Career News

Today, at a White House Middle Class Task Force forum hosted by Vice President Joe Biden, U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announced several department initiatives designed to end wage discrimination while improving pay equity and work/life balance.“Pay equity is a core family issue,” said Secretary Solis.  “More money in a woman’s paycheck means a working family not having to choose between paying the mortgage, buying groceries, or buying necessary school supplies.”Through a collaborative effort among the Labor Department’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, the Department of Justice and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the administration will ensure strategic enforcement of pay discrimination cases.  In addition to hiring nearly 200 additional enforcement staff, OFCCP will publish an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking early next year that will seek input from stakeholders on how to improve the Equal … [Read more...] about VP Biden Looks to Enhance Work/Life Balance

As someone who benefited from two excellent internship programs, I’m a big proponent of the idea. What better way to get real-life, hands-on experience at a job site. Mine were through a social work Master’s program that carefully supervised interns and screened the workplaces.Despite the professional settings, I do remember being asked to do some questionable things. Being an older, returning student who had worked in professional settings for years, I wasn’t an easy mark. When a psych nurse told me to go to a patient’s home alone and pack a suitcase, I was skeptical (liability!) and declined. She struck me as someone who probably expected interns to fetch her coffee. Post-degree, I had the opportunity to supervise social work student interns. Remembering my experiences, I tried to provide a rich learning environment for my students. I felt that if they weren’t paid for their hard work, at least the training and exposure should be worthwhile.In April … [Read more...] about New Law – Stricter Guidelines for Unpaid Internships

New Provision Incentivizes Wellness Offering employees incentives for improving their health isn’t a new concept. Many larger companies providing employee health insurance give discounts or cash incentives for smoking cessation, nutrition awareness and other wellness initiatives.Smaller companies have historically faced a big financial hurdle when trying to offer similar benefits to their employees. But that’s about to change. In an article at CNN Money, “Bribe Your Workers to be Healthy,” Sonya Stinson outlines a new provision in the health reform law that will aid small companies.  And they will compare insurance rates so that they get the best deal on the coverage.“Starting next year, the law authorizes grants totaling $200 million over five years for small companies that start wellness programs focused on efforts such as nutrition, smoking cessation, physical fitness and stress management. Companies with fewer than 100 employees qualify for … [Read more...] about Big Benefit for Small Company Employees

If you are targeting a specific company to hire you, you'll love LinkedIn's new "Follow Company" feature.  The functionality sends you notifications on activity within the company such as hires, promotions, new job opportunities, and profile changes - all information that can help you land a job.Every company has a "Follow" link where you can see a list of followers and learn more about them.  So whether you're sizing up the competition or trying to get noticed by a specific organization, this new LinkedIn feature could have a serious impact on job seekers.  Expect companies to start doing more to promote their LinkedIn profiles in order to streamline the recruitment process.Users control how often they receive updates, an important feature considering that larger companies could have dozens of updates a day.The downside of "Follow Company" is that if you are relieved of your duties, there's no more going quietly into the good night.  If a person is following the … [Read more...] about New LinkedIn Feature WILL Help Job Seekers

Introduced into the House in early February, HR4620, aka, The Small Business Job Creation Act of 2010, will provide tax credits for small businesses who hire people who were previously unemployed. For a business to qualify, annual revenue must be less than $20 million and their staff must be under 200 full-time employees.The participating business benefits with a tax credit of 7.5 percent of wages earned by an employee in 2010, and 5 percent in 2011, applicable to the first $75,000 of an employee's salary.  If the small business in in a county where the unemployment rate is higher than the national rate, a tax credit of 15 percent in 2010, and 10 percent in 2011, will be issued.The bill sounds like it could give small businesses the push they need to beef up staff.  But don't celebrate yet.  The bill still needs to pass a House and Senate vote, along with  President Obama's signature to be signed into law. Do you think HR4620 will help reduce the unemployment … [Read more...] about HR4620: Will Bill Help Reduce Unemployment Rate?

Federal Law Prohibits Asking Certain QuestionsLast week, I wrote, "Parity for Mental Health Insurance Coverage," about a new law that will mandate employers who offer employee health insurance to cover mental health and substance abuse treatment. In a related area, I found this article by Cari Tuna in the Wall Street Journal, “Wellness Efforts Face Hurdle.” The article talks about employers offering incentives to employees so that they will join “wellness” programs. Most incentives take the form of cash, gift cards or reductions in insurance premiums. Entrance to these programs usually starts with a health survey, often requesting information about family history.But a recent federal law, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, passed in November, 2009, now limits employers or health insurance company’s ability to collect information that discloses genetic-testing results or family history. The EEOC (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) … [Read more...] about Your Employer’s Wellness Program Might Hit a Wall

New Rule’s Timing Couldn’t Be BetterOn January 29, 2010, federal regulations were issued regarding parity in mental health and substance abuse insurance coverage. What it means is that employer group health insurance plans (of companies with over 50 employees) will now have to offer the same coverage for mental health and drug abuse treatment as they do for medical illnesses. An article on CNNMoney.com, “New U.S. rules set parity for mental health care” explains,“The measures, known as mental health parity, ban group health plans from applying different coverage standards for mental health disorders or substance abuse treatment than those for general medical treatment or surgery.‘The rules we are issuing today will, for the first time, help assure that those diagnosed with these debilitating and sometimes life-threatening disorders will not suffer needless or arbitrary limits on their care,’ U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen … [Read more...] about Parity for Mental Health Insurance Coverage

The world is more focused on the iPad, the latest gadget from Apple, then they are intent on watching President Barack Obama's State of the Union address tonight.Perhaps that's part of the reason our economy is where it is.  Our heads are up our asses. We need new jobs.  Better benefits.  Is there an app for that?The president is expected to talk about his push for tax credits for new hiring, an incentive that will hopefully grab the attention of American employers.  Also on the agenda is a requirement that companies allow workers save automatically for retirement. Watch the speech live at Whitehouse.gov and get your drink on! P.S. - iPad is such a crummy name.  Sounds like a digital tampon. … [Read more...] about Apple iPad Trumps Obama

The Real World, America's first true reality show, has asked us for over two decades, "What happens when people stop being polite and start acting real?"We know the answer.  They become enamored with the possibility of fame and act like a-holes.  We'll see if the same goes for the CEO next door.No hot tubs.  No alcohol-fueled late nights.  Just 'everyday' CEOs doing your job. That's the concept of a new CBS show, Undercover Boss, premiering in the coveted post-Super Bowl time slot.  If you're wondering what's exciting about watching head honchos from White Castle, 7-Eleven, and Hooters step out from their corner offices to do 'real' work, we're with you.  Don't expect any elimination challenges or a panel of berating judges.  CBS is combatting the bore factor by attempting to pull at our heartstrings by profiling 'average' workers and their struggles. Aspirational?  We'll see.In a perfect world, the person in charge would already have an … [Read more...] about CEOs Get 'Dirty' on CBS' Undercover Boss