safe Electrical Work Practices
Between OSHA, NFPA, and a slew of other acronyms representing agencies and organizations focused on safety, there are numerous guidelines and policies in place that direct operations for business. The concept “culture of safety” is always pushed by companies and thought leaders alike, but it sits as an incomplete solution because it relies on people....
June 7, 2021
Industries That Experience the Most Fatal Work Injuries
During 2019, a total of 5,333 fatal occupational injuries occurred, marking the largest annual number since 2007, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which reported an American died every 99 minutes from a work-related injury. Overall, fatal work injuries increased by 2% nationwide during the year. Further, the fatal work-injury rate did not change...
June 2, 2021
IRS Guidance on Tax Credits for Employee Leave Under the FFCRA
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), passed in March 2020, required small and midsized employers to provide paid employee leave for specific COVID-19-related reasons through Dec. 31, 2020. The FFCRA also provided tax credits for employers to cover the cost of the leave. The FFCRA employee leave requirements expired in December 2020; however, subsequent...
May 28, 2021
The Demonstrated Value of Consumer-driven Health Plans
Employers may be familiar with high deductible health plans (HDHPs) and health care accounts, such as health savings accounts (HSAs). A CDHP is simply the combination of those benefits—an HDHP paired with a health care spending account. CDHPs can be an excellent way for employers to control health care spending. In fact, CDHPs are often...
May 26, 2021
Protecting Construction Workers in Summer Conditions
As summertime approaches, it’s important to ensure your employees will be properly protected at the construction site. After all, summer is often the hottest season of the year, typically accompanied by surging temperatures and increased humidity levels. Such weather conditions can greatly increase the risk of your employees experiencing numerous complications on the job—especially heat-related...