Category: HR Risk Mitigation
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What does the OSHA ETS mean for your business?
Posted on 11.09.2021
What does the OSHA ETS mean for your business? On November 5, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) requiring all private employers with 100 or more employees to implement either requirement that employees be vaccinated against Covid-19 or be subject to weekly testing and wear of a … Continue reading
Posted in COVID-19, Compliance, HR Risk Mitigation
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Federal COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates and Opposing Orders for Texas Businesses
Posted on 10.18.2021
Texas Governor’s Executive Order On October 11, 2021,Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued Executive Order (EO) GA-40 which states that “no entity in Texas can compel receipt of a COVID-19 vaccination by any individual, including an employee or consumer, who objects to such vaccination for any reason of personal conscience, based on a religious belief, or … Continue reading
Posted in COVID-19, Breaking News, HR Risk Mitigation, Proactive Response, Texas News
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NEWS: New Sexual Harassment Laws Now In Effect & EEO-1 Filing Deadline Extension
Posted on 09.02.2021
New Sexual Harassment Laws Went Into Effect September 1 Governor Greg Abbott signed two new bills in August, SB 45 and HB 21, which broaden protections for Texas employees who file sexual harassment claims. Both laws went into effect on Wednesday, September 1. Employers should take heed of the impact these new laws will have … Continue reading
Posted in Breaking News, HR Risk Mitigation, Proactive Response, Texas News
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COVID-19 Vaccine Best Practices At Work
Posted on 06.22.2021
The COVID-19 vaccine is a hot topic in the news right now, both inside and outside of the office. As an employer, there are many factors to consider when deciding if and how to incorporate the vaccine at your business. Before making a decision, we encourage you to read our answers to some frequently asked … Continue reading
Posted in COVID-19, HR Risk Mitigation, Proactive Response
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Unemployment Fraud Is On The Rise
Posted on 04.22.2021
Unemployment fraud is a growing issue for many employers in Texas. A form of identity theft, unemployment fraud occurs when an individual knowingly collects unemployment benefits using a social security number or other private information that does not belong to them. If you or your business become the victim of fraudulent unemployment benefits claims, there … Continue reading
Posted in Helpful Tips, HR Risk Mitigation, Proactive Response
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Important Reminders Regarding The American Rescue Plan Act
Posted on 04.01.2021
Last month, we sent out communication regarding initial information on the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) after it was signed into law by President Joe Biden on March 11. A couple of key items of the ARP go into effect Thursday, April 1. Families First Coronavirus Act (FFCRA) Updates Effective April 1st, extensions of leave … Continue reading
Posted in COVID-19, HR Risk Mitigation, Proactive Response
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Texas Mask Mandate Update: What You Need To Know As An Employer
Posted on 03.10.2021
Governor Abbott recently lifted the mask mandate in Texas, which went into effect on Wednesday, March 10. Many employers have questions about how this affects their businesses and organizations. Below is a list of frequently asked questions about the cancelled mask mandate, with answers that should provide some insight to employers. Is the Texas mask … Continue reading
Posted in COVID-19, HR Risk Mitigation, Proactive Response, Texas News
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How To Address Continuing COVID-19 Employment Issues & Challenges
Posted on 02.03.2021
As the COVID-19 pandemic persists, employers continue to deal with unprecedented employment challenges. More often we are hearing a concern that many employees are requesting socially distant work accommodations based on their own concerns over underlying health conditions, fear or reaction to the experience of friends or family who contracted the virus, or loved ones … Continue reading
Posted in COVID-19, HR Risk Mitigation, Proactive Response
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The Importance of Respect in the Workplace
Posted on 10.13.2020
The year 2020 has been unlike any other. COVID-19 concerns, coupled with current social, economic, and political climates have led to tense conversations and sometimes disrespectful workplace interactions. Political views and opinions on social justice have been especially divisive. We all deserve to be treated with kindness and respect, and could benefit from more respect … Continue reading
Posted in Helpful Tips, HR Risk Mitigation, People Performance, Proactive Response
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Emergency Sick Pay & Documentation: What You Need To Know
Posted on 07.15.2020
The answer to this question is both yes, and no. It’s important to note that there are six reasons you can qualify for Emergency Paid Sick Leave (EPSL), part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA): The employee is subject to a federal, state or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID–19. The employee … Continue reading
Posted in COVID-19, Compliance, HR Risk Mitigation, Proactive Response
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Important Texas Workforce Commission Updates
Posted on 07.06.2020
The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) recently posted some important updates regarding work search requirements for those collecting unemployment. The June 30th announcement states that it will delay the reinstatement of the work search requirement for unemployment benefits in Texas. This requirement, which is federal law, was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. From the outset, TWC has stated … Continue reading
Posted in Breaking News, COVID-19, HR Risk Mitigation, Proactive Response, Respond & Rebuild, Texas News
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Achilles Tools to Help you with the Family First Coronavirus Response Act
Posted on 04.02.2020
As of Wednesday, April 1, the FFCRA is in effect and we all must comply with the provisions for both the EFMLEA and the EPSLA. If you do not know what these all involve by now, please give us a call and we can help you catch up to the details. And for those of … Continue reading
Posted in COVID-19, HR Risk Mitigation, Proactive Response
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Stay at Home and Go to Work?
