Latest
News for Connecticut
HR Professionals:
• Wethersfield Employer to Layoff 100:
Wethersfield Health Care Center, a 210-bed skilled nursing center specializing in short-term rehabilitation and post-acute care, says it will layoff 100 employees between May 18 and June 30; the facility is not closing.
* Source: CTDOL. For detailed information, see the April 30th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• Connecticut’s Recession Recovery:
Overall, Connecticut has now recovered 37,500, or 31.9%, of the 117,500 total nonfarm jobs lost in the March 2008 - February 2010 recession. The private sector, twenty-five months into the recovery, has regained 46,600 (42.3%) of the 110,200 private jobs lost in the recessionary downturn.
* Source: CTDOL. For detailed information, see the April 23rd issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• EEOC Says Transgender Discrimination Illegal:
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has announced that Title VII, the federal discrimination law, protects employees who are discriminated against because they are transgender. The decision concluded that “intentional discrimination against a transgender individual because that person is transgender is, by definition, discrimination ‘based on … sex’ and such discrimination … violates Title VII.”
Note: Connecticut PA 11-55, effective 10/1/2011, similarly prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity or expression.
* Source: EEOC. For detailed information, see the April 30th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• Social Security: Kaput in ‘33:
The Social Security Board of Trustees has released its annual report on the financial health of the Social Security Trust Funds. The combined assets of the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) Trust Funds will be exhausted in 2033, three years sooner than projected last year.
* Source: Social Security Administration. For detailed information, see the April 30th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• Connecticut’s Average Wages:
Average hourly earnings at $28.24 are down five cents, or -0.2% lower than in March 2011. The average private sector weekly pay is $957.34, up just $3.97, or 0.4%, over the year.
* Source: CTDOL. For detailed information, see the April 23rd issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• U.S. Wage Variation by Race, Ethnicity:
Among the major race and ethnicity groups, median weekly earnings for black men working at full-time jobs were $677, or 77.5 percent of the median for white men ($874). The difference was less among women, as black women's median weekly earnings ($602) were 84.4 percent of those for white women ($713). Overall, median weekly earnings of Hispanics who worked full time ($567) were lower than those of blacks ($635), whites ($793), and Asians ($918).
* Source: USDOL. For detailed information, see the April 23rd issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• Connecticut Lost Jobs in March:
The Connecticut March 2012 total nonfarm job estimate decreased by 2,700 positions to 1,632,200, -0.2% below the February 2012 level. Over the year, the state has added 10,500 jobs, an increase of 0.6%.
With job counts now at 1,632,200, the March 2012 level is just below the previous highpoint achieved in this recovery which was 1,634,900 jobs this past February.
* Source: CTDOL. For detailed information, see the April 23rd issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• Women’s Wages 82% Those of Men:
Nationwide median weekly earnings were $769 in the first quarter of 2012, not seasonally adjusted. Women who usually worked full time had median weekly earnings of $697, or 82.2 percent of the $848 median for men. The female-to-male earnings ratio varied by race and ethnicity. White women earned 81.6 percent as much as their male counterparts, compared with black (88.9 percent), Asian (80.8 percent), and Hispanic women (89.9 percent).
* Source: USDOL. For detailed information, see the April 23rd issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• U.S. Initial Unemployment Compensation Claims Down 2k:
In the week ending April 14, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 386,000, a decrease of 2,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 388,000 and down 6.8% from the same week a year ago.
* Source: USDOL. For detailed information, see the April 23rd issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• OSHA 300 Recordkeeping Workshop:
What Does and Does Not Need to be Recorded - June 6, 2012 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon in Wethersfield, CT: “The purpose of this workshop is to introduce the requirements and procedures related to OSHA Injury & Illness Recordkeeping. The class will help develop skills to accurately report occupational injuries and illnesses. Resources and reference materials will be provided. If you are responsible for completing the documents required by this rule (OSHA 300, OSHA 300A and OSHA 301), or if you supervise the person that completes the forms, or if you are a safety committee member, this class is a must!”
* For information contact John Able, able.john@dol.gov, 860-263-6902, or Catherine Zinsser, zinsser.catherine@dol.gov, 860-263-6942.”
• NLRB Pro-Union Posting Postponed:
The DC Court of Appeals has enjoined the NLRB from requiring the April 30th posting of the “employee rights” notice. As a result, the National Labor Relations Board has announced that “In view of the DC Circuit's order, and in light of the strong interest in the uniform implementation and administration of agency rules, regional offices will not implement the rule pending the resolution of the issues before the court.”
* Source: National Labor Relations Board
• Connecticut Employment Forecast:
The latest CTHRR online survey, 131 Connecticut employers participating, found that 36% of respondents expect their total number of employees to expand during the next 12 months. Most employers (56%) reported that employee levels will stay the same, and the remaining 8% expect their level of employment to contract.
* Source: CTHRR’s Quick Surveys . For detailed information, see the April 16th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• New Issue of Weekly CTHRR eNewsletter:
Major Stories:
• Connecticut’s Tax Freedom Day…Not Here Yet
• Connecticut Minimum Wage Bill Goes to the House
• NLRB Posters: Federal Judge Says “No Way”
• U.S. Turnover/Job Openings: Quits Continue to Rise
• Cost-of-Living: CPI Up 2.7% in 12 Months
• U.S. Average Weekly Pay Up 2.6% in Past Year
• Where Do Employers Find New Hires?
* See the April 16th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• NLRB Posters Now In Limbo:
A South Carolina federal judge, in opposition to a DC judge, has ruled that the National Labor Relations Board does not have the authority to force employers to post a pro-union “employee rights” notice. Both sides in the case are now trying to decide if the ruling applies only to SC or to the nation as a whole. Absent such a decision, employers face an April 30th posting deadline.
* For detailed information, see the April 16th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• USCIS to Revise Form I-9:
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has published a notice in the Federal Register inviting public comment on a revised Form I-9, “Employment Eligibility Verification.” Employers must complete Form I-9 for all newly-hired employees to verify their identity and authorization to work in the United States. The public is invited to comment on the revisions until May 29, 2012.
