GreatWork Blog

Building better workplaces through compliance, culture, connection

Many businesses have had positive results since moving to a remote work format. However, one of the concerns when working with a remote workforce is staying compliant with employment laws when one or more employees live in a different state than where the employer is located or a different state than where they previously worked for that employer. Or, possibly, the employer finds themself willing to hire new, remote employees who reside in another state already.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced that it will open the collection period for the EEO-1 Report in April 2021. The exact open date and deadlines are not yet available. The 2020 reporting period will require employers to submit their data for 2019 in addition to 2020.

Collecting wage and salary data for over 600 positions from about 700 organizations across Oregon and Washington, this survey provides reliable and comprehensive data that allows you to remain competitive in your local market.

Many organizations have employees who have taken on more work as a result of workforce reductions and now have hybrid roles where they previously did not. These may have started as temporary assignments but if these additional tasks continue, it may be important to ensure you are paying for these hybrid roles and the additional duties taken on.

With the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines, a common question is whether employers can require employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine once it is widely available. On December 16th, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) updated its guidelines regarding vaccinations in the workplace.

Do you have a favorite metaphor you have been using to describe 2020 as we begin to embrace 2021?

Since last March we have had hundreds of conversations with our nearly 500 members about adjusting to remote work and all the disruption we have experienced in 2020. While we look to build skills around compliance, leadership and resiliency, the conversation has consistently shifted to what are employers are doing to keep employees engaged, linked-in and connected.

Cost of Living and Cost of Labor mean different things and often times lead to confusion when talking about how they impact compensation and total rewards.

When executives were asked if the overall U.S. economy in the next 12 months will “improve, stay the same, or decline,” the majority (44 percent) think it will improve, as opposed to last year with only 12 percent planning that the economy would improve.

If you’ve already had the pleasure of meeting Daryl Dixon, you’ll understand our enthusiasm for bringing him on board as Cascade’s new Director of Equity and Inclusion. And if you haven’t yet had the opportunity, we want to help make that happen.

For decades, workplaces have been using the Gallup Q-12 to inform their assessment of workplace engagement. Managers use the tool to bring focus to the most important things for discussion with their workers. Looking through the lens of a post-pandemic, remote workplace, these Rules of Engagement start to look really different.

I think we all know someone whose life has been negatively impacted by the tragic devastation of Oregon’s recent wildfires or COVID-19 or both. If you are like me, it is difficult to know the best way to donate and have meaningful impact for your friends and fellow Oregonians that are struggling through these two very devastating life events.

One of my favorite childhood vacation memories is the time our family spent at The Embarcadero Resort & Marina in Newport, Oregon. My father grew up in a big city and my mother hailed from the Midwest. They moved West attracted by the allure of the wild Oregon Coast. Although they settled in the Willamette Valley, frequent trips to explore the beauty of the Oregon Coast were always a big part of our family vacations together.

We listen to teams, we discuss best practices for supervision, we work through some kind of “resetting” of our business and practices, and we find ways to embrace positive transition techniques.

One thing I have enjoyed the most about working from home is that I now have more time to get creative in the kitchen. My new go-to resource has been the recipe section of Bob’s Red Mill website which features a large variety of wholesome cooking ideas for every meal of the day. Bob’s Red Mill features a bountiful selection of stone-ground, whole grain, organic, gluten free, and paleo-friendly flours fit for any kitchen. 

It’s with excitement that we announce the launch of Cascade’s next generation web site. We’ve made this investment to better serve employers and to provide you an enhanced digital/virtual experience.

Summer is here and we are thrilled to see many of our eating and drinking establishments now open to serve the public. I cannot think of a more idyllic location to visit in Oregon Wine Country than America’s favorite Main Street in McMinnville, Oregon and home of the 1882 Grille. Located just 30 minutes from Portland or Salem makes it an easy afternoon dining destination.

As you return to work next week, we urge you to keep focus on current events and the killings of several Black men and women. One action we all can take is to normalize having these conversations at work. Cascade is committed to equity and centers it in our work, which means that we have to start by acknowledging that white supremacy and racism exist, and that they are deeply intertwined with work in all sectors.

We shouldn’t create “false urgency,” employees see through that quickly. However, strong teams have a bias for action, for diving in, for making progress and mistakes that move us ahead.

Sometimes pandemics come along and remind us that clarity around policies, new procedures or just what to expect in general is critical to our team’s functioning.

With 701 organizations participating, representing 56,224 employees across Oregon and Washington, the 2020 Regional Pay Survey is a vital tool for managers, HR professionals, and business owners. Reflecting pay data for 562 positions, the survey report provides exclusive wage and salary data for a variety of executive, exempt, and non-exempt positions.

As consultants to workplaces across the Northwest, Cascade Employers Association has been helping workplaces adjust to change for decades.

With over 20 years of experience and more than 50,000 adoptions, this organization knows cats! Did you know...

I don’t know about you, but in the past few weeks I have received about a ton and a half of advice about how to cope with all the change and stressors that have hit us recently. To be honest, I am also guilty of adding to the advice pile.

Before you say you believe in someone, before you encourage them to pursue their goals, it’s worth remembering: They need more than your words.

The stock market ended its 11-year bull run earlier this year as fears over the coronavirus (COVID-19) gripped investors. With volatility returning to the stock market with moves of up/down 5-9% a day frequently occurring, retirement plan investors are left feeling very anxious and wondering what to do next. The following are six tips designed to help employees assess their 401(k) accounts in the current market environment and get through this difficult period.

As counselors and therapists, we wanted everyone to have social connection. The research has been consistent and clear that social connection is correlated highly with happiness, contentment, engagement and positive mental health.

In a recent Coaching workshop a participant kept asking, “Isn’t coaching just some trendy buzzword that can really mean a lot of different things?”