Being caught between a client or employee’s legal separation is not for the faint of heart. Those called to this field of work need every resource possible to handle legal separations as equitably as possible.
For instance, if a client or an employee faces divorce, how will you determine if he or she should be compensated by their ex? If it is determined that one does deserve to be compensated, how will you calculate howmuch they should be compensated?
This is where a our Family Law expert can help. Using an assessment, Family Law experts are able to provide equitable solutions anchored in data and analytics.
To learn more about how a Family Law Vocational Assessment reduces friction in divorce cases while reducing headaches for you, continue reading.
Personnel Today reports that employees facing divorce may face distress for a total of two years after the process begins. Understanding how unnerved people are throughout the divorce process is all the more reason to use reliable and data-supported resources.
Investing in a vocational assessment not only assures that professionals makes the most informed decision possible but also ensures that an employee’s or client’s finances are being handled equitably. Lawyouamerica asserts that it is not uncommon for one party to attempt to take advantage of their ex by relying on alimony checks while purposefully remaining underemployed.
Such a tactic could be avoided or at least exposed in court by using a Family Law Vocational Assessment. The assessment is used to gauge how much the ex-spouse would be able to earn independently.
Family Law Vocational Assessment data helps attorneys, risk managers, and HR professionals alike by determining how much money the ex-spouse may need in alimony or child support to live a decent life independently. You may be wondering, “what does the assessment assess?”
The Family Law Vocational Assessment measures cognitive and physical ability to determine how competitive the individual would be in the job market and how likely they are to maintain employment. If the data from the assessment suggests that the individual would struggle to find and keep sustainable employment, he or she will be encouraged to build more skills.
Having the time and/or money to build the necessary skills to secure continued work is not cheap, which will likely be reflected in the alimony payout. A Family Law Vocational Assessment is comprehensive, to say the least, including the following areas:
If you are serious about equitable practices and providing the best service to your employees or clients, you should consider utilizing the Family Law Vocational Assessment.
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Contact the Vocational Consultants at Solutions Northwest Inc. Below:
Multiple Locations
Corporate Office: 120 State Ave. NE #397 Olympia, WA 98501 Business Hours: 8am-5pm M-F Corporate FAX: 360-866-4773 Email:Info@solutionsnw.com
No one hopes to take a leave of absence from work. But, it’s a prospect that employers must prepare for, and prepare for well.
ADA leave is quite nuanced, and covers a range of options for employees. But the details of what an employer must accommodate are somewhat murky.
In this article, we cover some of an employer’s responsibilities, how those responsibilities affect the workplace, and some strategies for preparing and handling ADA leaves of absence.
The Americans with Disabilities Act applies to all employers with 15 or more employees. ADA leave applies to all employees who experience substantial limitations in one or more major life activities. These limitations are due to physical or mental impairments.
Although ADA covers all states, the details of coverage vary between each state and place of work. 12 weeks is a fairly standard amount of disability leave, but some employers may offer more or less.
What Are Your Responsibilities As An Employer?
Any employee meeting these qualifications have the right to a work leave of absence, including federally regulated employees. A workplace accommodation can help employees with disabilities or impairments, but may not be a perfect solution.
Whether it’s short-term disability leave, in which your employee needs a short period away from work, or something more long-term, employers must make accommodations to employees requesting to take disability leave.
There is no set amount of ADA leave that employers must grant. Each ADA leave of absence is dealt with on a case-by-case basis. The length of leave is partially determined by the employee’s length of service as well as the effect on day-to-day functions within the workplace.
If an employee’s absence will seriously impact how a workplace functions, it’s time to reach an agreement. In this instance, an employer would be required to make some kind of ADA accommodation.
This could include adjusted hours at work, a work from home setup, or some other accommodation that would allow the employee to continue working.
It is helpful for an employer to reach out to an employee before and during the leave of absence. If an ADA leave of absence is planned, discussing the absence and making a plan for return can leave both parties more clear-headed about the situation.
An employer may contact an employee during leave to check in on their health as related to their leave of absence and also ensure that the employee is still on track to return to work at the specified time.
Disability leave services can be incredibly helpful for employers. Having ADA Accommodation experts on your side can greatly improve your ability to handle ADA leave requests properly. They can also be a fabulous resource for your employees who may be new to disability leave.
