| HR HEADLINES |
Latest
Perk: Great Job, Vacation is on us
New York Times
(free reg req’d), 9/24/05
Help
May Be Near for Disabled Vets
Chicago Sun-Times,
9/24/05
Job
Sharing: Share & Share Alike
SHRM Cover Story,
9/05
Vets-100
Report Due September 30th
Ford Harrison, 9/05
Changes for
FLA Child Support Enforcement
BLR, 9/22/05
Use
of Exit Interviews Grows, Gets More
Sophisticated
Workforce Magazine, 9/22/05
The
Surprising Impact of Executive Coaching
Ceridian,
9/21/05
Bullying
Only Women Can Lead to a Sexual Harassment
Claim
Findlaw, 9/20/05
State
of the Sector: Healthcare Benefits
Workforce
Magazine, 9/20/05
Women
in Construction Fields
Journal News, 9/20/05
America’s
Aging Workforce: Opportunities and
Challenges
Conference Board, 9/19/05
Firms
that Discourage Friendships have it
Wrong
Washington Post, 9/19/05
9-11
Bias Threatens Muslims’ Careers
Oakland Tribune,
9/19/05
Some
Employers Offer ID Theft Coverage
USA Today,
9/19/05
In
the Race for Jobs, These Degrees Pull Ahead
Chicago
Tribune (free reg req’d), 9/18/05
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HR Exec
Sponsorship |
You are invited to feature your
company's products and services with a sponsorship
of the HR Exec. WRITE US to
find out
more. | | |
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 The law firm of
Johnson & Bell, Ltd. is offering a seminar on
employment-related issues for business owners and
executives, in-house counsel, human resource
directors, and risk managers From 1 p.m. to 5:30
p.m., October 18, in Chicago. There is no fee and
space is limited to the first 80 registrants.
 The Human Resource
Certification Institute has approved the program
for 3.75 credits toward PHR and SPHR
recertification. Contact info@johnsonandbell.com
for a brochure. For a full program agenda
click MORE
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No employer likes to be
sued. Emotions run high and tempers flare.
Productivity flounders, defense attorneys flourish
and corporate good will goes flying out the
window. Companies are warned to resist striking
back at a problem employee. While vengeance may
sometimes appear sweet, a recent decision rendered
by the 7th
Circuit Court of Appeals (including Illinois)
should cause employers to take note. Personnel
decisions which appear to be ‘reasonable’ on the
surface, may lead to a successful charge of
retaliation. MORE
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The Kaiser
Family Foundation is confirming a reality that
we have known all along: the number of workers
covered by health insurance continues to decline.
In its 2005 Annual Employer Health Benefits
Survey, researchers found that 60% of those
employers polled offered some coverage to their
workers in 2005 (down from 69% in 2000). Those who
dropped the benefit share a common characteristic:
they operate a small business. Conversely, 98% of
those companies who employ 200 or more continue to
offer the benefit in the face of skyrocketing
premiums. MORE
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Do you have trouble
replacing valued employees? If you don’t have this
problem now, you probably will in the future given
the demographics of our workforce. To become more
effective McKinsey
Quarterly suggests that more attention should
be given to applying branding techniques to
recruitment. MORE
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Gender traits can play
an important roll in your leadership success
according to Anne Cummings, a professor of
business administration at the University of
Minnesota at Duluth. What are these ‘gender
traits?’ Cummings says that a ‘masculine’ style
tends toward assertive and task oriented behavior
and displays a tendency for greater intellectual
risk-taking and higher self esteem. On the other
hand ‘feminine’ style emphasizes relationships and
is more democratic, coping and efficient in
problem solving. Your leadership effectiveness may
not be judged so much by results as by how well
your style mirrors the gender expectations of your
company’s culture. MORE
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| The Internal Revenue
Service (IRS) is hiking the optional standard
mileage rate for business travel conducted between
September 1st and December 31, 2005. Citing
skyrocketing gasoline prices as a major
contributor, the IRS increased the amount that
employers may deduct when employees use their own
vehicles for business travel. While the 2005 rate
was initially set at 40.5 cents per mile for the
first eight months of the year, employers may now
deduct 48.5 cents per mile for the
remainder of the year. “This is about fairness for
taxpayers,” said IRS Commissioner Mark W. Everson.
