HR December 2021 Q&A – Year-End Bonuses

​Q: Our employees have worked really hard this year and we wanted to acknowledge it with a year-end bonus? Would this create any issues for us if we do not do it again?A:  It's wonderful that you are acknowledging the role your employees played in this year's success - we love to hear it! You can always make a one-time decision based on current circumstances. We recommend explaining that to your employees up front so they do not have the expectation of receiving this bonus each year going forward.  As a one-time occurrence, this bonus should be able to be classified as a discretionary bonus, meaning there is no expectation…

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Surviving The Great Resignation

​By Susan Palé, CCP, Vice President for Compensation – Affinity HR Group, Inc.You're probably sick of hearing about The Great Resignation but listen up! Not only isn't it going away, it is gaining momentum. Consider the following statistics from the US Department of Labor:3% of the total US workforce left their jobs in September. That is an astonishingly high number.As of November 5, there were 11.2 million job openings in the US. That is also a record.Education and health services lost more than 50,000 workers in September. Remember that these are essential workers.300,000 women left the workforce in September.These are jaw-dropping statistics. For employers who…

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Industry Roundup: Most Common Pet Insurance Claims of 2021; How to Win the War for Talent Amidst the ‘Great Resignation’; Heading Into 2022, P/C Insurers Face ‘Massive’ Political Risks, Economic Uncertainty

​Homeowner with 'Indestructible Mailbox' Not Liable for Accident InjuriesIn a split decision, the Ohio Supreme Court majority ruled that a rural homeowner, who constructed a “mini fortress" to protect his mailbox, is not liable for a motorist's debilitating injuries after his vehicle struck the mailbox.The Most Common Pet Insurance Claims of 2021During the past five years, the average annual growth rate for pet insurance was 23.4%, according to the 2021 State of the Industry by the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA). At the end of 2020, more than 3 million pets were insured in North America.How to Win the War for Talent Amidst…

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