HR Industry Brief

New statistics suggest a growing demand for assisted living and independent living housing options, while census in nursing homes is slightly down. According to the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing and Care (NIC):

• Senior housing occupancy increased to 88% in the third quarter of 2019 from its lowest level in year years (87l8%) during the previous quarter.
• Nursing care occupancy was down .2% in the third quarter.
• Assisted living occupancy increased .3% in the third quarter.
• The occupancy rate for independent living increased to 90.2% in the third quarter, 10 points higher than a year ago.

Termination is never easy, and it can be uncomfortable and even traumatic. However, there are several myths about wrong termination that employees often have. By dispelling these, you can help them understand the reason behind a dismissal. Here are the top misconceptions:

• Any termination that seems unreasonable amounts to wrongful termination. Unless an employee has a contract, he or she can practically be fired for any reason. However, if the contract requires a termination cause and the employee isn’t given one, this may constitute a viable wrongful termination claim.
• I can be legally fired for publicly admitting I voted for a certain candidate. There are some legal protections regarding free expression of political beliefs.
• Workplace discrimination laws are only for minorities and women. Everyone with a unique gender, race, religion, natural origin, citizenship status, marital status, or medical history has a right to protection under workplace … [Read more...] about (11/1) 7 Things Employees Get Wrong about ‘Wrongful Termination’

The legalization of marijuana has become welcome news for some, but it’s causing headaches for employers. To help provide some guidance, the National Safety Council (NSC) has released a position statement supporting policies “to mitigate and eliminate the risks of cannabis (marijuana).” Specifically, the document says:

• The NSC “believes there is no level of cannabis use that is safe or acceptable for employees who work in safety-sensitive positions.”
• Employees who tested positive for cannabis have 85% more injuries and 75% more absenteeisms than those who test negative.
• Cannabis affects the body in various ways. According to the NSC statement, “Experimental studies of subjects dosed with cannabis found [that] psychological effects include slowed fine motor skills, reddening of eyes, increased appetite, dry mouth, and increased heart rate. These effects contribute to impaired learning, short-term memory and attention deficits, and delayed … [Read more...] about (10/31) National Safety Council Says No Amount of Marijuana is OK for ‘Safety Sensitive’ Jobs

Each day in the U.S., there are 55 million meetings. These events can be productive endeavors or time-wasting black holes. Here are some tips to have winning and not wasteful meetings:

• Prepare an agenda. Have a plan for the meeting, and invite others to suggest agenda items in advance.
• Strictly adhere to time, attendance, and punctuality. Respect people’s time; set a specific timeframe for the meeting, and stick with it.
• Control discussion flow. Don’t let any one person dominate or take over the conversation. Give everyone an opportunity to talk. If someone is especially shy, encourage or invite that person to speak; but don’t force anyone to share their thoughts openly.
• If you are the meeting leader, save your opinions for last.
• Confirm someone else’s position before you disagree with or correct it.
• Before the meeting ends, do a brief recap to highlight key takeaways.
• Distribute a Same Day Summary … [Read more...] about (10/30) Putting Humanity into HR Compliance: 8 Ways to Make Meetings Work

A major workforce shortage in post-acute and long-term care is looming. To address this proactively, LeadingAge has introduced the IMAGINE initiative legislative proposal, which:

• Includes a temporary guest worker program that would allow employers to hire qualified foreign-born individuals for a fixed amount of time.
• Changes the J-1 cultural exchange visa to allow “au pairs” to work in homes with individuals over age 65 who need assistance.
• Offers new ways to modify current law to focus on older adult services workers.

You could be getting sick at work, or you could be making others ill. According to recent numbers:

• 90% of employees come to the office sick: 33% always, 57% sometimes, and only 11% never.
• Charlotte, Miami, Austin, Chicago, and Cincinnati are the cites where workers are most likely to go into work when they are sick.
• Workers are most likely to go to work when they’re ill because they have too much work to do (54%), they didn’t want to use a sick day (40%), they feel pressure from their employer (34%), and coworkers come to work sick (25%).

There is growing proof that there is a disconnect between what colleges are providing to students and what employers need from workers. According to a new study:

• 96% of chief academic officers at colleges and universities say their institutions are very or somewhat effective at preparing students for the world of work
• 33% of employers agree with the statement: “Higher education institutions in this country are graduating students with the skills and competences that my business needs.”

You know the stats. Stress contributes to health care costs, absenteeism, unhappy employees, and turnover. You have healthier, more content and productive workers if you give them the skills and tools to fight stress. Try these tips:

• Teach effective coping behaviors, such as eating healthy and practicing good sleep hygiene.
• Teach employees to use cognitive behavioral therapy techniques, such as reframing problems to make them more manageable and conducting root cause analysis to help identify long-term solutions.
• Encourage strong social networks and teamwork.
• Show employees appreciation.
• Model supportive leadership.
• Avoid harsh criticism, lashing out, insults or other words/behaviors that damage self-esteem.

What do you do to promote good oral/dental health among your employees? Even if your benefits include dental insurance, your workers may not be getting the care they need. The reason has less to do with the costs of care and more to do with their fears. According to a new survey of 1,000 workers, given the option of root canal or another activity:

• 57% would rather spend 1 hour in a room with 10 spiders.
• 54% would rather sing the national anthem at a sports game.
• 53% would rather have a snake in their lap for 15 minutes.
• 41% would rather go swimming with sharks.

Having a disaster-ready workplace can help your organization and your employees bounce back quicker after an emergency. To prepare your culture, consider the following:

• Listen to your workforce. They know your organization and the community better than anyone. Seek their input on where they see your disaster-related strengths and weaknesses.
• Care for your workforce. Determine in advance how you will care for employees during and after a disaster. Will you establish a relief fund for workers? Will you provide beds and meals for employees and their families?
• Be transparent about disaster preparedness strategies, policies, and procedures in advance. Conduct drills that involve all staff (as appropriate). Seek everyone’s input on how things could be done different or better.
• Establish relationships. Connect in advance with transportation companies, physician practices, hospitals, and relief agencies whose services or support you might … [Read more...] about (10/22) 5 Ways to Make Your Culture Disaster Ready