HR Under The New Administration

As first quarter comes to a close, we have seen how 2021 is still unpredictable as many are trying to restore normalcy in the workplace. With a new administration in office we will undoubtedly see more changes in our future. SHRM recently put out an article that lists a few key topics for HR to keep top of mind.

As you continue to implement your organizational priorities and strategies for 2021consider the following:

Health Care Insurance

• How will the ACA marketplace exchanges compete with other qualified health plans? Could a change in age requirement to Medicare prompt earlier retirement for employees?

​Paid Leave

• The FAMILY Act would cover workers in all companies, no matter the company size. Under the proposed act, part-time, lower-wage, contingent and self-employed workers would be eligible for benefits. How will the FAMILY Act impact your workplace if enacted? Do you offer paid leave benefits? Is there opportunity to enhance or modify these within your organization?

​Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

• Does your organization have initiatives in place that includes metrics on DEI, equal pay, gender and ethnicity, and health and safety of your workforce? 

Minimum Wage

• What would the scale of the change in minimum wage bring out in our workplaces? What about our society?

​LGBTQ Rights

• The Equality Act if enacted would end legal discrimination against LGBTQ, expand economic opportunities for LGBTQ+ community, reform treatment of transgender and gender non-conforming individuals in our criminal justice system, ensure access to accurate identification documents, and improve government data collection to better track violence against the transgender community. It is important to ensure that your organization has fair and consistent employment practices and policies. Employment decisions should be made on the basis of an individual's qualifications for a job, such as education, experience and demonstrated competencies, not on the basis of non-job-related characteristics, including sexual orientation and gender identity. 

 
While we can’t predict how the new administration will impact HR, its important to consider how these topics may affect your organization.