Vision Payroll

Total nonfarm payroll employment declined by 131,000 in July, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 9.5%, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported recently. Federal government employment fell, as 143,000 temporary workers hired for the decennial census completed their work. Private-sector payroll employment edged up by 71,000.

Both the number of unemployed persons, at 14.6 million, and the unemployment rate, at 9.5%, were unchanged in July.

Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rate for adult men (9.7%), adult women (7.9%), teenagers (26.1%), whites (8.6%), blacks (15.6%), and Hispanics (12.1%) showed little or no change in July. The jobless rate for Asians was 8.2%, not seasonally adjusted.

In July, the number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks and over) was little changed at 6.6 million. These individuals made up 44.9% of unemployed persons.

The civilian labor force participation rate (64.6%) and the employment-population ratio (58.4%) were essentially unchanged in July; however, these measures have declined by 0.6 percentage points and 0.4 points, respectively, since April.

The number of persons employed part time for economic reasons (sometimes referred to as involuntary part-time workers) was essentially unchanged over the month at 8.5 million but has declined by 623,000 since April. These individuals were working part time because their hours had been cut back or because they were unable to find a full-time job.

About 2.6 million persons were marginally attached to the labor force in July, an increase of 340,000 from a year earlier. (The data are not seasonally adjusted.) These individuals were not in the labor force, wanted and were available for work, and had looked for a job sometime in the prior 12 months. They were not counted as unemployed because they had not searched for work in the 4 weeks preceding the survey.

Among the marginally attached, there were 1.2 million discouraged workers in July, up by 389,000 from a year earlier. (The data are not seasonally adjusted.) Discouraged workers are persons not currently looking for work because they believe no jobs are available for them. The remaining 1.4 million persons marginally attached to the labor force had not searched for work in the 4 weeks preceding the survey for reasons such as school attendance or family responsibilities.

According to the US Department of Labor, in the week ending July 31, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 479,000, an increase of 19,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 460,000. The 4-week moving average was 458,500, an increase of 5,250 from the previous week’s revised average of 453,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.6% for the week ending July 24, unchanged from the prior week’s unrevised rate of 3.6%.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending July 24 was 4,537,000, a decrease of 34,000 from the preceding week’s revised level of 4,571,000. The 4-week moving average was 4,575,500, an increase of 25,750 from the preceding week’s revised average of 4,549,750.

The fiscal year-to-date average of seasonally adjusted weekly insured unemployment, which corresponds to the appropriated AWIU trigger, was 5.028 million.

According to the US Department of Labor, in the week ending July 24, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 457,000, a decrease of 11,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 468,000. The 4-week moving average was 452,500, a decrease of 4,500 from the previous week’s revised average of 457,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.6% for the week ending July 17, an increase of 0.1 percentage points from the prior week’s unrevised rate of 3.5%.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending July 17 was 4,565,000, an increase of 81,000 from the preceding week’s revised level of 4,484,000. The 4-week moving average was 4,548,250, a decrease of 18,000 from the preceding week’s revised average of 4,566,250.

The fiscal year-to-date average of seasonally adjusted weekly insured unemployment, which corresponds to the appropriated AWIU trigger, was 5.037 million.

According to the US Department of Labor, in the week ending July 17, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 464,000, an increase of 37,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 427,000. The 4-week moving average was 456,000, an increase of 1,250 from the previous week’s revised average of 454,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.5% for the week ending July 10, a decrease of 0.2 percentage points from the prior week’s unrevised rate of 3.7%.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending July 10 was 4,487,000, a decrease of 223,000 from the preceding week’s revised level of 4,710,000. The 4-week moving average was 4,567,000, a decrease of 21,500 from the preceding week’s revised average of 4,588,500.

The fiscal year-to-date average of seasonally adjusted weekly insured unemployment, which corresponds to the appropriated AWIU trigger, was 5.046 million.

According to the US Department of Labor, in the week ending July 10, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 429,000, a decrease of 29,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 458,000. The 4-week moving average was 455,250, a decrease of 11,750 from the previous week’s revised average of 467,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.7% for the week ending July 3, an increase of 0.2 percentage points from the prior week’s revised rate of 3.5%.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending July 3 was 4,681,000, an increase of 247,000 from the preceding week’s revised level of 4,434,000. The 4-week moving average was 4,581,250, an increase of 22,000 from the preceding week’s revised average of 4,559,250.

The fiscal year-to-date average of seasonally adjusted weekly insured unemployment, which corresponds to the appropriated AWIU trigger, was 5.056 million.

