Human Resources

In the year’s closing session, Ohio lawmakers passed House Bill 106, also known as the “Pay Stub Protection Act.” HB 106 will require employers to provide their workers with a pay stub or access to a pay stub.

Bill sponsors say the bill was necessary to protect against reported instances of wage theft within their constituencies. 12/18/2024

In a last-minute move, the U.S. Senate on Wednesday rejected Democratic President Joe Biden’s nomination of a U.S. labor board official for a new term, giving President-elect Donald Trump a chance to cement Republican control of the agency soon after taking office. Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin voted against confirming Democrat Lauren McFerran to a third term as chair of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

“The OMA applauds the Senate’s action in rejecting McFerran’s nomination. This is a win for employers,” said OMA managing director of public policy James Lee.

Manchin cited opposition to McFerran’s support for the “joint-employer rule.” The vote is a major blow to labor, freeing up the Trump administration to push for more pro-employer policies. 12/12/2024

2024 emphasized just how important data security is for manufacturers, but not all data breaches are the result of malicious actors. Protecting your organization from both external threats and internal human error, and learning to distinguish between the two, is critical.

OMA Connections Partner BSI has created a document on how to distinguish between malicious and non-malicious data breaches and steps organizations can take to understand and prevent these from happening. 12/5/2024

Last Friday, a federal court struck down the minimum salary threshold rule for certain overtime exemptions under the Fair Labor Standard Acts (FLSA). This not only halted the Jan. 1 increase, but reversed the already-effective July 1 increase, turning back to the salary threshold outlined in the 2019 rule.

What does this mean for employers? As of last Friday, employers need not pay overtime to employees who are paid a salary of at least $684 per week and meet the other requirements under the duties tests for the administrative, professional, or executive exemptions. In addition, employers planning for the Jan. 1 increase need no longer do so. 11/15/2024

There were nearly a million engineering roles advertised in August of this year, according to HRDive, placing engineering among the top ten most in-demand professions.

Only about 15% of these vacancies can be filled every year, however, with only about 141,000 students graduating with degrees in engineering each year. Still, many employers are reporting that the engineers who they do hire lack the experience or skillset required to complete projects on time. 11/14/2024

A recent article from OMA Connections Partner Fisher Phillips reports that a second Trump administration may bring notable changes to workplace law, with expected shifts in labor relations, safety protocols, and employment classifications.

Employers could see rollbacks on OSHA’s “walkaround” rights for union reps, adjustments to the new overtime pay eligibility rule, and a more relaxed standard for classifying independent contractors. These changes are likely to provide employers with greater flexibility while reducing certain regulatory requirements.11/6/2024

U.S. job openings dropped to more than a 3-1/2-year low in September, primarily driven by the surge in labor demand in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

The hurricanes and strikes are predicted to have temporarily curbed October’s job growth, but consumer confidence of the unemployment hit a nine-month high.

This comes just days ahead of the U.S. Department of Labor releasing the final snapshot of hiring and unemployment in the United States. The report is expected to show 120,000 jobs were added in October, less than half of September’s numbers. 10/31/2024

An article from UtilityDive highlighted the successes of internal mentorship programs to build a talent pipeline and prepare existing workers to take on leadership roles.

With the National Association of Manufacturers projecting that American manufacturers could need nearly 4 million workers in the next decade, mentorship programs might hold the key to retaining talent and ensuring institutional knowledge and skills are passed to the next generation. 10/24/2024

OMA Connections Partner Fisher Phillips has created a concise guide for employers navigating the 2024 election season. It highlights key points from their comprehensive FAQs, focusing on employers’ rights and responsibilities during this period.

The cheat sheet covers essential topics such as managing political discussions in the workplace, ensuring compliance with voting leave laws, and handling requests for time off to vote. 10/17/2024

OMA President Ryan Augsburger expressed relief that the port strike is over, for now, but cautioned that the matter is not yet settled altogether noting that the master contract will expire on January 15.

“We were pleased to add the OMA’s name to this joint industry letter asking the Biden administration to settle the strike by invoking the Taft-Hartley Act,” said Augsburger. “The agreement avoids the need for government intervention and will prevent further disruption.”

