Vision Payroll

As previously described, the US Department of Labor (DOL) has launched its “DOL-Timesheet” smartphone application designed specifically to allow employees to track their daily hours worked. The app marks another step in the DOL’s strategic “Plan/Prevent/Protect” initiative of increased workplace compliance enforcement efforts. This app serves as a reminder to employers to make sure that their systems and processes accurately account for employees’ hours worked.

As more and more employees become familiar with, and start to utilize,  the DOL’s timesheet app, they may become more likely to file wage and hour grievances with the DOL. For employers, an important protection against employee grievance filings is making sure that your business satifies its obligations under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Challenges

• Discrepancies between employer’s and employee’s records
• Employee manipulation of records for more pay
• Absence of employer records used as a basis for wage claims

Immediate Actions to Take

• Require employees and their supervisors to verify (with signatures) the accuracy of time records
• Review/update relevant employee handbook policies
• Make sure timekeeping systems are accurate and consistent
• Regularly audit the company’s time records

Learn More About the DOL Free Smartphone App for Your Employees

To get more details about the DOL free smartphone App for your employees, be sure to read the featured article by the HR pros at MyHRSupportCenter, The US DOL’s Free Smartphone App…Made for Your Employees, Part II. 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 September 3, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 414,000, an increase of 2,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 412,000. The 4-week moving average was 414,750, an increase of 3,750 from the previous week’s revised average of 411,000.

Advance Seasonally Adjusted Insured Unemployment Rate Remains Unchanged

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.0% for the week ending August 27, unchanged from the prior week’s unrevised rate of 3.0%.

Advance Seasonally Adjusted Insured Unemployment Decreases

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending August 27 was 3,717,000, a decrease of 30,000 from the preceding week’s revised level of 3,747,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,734,500, an increase of 5,500 from the preceding week’s revised average of 3,729,000.

Nonfarm payroll employment was unchanged in August, and the unemployment rate held at 9.1%, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment in most major industries changed little over the month. Health care continued to add jobs, and a decline in information employment reflected a strike. Government employment continued to trend down, despite the return of workers from a partial government shutdown in Minnesota.

Household Survey Data

The number of unemployed persons, at 14.0 million, was essentially unchanged in August, and the unemployment rate held at 9.1%. The rate has shown little change since April.

Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for adult men (8.9%), adult women (8.0%), teenagers (25.4%), whites (8.0%), blacks (16.7%), and Hispanics (11.3%) showed little or no change in August. The jobless rate for Asians was 7.1%, not seasonally adjusted.

The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks and over) was about unchanged at 6.0 million in August and accounted for 42.9% of the unemployed.

The labor force rose to 153.6 million in August. Both the civilian labor force participation rate, at 64.0%, and the employment-population ratio, at 58.2%, were little changed.

The number of persons employed part time for economic reasons (sometimes referred to as involuntary part-time workers) rose from 8.4 million to 8.8 million in August. 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 August, up from 2.4 million 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 977,000 discouraged workers in August, down by 133,000 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 1.6 million persons marginally attached to the labor force in August had not searched for work in the 4 weeks preceding the survey for reasons such as school attendance or family responsibilities.

Establishment Survey Data

Total nonfarm payroll employment, at 131.1 million, was unchanged  in August. Employment changed little in most major private-sector industries.

Health care employment rose by 30,000 in August. Ambulatory health care services and hospitals added 18,000 and 8,000 jobs, respectively. Over the past 12 months, health care employment has grown by 306,000.

Employment in mining continued to trend up in August (+6,000). Since reaching a trough in October 2009, employment in mining has risen by 144,000, with mining support activities accounting for most of the gain.

Within professional and business services, computer systems design and related services added 8,000 jobs in August. Employment in temporary help services changed little over the month (+5,000) and has shown little movement on net so far this year.

Employment in the information industry declined by 48,000 in August. About 45,000 workers in the telecommunications industry were on strike and thus off company payrolls during the survey reference period.

Manufacturing employment was essentially unchanged in August (-3,000), following a gain of 36,000 in July. For the past 4 months, manufacturing has added an average of 14,000 jobs per month, compared with an average of 35,000 jobs per month in the first 4 months of the year.

Elsewhere in the private sector, employment in construction; trade, transportation, and utilities; financial activities; and leisure and hospitality changed little over the month.

Government employment continued to trend down over the month (-17,000). Despite the return of about 22,000 workers from a partial government shutdown in Minnesota, employment in state government changed little in August (+5,000). Employment in local government continued to decline. Since employment peaked in September 2008, local government has lost 550,000 jobs.

The average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls edged down by 0.1 hour over the month to 34.2 hours. The manufacturing workweek was 40.3 hours for the third consecutive month; factory overtime increased by 0.1 hour over the month to 3.2 hours. The average workweek for production and nonsupervisory employees on private nonfarm payrolls edged down to 33.5 hours in August, after holding at 33.6 hours for the prior 6 months.

In August, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls decreased by 3 cents, or 0.1%, to $23.09. This decline followed an 11-cent gain in July. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 1.9%. In August, average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees decreased by 2 cents, or 0.1%, to $19.47.

The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for June was revised from +46,000 to +20,000, and the change for July was revised from +117,000 to +85,000.

