• FREE RESOURCES
  • PREMIUM CONTENT
        • SEE MORE
          PREMIUM RESOURCES
  • HR DEEP DIVES
        • Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources for HR Professionals
          Employment Law
          Labor Law Posting Requirements: Everything You Need to Know
          Recruiting
          businesswoman selecting future employees on digital interfaces
          Recruiting Resources for HR & Hiring Managers
          Performance Management
          vector image of young female making star rating
          Performance Review Resources
          Employment Law
          Understanding Equal Employment Opportunity and the EEOC
          Recruiting
          Onboarding Resources for HR & Hiring Managers
  • CORONAVIRUS & HR

  • LOGIN
  • SIGN UP FREE

HR Morning

  • FREE RESOURCES
  • PREMIUM CONTENT
        • SEE MORE
          PREMIUM RESOURCES
  • HR DEEP DIVES
        • Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources for HR Professionals
          Employment Law
          Labor Law Posting Requirements: Everything You Need to Know
          Recruiting
          businesswoman selecting future employees on digital interfaces
          Recruiting Resources for HR & Hiring Managers
          Performance Management
          vector image of young female making star rating
          Performance Review Resources
          Employment Law
          Understanding Equal Employment Opportunity and the EEOC
          Recruiting
          Onboarding Resources for HR & Hiring Managers
  • CORONAVIRUS & HR
  • Employment Law
  • Benefits
  • Recruiting
  • Talent Management
  • Performance Management
  • HR Technology
  • More
    • Leadership & Strategy
    • Compensation
    • Staff Administration
    • Policy & Procedures
    • Wellness
    • Staff Departure
    • Employee Services
    • Work Location
    • HR Career & Self-Care
    • Health Care
    • Retirement Plans

How a Biden presidency could affect your workplace

how-a-biden-presidency-could-affect-your-workplace
Rachel Mucha
by Rachel Mucha
November 16, 2020
2 minute read
  • SHARE ON

No matter the size or type of your business, you’re likely to see some changes once president-elect Joe Biden takes office in January.

Biden has many different priorities than President Trump, and experts predict executive orders and updated enforcement of current laws very soon.

Here’s what a Biden presidency will mean for employers, according to HR expert and author of the Evil HR Lady blog, Suzanne Lucas.

Coronavirus response

Biden has been clear that his first priority as president is getting the coronavirus pandemic under control. Because of this, employers may see stricter safety and sanitation guidelines from OSHA.

The Biden administration also wants to double the number of OSHA investigators, as well as provide “restart packages,” which will help companies cover the costs of PPE and other safety precautions.

Industries that rely on hourly workers – such as retail stores and restaurants – will likely be impacted the most, due to tighter restrictions on in-person business. While President Trump’s goal was to keep businesses going, Biden’s focus will be on containing the virus.

Employers may also see higher penalties for COVID safety violations.

Minimum wage

Biden has made it clear he supports a federal minimum wage of $15 an hour. While he faces a difficult road to make that happen, several states have plans to gradually increase the minimum wage every year until it reaches $15.

Florida most recently voted to reach a $15 minimum wage by 2026. Other states with similar plans include:

•  California, by 2022/2023

•  Connecticut, by 2023

•  Illinois, by 2025

•  Maryland, by 2025

•  Massachusetts, by 2023

•  New Jersey, by 2024, and

•  New York (timetables vary by region).

Sexual harassment focus

Be Heard in the Workplace Act is a proposed law aiming to increase protections against sexual harassment at work. It’s likely to change as it makes its way through Congress, but here are some highlights:

• It increases the amount of time an employee has to file a harassment claim from less than six months to more than four years.

•  It places restrictions on nondisclosure agreements, and

•  It would federally mandate all businesses to hold sexual harassment training sessions.

NLRB changes

The members of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) – which the president appoints – serve five-year terms. The changes here will happen more gradually, but one person will be replaced each year by Biden.

Under President Trump, the NLRB made many pro-business decisions, but under the Biden administration, you can expect decisions to switch back to pro-employee and pro-union as more Biden picks are added onto the board.

More equal pay protections

Biden also supports the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would strengthen protections against pay disparities based on gender. Current laws prohibit pay discrepancies based on gender, but allow discrepancies based on any other factor, such as previous salaries.

The Paycheck Fairness Act would only allow pay differences based on concrete factors, such as education, training or experience.

Rachel Mucha
Rachel Mucha
Rachel writes about Human Resource management and has been a member of the HRMorning staff since 2017. She is a graduate of Ithaca College.

Get the latest from HRMorning in your inbox PLUS immediately access 10 FREE HR guides.

I WANT MY FREE GUIDES

Keep Up To Date with the Latest HR News

With HRMorning arriving in your inbox, you will never miss critical stories on labor laws, benefits, retention and onboarding strategies.

Sign up for a free HRMorning membership and get our newsletter!
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
HR Morning Logo
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linked In
  • ABOUT HRMORNING
  • ADVERTISE WITH US
  • WRITE FOR US
  • CONTACT
  • Employment Law
  • Benefits
  • Recruiting
  • Talent Management
  • HR Technology
  • Performance Management
  • Leadership & Strategy
  • Compensation & Payroll
  • Policy & Culture
  • Staff Administration
  • Wellness & Safety
  • Staff Departure
  • Employee Services
  • Work Location
  • HR Career & Self-Care

HRMorning, part of the SuccessFuel Network, provides the latest HR and employment law news for HR professionals in the trenches of small-to-medium-sized businesses. Rather than simply regurgitating the day’s headlines, HRMorning delivers actionable insights, helping HR execs understand what HR trends mean to their business.

Privacy Policy Terms of Service
Copyright © 2021 SuccessFuel

WELCOME BACK!

Enter your username and password below to log in

Forget Your Username or Password?

Reset Password

Lost your password? Please enter your username or email address. You will receive a link to create a new password via email.

Log In

During your free trial, you can cancel at any time with a single click on your “Account” page.  It’s that easy.

Why do we need your credit card for a free trial?

We ask for your credit card to allow your subscription to continue should you decide to keep your membership beyond the free trial period.  This prevents any interruption of content access.

Your card will not be charged at any point during your 21 day free trial
and you may cancel at any time during your free trial.

preloader