How Long Covid Is Impacting Staffing and Workers’ Compensation

By now, many Americans – more than half, according to CDC data – have had Covid-19. And while most people start to see improvement within a few days or weeks of getting sick, a significant number end up battling what is commonly referred to as “long Covid.”

It seems like only yesterday that we were talking about the Great Resignation, doesn’t it? Well, in case you’ve forgotten the specifics, here’s a quick recap: frustrated by years of low pay, long hours and less-than-ideal work environments, millions of Americans left their jobs in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Many of them felt comfortable walking away because not only were they receiving steady unemployment checks – sometimes for much more than what they earned at work – they also saw a seemingly endless amount of available jobs. Certainly, they thought, those positions would be waiting for them when they were ready to get back to work.

What do Covid-19, cannabis, and contractors have in common…Well, aside from starting with the letter C, these three issues – along with single-payer health insurance and mental health – represent some of the biggest workers’ compensation-related challenges facing U.S. states this year.

If you’ve gassed up your car in the last few months, you probably experienced a little bit of a shock as you watched the numbers keep on rising.

A PEO can help businesses diversify benefit offerings without taking on additional risk due to a variety of reasons. Read more to learn how.

We’ve read story after story about the millions of Americans who voluntarily left their jobs without having anything else lined up. We’ve heard friends and family members tell us they walked away from the workplace because they didn’t have reliable childcare. Or that they were concerned about catching the virus and passing it on to a loved one. Or that they were simply burned out by their current positions and viewed the pandemic as an opportunity to hit pause and reassess their priorities.

But when it comes to real robots in the workplace, not everyone is laughing. In fact, according to recent research by the University of Pittsburgh, some Americans who work alongside industrial robots are experiencing higher incidences of mental health issues. Additionally, the study showed that these workers were more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol.

The nonprofit – 4 Day Week Global – launched a six-month initiative aimed at testing – you guessed it – the feasibility of implementing a four-day workweek. Nearly 40 companies across the U.S. and Canada are taking part in this year’s program, including the popular crowdfunding platform Kickstarter.

These days, consumers have more choices than ever when it comes to whom they do business with. They know it, and in some cases, they make sure the rest of the world knows it, too. Just take a quick scroll through TikTok or Instagram and you’ll undoubtedly find videos of angry customers who have announced their displeasure with a company and have publicly vowed to never go back. Of course, this is probably after they ask to talk with the manager, but that’s a whole ‘nother can of worms.

At the 6 month /halfway point of 2022, has been a dumpster fire for the world as a whole. Current events are creating a plethora of stress for people and it does not exclude the workplace. That is why employers need to prioritize the mental health of their employees to avoid bigger issues from evolving.

When you combine all of these factors, it’s clear that professional development is more important now than ever. Not only does it benefit employees by providing them with opportunities to learn new things and advance in their careers, it also helps employers run their businesses more efficiently and demonstrates their commitment to seeing their team members succeed.

Imagine you’re a small business owner and you’re fortunate enough to have built up a pretty solid staff. Go ahead, you earned the right to brag a little bit…You’ve got fantastic administrative assistants, a productive sales team and even a terrific human resources manager that everyone loves.

People start small businesses for a variety of reasons. They see an untapped opportunity in the market. They’re tired of working for someone else. They’re passionate about what they do and want to share that passion with the world around them.

Think about all the things you outsource in your daily life. Maybe it’s your lawn care or the housekeeping, auto detailing, or dry cleaning. After all, who can fit those giant clothing spinners into their homes? Perhaps you are just on the too busy or lazy to get outside and walk your own dog! Who knows, outsource it.

For the first time in more than three years, the Federal Reserve has approved its first interest rate increase. The goal? To get a handle on inflation – which is at its highest annual rate in 40 years – without sacrificing the growth of the economy.

Do you work in an office building? If not, take a visit any busy business district with office buildings, especially late at night, and you’ll probably see a bunch of cleaning company vehicles parked outside the building, or a cleaning company staff busily cleaning everything in sight, emptying trash cans, scrubbing toilets, spraying down windows etc. It is apparent that there is no shortage of demand or competition for commercial cleaning services.

Even though a growing number of employers have welcomed their team members back to the office, there are still plenty of people who are working from home.  Spending all that time at home has driven many of us to want to revamp our homes by making a few aesthetic changes to the place that we now call home AND work.

Landscapers work hard year-round to make sure our homes are looking their best and keep us from running afoul of HOA regulations, but they do it at considerable risks to themselves. Think about it – they’re often working in extremely hot conditions using dangerous chemicals and their equipment has lots of sharp edges. If even one tiny thing goes wrong, the impact could be disastrous on many levels.

Plumbers and HVAC technicians work hard to maintain our homes and businesses to assure we can safely live and work in a comfortwhile environment. The jobs they perform in the field can be very demanding, challenging, and sometimes dirty in addition in to the behind the scenes tasks the job entails can be equally difficult.

The trucking and transportation industry has always played a key role in the American economy. Post-industrial revolution, the industry helped lay the foundation for the America we live in today. Whether drivers are hauling food, lumber, tools, electronics, office supplies, fossil fuels, or construction equipment; we rely heavily on the products they deliver in our everyday lives and beyond.

As major industries such as manufacturing, hospitality, and health services continue to face a labor shortage, one thing has become crystal clear: employees have more options than ever before when it comes to where they work and who they work for.

In the evolving modern workplace employees are bound to have conflicts with their employer. Think about it, have you ever had a conversation with a friend who was upset about a situation that happened to them at work and suggested that they should address it with their Human Resources department to resolve it?

As end-of-the-year reporting is starting to be released in the media, it is pretty obvious that non-profit organizations are facing some of the largest losses ever due to the cash constraints the pandemic has had on donations. However, some non-profits have thrived due to having a PEO partner solution in place to help keep cash flow stable keeping them out of the red and afloat.

We may have entered the new year, but many of the same old challenges of last year, especially related to COVID-19 and the workplace remain with us, especially in the workplace. In other words, if you feel like you are reliving the life of Bill Murray in the movie Groundhog’s Day, it’s not just your imagination, we are all feeling it to some degree.

Many small employers automatically assume that there is no way their organization can afford or administer fortune 500 style robust health insurance coverages and provide everyone ancillary or indemnity benefits. You know what they say when a person “assumes” something.

When President Joe Biden signed the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package into law in mid-November 2021, those in the construction industry were undoubtedly looking on with excitement.

Before you get too mired in the hustle and bustle of end-of-the-year activities, Moraites recommends using the final weeks of 2021 to do a thorough review of your records and take care of any last-minute tasks to make sure you’re ready to hit the ground running in 2022.

Across the map, businesses of all sizes and industries have been hit hard by the pandemic. However, very few have suffered a more devastating blow than the hospitality, food & beverage service, and restaurant industry.