According to the US Department of Labor, in the week ending August 27, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 409,000, a decrease of 12,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 421,000. The 4-week moving average was 410,250, an increase of 1,750 from the previous week’s revised average of 408,500.

Advance Seasonally Adjusted Insured Unemployment Rate Remains Unchanged

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.0% for the week ending August 20, unchanged 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 August 20 was 3,735,000, a decrease of 18,000 from the preceding week’s revised level of 3,753,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,726,000, a decrease of 3,250 from the preceding week’s revised average of 3,729,250.

According to the US Department of Labor, in the week ending August 20, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 417,000, an increase of 5,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 412,000. The 4-week moving average was 407,500, an increase of 4,000 from the previous week’s revised average of 403,500.

Advance Seasonally Adjusted Insured Unemployment Rate Decreases

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.9% for the week ending August 13, a 0.1 percentage point decrease 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 August 13 was 3,641,000, a decrease of 80,000 from the preceding week’s revised level of 3,721,250. The 4-week moving average was 3,701,000, a decrease of 19,500 from the preceding week’s revised average of 3,720,750.

The US Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced a $1,825,595 National Emergency Grant to provide re-employment services to about 250 workers laid off by XL Four Star Beef Inc., following the June closure of the company’s beef processing and packing plant in Nampa, Idaho.

DOL Secretary Solis Comments on Grant

“I know that it is difficult to find a job in an area experiencing high unemployment. That’s why this federal grant which will support the retraining of Canyon County residents is so important,” said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. “The Obama administration is committed to assisting both these workers, and at the same time Idaho’s businesses, by making sure the local labor force is ready and able to help support the state’s growing industries.”

Funds Are Awarded to the Idaho Department of Labor

The grant is being awarded to the Idaho Department of Labor, which will use skill assessment tools and career counseling to identify education and retraining opportunities, including English for speakers of other languages instruction. Of the total funding amount, $928,386 will be released initially. Additional funding up to the amount approved will be made available as the state 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 August 13, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 408,000, an increase of 9,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 399,000. The 4-week moving average was 402,500, a decrease of 3,500 from the previous week’s revised average of 406,000.

Advance Seasonally Adjusted Insured Unemployment Rate Remains Unchanged

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.9% for the week ending August 6, 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 August 6 was 3,702,000, an increase of 7,000 from the preceding week’s revised level of 3,695,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,716,000, a decrease of 4,500 from the preceding week’s revised average of 3,720,500.

The US Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced a $16,233,360 National Emergency Grant that will create 1,144 temporary jobs to assist in cleanup and recovery efforts in the wake of spring storms and flooding that occurred in Ohio. Communities across 15 counties located in the Appalachian region were affected by the storms, which occurred between April 4 and May 15.

DOL Secretary Solis Comments on Grant

“The destruction caused by the floods this spring has placed a terrible strain on thousands of Ohioans, and they need to know their government stands with them as they work to make their communities whole again,” said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. “These emergency funds will help local workers provide for their families as they raze destroyed buildings, repair buildings, and clear streets and streams of debris. After natural disasters like this, it’s critical that Washington steps up to help residents rebuild their neighborhoods and families rebuild their lives.”

Funds Are Awarded to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services

These funds are being awarded to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Of the total award, $3.5 million will be released initially.

FEMA Declared 21 Counties Eligible for Assistance

On July 13, the Federal Emergency Management Agency declared 21 Ohio counties eligible for FEMA’s Public Assistance Program. This grant will assist 15 of those counties, including Athens, Belmont, Gallia, Guernsey, Hocking, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Ross, Scioto, Vinton and Washington. Other counties may be added at a later date if further evaluation warrants their inclusion. More information on designated disaster areas in Ohio is available from FEMA at: http://www.fema.gov/news/eventcounties.fema?id=15052.

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 August 6, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 395,000, a decrease of 7,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 402,000. The 4-week moving average was 405,000, a decrease of 3,250 from the previous week’s revised average of 408,250.

Advance Seasonally Adjusted Insured Unemployment Rate Decreases

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.9% for the week ending July 30, a 0.1 percentage point decrease from the prior week’s unrevised rate of 3.0%.

Advance Seasonally Adjusted Insured Unemployment Decreases

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending July 30 was 3,688,000, a decrease of 60,000 from the preceding week’s revised level of 3,748,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,718,750, a decrease of 15,250 from the preceding week’s revised average of 3,734,000.

The US Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced a $670,000 National Emergency Grant to provide re-employment services to approximately 145 former workers of FTCA, Inc. (FTCA) who were affected by layoffs at the company’s plant in Somerset, PA. FTCA closed the travel trailer and recreational camper manufacturing facility in January.

DOL Secretary Solis Comments on Grant

“Today’s grant will help these workers update their skills in order to obtain employment in growing local industries,” said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. “The Labor Department is committed to helping American workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own, prepare for the jobs of the future.”

Grant Will Be Operated by Southern Alleghenies Workforce Investment Board

Awarded to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, this grant will be operated by the Southern Alleghenies Workforce Investment Board to provide these dislocated workers, all of whom are certified as eligible for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), with access to “wrap-around” and supportive services not available through the TAA program.

Additional Funding May be Available at a Later Date

Of the total award, $334,864 will be released initially. Additional funding up to the amount approved will be made available as the state 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.