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Major changes in employment law are afoot in the US

Written by James Smith
Wednesday, 01 July 2009 18:19

Major changes in employment law are afoot in the US

Everything in the States really is mega-sized. I’d started to get used to the pint-sized cups of coffee and colossal conference centre, but I was almost dumbfounded by a session I attended called “Hot topics and new developments in HR: a public policy update”. Perhaps this was rather naive, given the current economic environment and the recent changes in the White House, but there are masses of legislative bills being considered right now that will have a direct effect on the work of HR professionals in the US. I have also acquired a new respect for any UK HR people who take on roles across the Atlantic. This is major legislative territory.

I had gone to the session with the intention of seeing the progress the new president had made with the various employment pledges he made during his campaign trail. While I soon realised it’s too early to properly assess this, there was a definite sense that much of what is being proposed on Capitol Hill is very unpopular among the American HR community.

Employment law predictions for 2009

Written by Matthew Nelson - Business Law Examiner - examiner.com
Monday, 05 January 2009 11:02

Employment law predictions for 2009

I predict that factors that include American consumers realizing that they can live comfortably without as much "stuff" and eating out as we have done typically will cause the economic conditions in this country to continue to worsen in 2009.

I think that these deteriorating conditions will increase the trend of companies taking advantage of their employees who are concerned about keeping their jobs. It is likely that at least one major retailer will face scrutiny for violating basic employment laws by paying its front-line employees less than the minimum wage and/or requiring them to work extra hours off the clock.

Job seekers adjust pay expectations

Written by Staff - UPI.com
Monday, 05 January 2009 10:51

Job seekers adjust pay expectations

A majority of unemployed U.S. workers said they would accept a cut in pay if they could find a job, but most said even that could take some time.

The National Employment Law Project said 63 percent of those looking for work would accept a pay cut, CNNMoney.com reported Thursday.

But only 37 percent indicated they were optimistic about finding work in the next four months, the report said.

"For people who have been laid off, this is obviously a buyer's market," said Ravin Jesuthasan of consultancy Towers Perrin.

A Happy New Year For Science – And State

Written by Robert M. Thorson - Hartford Courant
Monday, 05 January 2009 10:54

A Happy New Year For Science – And State

Today is New Year's Day. For me, it's usually a low-key family holiday during which we make hand-crafted, plate-sized gingerbread cookies.

This year I plan to make one of Obama in honor of his inauguration on Jan. 20. That day will mark the beginning a new year far more significant than any arbitrary turn of the calendar. Finally, we scientists will inaugurate someone who understands that a serious national investment in science, technology, engineering and mathematics for something other than war will make us more competitive in the world of ideas. This is especially true for ideas that will help wean us from our dependency on foreign oil and reassert world leadership on climate change.

Green technology is on the rise, despite recession

Written by Tim Barker - ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Tuesday, 30 December 2008 11:18

Green technology is on the rise, despite recession

It seems so easy in the IBM commercial. An underling explains to her pessimistic boss how their company will save millions of dollars with "green" technology.

"Where do I sign?" he asks, as happy music erupts and cartoon animals dance across the screen.

What the ad never mentions is the money he's going to have to spend on software and hardware upgrades to save those millions of dollars. Or that he's being asked to do it in the midst of a recession.

And that's just what many companies are being asked to consider today, as they balance their desire to reduce energy consumption against problems caused by the financial turmoil. Rarely is "green" going to win on its own merits. That was made clear in a survey earlier this year by Logicalis, an international information-technology firm based in the United Kingdom. The survey found that 86 percent of information-technology managers said they were more likely to make decisions based on money, rather than the environment.

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