Google woos workers back to office with scooter perk
It’s interesting to see the lengths employers would go to get their employees back into the office. Aspiring to do away with working from home, the company hopes to officially move towards a hybrid model beginning this month. But what is Google hoping to give employees in exchange for working from the comforts of their own homes? Luring them away from their homes and enticing staff members to return to the office, Google has partnered with the electric powered scooter maker Unagi, launching a new program called “Ride Scoot,” The Verge reported. But to be eligible for reimbursement, staff must use their Unagi Model One scooter often, with a total of 9 commutes each month.
mlive.comFlint council OKs COVID-19 premium pay for employees and the family of fallen Flint police captain
FLINT, MI -- The City Council could give final approval next week to premium pay for employees who worked during the COVID-19 pandemic, including a police captain who died on duty just last week. In a committee meeting Wednesday, Feb. 9, the council voted 7-1 to pay Flint police officers and firefighters up to $10,400 each in premium pay and to give civilian police and fire department employees up to $5,200. Employees who are members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1600 and Local 1799 would receive up to $6,240. Council members amended one of the spending resolutions to provide that the premium pay for Capt. Related: Leaving his Flint police shift for home, captain dies in head-on collision FridayThe premium pay resolutions still require approvals by the full council -- something that could occur when members meet again on Monday, Feb. 14.
mlive.comFlorida health official placed on leave after encouraging employees to get vaccinated
“I am sorry but in the absence of reasonable and real reasons, it is irresponsible not to be vaccinated,” Raul Pino, the director of the Florida Department of Health in Orange County, wrote in a Jan. 4 email to employees.
washingtonpost.comFederal courts drop survey question about workplace misconduct after judges’ staffers said they’d witnessed such problems
Concerns over how the federal judiciary handles allegations of sexual harassment, discrimination and other inappropriate behavior have become a focus of Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., but he has resisted calls from Congress to subject the judicial branch to outside oversight.
washingtonpost.com$1,500 bonuses going to Michigan State University employees
EAST LANSING, MI - Michigan State University employees will see one-time $1,500 bonuses for their efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic,MSU President Samuel Stanley announced the extra compensation in a Monday, Dec. 13 email to the university community. These bonuses join other recent compensation efforts, including a 2% pay increase for faculty and academic staff and three additional personal days to use between Dec. 24 and Jan. 3.
mlive.comFederal agencies won’t seriously discipline vaccine holdouts until next year, White House tells unions
Agencies will continue to counsel, but not suspend or fire, federal employees who have not yet complied with vaccine mandate until at least early next year, the White House has told unions.
washingtonpost.comYpsilanti city employees must get COVID vaccine or test weekly, new policy says
YPSILANTI, MI - City employees in Ypsilanti who haven’t been vaccinated against COVID-19 will have two options under a new policy rolled out on Nov. 1: Get the shot or submit weekly COVID tests. That’s according to a policy document obtained by MLive/The Ann Arbor News through a public records request the same week the White House released details of a federal vaccination mandate for employers with 100 or more workers.
mlive.comTyson Foods will require all U.S. employees to be vaccinated by November
Tyson Foods announced a vaccine mandate for its 120,000 U.S. workers Tuesday. Until now, the list of U.S. companies requiring broad vaccine requirements had been dominated by tech giants and white-collar firms like Google, Facebook, Uber and Morgan Stanley.
washingtonpost.comFederal agencies can lift caps on number of employees working on-site, Biden administration announces
Agencies will first have to come up with plans to address health safety protocols and collective bargaining issues. The administration also left in place an expansive telework policy instituted during the pandemic.
washingtonpost.comFord providing on-site COVID-19 vaccines for employees in southeast Michigan, Ohio and Missouri
Ford employees interested in being vaccinated against COVID-19 can now receive an on-site vaccination at manufacturing facilities in three states. Starting today, Ford is offering the vaccine program to employees in Southeast Michigan, and will provide the shot to employees in the Lima, Ohio, and Kansas City, Missouri, areas as well.
Bedrock laying off dozens of employees amid restructuring
DETROIT – Bedrock announced on Monday that it is laying off about 60 employees in midst of a restructuring. In a statement from the company, the employee changes are a result of “a restructuring that will position the company for continued growth and improved service in 2021 and well beyond.”A full statement from Bedrock reads:“Today, Bedrock announced a restructuring that will position the company for continued growth and improved service in 2021 and well beyond. As a result, approximately 60 positions have been affected by these changes. We are working diligently to place virtually all impacted team members into new roles within the Rock Family of Companies. To date, several team members have already accepted new positions with sister companies and we anticipate the majority finding new roles in the coming weeks.
