Among the many changes to “business as usual” forced upon businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic is the reality of more employees working from home. Whether due to regulatory shutdowns or the [...]

The American Rescue Pan Act (ARPA), the 1.9 trillion relief act passed by Congress and signed into law on March 11, 2021 contains many COVID-19 relief and stimulus measures.  The following are [...]

To view or print the PDF Labor Market Summary click here!

To view or print the PDF checklist version click here! As state, local, and municipal governments take steps to re-open businesses across the country, employers must take a fresh look at their [...]

We have all read stories of someone’s unacceptable or illegal actions going viral and the public using social media to identify that person and where they work and live. While we normally think [...]

As 2020 drew to a close, we started fielding questions from clients about whether they could require employees to obtain a COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment.  These questions were [...]

Along with a new year, January 1, 2021, brought many employers new regulations to follow. Affinity HR Group is tracking legislative updates in your state so we are ready to advise you on what it [...]

2020 has sure been a challenge.  Employers have struggled to keep businesses open and have been challenged to develop new markets, products, and services in record time. If your business is food [...]

One day this past week, Lisa Ritchie, our VP of Recruiting and Talent Selection, and I were on a video call.  She was having a rough day and needed to vent about something non-work related: [...]

The year 2020 marks Affinity HR Group’s 10-year anniversary. As we prepare to celebrate the occasion, my team asked me to compile the top 10 things I’ve learned over that time. Surprisingly, this [...]

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, we wanted to remind you of some important compliance regulations that made headlines a few months ago but may have fallen off your radar as well as some recent [...]

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues and businesses reopen under restrictions which vary by city, county, and state, Affinity HR Group continues to monitor several topics and issues to help our [...]

Employers who received an original Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan were given eight weeks from the loan origination to restore their workforces to pre-coronavirus employment levels and pay [...]

As states start to open up from their COVID-19 shutdown orders, it’s a great time to start thinking about where your business is heading and what people you will need to get you there. With [...]

Many of our clients may be considering how to respond to the current uprising over the death of George Floyd.  Here are some suggestions. First, it is important not to remain silent.  Your [...]

At a time when the country is reeling from the impact of a global pandemic, we are gripped by the tragic killing of George Floyd.  No matter your race, political preference or other identity, [...]

[pdf id=8402]   If you need additional support during this time, Affinity HR Group offers a prepaid HR solution to help you tackle your company’s unique challenges. This service provides [...]

Download the checklist here!   [pdf id=8397]

As states start to open up from their COVID-19 shutdown orders, it’s a great time to start thinking about where your business is heading and what people you need in critical seats on your bus. [...]

As businesses decide how to spend their Payroll Protection Loans, or in anticipation of receiving a Paycheck Protection Program loan (PPP), they have been actively looking at ways to keep their [...]

With the number of coronavirus cases growing exponentially across the country, all companies can expect to have at least one of their employees diagnosed with COVID-19, if they haven’t already. [...]

Due to client requests and increased demand, Affinity HR Group is now offering a prepaid COVID-19 human resource solution.  While our free resources provide general guidance and understanding of [...]

Effective April 1, 2020, employees sickened with COVID-19 or home caring for children whose school or daycare was closed may be eligible for Emergency Paid Sick Leave or Emergency Paid Family [...]

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) will go into effect on Wednesday, April 1st, 2020.  The original Department of Labor release  stated April 2nd, but new guidance issued last [...]

In this video from March 29th, Claudia St. John of Affinity HR Group addresses some of the most commonly asked questions from businesses regarding the Families First Coronavirus Response Act [...]

On Friday March 27, 2020, the U.S. Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The following are provisions most relevant for small to mid-sized businesses and [...]

Claudia St. John answers common questions and provides an overview of both the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and CARES Act in this recorded webinar.  

  Claudia St. John answers some of the most common questions from businesses regarding how to deal with workplace challenges as they relate to COVID-19.  At-risk employee accommodations, [...]

  In this webinar recorded March 18th, topics covered included how to maintain a healthy and sanitary workplace, how to protect your most vulnerable employees, when to send sick employees [...]

Here’s what you need to know: Only applies to businesses with fewer than 500 employees All federally required leave is reimbursed or subsidized by the federal government Requires 10 days (2 [...]

The World Health Organization (WHO) has now classified COVID-19, also known as coronavirus, as a worldwide pandemic.  While other countries are seeing more fatal impacts than we are in the US, [...]

Handling employees’ unacceptable behavior during work time and on-site is hard enough. But sometimes we have employees whose behavior and actions after hours or off-site impact the company or [...]

As we look ahead to 2020, many of the challenges our clients faced in the past year are expected to continue into the New Year and beyond. As an employer, here is what you need to know: Hiring As [...]

With 2019 over and at the dawn of a new decade, it’s an ideal time to think about bonuses for 2020. Organizations of all sizes and across all industries use bonus programs as an important [...]

Many of our clients mistakenly believe it is up to them to decide whether to pay their employees on an hourly (non-exempt) or salaried (exempt) basis. Often, they classify employees, such as CSRs [...]

Thoughts About Marijuana Use from A College Counselor’s Perspective – By Michelle Maller I am an Internship and Education Coordinator in the Department of Wood Science and Engineering at Oregon [...]

I recently received a call from a client asking what his rights were to fire an employee who was still in her probationary period. It was a good question which I answered with my own question: [...]

So, you’re looking to hire a sales representative? That’s great news! Unfortunately, with this incredibly tight labor market, finding qualified talent, particularly in sales, is a significant [...]

A couple of months ago, I got a call from a client who was clearly frustrated. Over the previous year he had restructured his customer service team, he had put in place a new reporting structure, [...]

If you’ve hired employees and/or lost employees to competitors during the past year, you know the challenges of the current labor market, and hopefully have taken some proactive steps to address [...]