Hey there, HR pros. Unless you were the lucky recipient of that $1.13 billion Mega Millions ticket earlier this week, we assume you had to show up to work today. We’ll keep our fingers crossed that the winnings from your March Madness bracket allow you to enter early retirement.
In today’s edition:
Survey says
Legislative lowdown
Chief Chat
—Courtney Vinopal
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Bill Clark/Getty Images
A recent Supreme Court ruling in Alabama temporarily compromised access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) in the state, causing confusion among patients as well as employers and providers covering the treatment.
The current political landscape, marked by the Alabama ruling and the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, is prompting employers at companies offering fertility benefits to evaluate this perk, according to most HR professionals (81%) who were asked about the issue in a recent HR Brew/Harris Poll survey. But among that group, the majority of HR pros surveyed said their company is looking to expand their fertility benefits, rather than reduce them.
While fertility treatments remain a rare employer benefit, over three in five Americans surveyed (63%) said companies should offer them. HR professionals see fertility benefits as a vital tool for talent, as well as for engendering employee loyalty, according to those polled March 8–10.
Keep reading here.—CV
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PRESENTED BY CAREERBUILDER
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Even with the best intentions, hiring processes are drawn out and draining—for candidates and HR teams alike. And with a smaller candidate pool, interviews and assignments can stretch on for weeks or even months.
And to top it off, competitive candidates are more likely to move on or accept other offers when the process drags on. So what’s a hiring manager to do? We teamed up with CareerBuilder to figure it out.
Together with CareerBuilder, we surveyed HR pros to learn how HR managers are navigating a tough market. Hint: They’re finding new ways to prioritize and streamline recruitment.
Here’s what we learned.
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Francis Scialabba
Filing fees for many employment-based visas will go up on April 1, 2024, according to a final rule recently published by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). It’s the first time the agency has raised fees since 2016.
US employers are often, though not always, on the hook for paying visa filing fees to sponsor foreign-born workers. Employers must pay filing fees when petitioning for H-1B visas, for example, which are typically granted to college-educated workers in specialty occupations. The same is true for L-1 visas, which allow employees to temporarily transfer to the US to work on special projects for their company.
The price tag to petition for both of those visas and a number of others will rise this spring, according to the new USCIS rule. In a statement announcing the new fee schedule, the agency noted that “unlike many other federal agencies,” USCIS receives 96% of its funding from filing fees, and only about 4% from Congress.
Keep reading here.—CV
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Lilia Vergara
Dr. Bronner’s total rewards offerings are almost as varied as the text-heavy labels that adorn the company’s soap products. The firm, which is headquartered in Vista, California, has a principle of treating employees like family. To back up that aim, they tout no-deductible PPO healthcare plans that are 100% free for employees, a childcare stipend of up to $7,500 a year, and even ketamine-assisted therapy coverage for mental health treatment.
HR Director Lilia Vergara, who has been with Dr. Bronner’s for over a decade, has seen the company’s annual revenue and headcount triple since she joined the company. She spoke with HR Brew about keeping frontline employees safe during the Covid-19 pandemic, putting resources toward internal mobility, and why Dr. Bronner’s thinks no-deductible health plans are worth the investment.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Dr. Bronner’s has about 350 employees, 150 of whom are production or frontline employees. How did you approach safety during the Covid-19 pandemic?
We were an essential business, manufacturing soap and hand sanitizers in the midst of a pandemic…It was crazy, the first year, just keeping up with everything.
Keep reading here.—CV
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TOGETHER WITH SELECTSOFTWARE REVIEWS
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Let’s talk HR tech. Is your team searching for the right software to streamline processes (and make your lives easier)? Snag some free advice through SelectSoftware Reviews’ advisor offering. Discuss your team’s requirements and receive tailored guidance for HRIS, ATS, payroll, and more. They’ve helped 15k+ companies. Become one of them.
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Francis Scialabba
Today’s top HR reads.
Stat: Around one-half (51%) of knowledge workers report working overtime a few days a week due to “meeting overload.” (Atlassian)
Quote: “No one should have to work longer than they want to. But I do think it’s a bit crazy that our anchor idea for the right retirement age—65 years old—originates from the time of the Ottoman Empire.”—Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock, on why he believes US workers should retire later (CBS News)
Read: The Department of Labor may soon begin documenting “women’s work,” e.g., unpaid labor such as childcare, laundry, or home repairs. (Axios)
It’s brutal out here: With fewer qualified candidates and differing salary expectations, HR managers are facing a tough market. We partnered with CareerBuilder to learn how recruiters can change their approach to hiring. Read on.* *A message from our sponsor.
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iHireHR is a career platform dedicated exclusively to HR pros. Find your next opportunity with hyperpersonalized job matches, AI-powered resume and cover letter tools, and more.
iHireHR can help you hire, too. Post your job today to connect with their unique talent pool and reach top candidates before your competition.
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