Resources

As 2014 comes to a close, now is the opportune time for employers to reflect on certain issues and trends while preparing for the New Year. One such point is the changing face of business as demographics reflect a more diverse workforce. Studies show that by 2025, millennials will make up 75 percent of the global workforce as they bring their own style and expectations to the table; meanwhile, baby boomers, with their own distinct values and expertise, are staying on the job longer.

If you employ 50 or more full-time or full-time-equivalent employees, you should be ready for the Affordable Care Act’s employer mandate, as we are now T-minus 44 days from the New Year. While you’re planning holiday parties and strategizing for Black Friday, don’t overlook prepping for ACA compliance. Here’s the good news: 92% of Paycom’s ACA webinar attendees feel their company is in compliance with the ACA. That’s a staggering number considering all of the changes and unknowns that still exist with one of the largest changes to health care our country has ever seen. If you aren’t among that 92%, here’s what you should be asking yourself as you head into the New Year.

This November, ’tis the season to be thankful. Family and friends immediately come to mind, but have you ever stopped to consider what you’re thankful for at work? In our lifetimes, we will have spent roughly 99,117 hours at work. Surely if we’re going to be investing this amount of time, there’s got to be something we’re thankful for, right? This Thanksgiving, let’s take a moment to consider how good we have it.

Post-recession, the hiring outlook for U.S. veterans is beginning to take a turn for the better. Recently, more and more businesses are tipping their hats in honor of hiring veterans. In fact, in a recent survey of 2,440 hiring and human resources managers, CareerBuilder reports that one-third of employers are actively recruiting vets over the next year, up from 27 percent last year.

The bright lights of the Vegas strip appeal to high-rollers and the employees who serve them; however, for some, the glitz and glam can be short-lived. Employees drawn by the luster often find it hard to adjust to the nightlife and long shifts, which is why many fold. In a study by the University of Las Vegas, casino HR executives report their industry turnover rate being between 25 percent and 40 percent.

Open enrollment can strike fear in the hearts and minds of many. Because let’s face it: Benefits can be confusing. According to the 2014 AFLAC Workforces Report, 73 percent of employees think health care reform is too complicated to understand. For HR professionals, this statistic is a huge concern. Perhaps the reason for this confusion is a gap in communication between HR and employees. How did this happen? How can HR keep employees engaged? The solution is quite simple: Educate, educate, educate.

Forget The Walking Dead. You should be worried about the Walking Disengaged.

Should a zombie apocalypse take over, would your documents be safe? According to research by the University of Texas, “Only six percent of companies suffering from a catastrophic loss survive, while 43 percent never reopen and 51 percent close within two years.” Don’t fall prey to these ghoulish stats; have a survival plan ready to go in case any “creepy crawlies” come lurking around your business.

How will you survive the zombie apocalypse that is open enrollment? We all know that the undead don’t need braces, but could breaks in how you administer your benefits leave zombies on your company’s paid benefits? Research shows that the complexity of open enrollment is the top concern for employers and employees. Such intricacy can cause errors, additional costs, long processing time and an overall drain on your HR department. Don’t fall victim to this terrifying task; prepare yourself and your employees for survival.

Imagine this: You walk into work and no one is there. No, it’s not Saturday; it’s the beginning of the HR Zombie Apocalypse and no one bothered to tell you! What do you do now? Go cry in the corner? Or start an awesome new team of people to get the job done? I’m going to go with the latter. According to Webrecruit, “Companies that have formal candidate relationship processes (such as through software), and track all their applicant communications, are 40 percent more likely to be ‘best in class.’” If a zombie apocalypse comes around, don’t be trapped with no way out; have a way to find the best individuals to help you and your company survive.

Innovation; without it we’d still be staring up at the moon wondering what it’s like up there? Innovation is transformative, it turns ideas into possibilities. Take Walt Disney for example, through innovative thinking he was able to turn a blank canvas of land into what many would recall today as a magical escape. Innovation doesn’t have to be groundbreaking, although it’s always exciting when it is. To keep it simple, innovation in your organization can mean building upon products, implementing new campaign ideas and the list goes on and on. Embracing innovation could potentially advance your organization to new heights.

Early October marked a turning point for same-sex couples, as The Supreme Court let lower court rulings stand that overturned bans on same-sex marriage in five states. This decision granted same-sex spouses equal state tax treatment for employer-provided benefits. The court declined to review decisions from three federal appeals courts, therefore legalizing same-sex marriage in Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin.