Your favorite background check provider recently sat down with China Gorman, Chief Operating Officer of SHRM and discussed a myriad topics including: the challenges the HR profession has faced in the past year, SHRM’s accomplishments since the last Annual SHRM Conference and their plans for the next 12 months. We also talked about China’s enthusiasm for Twitter (check out her page). This interview is a must-listen for human resource professionals.
Although the country is still in the midst of a recession, fewer Florida jobs were lost last month.
During April, the State of Florida saw its unemployment rate decrease from 9.8 percent to 9.6 percent, which is still higher than the national unemployment rate of 8.9 percent. This is the first time since March 2006 that the state has seen a decrease in its unemployment rate.
Florida had an unemployment rate of 7.2 percent during November 2008, 7.6 percent during December 2008, 8.8 percent during January, 9.6 percent during February, 9.8 percent during March and 9.6 percent during April.
Florida had a total non-farm employment of 7,451,000 workers during April, according to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is up from 7,449,700 workers during March, but a 4.9 percent decrease from last year.
Although fewer workers were without jobs last month, only one industry added jobs when compared to last year. The education and health services industry employed 1,059,200 workers during April, down from 1,063,100 workers during March, but a 1.6 percent increase from last year.
The manufacturing industry took the biggest hit when it comes to over-the-year employment. The industry employed 339,100 workers during April, down from 343,300 workers during March and a 10.4 percent decrease from last year.
The other industries that saw an over-the-year decrease in jobs include:
Should truck drivers who transport hazardous materials be given less rigorous background checks?
That's the question some officials in the trucking community are asking. As the number of qualified hazmat drivers continue to dwindle, some people think the rules should be loosened. According to an article by Fleet Owner Magazine, the safety and security of the current rules for truck drivers are not being questioned, but rather the depth and ominous nature of the rules.
Robert Petrancosta, vice president of safety for LTL carrier Con-way Freight, spoke before Congress last week, stressing that hazmat rules may be too tough. He said that there are about one million shipments of hazardous materials in the U.S. each day. Of those, 94 percent are moved by truck. The rate of serious incidents involving the transportation of hazardous materials by motor carriers is only .0001 percent and the number of incidents involving injusries is .00002 percent.
“The … reduction in hazardous materials-qualified drivers is not the result of individuals failing the background check – less than 1 percent fail – but rather is a result of the onerous process associated with obtaining this credential and the fact that drivers often must obtain multiple credentials that entail expensive, duplicative federal background checks,” Petrancosta said.
Many people in the trucking business think the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safey Administration is doing a good job at setting and enforcing the rules.
“We support the PHMSA's leadership in regulating hazardous materials transportation," Petrancosta said. "[They’ve] implemented an enterprise approach to hazardous materials regulation and communicates on a regular basis with key stakeholders, including safety advocates, emergency responders, carriers and shippers."
Many truckers mus pay for multiple background checks. At the same time, federal and state hazmat rules can conflict with eachother, causing delays in obtaining permits. Jurisdiction over hazmat rules is split between the PHMSA and the Occupation Safety and Health Administration, which also complicates things.
Many people feel the biggest issue is redundancy. Many states, municipalities and local goverments are requiring background checks and other credentials for hazmat drivers that duplicate what federal checks are doing.
“Duplicative background checks and redundant credentials have caused a dramatic reduction in the number of qualified drivers that are available to transport hazardous materials,” Petrancosta said.
“Prior to the initiation of the Transportation Security Administration's background check program, there were more than 2.7 million drivers that had obtained hazardous materials endorsements to their commercial drivers licenses,” he continued. “We estimate that the number of HME holders will fall to 1.6 million – some 41 percent – by the spring of 2010.”
The reason the number of drivers will continue to decrease has nothing to do with drivers failing the background checks, Petrancosta said, but with the increasing costs for the checks themselves.
“Drivers that transport hazardous materials must submit to a fingerprint-based background check to obtain HME to their CDL," he said. "This credential costs approximately $100, requires multiple visits to the licensing agency to complete the process and involves a delay of several weeks before the credential is issued.
"Many of these drivers also access port facilities and therefore must obtain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential – these drivers receive a discount if they have already been through an HME check, but still must pay an additional $105.25 for the second credential," Pentrancosta continued, adding that obtaining federal credentials for Con-way's drivers costs about $250,000.
Individual states have more than 40 separate hazardous materials permitting programs, depending on the type of hazardous material being transported through the state. A solution would be the Uniform Program, which is currently administered in seven states. The program ensures participating states will continue to receive the revenue they have come to rely upon under their individual permitting programs. It also would reduce state expenses, as the inspection and administrative functions would be shared by all participating states, while reducing the administrative burden on the regulated industry.
A new Web site has launched to help people in Maine and New Hampshire find jobs online.