* Source: USCIS. For detailed information including links to the revised form, see the April 2nd issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• New Issue of Weekly CTHRR eNewsletter:
Major Stories:
• Connecticut Saw Fewer Job Ads in March
• New-Hire Reporting Required for RTW from Long LOAs
• Paid Sick-Leave Law a Pain for CT Municipalities
• U.S. Employment Up Only 120,000 Jobs in March
• Veterans: Returning Military and the Workplace
• Recruiting: Staring Salaries for Class of ‘12
• FMLA: 5 Ways to Cut Abuse
* See the April 9th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• Poster Reminder:
National Labor Relations Board requires most employers to have their NLRA rights posters up by April 30. For information see the section on Notices & Posters in What to Do about Personnel Problems in Connecticut.”
* Source: CTHRR’s "2012-2013 HR Calendar of Events” at CTHRR.com
• Connecticut’s Tax Freedom Day? Nope, Not Yet!
“Tax Freedom Day® 2012 arrives on April 17 this year, four days later than last year due to higher federal income and corporate tax collections. That means Americans will work 107 days into the year, from January 1 to April 17, to earn enough money to pay this year’s combined 29.2% federal, state, and local tax bill.” For Connecticut residents, however, Tax Freedom Day does not arrive until May 5th. Yes, we’re dead last again…we work longer to pay our taxes each year than do residents of any other state in the nation. New York finishes in next-to-last place on May 1st; Massachusetts is 42nd on April 22nd; and, Rhode Island is 29th on April 15th. First place? Tennessee. In that state, folk have to work only to March 31st to pay their taxes.
* Source: The Tax Foundation
• Connecticut No. 1 in Per-Capita Income…Again:
State personal income rose an average 5.1% in 2011 after rising 3.7 percent in 2010. State personal income growth ranged from 3.4 percent in Maine to 8.1 percent in North Dakota. Connecticut ranked highest with $56,889 per-capita, a 4.9% increase from 2010 to 2011; our state was also in first position in 2010. Massachusetts was 2nd at $53,621; Rhode Island 16th, $43,992; and, New York 5th at $50,545. Connecticut’s per-capita was 137% that of the national average, $41,663.
* Source: U.S. Department of Commerce. For detailed information, see the April 2nd issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• Connecticut’s Average Pay in February:
Average hourly earnings at $28.31, not seasonally adjusted, were down four cents or -0.1% lower than last February. However, due to an increase in the average workweek, the average private sector weekly pay estimate was $956.88, up $4.32, or 0.5% over the year.
* Source: CTDOL. For detailed information, see the April 2nd issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• U.S. Employment Situation in March:
Nonfarm payroll employment rose by 120,000 in March, and the unemployment
rate was little changed at 8.2 percent. Employment rose in manufacturing, food services and drinking
places, and health care, but was down in retail trade. The number of unemployed persons (12.7 million) and the unemployment rate (8.2 percent) were both little changed in March.
* Source: USDOL. For detailed information, see the April 9th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• Connecticut’s Unemployment in February:
The estimate of Connecticut persons unemployed, seasonally adjusted, was down 4,000 from January 2012 to 148,500, and the unemployment rate decreased two-tenths to 7.8 percent, which is below the national rate of 8.3 percent. Last February, Connecticut’s unemployment rate was 9.2 percent. Average weekly initial unemployment claims in February 2012 for first-time filers decreased firmly over the month by 893 (-17%) to 4,298, and were down 759 claims (-15%) from this time last year.
* Source: CTDOL. For detailed information, see the April 2nd issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• Connecticut’s Labor Market Areas in February:
Five of the six major Connecticut Labor Market Areas displayed job growth in February 2012. Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford increased by 4,100 and led all labor areas in February job gains. Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford also led in labor market job gains over the year, with 6,900 positions. Danbury led monthly gains in percentage terms (+700, 1.0%), and outperformed all major labor markets in job growth in percentage terms over the year (+1,700, 2.6%). New Haven shed 500 jobs and was the only major labor market to lose jobs in February 2012. Bridgeport-Stamford, Norwich-New London, and Waterbury gained jobs in February.
* Source: CTDOL. For detailed information, see the April 2nd issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• New Issue of Weekly CTHRR eNewsletter:
Major Stories:
• Connecticut’s Employment Situation in February
• Poster Reminder: NLRB Poster Up By April 30
• Old Lyme Employer to Lay-Off 66
• USCIS to Revise Form I-9
• OSHA Warning on Injury Reporting Incentives/Disincentives
• Employers to Recruit 10% More Grads in 2012
• Your Personal Finance: How to Save $2,000 This Year
* See the April 2nd issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• CTHRR’s New Quick Survey Available:
We’ve posted a new survey for Connecticut employers’ participation. It focuses on your organization’s paid holiday program All results are confidential…all participants receive the compiled results. The survey takes less than a minute to complete.
* Please visit: www.cthrr.com/quicksurvey.htm
• Connecticut Added 4,900 Jobs in February:
“Connecticut’s job market continues on its path to recovery expanding by 4,900 total nonfarm jobs, which follows a revised increase of 5,400 in January. The majority of the state’s industry sectors showed respectable gains in employment. ‘It appears the region’s mild winter continues to help job growth in Connecticut across many industries, including construction, manufacturing and trade,' noted Andy Condon, Director of the Office of Research. ‘Unemployment continues to decline, although the strength of the move is diminished somewhat by the second consecutive monthly decline in our labor force.’”
* Source: CTDOL. For detailed information, see the April 2nd issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• New Issue of Weekly CTHRR eNewsletter:
Major Stories:
• CTHRR’s Salary Survey Update
• Stamford Hotel Must Rehire Workers
• Ansonia: $47,000 in Potential OSHA Fines
• ACA: FAQ Issued on Summaries of Benefits
• OSHA revises Hazard Communication Standard
• U.S. Supreme Court Takes on “Obamacare”
• Is Human Resources Out of Date?
* For detailed information, see the March 26th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• CTHRR’s New Quick Survey Available:
We’ve posted a new survey for Connecticut employers’ participation. It focuses on your organization’s paid holiday program All results are confidential…all participants receive the compiled results. The survey takes less than a minute to complete.
* Please visit: www.cthrr.com/quicksurvey.htm
• OSHA revises Hazard Communication Standard:
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has revised its Hazard Communication Standard, aligning it with the United Nations' global chemical labeling system. The new standard, once implemented, will prevent an estimated 43 deaths and result in an estimated $475.2 million in enhanced productivity for U.S. businesses each year.
