According to an article on CNNMoney.com, more than 400,000 people have already lost their federal extended unemployment benefits, which provide an additional 20 weeks of unemployment checks to those who have lost their jobs. And it’s estimated that more than 115,000 will lose their extended benefits over this summer. When…
The death of SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau was brought back into the headlines today when a federal judge upheld violations cited against SeaWorld by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the 2010 incident. According to an article on CNN.com, SeaWorld had appealed the citations, saying its safety…
The National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) has shared a frightening statistic: over the past 5 years, 40% of working adults had their employer-sponsored benefits either reduced or eliminated entirely. Even though the economy has improved, it appears that many employee benefits that were once guaranteed are now becoming a…
A new report by researchers from Wake Forest School of Medicine has described two cases of poultry workers who developed a rare skin condition known as pachydermodactyly. According to an article on Reuters Health, the condition has caused the workers to experience joint swelling, pain, itching, and burning in their…
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced in a recent news release its intent to establish a committee to advise, consult with and make recommendations to the secretary of labor and assistant secretary of labor of occupational safety and health on ways to improve the efficiency,…
The U.S. Department of Labor announced recently that because Pennsylvania’s declining unemployment rate is too low it will no longer authorize continued payment of Extended Benefits. The EB program provided 13 weeks of unemployment compensation benefits beyond federally funded Emergency Unemployment Compensation, and 26 weeks of state-funded unemployment compensation. The…
According to the Easton Express Times Lehigh County must reimburse a total of $357,600 to about 200 employees who were improperly denied 2011 wage increases. The Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board ruled in favor of the union representing nurses and human services employees at Cedarbrook Nursing Home stating the county violated…
In March Pennsylvania began a Shared-Work Program allowing an employer to temporarily reduce the work hours of a group of employees as an alternative to lay-offs. Employees covered by the plan receive a percentage of the unemployment compensation weekly benefit amount while they work the reduced schedule, if they are…
As we try to remain hopeful about the county’s economic future, it’s hard to ignore when a local hospital like Saint Catherine Medical Center closes its doors. Right on the heels of this news comes the announcement that Gap and Gap Kids in the Schuylkill Mall will close in May.…
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett announced recently that Certech Inc., a manufacturer of ceramic cores, will create 80 new jobs and retain 185 positions by consolidating an out-of-state operation into its Hanover Township facility near Wilkes-Barre. The company will also purchase new equipment and will train new employees at the Luzerne…