Contact us today to make an appointment. Subscribe to our blog for more work related tips from Solutions Northwest, Inc., experts available in: Seattle, WA, Tacoma, WA, Olympia, WA, Vancouver, WA, Kent, WA Renton, WA, Beaverton, WA.
Contact the Vocational Consultants at Solutions Northwest Inc. Below:
Multiple Locations
Corporate Office: 120 State Ave. NE #397 Olympia, WA 98501 Business Hours: 8am-5pm M-F Corporate FAX: 360-866-4773 Email:Info@solutionsnw.com
Are you an employer or HR professional trying to make your business ADA compliant?
Following the guidelines of the ADA (American Disabilities Act) is crucial. It helps you avoid lawsuits and maintain the business’s good reputation. Making sure that you do it right isn’t easy, since not everyone knows the ins and outs of necessary accommodations. And not knowing isn’t an excuse for not complying. This is where an ADA accommodations specialist comes to save the day.
Is this a new term for you? No problem. Read on to learn all about ADA accommodations specialists so you can make an informed decision about your business.
An ADA accommodations specialist is there to make sure that your business remains compliant with the ADA. They provide support to people with disabilities and help them (and the employers) figure out what accommodations that they need to do their work.
They can work for schools or businesses, so they also help students in need of accommodations.
They’re knowledgeable about ADA requirements. They help inform and educate higher-ups about what’s needed to maintain compliance.
The tasks that accommodations specialists complete vary depending on who they’re helping. That said, their primary objective is always to make sure that everyone who needs it can get disability accommodation.
When you hire an accommodation specialist, they’ll analyze your situation. This helps them to determine the next best steps when it comes to accommodation.
They work with your staff and the employee in need of accommodation in a transparent and comfortable environment.
They will guide you through the process of finding the most helpful technology, equipment, and tools for the employee in question.
Overall, they make the jobs of HR staff and the employer easier.
While you can take care of ADA accommodations internally, a specialist is more likely to do it in a more effective and compliant manner.
Sometimes employees who need accommodations are not sure about what they need. An ADA accommodations specialist will help them identify their specific problem and find the best possible solution, making them happier and more effective workers.
Having a specialist on the job also helps you stay protected from any potential disputes or legal trouble. When you’re non-compliant, you may face fines of thousands of dollars. You could also be liable for damages to the employee.
Even if the noncompliance is accidental it results in huge problems for you and your business.
An ADA accommodations specialist is the best person for the job when it comes to accommodating employees and keeping a business compliant with ADA regulations.
Having an accommodations specialist to help you through difficult situations with employees is the best way to make sure everyone stays happy and safe and that all employees with disabilities are accommodated.
Are you interested in learning more about accommodations specialists or other helpful solutions for your business? Consider contacting Solutions Northwest Inc., and we can help you.
Subscribe to our blog for more work related tips from Solutions Northwest, Inc., experts available in: Seattle, WA, Tacoma, WA, Olympia, WA, Vancouver, WA, Kent, WA Renton, WA, Beaverton, WA.
Contact the Vocational Consultants at Solutions Northwest Inc. Below:
Multiple Locations
Corporate Office: 120 State Ave. NE #397 Olympia, WA 98501 Business Hours: 8am-5pm M-F Corporate FAX: 360-866-4773 Email:Info@solutionsnw.com
No matter the size of your business, it’s essential to take
the role of ergonomics very seriously. Whether you have five employees or
fifty, it’s vital to take their long-term health very seriously. The
health of your employees matters and is also important to your long-term
financial success.
If you’re unsure of what the ergonomics standing of your
business currently is, it can be worth looking into ergonomic assessments. Seeing where your
workplace stands can ensure you implement needed changes. This will save
you trouble and money down the line.
Want to learn more about the benefits of ergonomics
assessments? Read on.
Providing a safe and stable workplace for your employees
is a must.
One of the main reasons ergonomic
assessments are important is that they benefit your employees. Your
employees deserve the right to a safe and comfortable working environment.
Plenty of modern workplaces feature working conditions that actually pose a
long-term risk to workers’ health.
No employee deserves that.
Looking out for your employees isn’t only the right thing to
do, it can yield a lot of positive results for your company. It’s a competitive
field out there, and you want to ensure you’re hiring the very best for your
company or business.
