Most employers know they can place a COVID vaccine mandate on their team.

In early September, President Biden announced he was taking steps to get more Americans vaccinated and turn the tide on COVID-19.

On November 4, the administration rolled out two of those steps — two different vaccine rules covering more than 100 million workers.

The first rule, issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, covers companies with 100 or more employees. Companies must ensure that their workers are either fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Jan. 4, 2022 or that they test negative for COVID-19 at least once a week. The rule does not require employers to pay for or provide testing to workers who decline the vaccine.

A second rule issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services requires some 17 million health care workers to be vaccinated by the same deadline, Jan. 4, but with no option for weekly testing in lieu of vaccination. The rule covers all employees — clinical and non-clinical — at about 76,000 health care facilities that receive federal funding from Medicare or Medicaid.

Are you doing virtual onboardings more often these days?

If so, you know welcoming a new team member looks different when it’s done virtually versus the traditional meet-and-greet first day. They could be miles away or a continent away, depending on where they’re living. No matter where they are, they want to feel like they’re a welcome and essential part of the team.

A great onboarding process can:

• • Make employees feel more welcome
  • Improve employee retention by 82%
  • Increase chances of employee referrals
  • Reduce unnecessary activities or paperwork

This post will share ways to encourage them to join right in and tips for employers to make it a seamless process.

Ready to help your employees enjoy their virtual onboarding process? Read on!

Is your desire to stick with your exercise goals fading as fast as summer?

It happens.

Summertime makes it easy to stay active. After all, we can be outdoors more and enjoy all nature has to offer, making it a naturally more active time. But as summer fades to fall, exercise routines often fall to the back burner, too.

If you’re feeling the lack of workout motivation hardcore, we’ve got you covered. Below, we share the perks of working out, along with simple ways to get yourself excited to hit your next sweat session.

Here’s to more intense and fulfilling workouts!

On August 23, 2021, the  U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first COVID-19 vaccine.

The much-anticipated approval was given to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, which is for those ages 16 and older. The vaccine will be marketed as Comirnaty, according to an FDA news release.

Prior to August 23, the vaccine was distributed to citizens under the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). This authorization allows the FDA to strengthen the nation’s public health protections that include infectious diseases by getting medical countermeasures out during public health emergencies.

Not everyone is in tune with their emotions enough to know they need to take a mental health day from work.

Even if they are, new research shows that more than half of employed Americans would be nervous to take a day off for mental health reasons because they believe an employer will think less of them. Unfortunately, the consequences of employees going hard until they are on the verge of quitting or having a mental breakdown are real. The cost is expensive to both employees and employers.

Research conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) found that anxiety and depressive disorders cost the global economy a trillion dollars in lost productivity each year.

Unsure of the signs to look for that an employee needs a break?

Below, this post covers the tell-tale signs an employee needs to take a day or two for themselves. Read on to keep these signs in mind for the health of your employees and yourself.

The question has circulated for a while: Can employers mandate a COVID-19 vaccine?

The answer isn’t as straightforward as one would think. But now that companies like Facebook and government entities like the VA are requiring employees to get the jab, it’s important to share what that means for both employers and employees. Some employers are even including the mandate in job listings these days.

Below, we share insight from a lawyer and attorney on the rules for employee mandated vaccines still under emergency authorization and who may be exempt. Plus, we’ll share a few ideas for incentivizing your staff to get their shots. 

Here’s a look at the most pressing question in the business world right now.

Just why are vitamins essential to good health?

Believe it or not, our bodies need 13 different types of vitamins daily in order to thrive and function properly. These vitamins work inside the body to help with cell development, growth, and overall function.

This is why doctors stress the importance of a healthy, well-balanced diet. It’s also another reason to keep up with your annual blood work; it can indicate where you’re severely lacking in necessary vitamins and minerals. As we go into the fall season, if you’re planning to see your doc for your flu shot, you might as well follow-up on your blood work needs, too.

If you need a refresher on the vitamins you need to stay well all year round, we’ve got you covered. Below, we dive into the 13 different vitamins your body needs, which food sources are the best to consume for each, and whether your daily multi-vitamin is necessary.

In recent weeks, mental health discussions sprouted from the unlikeliest of places: the Tokyo Olympic Games.

After gymnast Simone Biles’ recent departure — and stunning return — to the Olympic stage after a brief mental health break, she tackled the subject head on during interviews.  The four-time Olympic gold medalist stepped away briefly from the Tokyo Olympics and withdrew from several competitions after realizing she wasn’t in the right mental headspace.

"We also have to focus on ourselves, because at the end of the day, we're human, too," said Biles, according to The Associated Press. "We have to protect our mind and our body, rather than just go out there and do what the world wants us to do."

As a nod of unity to the talented gymnast for talking about mental health, we decided to round up mental health quotes of the day for you to share. Quote them to your staff daily, send them in an email, or even put one on a sticky note placed on someone’s desk who you know needs it.

Ready to inspire your own mental health conversations at work? Read on.

Looking to make life easier for your teams in 2021 and beyond?

Then investing in and using digital HR tools is a wise move. Intuitive tools paired with technology is a great way to keep your team connected and engaged.

As teams move into a hybrid or fully remote work environment, having the best tools for your employees to connect, engage, and collaborate is essential. Build trust in your remote — and in-house — employees by showing them you’re willing to invest in their work environments.

But it can be overwhelming to figure out just which HR tools are worth investing in. That’s why in this post we share the best tools to use in the workplace and the key features of each to make your decision easier.

HR folks, get ready to share these amazing tools with your leadership to get workflows moving smoothly while skyrocketing employee engagement!

For those working from home, it may be a pain in the neck for more reasons than one — including literal pains in the neck and back.

Thanks to improper work stations and sedentary lifestyles, neck and back pain is becoming more of a problem for at-home workers. Unfortunately, many remote workers are finding neck, back, leg, and shoulder pain are now becoming the norm, according to the UT Southwestern Medicine Center.

It’s an expensive problem for employees and employers, too.

The American Chiropractic Association reports, “Back pain accounts for more than 264 million lost work days in one year — that’s two work days for every full-time worker in the country.”

Ouch.

With remote work becoming the norm, now is the time to help your team work more comfortably. Here’s a look at how to relieve neck and back pain and how to prevent it in the first place.