Vision Payroll

Which smartphone tools are employees downloading about their workplace rights that can be used against their companies?

Smartphone Apps That Employees May Be Using Are Varied in Approach and Information

The first type of app are apps such as JobCompass™, a web and mobile job search application that searches millions of jobs, locating and plotting them on a map showing you exactly where the jobs are in relation to a certain location. Other apps help people determine how much a certain job should pay in a particular area, which can used both by job seekers to determine if a job offer is fair and by employees to determine if their pay is competitive with others in the same job.

A second type of app is intended to be used by people thinking about eating at a certain restaurant, staying at a certain hotel, or applying for a particular job. These apps will give information such as health or labor violations and can be searched on name, address, entity type and many other fields.

Other apps track things such as OSHA violations and which companies have sent jobs overseas.

As the use of smartphone apps expands, many different apps and types of apps will become available.

How Should Employers Train Managers and Communicate with Employees About These Items?

To learn the valuable tips for dealing with these issues and much more, be sure to listen to DOL-based Smartphone Apps Employees Might Use Against Employers in this month’s HRCast, a recording provided by our team of HR Pros and available exclusively on MyHRSupportCenter.

MyHRSupportCenter Provides Alerts, Best Practices, and HR Tools Every Day

Visit MyHRSupportCenter regularly, not only for our HRCasts, but also to get late-breaking compliance alerts, best practices to implement, and HR tools to use every day. If you haven’t yet signed up and would like a free trial of MyHRSupportCenter, contact Vision Payroll today.

According to the US Department of Labor, in the week ending April 7, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 380,000, an increase of 13,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 367,000. The 4-week moving average was 368,500, an increase of 4,250 from the previous week’s revised average of 364,250.

Advance Seasonally Adjusted Insured Unemployment Rate Remains Unchanged

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.9 % for the week ending March 31, unchanged from the prior week’s unrevised rate.

Advance Seasonally Adjusted Insured Unemployment Decreases

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending March 31 was 3,251,000, a decrease of 98,000 from the preceding week’s revised level of 3,349,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,334,250, a decrease of 35,750 from the preceding week’s revised average of 3,370,000.

According to the US Department of Labor, in the week ending November 19, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 393,000, an increase of 2,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 391,000. The 4-week moving average was 394,250, a decrease of 3,250 from the previous week’s revised average of 397,500.

Advance Seasonally Adjusted Insured Unemployment Rate Remains Unchanged

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.9% percent for the week ending November 12, unchanged from the prior week’s unrevised rate.

Advance Seasonally Adjusted Insured Unemployment Increases

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending November 12 was 3,691,000, an increase of 68,000 from the preceding week’s revised level of 3,623,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,671,500, a decrease of 2,250 from the preceding week’s revised average of 3,673,750.

The US Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced a $2,261,417 National Emergency Grant to provide re-employment services to about 365 workers affected by layoffs at 12 companies throughout Massachusetts, including four employee staffing businesses that provided workers for the other companies.

Layoffs Scheduled to Continue Through 2012

The layoffs, which began in May 2008 and are scheduled to continue until March 2012, are occurring at Biogen Idec in Cambridge, Commercial Sheet Metal in Canton, Covidien in Mansfield, EDO Fiber Innovations/ITT Corp. in Walpole, Henkel Corp. in Billerica, International Power America in Marlborough, Reveal Imaging Technologies Inc. in Bedford and Unilever-Breyers Ice Cream in Framingham. The staffing agencies include Kelly Services in Quincy, Randstad in Boston, Aerostek in Braintree and Total Technical Services in Waltham.

DOL Secretary Solis Comments on Grant

“This funding from the federal government is a step toward helping Massachusetts workers, who face a challenging market, find new employment,” said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. “The grant will support efforts to prepare these individuals for good jobs in high-growth occupations.”

Funds Are Awarded to the Massachusetts Department of Workforce Development

Awarded to the Massachusetts Department of Workforce Development, the grant will provide training and supportive services for affected workers. Supplemental services will be available to workers who also have been deemed eligible for benefits in the form of Trade Adjustment Assistance. Those who are not eligible for TAA will receive the full array of employment-related services available under this grant.

Additional Funding May be Available at a Later Date

Of the $2,261,417 announced today, $998,078 will be released initially. Additional funding up to the amount approved will be made available as the commonwealth demonstrates a continued need for assistance.

National Emergency Grants Are Part of Discretionary Fund

National Emergency Grants are part of the secretary of labor’s discretionary fund and are awarded based on a state’s ability to meet specific guidelines.

