Exciting news! The Alpha Group, Inc. will be adding a new feature: "From the Desk of H.R."
Each month our Human Resources Department will be providing you with new articles, letters, or current topics of interest in the day-to-day world of Human Resources.
We hope you find each of these resources interesting and informitive! Take a moment to download this month's letter regarding Independent Contrators vs. Temporary Employees, and feel free to contact our Human Resources department with any questions or comments at 508-285-8500 ext. 4.
The Family and Medical Leave Act protects workers' jobs under four sets of circumstances, but employers and employees must earn eligibility before the law can cover them.
U.S. Department of Labor Releases Long-Awaited Overtime Rule
Originally Published By: Troutman Sanders LLP on March 12, 2019
Last week, the United States Department of Labor (DOL) issued its long-awaited proposed change to the minimum salary threshold for the white-collar exemptions under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The new minimum salary threshold is $35,308/year (or $679/week).
This new rule is not finalized nor in effect now. Rather, the new rule is open for a notice and comment period, with the DOL accepting public comments for 60 days after the rule is published in the Federal Register. The Department of Labor predicts that the new rule will likely become effective in January 2020.
Give ‘Em a Break: Employees Want Their Lunch Break Back
Even though employees value lunch breaks, many don’t take them. What can employers do to address this and make sure their workforce is energized in the afternoon?
Employers in Massachusetts will need to remove rate of pay and salary questions from their job applications to comply with the new law.
Changes to the Law on Leave for Veterans
By Michael C. Birch of HRW October 24, 2018
On August 28, 2018, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed into law An Act Relative to Veterans Benefits, Rights, Appreciation, Validation and Enforcement (the “BRAVE Act”). The BRAVE Act goes into effect on November 7, 2018. Among other things, the law changes the requirements for employers to grant leave to veterans on Veterans Day and Memorial Day.
THE OLD LAW
The old law, which only went into effect in 2016, required employers to grant veterans time off on Veterans Day and Memorial Day to participate in an exercise, parade, or service in their community. The law also required employers with 50 or more employees to pay veterans for leave taken on Veterans Day.
Let a tough problem marinate overnight.
Write it down before you go to bed. Let your mind turn it over, and then write more in the morning.
Who used this method? Thomas Edison. He once said: “Never go to sleep without a request to your subconscious.”
— Adapted from “10 Things the Most Successful People Do Every Day,” Eric Barker, Time.
Leadershipbreifings.com
Soft Skills: Definitions and Examples
Soft skills are personality traits and behaviors. Unlike technical or “hard” skills, soft skills are not about the knowledge you possess but rather behaviors you display in different situations.
The Massachusetts Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
Notice Requirements:
The Alpha Group, Inc. is in compliance with The Massachusetts Pregnant Workers Fairness Act to provide reasonable accommodations to pregnant employees.
How do you stay competitive when employee perks are higher than ever been before? Netflix, Facebook, and Google pay top dollar and offer some of the best benefit packages to ever exist. On the other side, turnover rates are also higher than ever before. Today, the average person has four different jobs before the age of thirty two. Twenty years ago, the averaged person had only two jobs before they were thirty two (CNN Money). The question is, do better perks equal happier employees? See what we found keeps employees happy and tenured at a company.
