InFront on the Workforce

Long-term and post-acute care publication

Subscribe | Events | Advertise | Contact Us

More Articles

Survey Documents Shifting Role of HR

By /

HR professionals see themselves as strategic partners in their organizations, and they are playing a growing role in areas such as compliance, promoting company culture, and using technology in innovative ways.

This is the first of a two-part article documenting the results of the 2018 Pulse of HR Survey. Conducted by Paychex, the survey involved 300 HR decision makers in U.S. companies with 50-500 employees across a range of industries.

HR leaders cited keeping up with regulations and tracking employees’ time (38% each) as top challenges for 2018. Other issues that kept them on their toes included complying with regulations (35%), offering competitive benefits (33%), and retaining talent (31%).

On the Front Lines: Employers Combat Opioid Crisis

By /

The growing opioid crisis in this country is hitting employers hard, and they are prioritizing education and preventive measures.

About two-thirds of human resources professionals say their companies are affected by the national opioid crisis or expect to be in the near future, according to a survey by The Hartford Financial Services Group.

Home Health Workforce: Preparing for the Boom

By /

Need to hire quality home health workers? Try paying them better, suggests national advocacy organization.

Poor pay, inconsistent hours and few advancement opportunities still plague the home health workforce, according to  data released by PHI, a nonprofit organization that studies the healthcare paraprofessional and direct-care workforce. Yet, understanding—and confronting—the challenges ingrained in this sector of the healthcare workforce could become an opportunity for organizations seeking to increase home health service lines and reduce turnover.

New Survey Details 2018 Pay Raise and Compensation Trends

By /

Whether or not HR plays a key role in setting or approving raises within an organization, these practitioners need to know about what employers are paying and how these decisions are made.

In a new survey of compensation and other pay practices in 2018, employers observed that the greatest challenge they faced in determining salary increases was budget constraints. Other challenges include administering compensation, a competitive salary market, and management approval/buy-in.

Understand Caregivers’ Challenges for Stronger, Happier Workforce

By /

Some of your employees are caregivers on the job, but more also play that role at home. By knowing what support these people need, employers can retain employees and keep them healthier and more productive.

According to one survey, over 20% of employees are caregivers to a disabled or ill family member or friend. Nearly three-quarters of individuals said their caregiver responsibilities “significantly” affect their work life; and a similar number reported having to rearrange their work schedule, decrease hours, or take an unpaid leave at some point. Those caregiver for someone with emotional or mental health issues are more likely to require special accommodations.

Provide a Welcoming Workplace as More Retirees Seek Employment

By /

Increasingly, when people turn 65, they aren’t interested in a gold watch and a rocking chair. Instead, they want a desk with a fully-loaded laptop. HR professionals need to be prepared to help retirees return to the workforce.

Burt Mustin, who passed away in 1977 at age 92, appeared in over 150 films and TV shows. What makes this so astounding is that he didn’t start acting until he was 67. Today, a growing number of seniors are following a similar path, seeking new careers and job opportunities after retirement. According to a Rand Corporation study released earlier this year, seniors are transitioning to post-retirement life in non-traditional ways—25.7% are staying in full- or part-time jobs past age 70, and 16.9% are leaving and then reentering the workforce.

Government Seeks Input To Make HIPAA Work Better for Everyone

By /

HIPAA may be changing. Your HR team needs to know about the rules, privacy, and what tools and training employees need to ensure compliance.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is seeking to facilitate information-sharing and improve care coordination—while still protecting privacy. Toward that end, the agency has issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking input from the public about how the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) rules could be modified to enhance value-based healthcare.

Manage Benefits Like a Business for Best Results

By /

Employee benefits management is a key part of any company, yet it is seldom aligned with organizational objectives.

Managing benefits like a business is a strategy that works. Follow a few basic steps, and your benefits program can be leaner and stronger.

Start by setting measurable goals. Just as it’s impossible to measure the quality of care using inappropriate or unrealistic goals, you can’t keep your benefits program running smoothly without the right targets. Your goals should address financial outcomes, workforce engagement/enablement, and administrative efficiency.

Mom and Pop Benefits Can Win Employee Loyalty, Support Positive Parenting

By /

Recruiting and retaining moms and dads alike requires HR to understand what these employees need and want to successfully juggle career and family.

The competition for the best and brightest caregivers and other employees is tougher than ever. One way to get ahead of the curve is to ensure that you offer benefits that appeal to both moms and dads raising families.

Is Your Organization Ready for New Overtime Regs?

By /

Overtime exemptions have been delayed, but HR should be ready.

Employers have been on pins and needles waiting for the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) revisions to the rule addressing worker overtime. But they will have to wait a bit longer, as the revised rule was blocked by court order; and the DOL now says it will release a new overtime plan in March 2019. The proposed rule was originally scheduled for release in January.