NewsBrief – January 2024
In This Issue:
Compliance Corner: Corrective Action Planning Guide
Each month, we highlight one of the many resources exclusively available to you as a member of Cascade.
This month, we are featuring our Corrective Action Planning Guide. Proper corrective action is used to develop and maintain long-term, successful employees through coaching and ensuring that expectations are clearly communicated. This guide will walk you through how to identify, plan, and apply corrective action when addressing employee performance concerns.
Paid Leave Oregon: 2024 Contribution Rate Announced
Cascade Compliance Team
compliance@cascadeemployers.com
The Oregon Employment Department has announced the 2024 Paid Leave Oregon contribution rate. The contribution rate will remain the same as 2023, 1% of employees’ wages, up to $168,600. The maximum contribution amount that an employee may pay is an increase from 2023, which was up to $132,900, as the amount is now based on the Social Security taxable maximum wage.
Contributions are paid by both employees and employers. Employees are responsible for 60% of the contribution rate, deducted from each employee’s gross pay each pay period. Large employers with 25 or more than employees are responsible for paying the remaining 40% of the contribution rate. Small employers with less than 25 employees are not required to pay the employer portion of the contribution rate but may choose to do so.
Don’t forget to regularly visit Cascade’s Paid Leave Oregon Resource Center for updates.
Planning for Success in the New Year
Carolyn Culley, Workplace Learning Consultant
info@cascadeemployers.com
The beginning of a new year is often a time for making resolutions and setting goals. As leaders, it is important to proactively plan what the coming year might look like for your team and within your organization. As you conduct your annual planning, consider mapping out a parallel strategy for what you want to work on as a leader.
Hopefully, you have received consistent feedback from your supervisor throughout the year regarding your performance and how you lead your team. Either way, it is likely time to take an inventory on how you plan and manage your time. What are the things that are working? What could work better or isn't working at all? How can you find time to focus on all of the long-term goals and strategies while juggling the everyday chaos?
Self-reflection is a critical skill for every leader to possess. To become better, it is important to reflect on your leadership style, strengths, and areas for improvement. By taking a critical look at oneself, you employ a powerful tool for both personal and professional development. Embracing self-awareness as well as continuous improvement enables you to gain a deeper understanding of your strengths and weaknesses as well as the drive to set specific goals and work toward achieving your most important outcomes.
The beginning of each year offers the opportunity to begin anew. In the spirit of planning, Cascade invites you to sign up for a new training entitled Planning for Success as a Leader in the New Year.
This session offers leaders the opportunity to discuss and create new goals, establish priorities, and explore how to allocate their time and attention in a more intentional and meaningful way. It is also a great time to proactively review your calendar for meetings and other commitments. Start off the new year by discovering strategies for becoming a more organized, proactive, and intentional leader.
Collaborative Triumphs: We Invite Your Review of Cascade!
Gayle Gilham, President
news@cascadeemployers.com
2023 was another rollercoaster ride of challenges and triumphs for employers, and we want to hear how your journey with us has positively impacted you and your organization. During the month of January, 2024, we invite you to share your Google Business review of Cascade.
Why Share Your Experience?
Your reviews inspire us, and they can inspire others too. By sharing your review of a Cascade user experience, you're not just helping us grow as an association, but you're also providing valuable insights to other leaders and HR professionals facing similar challenges.
How Did We Help You Navigate 2023?
Whether it was navigating challenges of a hybrid workplace, tackling creation of an equitable pay structure, or you were looking for a second opinion before acting on a performance issue, we want to hear how it made a positive impact on you and/or your organization. Did our resources make a difference? Did our webinars help you find your way through the HR maze?
Here’s what one Cascade member recently had to say:
“I discovered CEA 10 years ago and have switched employers twice in that time but never switched my outside support. My people-leaders and I have learned effective strategies in Cascade’s workshops and I've often called their HR helpline for guidance on employment law, compensation, etc. I highly recommend Cascade to any HR professional in Oregon.”
Kristy Steele
What’s In It for You?
Aside from the satisfaction of helping your peers know when and where to reach out for support, we're throwing in an extra incentive for those who take the time to share their signed review. All Cascade member reviews during the month of January (limited to one per person) will be entered to win one of two $50 Amazon gift cards.
Gift card winners will be notified during the first week of February 2024.
How to Share Your Google Business Review:
- During the month of January 2024, craft your signed business review of up to 70 words. Please do not name specific individuals (for confidentiality purposes).
- Visit this page and click 'Review us on Google', or
- Scan this QR Code:
Please note: Anonymous reviews are not eligible for entry.
Let’s Connect and Inspire!
Last Chance to Participate in Our DEI Conference Interest Survey
Daryl Dixon, Director of Equity and Inclusion
dei@cascadeemployers.com
At Cascade Employers Association, we are committed to providing services for our members that support you in fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within your organization. To further enhance our efforts and ensure that we are addressing the needs and interests of our members, we are considering hosting a DEI conference in the future.
To gauge the level of interest and to tailor the conference content to meet your expectations, we invite you to participate in a brief survey. Your valuable input will play a crucial role in shaping the conference agenda, topics, and activities.
Please click here to participate. The deadline to participate is January 15, 2024.
Your responses will be kept confidential, and the survey should take just a couple of minutes to complete. We appreciate your honesty and thoughtfulness in sharing your insights.
Hot Compliance Question
Cascade Compliance Team
compliance@cascadeemployers.com
Question: When filling out an I-9, what do we do if an employee has lost their permanent residency card?
Answer: The USCIS has guidance for this specific situation. Generally, an employee who has lost their permanent residency card may present one of the following:
- The arrival portion of the Form I-94 (Arrival-Departure Record) that contains a temporary Form I-551 ADIT stamp and a photograph.
- A foreign passport with a temporary I-551 ADIT stamp or I-551 printed notation on a machine-readable immigrant visa.
However, with the changes in the last couple of years, the USCIS has recently started delivering certain forms without requiring an in-person appearance and there are now new ways that an employee may provide proof of employment eligibility.
- The Form I-94 with a delivered ADIT stamp will also be allowed as proof of work eligibility. Unlike the in-person I-94, the delivered I-94 photo is on the right side of the form.
For more information on this new documentation, please visit the Temporary Status Documentation for Lawful Permanent Residents site.
Are You Ready for Your Human Resource Practices Assessment?
By Sheryl Kelsh, Membership Development Manager
skelsh@cascadeemployers.com
As a member, here's your exclusive chance to participate in and receive real-time feedback on a Human Resource Practices Assessment (HRA). This opportunity not only marks the beginning of your membership journey with Cascade but is also open to those who haven't yet taken advantage of it.
The HRA process involves two straightforward steps. Initially, you'll receive a link to an online survey designed to gather essential information about your current HR structure. Once you've completed the survey, our HR Consultants will promptly reach out to schedule a personalized Zoom session with you. During this session, we'll review your responses and offer valuable recommendations.
Given the ever-evolving nature of local and federal regulations, the HRA serves as a valuable resource. It provides insights into compliance matters, assists in project planning, and offers guidance on accessing support and HR resources precisely when you need them.
To request your HRA, please get in touch with Sheryl Kelsh.