In a statement, NAM President Jay Timmons urged the Longshoremen’s Association and the U.S. Maritime Academy to use this time to reach a fair and lasting agreement. 9/3/2024

A recent report by ABI Research highlights that 50% of the top workforce challenges for manufacturers stem from talent-related issues rather than technology. Key concerns include recruiting skilled staff, retaining employees, and addressing wage expectations and union memberships.

A lack of expertise is hindering digitalization efforts, with many manufacturers prioritizing staff training as a critical investment to boost productivity. As the talent gap continues to widen, with nearly 2 million workers potentially needed in the coming years, manufacturers must focus on improving recruitment, training, and work flexibility to remain competitive. 9/27/2024

A recent survey by Intelligent.com reveals that many companies are hesitant to hire recent college graduates, with 60% of employers having let go of Gen Z workers this year due to concerns about their work ethic, communication skills, and professionalism.

Employers noted that these young workers often struggle with workplace dynamics, autonomy, and lack soft skills critical for success. However, experts caution against generational stereotypes. Manufacturing leaders like Karla Trotman stress the importance of adapting workplaces to attract and retain Gen Z talent, emphasizing the need for perks such as flexible work environments and benefits that address both physical and mental well-being. 9/24/2024

The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last week that the U.S. Department of Labor has the power to set a salary basis floor for workers to be considered exempt from overtime pay.

This is a major step in favor of the agency as the rule is only months away from its Jan. 1 start date. OMA Connections Partner Fisher Phillips has created a breakdown of the court’s decision, the agency rule, and how employers can prepare for the take-effect date. 9/12/2024

According to a recent report by Gallagher, about 43% of employers support career development to boost engagement, and 35% have increased the importance of career well-being in 2024. The report highlights that more employers are recognizing the value of investing in their employees’ growth and development to maintain a motivated and committed workforce. 9/5/2024

While the Federal Trade Commission ban on non-compete agreements is now overturned, what is left in its wake might be even more complex. Employers breathing a sigh of relief still need to navigate the patchwork of state regulations regarding non-competes.

OMA Connections Partner Fisher Phillips has broken down 10 things employers still need to consider now that the non-compete ban is dead. 9/5/2024

In a win for Ohio manufacturers, a federal judge in Texas this week barred a U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) rule from taking effect that would ban noncompete agreements.

The judge cited that the FTC does not have the authority to ban practices it deems unfair methods of competition by adopting broad rules.

OMA Connections Partner Fisher Phillips has created an analysis of the ruling, and examines how future appeals might shape the rule. 8/20/2024

From internship and apprenticeship programs to streamlining hiring processes, there are always ways to improve how a business fills open roles and retains their talent.

Rather than wait for the labor shortage to end, OMA Connections Partner Arrowhead Talent Solutions offers these tips to get ahead of the market and thrive while others scramble to fill open roles. 8/15/2024

Recreational marijuana sales in Ohio began this past Tuesday following Ohio voters’ decision to legalize the drug in last year’s ballot initiative.

Existing medical marijuana dispensaries are now authorized to sell products for recreational use after the state approved licenses to sell both medical and adult-use products, with more licenses expected to be granted in the coming weeks and months.

OMA Connections Partner Fisher Phillips has detailed six steps employers should follow now that recreational sales are active. 8/6/2024

Covid-19 sparks a renaissance in remote work, with many office jobs transitioning to full-time or hybrid work from home models. The manufacturing industry was no exception, with roughly 41% of the industry adopting remote roles in 2020.

But manufacturers were left with an obvious problem: the majority of manufacturing jobs are kinetic, requiring employees to be hands-on. Hear from Manufacturing Dive on how some in the industry have shifted their perspective on work-from-home policies and are addressing the challenges. 7/25/2024

Recreational marijuana will soon be available for purchase in Ohio after last November’s ballot initiative legalized it in the state.

These insights provide a detailed look at what is now legal under the statute, and what companies and leaders need to know in crafting workplace policies around recreational marijuana. 7/18/2024