Focused Articles

Enhance Your Organization’s HR-Marketing Synergy to Boost Your Brand

By Kim Robinson posted 7 days ago
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On the face of it, marketing and human resources can look very different. After all, HR is about people strategy, talent management, recruiting, hiring, firing, policies, and seemingly endless compliance, all of which can feel like a focus on what’s happening inside the organization. Marketing, on the other hand, seems to constantly scan the external horizon, assessing data, trends and customer behavior, building and boosting a brand, creating content, maximizing digital presence, and much more. However, HR and marketing may have more in common than it first seems. HR is tasked with attracting and retaining the best people. Marketing is tasked with attracting ...
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Maximizing Membership: Freshly Updated Members-Only Content

By James McDonough posted 7 days ago
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To ensure you have accurate and timely information and guidance, Employers Council staff review and update the members-only resources in Member Central as necessary. Some topics require frequent updates; for example, our sample Colorado employee handbooks and sample policies have been frequently updated over the last few years as a result of legislative and regulatory activity at the state and federal levels. Access these resources below: Colorado Sample Employee Handbook Colorado Government Sample Employee Handbook Colorado Small Employer Sample Handbook You can also access our complete library of sample handbooks and policies ...
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Tips for Employers with Tipped Employees

By Barbara Bagdon posted 7 days ago
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Most employers with tipped employees are well-informed regarding minimum wage rules and tip credit requirements. However, they may not be as familiar with how their local rules governing tip pooling differ from the federal rules. The federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) permits tip pooling among employees who customarily and regularly receive tips and prohibits employers from keeping any portion of employees’ tips. However, employers may require tipped employees to participate in a tip pool without violating the prohibition against keeping tips and may even facilitate a tip pooling arrangement by collecting and redistributing employees’ tips if they ...
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Take a Different Approach to Benefits Strategies to Appeal to Gen Z — Part 2

By Hannah Rich posted 12 days ago
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Editor’s note: This is the second of two parts exploring how employers can modify their benefits strategies to attract and retain members of Generation Z, the youngest generation in the workforce. Read the first installment here . As the ranks of Generation Z grow in the workforce, employers are tasked with rethinking their approaches to the types of benefits they offer and how they communicate those offerings. This article looks at new options for financial benefits and how employers can help their Gen Z workers find information on benefits. Support Financial Wellness Financial security is unfamiliar territory for many Gen Z workers. Consider the ...
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Take a Different Approach to Benefits Strategies to Appeal to Gen Z — Part 1

By Hannah Rich posted 20 days ago
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Editor’s note: This is the first of two parts exploring how employers can modify their benefits strategies to attract and retain members of Generation Z, the youngest generation in the workforce. Look for part two next week. Members of Generation Z, identified by the Pew Research Center as those born between 1997 and 2012, are a growing part of the U.S. workforce. Gen Z workers are projected to surpass the number of Baby Boomers in the full-time workforce for the first time this year, outnumbered only by Millennial and Generation X employees, according to a Glassdoor study . Some experts project that Gen Z will represent more than one-fourth of the workforce ...
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How Can Employers Navigate Rising Recruiting Costs?

By Chelsea Jensen posted 26 days ago
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In today's competitive job market, recruiting and hiring top talent have become increasingly challenging and costly for employers. Over the past few years, the expenses of finding and hiring new employees have notably increased. The average cost per hire rose from $4,129 in 2019 to $4,700 in 2023, marking a 14% increase, according to information reported in this article by software company Toggl. The surge in recruitment costs can be attributed to various factors, but there are actionable strategies that employers can adopt to navigate these expenses. Here are some of the reasons behind the rise in recruitment costs: Intensified Competition : ...
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Embrace These Key Behaviors to Build a Cohesive Team

By Mark Castillo posted 03-13-2024
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Have you ever been on a team that was so dysfunctional that your stomach was in knots just thinking about working with the group? Did you get the “Sunday Night Blues,” knowing that the next day, you would be in a situation where you felt stress and anxiety? Perhaps you have been on a team where you experienced the following: Ideas were dismissed without discussion or debate. Team members were reluctant to express their ideas for fear of retribution. The "after meeting" had more significant discussion than the actual meeting. The vocal members of the team dominate the discussion. The team leader cannot make an important decision ...
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Can Employers Force Employees to Return to the Office? If So, Should They?

By Aerie Nandi posted 03-13-2024
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As the restrictions and inconveniences brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic continue to fade, many employers are requiring employees to report to the office, either on a full-time or hybrid basis. A survey by ResumeBuilder.com reveals that 90% of executives polled plan to implement return-to-office policies by the end of 2024. This move, however, seems to clash with the preferences of many employees. According to a survey by Clarify Capital , nearly 70% of remote workers expressed a preference for looking for a new job rather than returning to the office. And many recent surveys indicate that employees put a high value on the ability to work remotely, as ...
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Suicide and the Workplace: Employer Considerations, Action Steps, and Resources

By James McDonough posted 03-08-2024
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A r ecord high of a lmost 50,000 Americans died by suicide in 2022 , and suicide rates increased over 3% from the prior year , according to a Center s for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provisional report issued in late 2023 . Suicide is one of the top 10 leading causes of death, is more common among men than women , and occurs most commonly during the working years (ages 16-64). Employers in our region take note : CDC final statistics for 2021 report Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, and Wyoming have the nation’s highest rates of suicide in the ...
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What Should You Do if an Employee Presents New Documentation After an Initial False I-9?