The best way to make yourself attractive to potential hires
is to demonstrate a level of genuine care for your employees. A safe and ergonomically
focused workplace is becoming a must-have for many of the most qualified
and skilled new workers in the country.
If you fall behind in ergonomics workplace standards, you
could easily lose employees to other businesses that are willing to put their
workers first. The costs of hiring and re-hiring employees alone can put you
under a lot quicker than the cost of a simple ergonomic assessment, not to
mention the costs of potential on-the-job injuries.
Workplace ergonomics evaluations save you money in the
long run.
An ergonomics assessment can point out potential
dangers in the way your workplace is currently set up. It can also provide
solutions.
These ergonomics solutions can lower your cost of running a
business. The cost of serious worker’s compensation claims and injury lawsuits
is enough
to bankrupt any serious-sized company, much less a small one. Not to
mention, happier and safer workers are better workers.
If you want to reduce work injury claims and increase
productivity in the workplace, implementing serious ergonomics innovations is
one of the best ways to go about this. Even if you can reduce claims in your
company by a small percentage, you can increase your profitability on a yearly
basis by a large margin.
Yes, the more ergonomically friendly equipment might cost a
little bit more upfront, but the investment is more than well worth its
cost.
In conclusion, ergonomics assessments are essential for
every business.
If you’re a small business owner, it’s essential for the
health of your employees and your company that you take the topic of ergonomics
very seriously. Allowing ergonomics
assessments of your workplace can highlight potential danger areas and
provide solutions that can help you and your workers out in the long-run.
Be sure to stay current with the latest workplace safety news
and subscribe to our ergonomics
blog often for more tips and tricks for a more efficient workplace.
At SolutionsNW.com
we value the importance of a positive workplace culture. Part of a positive
workplace is a safe workplace, Contact Us to schedule an
ergonomics consultation or ergonomics assessment for your office today.
Subscribe to our ergonomics blog for more ergonomics tips from Solutions Northwest Inc., ergonomics evaluations available in: Seattle, WA, Tacoma, WA, Olympia, WA, Vancouver, WA, Kent, WA Renton, WA, Beaverton, OR, Portland, OR, Salem, OR, San Diego, CA, Carlsbad, CA, La Jolla, CA, Irvine, CA, Costa Mesa, CA, Newport Beach, CA.
When the sun goes down, certain operations still
require staffing. Night workers take on the graveyard shift while the rest of
the world sleeps.
While this schedule provides special benefits to some
people, the night shift can put stress on both physical and mental health. Whether
you’re an employee, office administrator, or business owner you want to help
keep your crew healthy, so that the work gets done and you feel good about the
way you run the company.
Working throughout the night can throw the body out of whack
without proper care. Keep reading to learn 3 tips on how to work the night
shift and stay healthy.
1. Schedule light-dark exposure.
Your body naturally feels more tired at night. The darkness
triggers a release of melatonin in the brain that makes you feel drowsy.
This both increases the workers’ risk for injury on the job
and puts a strain on the body as it struggles to stay awake. Over time, this
strain can lead to health problems, like heart disease and cancer.
Research on shift workers reveals that scheduling light-dark
exposure can help. Exposing people who work the night shift to bright
lights, while suggesting that they seek darkness for a number of hours
following their shift, can help reset their circadian rhythm.
By altering the body’s internal time clock with
scheduled light-dark exposure, you increase their alertness while helping the
body to function normally without additional strain. One complication to this
is that they may need to continue this scheduling even on their days off for
the benefit.
2. Make sure you and your crew are well fed.
Working on the night shift changes your nutritional needs.
Normally, you would sleep through the night and not eat.
But, staying productive and alert requires fuel. Researchers
found that snacking while working provides the most alertness to shift workers.
Not eating deprives you of energy. Eating a full meal turns on our
parasympathetic nervous system, the responsible party for resting and
digesting.
Providing snacks to your workers may seem costly, but, not
when you compare it to the cost of workers comp from an avoidable on the job
injury.
It may also help your workers find a make a
journey home. Night work research suggests that night shift
workers are a greater risk for getting into a car accident on their way home
compared to their daytime counterparts.
They are an essential part of your business. So, keep them
safe with a snack.