Sun Media Group, the parent company of 12 local weekly newspapers, and The Employment Times recently launched MyJobWave. The site is aimed at bringing job seekers and employers in Maine and New Hampshire together, according to an article by the Sun Journal.
"The power of two strong local businesses working together to offer a much-needed service in these challenging economic times is just one of the reasons we wanted to launch this product," Steve Costello, vice president of Sun Media Group, said in the article.
"Many people entering the unemployed ranks have never used an online job board to search for a new career," he continued. "We believe MyJobWave.com will be an easy-to-use tool, providing free resources for the job seeker and low-cost advertising for the employers."
The new site allows employers to post unlimited job openings at a low subscription rate, while there are many features for recruiters and job seekers.
MyJobWave.com also offers an online education center where job seekers can find information on resume writing, networking and best practices for job searches and career enhancement. There also is information for HR professionals, hiring managers, business owners and recruiters.
"MyJobWave.com was founded on the premise that surviving tough economic times requires a superior mode of career enhancement tools and recruitment platforms," Jeanne Paquette, publisher of The Employment Times, said in the article.
"Not only do we realize the need for value-added, cost-saving resources in the marketplace and easy-to-use online tools for people looking for jobs right now, but we also know our leading print publications will enhance the value of the service provided," she added.
Virginia manufacturing jobs are faring better than most, according to a new study.
The 2009 Virginia Manufacturers Directory recently reported that Virginia lost 2,699 manufacturing-related jobs from October 2007 to October 2008, smaller than most losses seen throughout the country. The directory is a compilation of state industry, according to an article by MarketWatch.
Virginia is home to 7,231 manufacturers that employ 374,471 workers, ranking the state 18th in the country for number of manufacturers and jobs.
"As with the entire nation, weakening demand continues to hit many of Virginia's core sectors, while the faltering housing market has affected industries such as wood products, furniture and building products," Tom Dubin, President of Manufacturers News, Inc., said in the article. "However, Virginia's favorable business climate and growing stronghold in the automotive industry should continue to help the state attract and retain industrial facilities."
Transportation equipment is the state's largest sector, employing 38,837 people, a 1 percent increase from last year; food products employs 37,472 workers and printing and publishing employs 36,600 workers, a 1.8 percent increase from last year. Other sectors that saw an employment increase include: fabricated metals manufacturing by 3.3 percent and electronics by 7.9 percent.
Sectors that saw employment decrease during the year include: textiles and apparel by 10 percent; furniture and fixtures by 10 percent; paper and allied products by 4.1 percent; lumber and wood by 3.4 percent; industrial machinery and equipment by 1.3 percent and manufacturing jobs in chemicals by 1 percent.
Mid-Atlantic and southern states saw more significant losses, with the industry in Tennessee seeing a 3.3 percent decrease, Kentucky seeing a 2.6 percent decrease, North Carolina seeing a 2.3 percent decrease and Pennsylvania seeing a 1.2 percent decrease.
If you're hoping to get a job at a brewery, timing and the economy may not be on your side.
Anheuser-Busch InBev recently announced its plan to cut 1,400 salaried workers, or about 6 percent of the company's United States workforce. The company also plans to leave 250 positions vacant and eliminate 415 contractor positions, according to an article by the Jacksonville Business Journal.
Of the workers to be laid off, about 1,050 are employed in the St. Louis area. Most of those to lose their jobs are employed in the beer-related division of the company and hold positions as engineers, information technology workers and other corporate positions.
Anheuser-Busch InBev plans to provide the employees with severance pay and pension benefits based on age and years of service. Employees also will be offered outplacement services to help them find jobs. The company expects $197 million in pre-tax expenses related with the cutbacks.
The job cuts are part of a plan to save $1 billion in costs, which includes reducing the company's 8,600 person workforce by 10 to 15 percent before next year. More than 1,000 employees previously accepted company buyout and retirement offers, meaning 2,300 jobs have been cut. That's about 40 percent of the 6,000 person workforce in St. Louis.
"These decisions are a result of a careful review of each department," President Dave Peacock said in the article. "As expected, there are overlapping functions and synergies gained through the merger, which have driven part of these reductions.
"Others are the result of ongoing efficiency improvements and additional cost-reductions, including lower capital expenditures," Peacock continued. "These were not easy decisions but were necessary for the organization."
A new bill would help discourage improper background checks in the State of Ohio.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Shannon Jones, R-Springboro, in the House of Representatives, would cause any state employee or agency who makes an improper background check to be fired and/or charged with a first-degree misdemeanor. A Senate companion to the bill is being sponsored by Sen. Mark Wagoner, R-Toledo.
“Ohioans should not have to fear that by exercising their free speech rights that state government will turn its databases against them,” Jones said in an article by The Columbus Dispatch. “The systematic misuse of government databases and the governor’s woeful under reaction to state government workers engaging in this outrageous behavior make this bill necessary.”