* For detailed information, see the March 26th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• Old Lyme Operation to Layoff, Close:
The CTDOL says that INC Research, LLC of Old Lyme will layoff 66 employees between 5/23/12 and 7/31/12; the facility will close by 7/31/12. INC Research refers to itself as “a contract research organization (CRO) offering a comprehensive suite of global services to support your drug development process.”
* Source: CTDOL
• Manchester Career Fair:
MCC Regional Job Fair; Saturday, April 14, 2012; 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM; Manchester Community College; Great Path Academy Gymnasium.
* Source: Please visit: CTDOL
• U.S. Pay vs. Inflation:
U.S. Average weekly earnings grew 2.5%, seasonally adjusted, from February 2011 to February 2012. During the same period, average hourly earnings also grew…by 1.9%. However, when adjusted for inflation weekly earnings actually lost 0.4% and average hourly earnings decreased 1.1%.
* Source: USDOL. For detailed information, see the March 19th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• CTHRR’s Salary Survey Update:
Our 2012 Actual Salary Budget Survey shows that Connecticut employers’ pay budgets have been increased since last fall’s forecast; for complete details, see our Connecticut HR Reports Newsletter for April which is now posted on our website.
* Login and go to “Newsletters” at CTHRR.com
• OFCCP Whacks FedEx…$3 Million in Back Pay:
Shipping giant FedEx has agreed to enterprise-wide hiring reform after a seven-year investigation by the Labor Department that resulted in the largest hiring discrimination penalty since 2004. The hiring practices affected 21,635 workers who were discriminated against on the basis of sex, race and national origin at 23 facilities in 15 states. The company has agreed to pay $3 million in back wages and interest. FedEx also has agreed to extend job offers to 1,703 of the affected workers as positions become available. "Being a federal contractor is a privilege and means you absolutely, positively cannot discriminate, not when you are profiting from taxpayer dollars," said Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs Director Patricia A. Shiu. "Under this agreement, FedEx will have to really examine and revamp its hiring practices across the entire company."
• Source: OFCCP. For further information please visit the section on Affirmative Action in: What to Do about Personnel Problems in Connecticut
• 2012 UC Special Assessment $25.50 Per Employee:
To date, Connecticut has borrowed approximately $810 million from the USDOL to cover our state’s Unemployment Compensation obligations. CTDOL estimates that the 2012 special assessment to repay USDOL will be approximately $1.70 per thousand dollars of taxable payroll, or about $25.50 per full time employee. For example, an employer with 10 workers might expect an August assessment of about $255. The assessment is scheduled to be billed on August 1 and is to be paid by August 31, 2012.
* Source: CTDOL. For detailed information, see the March 19th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• U.S. Initial Unemployment Claims Down 5k:
In the week ending March 17, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 348,000, a decrease of 5,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 353,000 and down 11.7% from the same week a year ago.
* Source: USDOL. For detailed information, see the March 26th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• Connecticut Average Pay:
Average hourly earnings at $28.71, not seasonally adjusted, were up $0.32 or 1.1% higher than last January. The resultant average private sector weekly pay estimate was $979.01, up $36.46, or 3.9% over the year. This latter increase is due largely to the workweek averaging 34.1 hours in January 2012, up 0.9 hours from the January 2011 figure of 33.2 hours.
* Source: USDOL. For detailed information, see the March 19th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• Closed On Good Friday?
CTHRR's annual Special Holiday Survey shows that typically 55% of Connecticut employers will close for a paid holiday.
* Further Information: Please visit the section on Holidays in: What to Do about Personnel Problems in Connecticut
• Employment in Connecticut’s Labor Market Areas (LMAs):
Four of the six Connecticut Labor Market Areas declined in January. The only LMAs to gain jobs were Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford (+1,200) and Norwich-New London (also +1,200). Hartford-W. Hartford-E. Hartford leads in labor market job gains since January 2011 (+5,000) while Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk leads in job losses with a 5,000 job loss.
* Source: CTDOL. For detailed information, see the March 19th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• Connecticut’s Recession Recovery:
Connecticut has now recovered 35,900, or 30.6% of the 117,500 nonfarm jobs it lost in the March 2008 to February 2010 recession (the loss amounted to -6.9% of total nonfarm payrolls). Connecticut’s nonfarm job level now is just below the high water mark reached in this recovery back in April 2011 (1,631,100 April 2011 vs. 1,630,600 for January 2012).
* Source: CTDOL. For detailed information, see the March 19th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• CTDOL’s Take on January Employment Report:
“‘The region’s mild winter appears to be helping job growth in Connecticut across many industries, including construction, manufacturing, and trade,’ noted Andy Condon, Director of the Office of Research. ‘Unemployment continues to decline, though unlike in recent months, our labor force also shrank slightly. Although we still have fewer people in Connecticut’s labor force than we did a year ago, we appear to be on a trend to close that gap.’”
* Source: CTDOL. For detailed information, see the March 19th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• CTDOL Finally Comes Out with January Employment Stats:
Delayed by federal benchmark revisions to employment data, CTDOL now says that Connecticut’s job market got off to a good start in January, growing 7,100 total nonfarm jobs as compared to a decline in December 2011 of 1,000. Yearly job growth in December 2011 was revised to 7,800, but as of January 2012 Connecticut’s year-overyear job growth climbed to 11,900. The state’s unemployment rate continued recent declines to 8.0%, down 0.1 points from the revised December 2011 figure.
* Source: CTDOL
• U.S. Unemployment:
The number of unemployed persons, at 12.8 million, was essentially unchanged in February. The unemployment rate held at 8.3 percent, 0.8 percentage point below the August 2011 rate. Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for adult men (7.7 percent), adult women (7.7 percent), teenagers (23.8 percent), whites (7.3 percent), blacks (14.1 percent), and Hispanics (10.7 percent) showed little or no change. The jobless rate for Asians was 6.3 percent, not seasonally adjusted.
* Source: USDOL. For detailed information, see the March 12th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• U.S. Added 227,000 Jobs in February…Unemployment Unchanged:
Nonfarm payroll employment rose by 227,000 in February, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 8.3 percent. Employment rose in professional and businesses services, health care and social assistance, leisure and hospitality, manufacturing, and mining.
* Source: USDOL. For detailed information, see the March 12th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• Connecticut Saw More Job Ads in February:
Total online job ads in Connecticut were 64,800 last month, up from 63,100 in the prior month and 61,700 a year ago, according to The Conference Board Help-Wanted OnLine Data Series™. Hartford [the only Connecticut city for which data are available] saw online job ads rise 11% from the same month a year ago and 5% from the previous month’s report.