By Miller Jozwiak posted 03-08-2024
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Imagine this scenario: A few years ago, an employer hired an employee , and c ompleting the Form I-9 was routine as part of the onboarding process. Fast forward to today, when the employee approaches human resources and confesses that the ir initia l I-9 documentation was false . The employee now presents new employment authorization documentation. What should the employer do? This scenario is more common than one might expect, and fortunately, there is guidance for employers to effectively address it. Federal law prohibits employers from knowingly hiring, employing, or contracting with any person ...
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Colorado Employers: Stay Informed with Employers Council Handbook Updates

By Kirsten Ellis posted 03-01-2024
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Amid the ever-changing landscape of employment law, Employers Council is dedicated to keeping our members well- informed. We have compiled a selection of handbook updates specifically for Colorado, including recommended language and the revision dates. If your handbook was updated prior to any of the dates listed below, we recommend updating the policies using the linked resources. The dates provided reflect when Employers Council last revised the policy, not necessarily when a law was enacted. While this list is not exhaustive, it highlights the key policies that are essential for maintaining compliance. Please n ...
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Resources Available to Help Colorado Employers Manage Administrative Burdens

By James McDonough posted 02-23-2024
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To understand Colorado’s employment laws , turn to Employers Council’s resources to get the information you need. Start with o ur Colorado Quick Facts   for an overview of  the state’s employment laws . Our myriad resources also includ e the following: Whitepapers   These provide guidance and suggested action steps to comply with specific laws :   Pay ing employe e s  equit abl y , job posting, recordkeeping requirements by the  Equal Pay for Equal Work Act (EPEWA)   Minimum wage and overtime ...
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Employee Policies on Tracking Technology and AI Grow Increasingly Important

By Mark Decker posted 02-23-2024
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Advancements in technology have enabled what was once science fiction to become an easily accessible reality. Within a short period , employees can set up company websites, implement tracking tools for those sites, and use artificial intelligence (AI) to answer customer s’ questions. Given how accessible these activities are, there may be an instinct not to have policies in place that govern employees' approach to these technologies . Ignore this instinct because the liability from these activities is increasingly under scrutiny . Protected Health Information and Third-Party ...
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Internal Talent Marketplaces Showcase Career Opportunities, Employees’ Skills

By Jenny DeFranco posted 02-22-2024
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Employers have struggled to attract talent for many years now. The traditional and often passive recruiting efforts of posting a job on a careers page or a job board may no longer be adequat e. Instead of relying solely on outside talent, consider looking within . Consider a talent marketplace. Talent marketplaces are transparent , technology-enabled talent management systems that connect employees with developmental opportunities within your organization. These two-sided platforms capture employees’ skills with appropriate positions within the organization. You likely have experienced a marketplace like ...
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Now Available at the Employers Council Library: Remote Not Distant

By James McDonough posted 02-16-2024
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Editor’s note: Employers Council offers members access to a library of books. This article is part of an ongoing series to introduce members to the collection. Ever since the transition to remote work prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic , members have asked us for guidance to achieve success with remote and hybrid employees . When I came across the book Remote Not Distant – Design a C ompany C ulture T hat W ill H elp Y ou T hrive in a H ybrid W orkplace , I added it to our library collection in hopes it would offer helpful insights . I read Remote Not Distant ...
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Multi-State Employers Can Bolster Communication, Clarity with Employee Handbook State Supplements

By Brittanie Young posted 02-15-2024
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Employers that operate in multiple states have a responsibility to understand the various employment laws that impact employees who reside in those states. Employers also have a responsibility to en sure that employees have a clear understanding of the ir state - specific rights and to maintain compliance. The key to en sur ing that your employees understand how state - specific employment laws impact them is clear communication. Providing state addendums with your employee handbook is a great wa y to a ccomplis h this . State addendums provide clarification ...
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Why Is Performance Documentation Important if At-Will Employment Is the Law?

By Miller Jozwiak posted 02-09-2024
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Employers often ask, “If at-will employment is the law of my state, why do I need documentation for a termination?” It’s a fair question . I ntuitively, documentation does not seem to be necessary under the law of at-will employment . The truth is, however, that a lthough at-will jurisdictions generally do not require documentation to support a termination, documentation is nonetheless critical to mitigating potential legal liability and effectively managing an organization . In the broadest terms, at-will employment is a legal doctrine that means an employer or employee may end the employment relationship ...
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Planning and Communication Are Crucial to a Successful Employee Handbook Rollout

By Kim Robinson posted 02-08-2024
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Anyone who has created or updated an employee handbook knows it’s a big project. At Employers Council , we consult with employers about handbooks and review hundreds each year. We understand the investment of time and brainpower it takes. Once the document is complete, it may feel like a relief to wrap it up and distribute it. Consider taking a deep breath and creating a process to roll it out that will help everyone understand the handbook’s purpose and goals, how to use it , and what’s new, whether it’s the whole document or updates to an existing one. Below are some steps to take . Fine ...
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The Super Bowl Can Leave Employers Scrambling if They Are Not Prepared

By Maggie Roddy posted 02-02-2024
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The Super Bowl takes place on Sunday, February 11, 2024 , in Las Vegas. The g ame brings some employment law concerns a nd highlights lessons employers can learn from the National Football League ( NFL ) season. Workplace Attendance The Super Bowl may result in attendance issues on game day and the following Monday. In the days leading up to the Super Bowl, some employees scheduled to work on Sunday may ask for the day off, planning to attend a party or otherwise watch the game. If an employee claim s a religious accommodation to working on Sunday s , ...
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Consider These Action Items for Your HR To-Do List

By James McDonough posted 01-26-2024
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We are nearly a month into 2024 , and t h e new year has brought challenges for human resources professionals. To help our members manage th ose challenges, h ere i s a list of HR action items , along with helpful resource s . Review policies to ensure they comply with new federal and state laws , many described in this article . Use the CCH Multistate tool to review laws in other states. Access all of our sample policies (and complete handbooks)  here . Check your employment law posters in all locations for all employees (in-person and virtual). Our  ...
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