If passed, the bills would:
The bills also would allow anyone who is harmed by an improper records search to sue the person or agency responsible.
The bills came about after Ohio Inspector General Thomas P. Charles found that Helen Jones-Kelley, director of the Department of Job and Family Services, had no legitimate reasons to check the background of Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher, a Toledo-area resident better known as "Joe the Plumber" by Republican presidential candidate John McCain.
Charles also found that Jones-Kelley improperly used her state e-mail account to raise campaign money for President-elect Barack Obama. Gov. Ted Strickland placed Jones-Kelly on a one month unpaid suspension, and four other employees at the agency also were punished.
If you're a construction worker looking for a job in Oregon, help may be on the way.
Gov. Ted Kulongoski and other legislative leaders recently announced a plan to deliver a large transportation package that would create tons of jobs. According to an article by The Seattle Times, Kulongoski was scheduled today to appear at a legislative hearing for the plan.
The plan could ultimately raise the state gas tax and vehicle fees, but would pay for road and bridge improvements and create thousands of construction jobs, something that would extremely helpful in a world with many job seekers.
"We need to put people back to work," Kulongoski said in the article. "And you can accomplish more good on that score by investing in public infrastructure than you can throwing public money at banks and financial institutions."
There are currently no details about the package Kulongoski plans to submit in January. However, it will take into consideration recommendations made by a committee that looked at short-term and long-term steps needed to address Oregon's $1.3 billion transportation-maintenance shortfall.
That committee called for a gas-tax increase between 2 and 8 cents per gallon, doubling the vehicle-titling fee to $110, raising the registration fee to $81 per year from $27 per year and adding a $100-per-year fee for titling new cars in the state.
"The state's 24-cent-a-gallon gasoline tax is still the biggest single source of money for Oregon's road and bridge program," the article notes. "Moves to increase it haven't been popular. Oregonians trounced the most recent attempt — a nickel-a-gallon increase in 2000.
"But the path to a possible gas-tax increase became easier in last Tuesday's election when Democrats won 36 seats in the Oregon House, and thus the ability to raise taxes or fees without Republican help," the article added.
These days many people are on a job search. Some are having luck and others aren't. No matter what side of the fence you're on, there are some tips that may help.
PerfectJob Software, which helps individuals systematically launch, manage and organize their job search process, recently released a press release with some tips for those hunting for work. Steven D. Davies, founder and president, said savvy job seekers find employment by combining typical methods such as networking, referrals and working with recruiters, while at the same time using high-tech methods like job boards, resume submission services and social networking sites.
It is suggested job seekers prioritize their activities and tasks related to the job search, while assigning specific due dates for commitments to others. It's important to find a realistic start date and allow enough time for completion.
Job seekers also should maintain momentum by smoothly transitioning from one activity to the next.
"One-third of job seekers stop in their second month of looking," the release notes. "During this dangerous month, try to add an additional task or two at the end of each day, to ensure you continue to move forward."
If you're looking for work you should be aggressive about completing your tasks, and should make sure to try to finish all of the most important items each day.
Finally, job seekers should add at least one new task that will expand the universe of jobs they are pursuing every day.
"This might include sending an inquiry to an industry leader that you've always admired or calling a small company that is growing in a different field from yours," the release adds. "Become comfortable trying new things: it keeps you more nimble and the search more interesting."
Founded in 2007, PerfectJob is an integrated system focused on helping job seekers find a new job more quickly. The software is available today as an Internet download, and will be available later this year as an online service.
One state governor is taking the status of employees seriously and ordering background checks for all of his workers.
New York Gov. David Paterson recently ordered background checks for all executive chamber employees after learning a check had not been completed on his chief of staff, who has been accused of failing to pay taxes. According to an article by the Associated Press, 60 percent of executive chamber employees haven't undergone completed background checks, and some materials employees previously submitted for checks has been lost.
Although not required by law, the background checks were started by former Gov. Eliot Spitzer and never completed. The checks were specifically designed to discover and avoid any conflicts of interest, as an employee could lose his or her job if the background check discovered a conflict or some other major problem, such as a felony conviction, that the employee didn't report to the governor.
A background check had not been completed on Paterson's chief of staff, Charles O'Byrne, who failed to pay nearly $300,000 in taxes from 2001-2005.
O'Byrne claimed he informed Paterson of the tax debt and that he was suffering from depression in 2004 and again in 2007, and a letter addressed from O'Byrne to Paterson dated Jan. 28, 2007, was recently released. O'Byrne has since paid the back taxes with penalties and interest.
"I suffered from and have been treated for depression and, among other problems, I fell behind in taking care of my taxes," O'Byrne said in the letter. "I have spoken to the lieutenant governor about this and I am in the process of resolving the problem by completing and filing the forms and paying what I owe once I understand interests and penalties that will apply.
"I would be grateful if
you would treat this information with some sensitivity as my staff does
not know of my illness," he continued.