According to the US Department of Labor, in the week ending November 12, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 388,000, a decrease of 5,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 393,000. The 4-week moving average was 396,750, a decrease of 4,000 from the previous week’s revised average of 400,750.

Advance Seasonally Adjusted Insured Unemployment Rate Remains Unchanged

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.9% for the week ending November 5, unchanged from the prior week’s unrevised rate.

Advance Seasonally Adjusted Insured Unemployment Decreases

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending November 5 was 3,608,000, a decrease of 57,000 from the preceding week’s revised level of 3,665,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,670,000, a decrease of 32,750 from the preceding week’s revised average of 3,702,750.

According to the US Department of Labor, in the week ending November 5, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 390,000, a decrease of 10,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 400,000. The 4-week moving average was 400,000, a decrease of 5,250 from the previous week’s revised average of 405,250.

Advance Seasonally Adjusted Insured Unemployment Rate Remains Unchanged

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.9% for the week ending October 29, unchanged from the prior week’s unrevised rate.

Advance Seasonally Adjusted Insured Unemployment Decreases

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending October 29 was 3,615,000, a decrease of 92,000 from the preceding week’s revised level of 3,707,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,690,250, a decrease of 19,500 from the preceding week’s revised average of 3,709,750.

According to the US Department of Labor, in the week ending October 29, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 397,000, a decrease of 9,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 406,000. The 4-week moving average was 404,500, a decrease of 2,000 from the previous week’s revised average of 406,500.

Advance Seasonally Adjusted Insured Unemployment Rate Remains Unchanged

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.9% for the week ending October 22, unchanged from the prior week’s unrevised rate.

Advance Seasonally Adjusted Insured Unemployment Decreases

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending October 22 was 3,683,000, a decrease of 15,000 from the preceding week’s revised level of 3,698,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,703,250, a decrease of 10,500 from the preceding week’s revised average of 3,713,750.

According to the US Department of Labor, in the week ending October 22, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 402,000, a decrease of 2,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 404,000. The 4-week moving average was 405,500, an increase of 1,750 from the previous week’s revised average of 403,750.

Advance Seasonally Adjusted Insured Unemployment Rate Decreases

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.9% for the week ending October 15, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week’s revised rate of 3.0%.

Advance Seasonally Adjusted Insured Unemployment Decreases

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending October 15 was 3,645,000, a decrease of 96,000 from the preceding week’s revised level of 3,741,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,701,000, a decrease of 26,750 from the preceding week’s revised average of 3,727,750.

According to the US Department of Labor, in the week ending October 15, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 403,000, a decrease of 6,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 409,000. The 4-week moving average was 403,000, a decrease of 6,250 from the previous week’s revised average of 409,250.

Advance Seasonally Adjusted Insured Unemployment Rate Remains Unchanged

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.9% for the week ending October 8, unchanged from the prior week’s unrevised rate of 2.9%.

Advance Seasonally Adjusted Insured Unemployment Increases

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending October 8 was 3,719,000, an increase of 25,000 from the preceding week’s revised level of 3,694,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,722,500, a decrease of 7,500 from the preceding week’s revised average of 3,730,000.

Employment Security Commission (ESC) Chairman Lynn R. Holmes officially notified leaders of the General Assembly on Wednesday that she was suspending certain provisions of Senate Bill 532 because the provisions do not comply with federal law.

US DOL Had Threatened Eligibility of NC Employers to Receive FUTA Credit

In a September 22, 2011, letter from Gay M. Gilbert, Administrator in the Office of Unemployment Insurance of the US Department of Labor (DOL) to Chairman Holmes, the DOL requested that Chairman Holmes use her authority under North Carolina law to suspend certain provisions of the law. If the provisions had not been suspended and the law took effect November 1, 2011, the DOL would not certify North Carolina as in compliance with provisions of the FUTA Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) and the Social Security Act (SSA). Without this certification, employers in North Carolina would not be eligible to receive the FUTA credit on Form 940, Employer’s Annual Federal Unemployment (FUTA) Tax Return.

Four Points of Law Found in Conflict

There were four parts of the law that the DOL had considered in relation to conformity issues. They are:

1. A provision that would allow employers thirty days to respond to a claim notice;
2. A provision that would permit the total reduction of benefit rights if an individual is arrested for or convicted of certain criminal behavior;
3. A provision that would permit an individual to be totally disqualified for unsatisfactory performance; and
4. A provision that would permit parties to waive the right to an appeal hearing by entering stipulations resolving the issues of an appeal.

Contact Vision Payroll for Further Information

Contact Vision Payroll for further information on the suspension of North Carolina law by Chairman Holmes.