Weekly Digest – March 9 2022

One of the odd tell-tale symptoms of COVID-19 is the abrupt loss of sense of smell reported by many patients. Researchers have recently uncovered the mechanism behind this loss. While the COVID-19 virus does not infect the nerve cells in the nose that detect and transmit information about odors to the brain, it does infect supporting cells in the nose. The subsequent inflammation wreaks havoc on the smell receptors and even alters the expression of genes in those nerve cells. The good news is that because the olfactory nerves are not destroyed, the sense of smell can recover in time.

THE AMERICAN RECOVERY PLAN ACT (ARPA)

Monthly Child Tax Credit Payments

Before filing your tax return, check your IRS Online Account to be sure you report the correct amount of any advance Child Tax Credit payments received during 2021. This will help ensure that refunds are paid promptly within 21 days. As a reminder, couples who filed Married Filing Joint will each receive a letter reporting half of the payments received. When filing 2021 tax returns, married couples will need to combine both amounts when they file their joint return. For more information on the expanded child tax credits see the IRS FAQs.

TAX ISSUES

While the IRS is rushing to hire 10,000 workers, the agency does not expect to clear its backlog of 24 million tax returns until the end of the year. The positions the agency is seeking to fill range from entry-level clerical workers to technology experts who will be tasked with upgrading computer systems. The IRS is also looking for tax attorneys who can lead complex audits. However, the wave of new hires will likely not come in time to alleviate the pressure for the 2022 tax filing season. A challenging labor market is also making it difficult to hire: the IRS recently advertised 5,000 clerical and customer service positions, but only hired 200.

PERSONAL FINANCE

For many older workers, the decision to retire is more complex than giving two weeks’ notice. Laying the financial foundation requires getting all the pieces in place, including Social Security, Medicare, and adequate retirement savings. Many workers take a phased approach, gradually decreasing hours as they wrap up a business or a career. Depending on health and longevity, waiting until age 70 to start collecting Social Security will result in the biggest benefit. Converting a conventional IRA or other retirement account to a Roth can result in a big tax bill upfront, but can save on taxes down the road.

THE GREAT REASSESSMENT

For many who quit their jobs during the Great Resignation, the biggest change is a redefinition of one’s self, particularly when leaving a demanding career. A lasting impact from the pandemic has been a new mindset for many Americans: “that a job doesn’t have to be a defining feature of your personality – or even a passion.” Many are shifting to less demanding jobs that allow for flexibility and that allow them to have lives outside of work and to focus on other priorities such as family.

Besides better pay and better work-life balance, there has been a narrative that people are quitting their jobs or refusing to take jobs when the company’s values clash with their own. However, as data from a recent study demonstrates, only about half of people would quit over a misalignment in values, and only 57% of survey respondents reported that their values actually did align. Younger employees are more willing to quit over a values mismatch, while some are staying and working within the company to shift values. Many workers – especially low earners – have no choice but to continue working for a company, even if values clash.

REMOTE AND HYBRID WORK OPTIONS

As the concept of a four-day-workweek gains traction, the companies that are experimenting with this new schedule caution that fewer days does not mean less work. Some are using a 100-80-100 model, where employees are paid 100% of their compensation for 80% of the time while maintaining 100% productivity. Scheduling fewer meetings, improving communication, and blocking off portions of the day for focused work, combined with attention to team-building activities are all tactics that companies are using successfully.

Returning to the office after nearly two years of remote work may be a difficult transition for introverts. Many introverts benefited from remote work during the pandemic because they tend to need time alone or with a small group of people to regenerate their energy. Helpful strategies include practicing self-care to ensure adequate rest, a good diet and exercise and asking managers for the options they need, such as a hybrid work schedule or a quieter workspace.

What if your boss wants you to return to the office, but you don’t want to? Here are some tips for making your case to continue working remotely. First, make a data-based pitch to your boss on the merits of working from home. If that doesn’t work, try demonstrating the merits of remote work by making changes at work, such as breaking large meetings into small group discussions, having meetings only when asynchronous methods don’t solve the problem, and having regular check-ins with team members and managers.

ECONOMY

In February, employers added 678,000 new jobs, the biggest gain in seven months, resulting in a jobless rate of only 3.8%. However, wage growth slowed down, a sign that employers may be finally filling lower-wage positions that had long been vacant. This data comes from a mid-February survey, so it does not show any effects from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which may impact household spending. Economists say three factors may lead to continued strong job growth for the spring. First, COVID-19 cases are dropping. Second, many states are dropping mask and vaccine mandates for customers. Third, households may be running out of savings, which could push people to rejoin the workforce.

Applications for unemployment benefits dropped by 18,000 for the week ended February 26 to end near a historic low level of 215,000. Meanwhile, the moving average for continuing claims for unemployment fell to the lowest level since April 1970. Job postings remain about 60% above the pre-pandemic baseline, while workers take advantage of the tight labor market to move to higher paying jobs, as evidenced by the record high quits rate. For the second half of 2021, more than four million people per month quit their jobs each month, a rate never seen before.

GENERAL RESOURCES

We sincerely hope that you and your family are well and remain well. If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We are all in this together!

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