* Source: The Conference Board. For further Information on employment advertising: Please visit the section on Advertising in: What to Do about Personnel Problems in Connecticut
• 73% of U.S. Private-Sector Workers Have Paid Sick Leave:
USDOL: “Paid sick leave benefits allow workers to take time off for illness and have been shown to help increase worker productivity and reduce the spread of disease within a company and community. Although there is no federal legal requirement that employers provide paid sick leave benefits, 73 percent of full-time private industry workers in the United States were provided with paid sick leave plans in 2009.” Note that Connecticut does have a paid sick-leave law that went into effect in January.
* See the March 5th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter. For full information on Connecticut’s new paid sick-leave law, subscribers to What to Do about Personnel Problems in Connecticut can Login at CTHRR.com and go to the “Hot Topics” section, or visit the section on Sick Pay in: What to Do about Personnel Problems in Connecticut
• CTDOL Shuts Down 19 Companies in Stamford:
The Connecticut Department of Labor’s Division of Wage and Workplace Standards issued Stop Work orders to 19 companies working at construction project sites in Stamford during the period of Jan. 26 to Feb. 23. Stop Work orders are levied against companies that misclassify workers as independent contractors with the intent of avoiding their obligations under federal and state employment laws covering such matters as workers’ compensation, unemployment taxes, and payroll reporting. Stop Work orders result in the halting of all activity at a cited company’s worksite, as well as a $300 civil penalty for each day the company does not carry workers’ compensation coverage as required by law.
* Source: CTDOL. Further Information: Please visit the section on Independent Contractors in: What to Do about Personnel Problems in Connecticut
• 36 States Have Lower Gas Tax Than CT:
According to the Commerce Clearinghouse State Tax Guide, Connecticut’s gas tax is 25 cents per gallon. Thirty-six states have lower tax rates [including Massachusetts and New York]. The lowest rate is 7.5 cents in Georgia; the highest, 38.9 cents in North Carolina. The nationwide average is 21.9 cents.
* Source: Please visit: CCH
• Employers Will Have to Display Pro-Union Posters:
A federal judge has ruled that the National Labor Relations Board can require most private businesses to put up posters telling workers they have a legal right to form a union. The posters must be displayed by April 30, 2012.
* Source: AP. For detailed information, see the March 5th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter . See also the section on Notices & Posters in What to Do about Personnel Problems in Connecticut; and, "NLRA: Notice Requirements" in the “Hot Topics” section at CTHRR.com.
• CTDOL Publishes Q4 Data for Affirmative Action Plans:
The labor force information for Connecticut and its nine labor market areas is now available for the 4th quarter of 2011. These data include estimates of total labor force, unemployment rates, and unemployed women & minorities.
* Source: CTDOL.
Further Information: Please visit the section on Affirmative Action in: What to Do about Personnel Problems in Connecticut
• How Much Do Federal Employees Make:
“According to figures kept by the Office of Personnel Management, the average salary for a full-time federal employee working on a permanent appointment was $76,231 as of September 2010, the most recent date for which the figure has been released. Since federal salary rates have been frozen since then, the current figure would be close to that, probably slightly higher due to longevity raises many employees continue to receive.”
* Source: WashingtonPost.com
• Retirement: A Thing of the Past?
“Historically, once you're fully eligible for social security and pension benefits—or just 65 and tired of the job—you exit the workforce and enjoy retirement. But those days may be over, according to a new study….”
* Source: Please visit: Forbes.com
• Diversity: Labor Force Projections to 2020:
The annual growth rate of the U.S. labor force over the 2010–2020 period is projected to be 0.7 percent, lower than the 0.8-percent growth rate exhibited in the previous decade. The diversity of the labor force has increased in the past several decades. Over the next decade, the labor force will become even more racially and ethnically diverse. The share of Hispanics or Latinos and Asians will expand more than ever before because immigration is the main engine of population growth and because Hispanics or Latinos and Asians have high labor force participation rates.
* Source: USDOL. For detailed information, see the February 20th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• Connecticut: 8 Mass Layoffs in January:
In January, Connecticut employers took 8 mass layoff actions; each action involved at least 50 persons from a single employer; the number of workers involved totaled 547. As compared to the same month a year ago, layoff actions were down by 3 and the number of workers affected fell by 501.
* Source: USDOL. For detailed information, including data on mass layoffs nationwide, see the February 27th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• OSHA 300 Recordkeeping Workshop:
Wethersfield, - March 8, 2012 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon. “The purpose of this workshop is to introduce the requirements and procedures related to OSHA Injury & Illness Recordkeeping. The class will help develop skills to accurately report occupational injuries and illnesses. Resources and reference materials will be provided. If you are responsible for completing the documents required by this rule (OSHA 300, OSHA 300A and OSHA 301), or if you supervise the person that completes the forms, or if you are a safety committee member, this class is a must!”
• To register or if you would like information contact John Able, able.john@dol.gov, 860-263-6902, or Catherine Zinsser, zinsser.catherine@dol.gov, 860-263-6942.
• CT Public-Sector Pay 6th Highest in U.S:
“Are state workers overpaid? In an annual survey of 90,000 state and local governments, the U.S. Census Bureau said Connecticut public sector pay was only lower than the District of Columbia, California, New Jersey, New York and Washington.”
* Source: CTPost.com
• CT HR Pros Say Employment Looking Stronger:
More than 100 Connecticut Human Resources professionals responding to CTHRR’s latest “Quick Survey” say that the jobs outlook for the next 12 months in our state appears to be better than it has in a long time. Fifty-two percent of respondents say they expect employment in their organizations to expand in 2012, and another 45% say employment will be unchanged in that period. This means that only 3% expect their employment to decrease…and all of these said they expect the contraction to be slight.
* Source: CTHRR’s Quick Surveys. For detailed information, see the February 20th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• The Current CTHRR eNewsletter Is Now Posted:
News Items for 20 February 2012:
• CT HR Pros Say Employment Looking Stronger
• CT Public-Sector Pay 6th Highest in U.S.
• Cost-of-Living Increase for the Past 12 Months
• Weekly Salary Increase for Past Year
• Payroll Tax Break Extended for 2012
• GM: Pay Freeze, Pension Changes
• Retirement: A Thing of the Past?
* Source: • To read this eNewsletter, log on at the top of the right frame and go to "Newsletters."