Posted on 03.27.2020
Essential Infrastructure Business is now being designated and has created somewhat of a paradox in our homes, businesses and community. Many employees want to or must stay at home to care for family or to self-quarantine while also being employed by a presumptive Essential Infrastructure Business. And, as business owners and leaders, we are working … Continue reading
Posted in COVID-19, HR Risk Mitigation, Proactive Response
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There’s Comfort in Having a Plan
Posted on 03.25.2020
As business owners, the relentless headlines of COVID-19 are taking up almost all of our oxygen, making it difficult for us to catch our breath. The most important thing we can do as business owners to honor our employees is to ensure that the business makes it to the other side of this crisis. So, let’s take … Continue reading
Posted in COVID-19, HR Risk Mitigation, Proactive Response
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How To Navigate The Coronavirus In Your Business
Posted on 03.09.2020
The entire world is reacting to the spread of the COVID-19 virus (coronavirus), and as a business owner, it can be difficult to navigate through this issue. There are questions concerning the impact this virus could have on our businesses, our employees and our communities. Knowledge is power, and in this case, knowledge is the … Continue reading
Posted in HR Risk Mitigation, Breaking News, Proactive Response
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Successful Response to Unemployment Claims in Texas
Posted on 10.18.2019
A leader needs to accept and understand the importance of implementing a corrective action and termination process. Following the Corrective Action process lends to a more successful defense with Texas Workforce Commission Unemployment claims. In Texas, if corrective action is used to address misconduct connected with the work, it must meet a very specific definition. … Continue reading
Posted in HR Risk Mitigation
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Corrective Action: Get your Employee Back on Track
Posted on 10.09.2019
Achilles Group approaches the need for Corrective Action both as an effort to get the employee back on track and to provide an employer with a defensible position if the corrective action ultimately builds to the point of needing to terminate employment. Today’s message provides more valuable insight into Corrective Action and how Achilles Group … Continue reading
Posted in HR Risk Mitigation
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Recognizing A Hostile Work Environment
Posted on 10.24.2018
When it comes to the workplace, it’s not always easy to recognize the difference between occasional inappropriate behavior versus a hostile work environment. As we discussed last week, not every incident of disrespect is considered unlawful. A recent example of a hostile work environment would be the case involving Matt Lauer, who was the host of … Continue reading
Posted in HR Risk Mitigation
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Risk Mitigation: Respect In The Workplace Training
Posted on 10.17.2018
Last week, we discussed the trending topic of harassment in the workplace, and included some noteworthy EEOC statistics highlighting an uptick in harassment claims in 2017. When it comes to harassment in the workplace, we all have a responsibility to recognize and address this type of behavior before it becomes a larger issue. In the past … Continue reading
Posted in HR Risk Mitigation
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A Primer On Harassment In The Workplace
Posted on 10.10.2018
Harvey Weinstein. Brett Kavanaugh. The #MeToo movement. Harassment has been, and continues to be, a hot topic in the news, perhaps more so now than ever before. But what is harassment, as far as it pertains to the workplace, and how can it be appropriately mitigated? According to the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission … Continue reading
Posted in HR Risk Mitigation