HR Priorities for 2017

Here are some suggestions for your HR priorities for 2017:

1. The Overtime Rule is on hold, but...
I did quite a few projects this year related to the proposed overtime rules that were supposed to take effect December 1. These changes were surprisingly put on hold at the 11th hour by a Federal judge in Texas, and their fate is uncertain due to the election results. But a common misconception I encountered with employers is the belief that as long as an employee meets the salary test, it is fine to treat that employee as exempt. What I found is that many of the jobs I surveyed were misclassified for failing to meet a duties test. The employers thought their risk was with the new higher salary threshold, but they were really at risk all along. So make sure your jobs are properly classified, even if the salary is over $24,000.

2. Switch to the new I-9 form
The USCIS has revised the I-9 form and employers are required to begin using it by January 22. The list of approved documents and the basic process haven't changed, they've just updated the form to make it a little easier to use.  

3. Update Job Descriptions
This can seem like a mundane administrative task, but job descriptions are your first line of defense in any employment related conflict. An unemployment hearing? Send us the job description. A workers comp situation? Let's look at the job description. An EEOC charge?  Send us the job description. A lawsuit? Your attorney is going to ask for the job description. Job duties change - make sure the job descriptions change with them.

4. Add or review your pre-employment assessments
If you currently use assessments as part of your interview and selection process, review them to make sure they are providing useful information toward making your hiring decisions. If you are not using assessments, that means you are probably depending on interviews alone, which is the least valid method for choosing new hires. Just saying...

5. Make on-boarding a priority
Most companies I speak with plan to add employees in 2017. Choosing the right people is critical, but getting them off to a great start is perhaps even more important. Too many companies hire good people, chunk 'em in the lake and tell 'em to start swimming. Invest in a solid plan for the first day, week, month and quarter, with plenty of feedback and plenty of support. You'll spend a lot less time recruiting if you get the on-boarding part right.

6. Evaluate your use of 1099 workers
There are legitimate and questionable uses of 1099 workers. Both the IRS and the DOL care about this issue, and the penalties for improperly designating workers as contractors when they should be employees are quite punitive (from heavy fines all the way to potential jail time). So if 1099 workers play a key role in your personnel strategy, you best make sure that you have all your ducks in a row in this area.