• To subscribe to this weekly eNewsletter, Please visit: Newsletters
• Social Security Tax Break Extended:
Congress has approved, and the President says he will sign the tax extension bill which will keep the two percentage-point payroll tax cut for employees. This will continue the employee Social Security tax withholding rate at 4.2% through 2012.
* For detailed information, see the February 20th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• More Jobs Were Open at Year-End:
There were 3.4 million job openings on the last business day of December, up from 3.1 million in November; however, the hires rate (3.1%) was unchanged.
* Source: USDOL. For detailed information, see the February 13th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• Hartford Employer Faces $169k in OSHA Fines:
“The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has proposed a total of $169,000 in fines against contractor Penney Construction Co. LLC in Hartford, chiefly for exposing its workers to cave-in hazards while repairing a sewer line in a 10-foot-deep trench on Park Street…. Penney Construction has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, meet with OSHA or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.”
* Source: USDOL-OSHA. For detailed information, see the January 30th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• Congressional Leaders Reach Deal Extending Payroll Tax Cut:
“House and Senate leaders have reached a tentative deal to extend a payroll tax cut, unemployment benefits and a “doc fix” for Medicare reimbursements, paving the way for an agreement that would avoid yet another round of bitter negotiations between warring Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill. The tentative deal...still has to be approved by both houses….”
* Source: FT.com
• U.S. Average Wages by Educational Attainment:
Full-time workers age 25 and over without a high school diploma had median weekly earnings of $444, compared with $641 for high school graduates (no college) and $1,158 for those holding at least a bachelor's degree. Among college graduates with advanced degrees (professional or master's degree and above), the highest earning 10 percent of male workers made $3,146 or more per week, compared with $2,303 or more for their female counterparts.
Source: USDOL. For detailed information, see the January 30th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• Powered Industrial Trucks - March 6, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon:
“Learn how to meet OSHA’s Powered Industrial Truck Standard. OSHA’s 29 CFR 1910.178 Standard requires formal instruction, practical training, and evaluation of operator performance to be completed and documented. This 2-hour workshop will cover safe work practices, methods of providing formal and practical training, and tools for operator evaluation. Written handout materials will be provided to use in the development of your site-specific training program.”
* Pre-registration is required. To register or for information, contact John Able, able.john@dol.gov, 860-263-6902.
• The Latest CTHRR eNewsletter Is Now Posted:
News Items for 13 February 2012:
• Connecticut Experienced Fewer Mass Layoffs in Q4
• U.S. Turnover/Job Openings: Quits Continue to Rise
• PPACA Group Coverage Notices Starting in September
• 401[k] Reminder: Two Deadlines Loom
• E-Verify: Workers Can Now Check Their Own Status
• Automatic Enrollment: USDOL Issues FAQ
• HR: A Statistical Approach
• Leader? How to Look and Act Like One
* Source: • To read this eNewsletter, log on at the top of the right frame and go to "Newsletters."
• To subscribe to this weekly eNewsletter, Please visit: Newsletters
• More Jobs Were Open at Year-End:
There were 3.4 million job openings in the U.S. on the last business day of December, up from 3.1 million in November; however, the hires rate (3.1 percent) was unchanged.
* USDOL. For detailed information, see the February 13th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• New CTHRR Quick Survey Available:
We'd appreciate your help: We've posted a new survey for Connecticut employers' participation. It focuses on your hours of work, break times, and OT practices. All replies are confidential...all participants receive the compiled results. The survey takes less than a minute to complete.
* Please visit: www.cthrr.com/quicksurvey.htm
Or go to cthrr.com and click on "Confidential Quick Survey" under the photo in the left frame.
• U.S. Average Wages by Major Race and Ethnicity Groups:
Median weekly earnings for black men working at full-time jobs were $660 per week, or 75.8 percent of the median for white men ($871). The difference was less among women, as black women's median earnings ($601) were 84.8 percent of those for white women ($709). Overall, median earnings of Hispanics w ho worked full time ($537) were lower than those of blacks ($621), whites ($786), and Asians ($880).
* Source: USDOL. For detailed information, see the January 30th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• Derby Employer to Lay Off:
The Connecticut Department of Labor says that Marc Glassman, Inc., d/b/a Xpect Discounts, in Derby, will lay off 58 employees on April 7th; CTDOL did not know if the company is closing down.
* CTDOL. For detailed information, see the February 6th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• U.S. Average Wage: $764/Week:
Median weekly earnings of the nation's 101.5 million full-time wage and salary workers were $764 in the fourth quarter of 2011 (not seasonally adjusted). Women had median weekly earnings of $688, or 81.6 percent of the $843 median for men.
* Source: USDOL. For detailed information, see the January 30th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• Waterford Employer to Lay Off:
The Connecticut Department of Labor says that Peter Pan Bus Lines, in Waterford, will lay off 79 employees on February 29th; the company is closing.
* CTDOL. For detailed information, see the February 6th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• Connecticut Union Membership:
In 2011 the proportion of wage and salary workers who were members of a union was 16.8 percent, slightly increased from 16.7 percent in 2010. The number of wage and salary workers belonging to unions, at 259,000, also showed little movement over the year increasing only 0.3% from 258,000.
* Source: USDOL. For detailed information, see the January 30th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• The Latest CTHRR eNewsletter Is Now Posted:
News Items:
• Minimum Wage Boost Proposed
• OSHA 300 Recordkeeping Workshop
• Lyme Disease Risk Areas
• Derby, Hartford, New Britain, Waterford Layoffs Scheduled
• Employment Costs: Wages Up 1.4%, Benefits 3.2%
• U.S. Employment Up, Unemployment Down
• FMLA Amendments Planned
* Source: • To read this eNewsletter, log on at the top of the right frame and go to "Newsletters."
• To subscribe to this weekly eNewsletter, Please visit: Newsletters
• New CTHRR Quick Survey Available:
We'd appreciate your help: We've posted a new survey for Connecticut employers' participation. It focuses on your hours of work, break times, and OT practices. All replies are confidential...all participants receive the compiled results. The survey takes less than a minute to complete.
* Please visit: www.cthrr.com/quicksurvey.htm
Or go to cthrr.com and click on "Confidential Quick Survey" under the photo in the left frame.
• U.S. Added 243k Jobs in January:
Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 243,000 in January, and the
unemployment rate decreased to 8.3 percent. Job growth was widespread in the private
sector, with large employment gains in professional and business
services, leisure and hospitality, and manufacturing. Government
employment changed little over the month.