According to the US Department of Labor, in the week ending July 3, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 454,000, a decrease of 21,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 475,000. The 4-week moving average was 466,000, a decrease of 1,250 from the previous week’s revised average of 467,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.4% for the week ending June 26, a decrease of 0.2 percentage points from the prior week’s unrevised rate of 3.6%.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending June 26 was 4,413,000, a decrease of 224,000 from the preceding week’s revised level of 4,637,000. The 4-week moving average was 4,554,000, a decrease of 18,750 from the preceding week’s revised average of 4,572,750.

The fiscal year-to-date average of seasonally adjusted weekly insured unemployment, which corresponds to the appropriated AWIU trigger, was 5.064 million.

Continuing to face a slow economy, many small businesses have tightened their budgets while many students (as well as individuals considering new careers) may look towards internships to gain experience for little or no pay. The US Department of Labor (DOL), however, has been increasing its wage and hour enforcement efforts and is expected to do more so this summer. Last April, the DOL issued new regulations to remind employers of the difference between interns and employees (who are unlawfully not being paid). Simply put, employers cannot avoid the requirements of federal law by simply labeling employees as “interns” or “trainees” to minimize costs.

Do you know the six criteria the DOL has set to discourage employers from taking advantage of inappropriately classifying interns? What are the questions to ask about your internship program to help ensure you have a valid and properly classified internship position? What are the three key factors to keep in mind when considering an internship program at your company?

For answers to these questions and much more, be sure to read the featured article by the HR pros at MyHRSupportCenter, DOL Eyeing Employers’ Internship Programs. If you’re not yet signed up or would like a free trial of MyHRSupportCenter, contact Vision Payroll today.

According to the US Department of Labor, In the week ending June 26, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 472,000, an increase of 13,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 459,000. The 4-week moving average was 466,500, an increase of 3,250 from the previous week’s revised average of 463,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.6% for the week ending June 19, unchanged from the prior week’s revised rate of 3.6%.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending June 19 was 4,616,000, an increase of 43,000 from the preceding week’s revised level of 4,573,000. The 4-week moving average was 4,567,500, a decrease of 25,250 from the preceding week’s revised average of 4,592,750.

The fiscal year-to-date average of seasonally adjusted weekly insured unemployment, which corresponds to the appropriated AWIU trigger, was 5.077 million.

The US Department of Labor (DOL) Employee Benefits Security Adminstration (EBSA) has ruled in a determination letter that the mooning of a co-worker is not gross misconduct that would disqualify an individual from receiving COBRA premium assistance under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The ruling came to light when the employer in the case, Stormont-Vail Health Care, Inc. (Stormont-Vail), requested a temporary restraining order (TRO) staying the final determination letter. In Stormont-Vail Health Care, Inc. v. US Department of Labor EBSA, DCKS, 10cv4052-RDR, 5/27/2010, the court denied the motion for the TRO.

According to the court, Jennifer Reavis (Reavis) was employed by Stormont-Vail as a nurse. Stormont-Vail received a report that “Reavis told [a male nurse] to answer some patient call lights, that he assertively told her ‘no, I’m busy,’ and that in response Reavis bent over with her scrub pants pulled down, exposing her rear end.” In response, “Reavis has claimed that she was responding to a provocative finger gesture and that she only partially exposed her backside to the male nurse.” Stormont-Vail fired Reavis and disallowed her claim for COBRA premium assistance under ARRA. Reavis filed an appeal with the Department of Labor, which ruled that Reavis did qualify for the premium assistance.

Due to the clear lack of standards to determine gross misconduct for COBRA and ARRA purposes, Vision Payroll strongly recommends that employers consult with a competent labor law attorney for assistance in deciding if ARRA premium assistance should be denied because of gross misconduct.

According to the US Department of Labor, in the week ending June 19, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 457,000, a decrease of 19,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 476,000. The 4-week moving average was 462,750, a decrease of 1,500 from the previous week’s revised average of 464,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.5% for the week ending June 12, a decrease of 0.1 percentage points from the prior week’s unrevised rate of 3.6%.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending June 12 was 4,548,000, a decrease of 45,000 from the preceding week’s revised level of 4,593,000. The 4-week moving average was 4,586,500, a decrease of 21,750 from the preceding week’s revised average of 4,608,250.

The fiscal year-to-date average of seasonally adjusted weekly insured unemployment, which corresponds to the appropriated AWIU trigger, was 5.084 million.