That raise you got might complicate saving for retirement, but advisors have workarounds
It's always nice getting a raise, but it could affect your ability to save for retirement through your 401(k) plan. Highly compensated employees — those making more than $130,000 annually — may not be able to contribute the maximum to their tax-deferred retirement plan if their lower-paid colleagues aren't diligently socking funds away, too. Highly compensated employees, however, may not be able to contribute those maximum amounts. While minimizing current taxes is always a good goal, Gibson suggests high-income taxpayers also consider longer-term tax planning, as well, including in retirement. "The idea behind any type of tax-deferred account is that your tax rate will be lower in retirement," Gibson said.
cnbc.comAmazon employees in Alabama vote on joining union after sharing work conditions concerns
Amazon employees in Alabama vote on joining union after sharing work conditions concerns Amazon workers at an Alabama warehouse are voting this month on whether to join a union after raising concerns of work conditions. Mark Strassmann talks to employees about why they are for or against unionizing.
cbsnews.comCOVID-19 outbreak shuts down Detroit Whole Foods store
click to enlarge Steve NeavlingSocial distancing markers guide an overflow line outside the Detroit Whole Foods store. click to enlarge Steve NeavlingA sign at the Detroit Whole Foods asks customers to wear a face mask. "Upon being informed of positive cases at Whole Foods, the Detroit Health Department team acted immediately to address this outbreak by offering rapid testing to all employees," Fair says in an email tos. "So far, 23 employees out of 196 have tested positive. The previous weekend, employees got a large number of automatic text message notifications informing them that fellow employees had tested positive.
metrotimes.comAnn Arbor T-Shirt Company: Amazon ‘absolutely saved our business’ during pandemic
ANN ARBOR – Despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Ann Arbor T-Shirt Company has continued to grow. (Ann Arbor T-Shirt Company)Pandemic salesOnce the pandemic hit, like many businesses across the nation, Ann Arbor T-Shirt Company had to temporarily shut down. An employee makes a face shield at the company warehouse at 505 S. Maple Rd. (Ann Arbor T-Shirt Company)Preparing for another shutdown in the fall, they moved their production schedule forward. To learn more about Ann Arbor T-Shirt Company, visit www.annarbortees.com.
University of Michigan awards staff three extra paid days off around holidays
ANN ARBOR – University of Michigan faculty and staff have something more to smile about this week. In an email to eligible faculty and staff on Wednesday, provost Susan Collins, chief financial officer Kevin Hegarty and associate vice president for human resources Richard Holcomb announced an additional three paid vacation days around the holidays. “This additional paid time off is one small way to recognize and express gratitude to our faculty and staff.”The additional days off are Nov. 25 and Dec. 23-24. Regular faculty and staff eligible for season days on the Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses will receive the additional time off. University Human Resources will work with unions to see if there are applicable season days that can be used for these bargaining units.
UAW issues statement in response to coronavirus concerns at FCA plants
Many employees at the plant refuse to work due to safety concerns. According to FCA, an employee at the plant was tested and the persons work area is being disinfected. Workers at the Detroit plant refused to return Friday over concerns they may have been exposed to the coronavirus. Meanwhile, FCA reported there were no confirmed cases at the Detroit plant. Under the protocols that we worked out when there are concerns, the UAW and our members work with FCA to address those concerns.
Highland Park pays $49,181 in back wages to four current employees after federal investigation
DETROIT After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labors Wage and Hour Division, the City of Highland Park has paid $49,181 in back wages to four current employees for violations of the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act. WHD investigators determined the city violated FLSA overtime provisions after it failed to combine the hours worked by some employees who worked in both fire protection and law enforcement activities. This practice resulted in violations when those employees worked overtime hours, but because the employer did not add together time spent in both tasks, the city failed to recognize and pay the overtime. Employers must understand the laws that apply to their employees, and ensure that workers are paid all the wages they have legally earned, said Wage and Hour Division District Director, Timolin Mitchell. The outcome of this investigation should remind other municipalities and employers to review their pay practices to ensure they comply with the law.
Art Van closure creates ripple effect from employees to Metro Detroit convenience stores
WARREN, Mich. – Art Van’s closure came as a shock to many of the more than 3,000 employees who now have to consider looking for work. But there’s also a ripple effect when a large company closes, and it’s felt all the way down to small convenience stores in Metro Detroit. Danielle Cvetkovski and her husband own Frank’s Chicken at 14 Mile and Mound roads, just blocks from Art Van’s Warren warehouse. So how does the Art Van closure affect the business? Cvetkovski said she’s not only worried about her business, but also about the Art Van drivers as they look for new employment.