* Source: USDOL. For detailed information, see the February 6th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• Workplace Violence Awareness, February 7th:
This free, two-hour interactive workshop on taking a proactive approach and learning how to recognize the warning signs of workplace violence is open to all Connecticut employers and will take place from 10 a.m. to noon at the agency’s Wethersfield Central Office, 200 Folly Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield.
•
* Source: To register for the workshop, or for additional information, please contact John Able via email at able.john@dol.gov.
• Connecticut’s Labor Market Areas:
Four of the six Connecticut LMAs showed increases in December. Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk led all areas this month with a 2,900 or 0.7% job gain, while New Haven led all decliners (-2,400, -0.9%). Since last December, among the larger LMAs, the Hartford area had the biggest job increase (6,800, 1.3%), while New Haven experienced the biggest decline (-4,000, -1.5%).
* Source: CTDOL. For detailed information, see the January 30th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• U.S. Initial Unemployment Claims Down 12k:
In the week ending January 28, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 367,000, a decrease of 12,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 379,000 and down 13.4% from the same week a year ago.
* Source: USDOL. For detailed information, see the February 6th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• Connecticut’s Recession Recovery:
Connecticut has now recovered 34,300, or 28.8% of the 119,200 nonfarm jobs lost in the March 2008 to January 2010 recession.
* Source: CTDOL. For detailed information, see the January 30th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• Connecticut Employer to Close:
The Connecticut Department of Labor says that the Klingberg Family Center, with facilities in New Britain and Hartford, will lay off 100 employees between March 5 and April 7, 2012; the company is closing . Note that the federal WARN Act requires employers to notify the state and other entities sixty days before any layoff affecting a significant number of employees, typically 50 or more.
* Further Information on the WARN Act, visit the section on Layoffs in: What to Do about Personnel Problems in Connecticut
• U.S. Health Care Coverage in 2011:
In March 2011, more than two-thirds of private industry workers had access to medical care benefits, and 51 percent of all workers participated in a medical care plan. Employers paid 80 percent of premiums for single-coverage medical care benefits and 69 percent of premiums for family coverage.
* Source: USDOL. For detailed information, see the January 30th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• Reminder: Post Your OSHA Form 300A by Wednesday:
The Form 300A (Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses) must be posted from February 1 to April 30 each year. For other reminders of HR-related events, click on “Calendar” in the header, above.
* Further Information: Please visit the section on OSHA in: What to Do about Personnel Problems in Connecticut
• The Latest CTHRR eNewsletter Is Now Posted:
News Items:
• Connecticut’s Employment Picture
• Connecticut’s Average Weekly Pay Up 1.6%
• Connecticut’s Union Membership
• CHRO Proposes Changes to AAP Regs
• NLRB Issues Report on Social Media Cases
• 2011 Set Record for Private-Sector EEOC Charges
• Should Pregnancy Be Considered A Disability?
* Source: • To read this eNewsletter, log on at the top of the right frame and go to "Newsletters."
• To subscribe to this weekly eNewsletter, Please visit: Newsletters
• CTDOL’s Take on Connecticut’s Employment Situation:
“’After a disappointing performance in the third quarter of 2011, it appears that Connecticut’s labor market has returned to a modest pace toward recovery,’ noted Andy Condon, Director of the Office of Research. ‘Our declining unemployment rate is particularly good news. However, forecasts for job growth in 2012 remain cautious and uncertain with most analysts predicting levels much like what we saw this past year.’”
* Source: CTDOL. For detailed information, see the January 30th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• Connecticut’s Average Earnings:
At $28.27, not seasonally adjusted, average hourly wages in December were up $0.12 or 0.4% higher than a year ago. The resultant average private sector weekly pay estimate was $966.83, up $15.36, or 1.6% over the year.
* Source: CTDOL. For detailed information, see the January 30th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• Construction Site Safety Seminar:
February 15, 2012 from 9:00 am – 12:00 noon in Wethersfield: CONN-OSHA says, “Construction managers, first line supervisors, and construction employees will be provided with an overview of four areas of concern on the construction site. Program contents include: Fall protection, scaffolding and ladders, electrical hazards, and trenching safety. These four areas of concern continue to account for the greatest number of preventable fatalities in the construction industry.”
* Source: To register for this class or if you would like more information, contact John Able, able.john@dol.gov, 860-263-6902, or Catherine Zinsser, zinsser.catherine@dol.gov, 860-263-6942
• Connecticut’s Unemployment in December:
The estimate of people unemployed, seasonally adjusted, was down 4,700 from November to 154,500, and the unemployment rate decreased two-tenths to 8.2 percent, which is below the national rate of 8.5 percent. Last December, Connecticut’s unemployment rate was 9.0 percent. The Connecticut unemployment rate has not been this low since May 2009.
* Source: CTDOL. For detailed information, see the January 30th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• U.S. Job Openings Down for Month, Up for Year:
There were 2.811 million job openings on the last business day of November. This is a decrease of 504,000 from the prior month but is 5.4% higher than in the same month a year ago.
* Source: USDOL. For detailed information, see the January 16th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• File 2011 Connecticut and Federal Taxes by April 17th this Year:
“The 2011 Connecticut income tax return (and payments) will be considered timely if filed on Tuesday, April 17, 2012. In 2012, the due date for filing a Connecticut income tax return (April 15) falls on a Sunday and Monday is a legal holiday (Emancipation Day [in Washington, DC]). Therefore, for filing purposes the next business day is Tuesday, April 17, 2012.”
* Please visit: 2011 CT Resident Income Tax Instructions
• Connecticut Employment Picture in December:
Connecticut’s job market returned to a path of modest recovery in December after a brief stall in November. Connecticut’s seasonally adjusted total nonfarm job count reached 1,627,800, a monthly increase of 600 over a revised November decline of 1,400. Connecticut has grown 9,000 jobs over a year ago or 0.6%. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continued its recent trend of declines falling two-tenths of a point to 8.2%
* Source: CTDOL. Full details on this report will appear in our Connecticut HR eNewsletter of January 30th. Subscribers who would like to have this information immediately can send an email request to HR@CTHRR.com.
• The Latest CTHRR eNewsletter Is Now Posted:
News Items:
• Connecticut Saw More Job Ads in December
• U.S. Weekly Salaries Are Up Nearly 3%, but...
