There are between 35,000 to 62,000 injuries every year related to forklifts, and around 87 deaths per year due to forklift accidents. Violations of proper safety and forklift training can also result in fines up to $135,000.   Forklift violations not only put your employees in danger, but it can also impose significant financial burdens on the company.    Here are the top five OSHA forklift violations to avoid:   Inadequate operator certification   All forklift operators must have a OSHA-approved forklift certification. Employers who allow a forklift ope ..read more

Each year, millions of teenagers take on summer jobs. Early work experiences can be very rewarding, while providing teens with great opportunities to learn important work skills. If you’re employing teens, the Department of Labor (DOL) oversees the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) child labor provisions. This specifies the hours young workers can work, the jobs they may perform and the jobs that are designated too hazardous for them to perform. The Act’s regulations are outlined below, along with additional steps you can take to keep young workers safe. Age Limitations by Type of Work Childre ..read more

Hospital indemnity insurance is a type of supplemental insurance that can help employees stay out of medical debt. The average overnight cost of a hospital stay is $11,700. Despite this, only 44% of Americans can afford paying a $1,000 emergency expense. Since hospital bills are expensive and most people cannot afford to pay the bill in full, many employers offer hospital indemnity.   Here is everything employers need to know about hospital indemnity insurance:   What is hospital indemnity insurance?   Hospital indemnity insurance is an additional insurance plan t ..read more

While many people assume they will not need disability insurance until much later in life, roughly 25% of 20-year-olds take a disability-related leave before reaching retirement age.   Disability insurance replaces part of an employee’s income when a disability prevents them from working. Some common examples of disabilities that many people may not think of are pregnancy, cancer, car accidents, illnesses, etc.  There are many reasons why employees may need access to disability insurance at some point in their lives, but what are the differences between long-term and short-term ..read more

This blog was written by Brandon White, Director of HR at Helpside. On April 23, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) voted to issue a final rule that would ban noncompete agreements in virtually all employment relationships. The final rule has not yet been filed in the Federal Register, but is scheduled to take effect 120 days after such filing. Final Rule The final rule defines a noncompete clause as a term or condition of employment that prohibits a worker from, penalizes a worker for or functions to prevent a worker from: Seeking or accepting work in the United States with a different ..read more

This blog was written by Brandon White, Director of HR at Helpside. On April 23, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a final rule amending the criteria for white-collar employees to qualify for overtime exemption under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The final rule will take effect on July 1, 2024. Employers should evaluate impacted employees now and make decisions to comply with the new rule. Who qualifies? The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) exempts certain white-collar workers from overtime pay requirements. These include individuals in executive, administrative, profession ..read more

Workplace trends have undergone significant transformations over the past four years since the COVID-19 pandemic. The way companies handle performance management has drastically changed since 2020, and it seems to be having beneficial outcomes.   Here are the new trends for performance management that small business leaders should be aware of:   Removing performance ratings   Performance ratings seem to put too much focus on employee failures, so many companies have decided to completely remove annual or monthly performance ratings.  Instead, many companies h ..read more

43% of employees do not feel valued by their employer. When employees do not feel valued for their efforts, it can increase turnover and quiet quitting. Leaders should make their employees a priority and seek out ways to make them feel appreciated.  Here are four ways to make your employees feel important.   Celebrate work anniversaries   Leaders should keep track of big milestones for employees and celebrate them, even if it is just a kind email thanking the employee for their efforts. When leaders take the time to congratulate their employees on work anniversaries, i ..read more

How employees feel towards a company greatly impacts the workplace culture and productivity. Most of the time, employee loyalty is dependent on management, pay, and workplace culture. It is important for leaders to know how to increase employee loyalty to help retain and attract top talent.   Here are three ways to increase employee loyalty:   Act on feedback   When employees give feedback, whether verbally or through surveys, be sure to do something with that feedback. Dismissing feedback means that your employees’ dissatisfactions will not be taken care of, and ..read more

40% of employees say they feel isolated at work. Team building activities can help employees get to know their coworkers and increase trust and engagement in the office. Studies show that when employees improve their connections with their team members, it increases productivity and overall performance.   Here are five team building activities to help bring your team together.    Escape room   Take your team to an escape room facility or set up a DIY escape room in your office space. Escape rooms are a great way for employees to challenge themselves and lean ..read more