SHRM External Affairs Webcast: Join Us Sept. 30!
Join the SHRM External Affairs team for our third quarterly webcast of the year on Sept. 30 at 4 p.m. ET.
The team will highlight recent SHRM initiatives and deliver updates on state and federal policy.
Also, subject matter experts will discuss the Biden administration’s mandate that employers with 100 or more employees require workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or undergo weekly testing.
Registration for the webcast is open now
New Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors
On Sept. 16, the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor announced a new minimum wage for federal contractors.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2022, the minimum wage will increase to $11.25 per hour for existing contracts.
On Jan. 30, 2022, the hourly rate will be $15 for work performed on new, renewed and extended contracts, per Executive Order 14026.
NLRB Issues New Settlement Policies
On Sept. 8, National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo issued a memorandum to field offices calling for settlement agreements that provide complete relief to charging parties and victims of unfair labor practices.
The memo states that settlements should provide compensation for health insurance coverage; medical, legal or moving expenses; detrimental effects to credit ratings; liquidating a bank account to cover living expenses; and training or coursework required to obtain or renew a security clearance, certification or license.
Abruzzo advised field staff to seek 100 percent of the back pay and benefits owed to a claimant, as well as compensation for consequential damages and front pay for employees who voluntarily waive reinstatement.
SHRM Address Backlogs with CIS
Emily M. Dickens, SHRM chief of staff, head of government affairs and corporate secretary, met last week with Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) Ombudsman Phyllis A. Coven and Deputy Ombudsman Nathan Steifel to discuss processing delays and improvements to CIS programs.
The stakeholder meeting comes after SHRM submitted letters to CIS and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement with policy recommendations for modernizing the Form I-9 and the employment authorization process.
The CIS Ombudsman Office, housed within the Department of Homeland Security, is an impartial and confidential office separate from CIS. It was created by Congress to help individuals and employers who are having issues with pending applications or petitions.
SHRM will continue to advocate for workplace immigration policies that protect U.S. workers and ensure employers have access to global talent.
House Considers Bipartisan Commonsense Reporting Act
The bipartisan Commonsense Reporting Act of 2021 (H.R. 5318) was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on Sept. 21.
On Sept. 9, during the SHRM Annual Conference & Expo 2021, more than 3,000 SHRM members called on Congress to act on legislation, such as the Commonsense Reporting Act, that would streamline and modernize IRS reporting requirements for employers.
Introduced by Reps. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., and Adrian Smith, R-Neb., the legislation creates a voluntary reporting system to submit health plan information to the IRS before open enrollment begins. It also enables electronic transmission of Form 1095 and extends appeals from the current 30 days to 90 days to allow employers more time to gather appropriate information.
SHRM Chapters Meet Lawmakers Close to Home
During the House and Senate’s August recess, SHRM affiliates across the country met with policymakers to tell them how HR professionals are facing the latest workplace challenges, adjusting business practices and providing innovative solutions for the world of work. Our new video explains more.
Joint Employer Rule Takes Effect Oct. 5
n July 29, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) rescinded the joint employer rule under the Fair Labor Standards Act after a federal judge barred it from taking effect because its definition of employment was too narrow.
The final rule was scheduled to take effect today, Sept. 28, but the DOL announced it will now take effect Oct. 5.
UN Secretary-General Calls for Response to Worldwide Challenges
On Sept. 10, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres issued a report titled Our Common Agenda, which calls for a reinvigorated multilateral response to COVID-19, climate change, poverty, discrimination, violence and exclusion.
“In our biggest shared test since the Second World War, humanity faces a stark and urgent choice: a breakdown or a breakthrough,” the report states.
Recommendations include:
- Re-embracing global solidarity and finding new ways to work together for the common good.
- Renewing the social contract between governments and people.
- Defending a common consensus around facts, science and knowledge.
- Improving how the world measures economic prosperity and progress.
As a global thought leader on all things work, SHRM will be partnering with UN agencies to provide insight on what the future of work should look like.
Policy, Not Politics Apparel and Accessories Available at SHRMStore
SHRM has an unwavering commitment to focus on policy, not politics. We believe in our ability to find consensus when we bring all sides to the table for critical discussions of issues impacting work, workers and workplaces.
Together, we are championing policies that will help organizations and people thrive to create better workplaces and a better world.
Showcase your commitment to Policy, Not Politics, with a brand-new line of apparel and merchandise available for order at the SHRMStore. Get FREE SHIPPING on apparel and accessories when you shop at the SHRMStore through May 31.
Advancing Workplace Issues in 2021
SHRM is proud to be working with several organizations to highlight workplace issues in 2021. They include Fratelli Group, NAICU, Palladian Hill Strategies, Seyfarth Shaw LLP and Viatris.
As the Voice of All Things Work, SHRM pursues nonpartisan public policy to promote flexible, inclusive and equitable workplaces that help business thrive as talent is tapped, trained and empowered to reach its full potential. Policy not politics.
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