• Cost-of-Living: The CPI Is Up Even More
• IRS: Revised Circular E Now Available
• Connecticut: Worst State for Retirement in 2012
• CTDOL Issued 26 Stop-Work Orders in Stamford
• Does HR Kill Innovation?
* Source: • To read this eNewsletter, log on at the top of the right frame and go to "Newsletters."
• To subscribe to this weekly eNewsletter, Please visit: Newsletters
• 6.5% of Connecticut’s Jobs Depend on Tourism:
“Tourism has a significant impact on the state’s economy. Based on the most recent analysis conducted by the University of Connecticut’s Center for Economic Analysis, Connecticut reaps $11.5 billion every year through total traveler and tourism revenue and $1.15 billion in state and local tax revenue. Travel and tourism creates more than 110,000 jobs throughout the state, or 6.5% of Connecticut’s total employment.”
* Source: CT Department of Economic & Community Development
• What to Do About Personnel Problems in Connecticut:
For over 50 years, human resource managers have relied on this practical state & federal employment laws resource to understand and stay on top of ever-changing employment regulations in our state. No wonder we've heard so many nice names for What to Do About Personnel Problems—we've even been called the "HR Bible"!
* Information
• Which College Major Has the Worst Unemployment?
“Ask most people which college majors fare the worst in the job market and I suspect many would say something like philosophy or art history—fields with few job prospects outside the ivory tower, and fairly low-paying ones at that. According to a new study, you would be wrong. Hard Times, College Majors, Unemployment and Earnings: Not All College Degrees Are Created Equal, by Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce says the college degree with the worst unemployment is neither of those. It’s architecture.”
* Source: BusinessWeek.com
• Windsor Employer to Lay Off 117:
The Connecticut Department of Labor says that RR Donnelley of Windsor will lay off 117 employees on 3/17/12; the company is scheduled to close on that date. Note that the federal WARN Act requires employers to notify the state and other entities sixty days before any layoff affecting a significant number of employees, typically 50 or more.
* For further information on the WARN act and related issues: Please visit the section on Layoffs in: What to Do about Personnel Problems in Connecticut
• Paid Sick-Leave Seminar February 2nd:
Essentials of the New Connecticut Paid Sick Leave Law will be presented by CTDOL Thursday, February 2, 2012, 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Connecticut Department of Labor, 200 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield. Attendees must register in advance; the two previous presentations “sold out” quickly.
* Registration: CTDOL
• Wallingford: Foreign National Collected Unemployment Illegally:
The Hartford Courant says, “An investigation found that he collected 17 checks of $334 from the Connecticut Department of Labor by claiming he was a U.S. citizen with a Social Security number. He also helped another person collect unemployment benefits while living in Mexico….”
Source: Read the complete article
• Wethersfield Employer to Lay Off 145:
The Connecticut Department of Labor says that Wethersfield Health Care
Center will lay off 145 employees starting 3/15/12; the Center is not closing. Note that the federal WARN Act requires employers to notify the state and other entities sixty days before any layoff affecting a significant number of employees, typically 50 or more.
* For further information on the WARN act and related issues: Please visit the section on Layoffs in: What to Do about Personnel Problems in Connecticut
• Workplace Violence Workshop, February 7th:
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. CONN-OSHA says, “This workshop is designed to make you more aware of the issues related to workplace violence and to provide tools to help manage, defuse, and prevent it.”
* To register or for information, contact John Able (able.john@dol.gov) 860-263-6902, or Catherine Zinsser, (zinsser.catherine@ dol.gov) 860-263-6942.
• Latest CTHRR eNewsletter Is Now Posted: Full details on the latest news items:
• Paid Sick-Leave Seminar February 2nd
• 6.5% of Connecticut’s Jobs Depend on Tourism
• Groton, New Haven WARN Act Layoffs
• Latest Job Openings and Turnover Data
• College Class of 2011 Received Higher Starting Salaries
• Ten Biggest Mistakes In Performance Reviewing
• Who Did the Background Check on this HR Manager?
* To see back issues of this eNewsletter, log on at the top of the right frame and go to "Newsletters." • To subscribe to this weekly eNewsletter, Please visit: Newsletters
• College Class of 2011 Received Higher Starting Salaries:
“2011 graduates at the bachelor’s degree level began their first post-graduation job with an average salary of $41,701—up 2.3 percent over the average salary for Class of 2010 graduates, according to NACE’s Winter 2012 Salary Survey report.”
* Source: National Association of Colleges and Employers. For detailed information, see the January 16th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• U.S. Average Wages:
In December, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 4 cents, or 0.2 percent, to $23.24. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 2.1 percent.
Average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees were unchanged at $19.54.
* Source: USDOL. For detailed information, see the January 9th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• Public-Transit Commuting Now More Expensive:
The tax-free maximum amount that employers can provide to their employees to use public transit in their commuting fell to $125 this month because Congress didn’t extend the $230 maximum that’s been in effect for the last several years.
* For current information on dollar limits affecting transportation, pensions, Social Security, Minimum Wage, Workers’ Compensation, Unemployment Compensation and related topics, subscribers to What to Do about Personnel Problems in Connecticut and Employee Compensation in Connecticut can Login at CTHRR.com and go to the “Stats, Reports, & Forecasts” section.
• New Haven Register to Layoff 105:
The Connecticut Department of Labor says that the New Haven Register will lay off 105 employees starting March 5. Note that the federal WARN Act requires employers to notify the state and other entities sixty days before any layoff affecting a significant number of employees, typically 50 or more.
* For further information on the WARN act and related issues: Please visit the section on Layoffs in: What to Do about Personnel Problems in Connecticut
• Trumbull: No Workers’ Comp Coverage = 5 Years in Jail?
“A Trumbull contractor was arrested…for allegedly failing to carry Workers’ Compensation insurance for his business, a situation discovered after an employee was seriously injured in a fall. Fernando Manoel Olivera, age 44, of 46 Horseshoe Drive, Trumbull, was charged with one count of Failure to Carry Workers’ Compensation Insurance, a class D felony carrying a maximum penalty of five years in prison….
* Source: Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice
• U.S. Unemployment Among Major Worker Groups:
Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rate for adult men decreased to 8.0 percent in December. The jobless rates for adult women (7.9 percent), teenagers (23.1 percent), whites (7.5 percent), blacks (15.8 percent), and Hispanics (11.0 percent) showed little change. The jobless rate for Asians was 6.8 percent, not seasonally adjusted.