3. Every workplace should offer a wellness program.
Offer your nighttime crew a wellness package. The cost to do
so may increase productivity and profits by keeping your workers
showing up healthy and alert to work.
As part of the wellness program, make the workspace
ergonomic! This means performing an ergonomics
evaluation to properly assess what needs to be done. Consider contacting an
ergonomics company for an assessment.
Additionally, a good wellness program might include a gym
membership. This keeps workers active and strong while boosting their overall
energy levels.
A good wellness program may also offer mental health
counseling. The night shift can take a toll on mood, and this may greatly
benefit your team.
In conclusion, keep your night team healthy at work.
As always, the best way to ensure your workplace is healthy and injury free is to contact our ergonomics consultants at Solutions Northwest Inc. for an ergonomics assessment for your company.
Subscribe to our ergonomics blog to read more tips and tricks for keeping yourself healthy while you’re at work.Solutions Northwest Inc., ergonomics consultants located in: Seattle, WA, Tacoma, WA, Olympia, WA, Vancouver, WA, Kent, WA, Renton, WA, Beaverton, OR, Portland, OR, Salem, OR, San Diego, CA, Carlsbad, CA, La Jolla, CA, Irvine, CA, Costa Mesa, CA, Newport Beach, CA.
National health guidelines recommend we walk up
to 10,000 steps per day. Yet, most of us are averaging less than
half of this targeted amount. For those of us who sit down to work at our
jobs, this can be even more difficult.
When you factor in additional sitting from your commute
and decompressing after staring at a screen all day, increasing your daily
step count can easily fall by the wayside. Fortunately, there are ways to
improve this.
Keep reading to learn what our ergonomics experts suggest about how to stay
healthy at work and increase your daily step count when working a desk job.
Small adjustments at work make a big impact in the long run.
You may be surprised to realize you don’t have to make drastic changes at
work to increase your daily step count. Many of the simple tasks you
perform each day can be modified to include more steps. It’s easier than you
think!
Choose a parking spot further away than normal. Take the
stairs instead of the elevator. Find a bathroom a little further away if
available.
Your body and mind are accustomed to these routines and it
won’t cause interference with job responsibilities.
Sitting at your desk job for extended periods of time can
have long-term impacts to your spine and posture. Set an
alarm or download
a reminder app to remind yourself to stand up and walk at least once an
hour. Take advantage of convenient excuses to slip away for a moment such as by
responding to a colleague in person instead of through email.
Make the most of every break.
Depending on your desk job’s hours most companies grant
between 30 minutes to an hour for lunch. Many also allow at least two 15-minute
breaks throughout an eight-hour workday. While you use part of this to energize
your body with food or coffee it’s also an opportune time to fit in more steps.
This could be as simple as walking short laps in the
workplace or bringing a change of workout clothes for a jog. Many
employees with desk jobs find working out in the middle of the day has enormous
benefits for concentration and focus.
Increasing steps outside of work.
The daily routine from working up to eight hours can
instill positive consistency. Use this to your advantage by keeping the
momentum going with activities that can increase your daily step count either
before or after work. It’s very obtainable to tally the approximate 2,000
average steps in a mile with downtime.
Whether you’re an early riser or night owl, connecting
exercise to your work schedule has a great upside for your health. This could
be a morning jog with your dog before sunrise or going to the gym on your
way home from work.
In conclusion, stay proactive about your health in the
workplace.
Naturally increasing your step count while balancing a desk
job is a positive step towards a healthy life. Interested in similar articles
about improving your lifestyle habits at work? Visit our ergonomics blog often for more
tips and tricks for a more efficient workplace.
At SolutionsNW.com
we value the importance of a positive workplace culture. Part of a positive
workplace is a safe workplace, Contact Us to schedule an
ergonomics consultation or ergonomics assessment for your office today.
Subscribe to our ergonomics blog for more ergonomics tips from Solutions Northwest Inc., ergonomics evaluations available in: Seattle, WA, Tacoma, WA, Olympia, WA, Vancouver, WA, Kent, WA Renton, WA, Beaverton, OR, Portland, OR, Salem, OR, San Diego, CA, Carlsbad, CA, La Jolla, CA, Irvine, CA, Costa Mesa, CA, Newport Beach, CA