“People are entitled to deduct the real cost of
operating a vehicle. We’ve responded to the recent
gas price increases by making this special
adjustment so taxpayers get the tax benefit they
deserve.” For more information, click
here. |
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Workers are not likely
to find a hefty bonus tucked away in their
Christmas stocking to help offset the rising cost
of healthcare, gasoline and heating oil. Instead,
Lincolnshire-based, Hewitt
Associates, expects the base pay for salaried
workers to remain at 2005 levels of 3.6%.
Executives will fare a little better with an
anticipated base pay increase of 3.8%. Paychecks
for non-union hourly workers should increase 3.5%
while their union counterparts will take home an
additional 3.1% in wages. MORE
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If you’re feeling a
little tired and frazzled, well, it’s no wonder.
According to a new Gallup
poll, Americans work on average 42 hours per week.
Researchers found that 39% of Americans work 45
hours a week, 45% work between 35 and 44 hours
while 16% work less than 35 hours in a typical
week. The percentage of those working 45+ hours
per week has dropped since 1999 when 45% said they
typically logged in significant extra
hours. MORE
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The risk of injury or
illness resulting from working overtime is not
confined to specific industries such as
construction, manufacturing or mining. Even those
in white-collar professions who work long hours
increase their risk of injury or illness,
concludes the Center
for Health Policy & Research at the University
of Massachusetts Medical School. After
adjusting for gender, age, and industry type,
researchers found that those who work overtime or
extra hours are 61% more likely to suffer some
form of job related injury than those who do
not. MORE
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 For the latest HR
news and analysis, CLICK
HERE or on the "HR Library" link above.
The site is updated daily to keep you informed on
the latest developments and how they might impact
your bottom line.
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Current
HR Economic
Indicators
|
- Illinois
Unemployment Rate: The Illinois UI rate
dropped to 5.8% and the economy added 4,000 more
workers in August 2005. Since the beginning of
2005, Illinois employers have added 57,300
jobs.
- Illinois
Metro Unemployment: The July unemployment
rates fell from year ago levels in 11
metropolitan areas.
- U of I Flash Index
: Index fell last
month to 106.5, ending a string of monthly
increases that began last December.
- Coalition
for Jobs, Growth & Prosperity: Coalition
issued a positive rating for August. While there
have been six months of positive job growth, the
growth rate has been declining over the past two
months.
- National
Unemployment Rate: Nonfarm payroll
employment increased by 169,000 in August, and
the unemployment rate was little changed at
4.9%. Employment rose over the month in several
industries, including construction, health care,
and accommodations and food services.
Manufacturing employment edged down in
August.
- Payroll Employment
:+169,000 in
August.
- Average Hourly Earnings
: +$0.02 in
August.
- Employment Cost Index
(ECI): +0.7% in
2nd Quarter of 2005.
- Productivity & Costs
: +1.8% in 2nd
Quarter of 2005.
- Conference Board: Help Wanted Index
:
Index edged up in July and now stands at 39, up
from 38 in June. It was 38 one year
ago. |
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| Check out some of our business
service programs and see how your membership
pays with the Illinois Chamber. Another new
program has been added to our growing list of
business services:
Learn more about these
programs and how it benefits your company to Join
the Leaders! And use the Chamber
website to stay current on the issues and
opportunities facing the business community
today. |
| |
 The Chamber urges
all Illinois employers to recognize their Guard
and Reserve employees by signing and displaying
the ESGR Statement of Support. To get yours,
simply complete their online form and you will
receive a personalized certificate that
demonstrates your support. Also visit the SBA
Veteran's Business Development web site for
assistance to small business owners that have
employees activated in the Guard or Reserves.
Click MORE
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