* Source: USDOL. For detailed information, see the January 9th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• U.S. Initial Unemployment Claims Down 15k:
In the week ending December 31, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 372,000, a decrease of 15,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 387,000 and down 11% from the same week a year ago.
* Source: USDOL. For detailed information, see the January 9th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• U.S. Employment Up Slightly, Unemployment Down a Bit:
Nonfarm payroll employment rose by 200,000 in December. Job gains occurred in transportation and warehousing, retail trade, manufacturing, health care, and mining. As to unemployment, both the number of unemployed persons (13.1 million) and the unemployment rate (8.5 percent) continued to trend down in December. The unemployment rate has declined by 0.6 percentage point since August.
* Source: USDOL. For detailed information, see the January 9th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• OSHA Record-Keeping Seminar:
Connecticut Department of Labor’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (CONN-OSHA) will hold a Recordkeeping workshop January 14, 2012 to provide attendees with guidance and tips for ensuring that workplace information and logs are accurate and properly kept up-to-date. The free training session will take place from 9 a.m. to noon in the agency’s Central Office, located at 200 Folly Brook Boulevard in Wethersfield. Attendees will be provided guidelines on how to properly maintain the Form 300: Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, Form 300A: Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, and Form 301: Injury and Illness Incident Report.
* To register for the free workshop, contact CONN-OSHA Training Officer John Able at (860) 263-6902 or via e-mail at able.john@dol.gov.
• Stamford Employer Closing Trips WARN Act Requirements:
The Connecticut Department of Labor says that Societe Generale Energy Co. of Stamford will lay off 129 employees between March 6 and June 29, 2012; the facility is closing on 6/29/12. Note that the The federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act requires employers to give 60 calendar days’ notice of any: [1] Plant Closing: A temporary shutdown for more than six months, or a permanent shutdown of part or all of a facility at a single worksite that affects 50 or more workers in a 30-day period, or [2]Mass Layoff: Any other reduction in force of more than six months' duration at a single worksite that affects 33% of the workers (a minimum of 50 workers must be laid off) in a 30-day period, or affecting 500 workers even if this is less than 33% of the workforce at that site.
* Further Information: Please visit the section on Layoffs in: What to Do about Personnel Problems in Connecticut
• Connecticut’s Unemployment:
In November the estimate of people unemployed, seasonally adjusted, was down 4,700 from October at 159,200, and the unemployment rate decreased three-tenths to 8.4 percent which is below the national rate of 8.6 percent. A year ago at this time Connecticut’s unemployment rate was 9.1 percent. The Connecticut rate has not been this low since June 2009.
* Source: CTDOL. For detailed information, see the December 26th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• Connecticut’s Average Hours of Work:
The workweek for employees in the private sector, not seasonally adjusted, averaged 34.0 hours in November, up 0.5 hours (1.5%) from the November 2010 figure of 33.5 hours.
* Source: CTDOL. For detailed information, see the December 26th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• VETS100 Filing Deadline Extended:
The filing deadline for VETS-100 reports in the 2011 cycle has been extended to January 15, 2012.
* Source: USDOL Veterans Employment & Training Service
• U.S. Initial Unemployment Claims Up 15k:
In the week ending December 24, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 381,000, an increase of 15,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 366,000 and 5.7% below the same week a year ago.
* Source: USDOL. For detailed information, see the next issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• Job Growth in Connecticut’s Labor Market Areas:
Danbury led all areas in November with a 300-job or a 0.5% gain while Norwich-New London led all decliners (-1,800, -1.4%). Since last November, among the larger LMAs, Hartford had the biggest job increase (3,800, 0.7%), while Norwich-New London experienced the biggest decline (-4,100, -3.2%).
* Source: CTDOL. For detailed information, see the December 26th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• Connecticut’s Recession Recovery:
Connecticut has now recouped 35,200, or 29.5% of the 119,200 nonfarm jobs lost in the March 2008 to January 2010 recession (-7.0% of total nonfarm payrolls). Connecticut’s nonfarm job level is now at the highest level since the employment recession ended in January 2010.
* Source: CTDOL. For detailed information, see the December 26th issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• Latest CTHRR eNewsletter Is Now Posted:
Full details on the latest news items:
• NLRB Postpones Posting of Pro-Union Notice
• Connecticut’s Employment Up Less than 1% in Year
• Shelton HR Manager Embezzled $1.5 mil
• Connecticut: 9 Mass Layoffs in November
• Domestic Service: USDOL Issues Proposed FLSA Standard
• Federal Tax Cut Extension Affects Social Security Deductions
• Putting the “Human” Back in HR
* Source: • To see back issues of this eNewsletter, log on at the top of the right frame and go to "Newsletters."
• To subscribe to this weekly eNewsletter, Please visit: Newsletters
• Federal Tax Cut Extension Affects Social Security Deductions:
The Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act of 2011 temporarily extends the two percentage point payroll tax cut for employees, continuing the reduction of their Social Security tax withholding rate from 6.2 percent to 4.2 percent of wages paid through Feb. 29, 2012. Employers should implement the new payroll tax rate as soon as possible in 2012 but not later than Jan. 31, 2012. For any Social Security tax over-withheld during January, employers should make an offsetting adjustment in workers’ pay as soon as possible but not later than March 31, 2012.
* Source: IRS. For detailed information, see the next issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• NLRB Postpones Pro-Union Notice Posting:
The National Labor Relations Board has agreed to postpone the effective date of its employee rights notice-posting rule at the request of the federal court in Washington, DC hearing a legal challenge regarding the rule. The Board’s ruling states that it has determined that postponing the effective date of the rule would facilitate the resolution of the legal challenges that have been filed with respect to the rule. The new implementation date is April 30, 2012.
* Source: NLRB. For detailed information, see the next issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• Connecticut’s Average Wage in November:
Average hourly earnings at $28.34, not seasonally adjusted, were $0.25 or 0.9% higher than last November. The resultant average private sector weekly pay estimate was $963.56, up $22.54, or 2.4% over the year.
* Source: USDOL. For detailed information, see the next issue of CTHRR’s: Connecticut HR eNewsletter
• Shelton: HR Manager Embezzled $1.5 mil:
According to the Norwich Bulletin, “Federal prosecutors say Joanne Osmolik worked as a vice president for human resources at Latex International in Shelton where she and another manager allegedly used corporate credit cards for personal expenditures, then covered it up with fraudulent expense reports.”
* Source:
