America’s unemployment rate has defied expectations, holding steady at under 4% for nearly two years. This stagnation isn’t just a pandemic-related blip; it’s a deep-rooted issue that has been brewing for decades, manifesting in labor disputes in major industries like automakers and airlines. Labor shortages are evolving into a crisis, set to impact wages and turnover. The workforce has been sounding alarms for years, citing baby boomer retirements, declining birth rates, shifting immigration policies, and evolving worker preferences as the culprits. As the labor market softens, these factors are unlikely to change significantly in the near future. In this article, we’ll explore the causes of the labor crisis, including the role of technology, and investigate the rising preference for contingent work arrangements among both employers and workers. Shifting Worker Preferences In recent years, one of the most significant forces shaping the labor market is the… [Read More]

Remote work is a workplace model that allows staff members to work outside a traditional office environment. Although the technology required for employing remote workers has been available for a long time, the pandemic took what was once a “desirable perk” and transformed it into an “urgent necessity” almost overnight. Today, even as COVID seemingly winds down, many businesses continue to offer remote work options to attract hard-to-find talent in a tight labor market.  All that to say, remote work is now mainstream and growing in popularity amongst employees and employers alike. Employees like the flexibility and freedom remote work brings while employers enjoy boosted productivity. Though some companies felt hesitant about remote work at the start of the pandemic, data shows that the majority are willing to adopt a hybrid workplace model.  In May 2021, a Mercer study found that 70% of companies said… [Read More]

Running a successful business involves increasing efficiencies, reducing costs, and focusing on core competencies. Many US firms opt to hire international workers on a floating basis for their expertise and availability to accomplish the latter. Workers in other countries also benefit from the flexibility that remote work provides and competitive wages and work/life balance.  While there are many benefits to hiring foreign workers, the legal process can be challenging. With the growing use of technology facilitating remote work more than ever before, it’s imperative that organizations understand how to properly hire and pay international workers. Step 1 – Begin the interview process  Hiring any type of employee takes a significant amount of time, so it’s best to start early. You’ll want to get ahead by scheduling multiple Skype or Zoom interviews. It’s essential to ensure that candidates have the right technology and communication abilities conducive… [Read More]

Hiring foreign workers is becoming increasingly popular for US organizations. It allows them to widen their talent pool, gain diverse perspectives, and avoid many of the costs and hassles associated with full-time employees. But what happens when those contingent workers are from another country? If there is a shortage of skilled workers to fulfill a job opening, looking for staff outside of the US may seem tempting; after all, the world is becoming more globalized by the minute. Hiring foreign workers on a contingent basis offers many benefits to businesses. Still, they must understand the process and regulations required by the US Department of Labor before they say, “you’re hired.” Keep reading for our step-by-step guide to hiring contingent workers in other countries. Hiring Foreign Workers: A Step By Step Guide  Hiring contingent foreign workers can be a challenge, but this simple step-by-step guide will… [Read More]

The coronavirus pandemic has shifted the way workplaces across the globe operate. Due to the need for social distancing and constant sanitation, many employers have encouraged or required their employees to work from home. The shift has also made its way into the job interview and hiring process creating opportunities for migrating workers with zoom meetings becoming the normal operating procedure for narrowing down the candidate pool. In fact, 62% of employed Americans currently say they have worked from home during the COVID-19 outbreak.  The allure and flexibility of working from home have contributed to many individuals migrating from their home state to a different state altogether.  If location no longer matters, why pay California rent prices when you can pay Idaho prices? While an employee moving between towns isn’t a major cause for concern, moving between states can leave business leaders and human resources… [Read More]

In today’s ever-changing business environment, many companies are looking to reduce the time and money spent on recruiting, hiring, and payroll by utilizing outside agencies in a co-employment agreement.  Based on data from SHRM, it takes companies 36 days on average to fill a new position at an average cost of $4,425.  Co-employment arrangements allow busy businesses to focus on providing co-employees’ duties, day-to-day schedules, and expectations while the Recruiting Agency handles personnel matters such as onboarding, payroll, sick leave, and benefits. This hybrid form of employment means that the contract employee is technically working for both parties, the business, and the recruiting agency at the same time.  Contractors and gig workers are becoming a vital and growing force to be reckoned with in the business world so it is important for businesses to be aware of the benefits, as well as the risks associated… [Read More]