Massachusetts Staffing Employee of the Year Announced

Kim Madden of The Davis Companies is the 2012 Staffing Employee of the Year

Staffing Companies in Massachusetts nominated 11 employees as their nominee for the 2012 Staffing Employee of the Year.  All the nominees for this award are winners.  They represent their staffing companies with their clients and contribute to the success of the business community in Massaschusetts.

Kim interviewed for two Marketing Specialists roles at our client in the Dot Com Marketing Department-one was Copy and Print and the other Cleaning and Break Room.  She was excellent, and both managers wanted to hire her for their teams.  They let her choose, and she chose the Copy and Print Marketing Specialist role.  She started in December 2011.  She has done a phenomenal job in that role, earning praise from not only her manager, but also from the SVP of Dot Com Marketing.

In addition to Kim doing so well in her Marketing role, she has been earning praise in her efforts outside of the office.  Kim was a victim of domestic abuse.  She has since moved past that personal experience, but has created a benefit to not only help victims of domestic violence, but to raise awareness with programs in schools.  Her benefit is called the 24 Hour Music Project.  She created this new project, featuring local artists in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. They created a CD and the proceeds will go to local domestic violence programs, The CD was compiled and recorded in 24 hours.  There is also a benefit concert in October, featuring artists who are on the CD.  Kim’s constant energy and focus in her work and personal life have made a huge impact on those around her.  The Dot Com Marketing team and several other groups are planning on attending the concert in October.  She was able to turn a negative experience into a positive experience for so many local communities.  Her efforts fuel her Marketing team and her efforts in her 24 Hour Music Project have and will continue to benefit others.

The other nominees for the Staffing Employee of the Year were:  Melissa Arkin from Hollister, Joyce Hadley from The Resource Connection, Jean Lauture from Winter Wyman, Gary Lefebvre from United Personnel, John Loughlin from Advantage Technical Resourcing, Joe Montagna from Summit Technical Services, Lee Perry from Arbor Associates, Jecksan Santiago from Joule Clinical and Scientific Staffing, Bonnie Seifried Myers from South Shore Staffing, and Vou Thitakham from Advantage Technical Resourcing.

Massachusetts Staffing Association Wins National Awards

The Massachusetts Staffing Association was honored at Staffing World® 2012, the annual convention and expo of the American Staffing Association, held Oct. 9-11 in Las Vegas. MSA received a Chapter Superior Merit Award for its outstanding programs and chapter efforts, and a Legislative Superior Merit Award for its outstanding legislative efforts during 2011.

MSA past president and current Legislative Director and ASA immediate past chairman Aaron Green, CSP accepted the award at a special award ceremony during the convention.

ASA evaluated state associations on their support of the staffing industry through chapter meetings, special events, educational seminars, government relations activities, and community outreach efforts, and honored the chapters with the most outstanding programs with merit awards.

The Legislative Superior Merit Award recognizes state staffing associations that took positive and effective steps to make sure legislators understand how the staffing industry benefits the economy.  These steps included face-to-face meetings, testimony at legislative hearings, letter-writing campaigns and other politcal activities.

To learn more about MSA, visit msastaffing.com.

MSA is an association for staffing companies in Massachusetts. The staffing industry in Massachusetts employs 228,538 temporary and contract employees per year.

ASA and its affiliated chapters advance the interests of staffing and recruiting firms of all sizes and across all sectors through legal and legislative advocacy, public relations, education, and the promotion of high standards of legal, ethical, and professional practices. ASA members provide the full range of employment and work force services and solutions, including temporary and contract staffing, recruiting and permanent placement, outplacement and outsourcing, training, and human resource consulting.

Contact:

Chapter Executive Director
Jean McCarty, CSP
617-997-2310
msa@msastafing.com

Chapter President
Ally McCabe
amccabe@hollisterstaff.com
617-654-0200

Legislative Director
Aaron Green, CSP
617-250-1030
agreen@psgstaffing.com

USCIS Releases New E-Verify Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program Enhancements Employment

USCIS Releases New E-Verify Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program Enhancements Employment Screening Resources News (09/17/12) Tom Ahearn

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has released a number of new enhancements for the E-Verify electronic employment eligibility verification program. A new Quick Audit Report will permit businesses to report their E-Verify activity to federal, state, or local government entities. New Excel fields will help to cut instances of tentative non-confirmations for workers who supply a foreign passport. If a worker supplies a foreign passport, the business should record the country of issuance and foreign passport number on Form I-9 and enter the information when creating an E-Verify case. Furthermore, the enhancements will permit showing work authorization with the Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record, a document that can show that a person is allowed to work in the country. U.S. Customs and Border Protection may take up to 45 days after people arrive to put their Form I-94 information into its system. E-Verify uses this system to help confirm people are authorized to work in the U.S. If a business uses E-Verify, a newly hired employee may present an unexpired foreign passport along with an unexpired Form I-94 when completing the Form I-9 during the 45-day period to help avoid a delay in completing E-Verify processing. Full Story Available

Massachusetts Publishes Summary of Temporary Workers Right to Know Law

American Staffing Association (08/21/12)
The Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards posted a summary of the new legal requirements which will be imposed on staffing firms effective Jan. 31, 2013. To access the summary, click here.

The Massachusetts law will require staffing firms doing business in the state to send temporary employees written notice of each assignment’s wage rate, the starting and end times of the assignment, and the expected duration of the assignment, among other things. The law also prohibits staffing firms from charging temporary employees for certain items and services and prohibits fraudulent conduct.

It is anticipated that DLS will promulgate regulations to implement the law in the next several months.

MSA and ASA will continue to keep members apprised of any developments.

Anne M. Duffy, Esq. Assistant Counsel American Staffing Association 277 South Washington Street, Suite 200 Alexandria, VA 22314 (703) 253-2020 (703) 253-2038 direct (703) 253-2053 f

aduffy@americanstaffing.net americanstaffing.net

Health Care Payment Reform Bill

ASA Legal Analysis

Massachusetts Enacts Health Care Cost Control, Employer Appeal Measures American Staffing Association (08/08/12) Anne Duffy

On Aug. 6, Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts signed the Health Care Payment Reform Bill into law. The legislation is designed to reduce the cost of health care in the state. The new law represents the second major health care reform law in the state since the universal health care law was enacted in 2006.

The law provides mechanisms for capping the growth in health care expenditures and for restructuring the health care delivery system to encourage coordinated care and high quality, and to provide incentives for health care providers to adopt financing arrangements that are not linked to traditional fee-for-service medicine. The goal is to link the growth of health care costs to the state’s economic growth from 2013 to 2017, and thereafter to cap it at 0.5% below the growth of the state economy.

The law also establishes a new wellness tax credit for businesses that implement recognized workplace wellness programs, up to $10,000 per employer. These programs aim to improve employee health and help control the growth in employer health care premiums.

In addition, the law provides some relief for businesses. Currently, employers that don’t satisfy certain conditions must pay “fair share” contributions to the state if they have 11 or more full-time equivalent employees who are employed at Massachusetts locations. Under the new law, fair share contributions will be required from employers that have 21 or more employees, and employers will be allowed to exclude from their head count employees who have health insurance from a spouse or parent; Medicare; or through a veterans’, disability, or retirement plan. Those changes take effect July 1, 2013.

Another bill, signed into law by Gov. Patrick Aug. 7, establishes an appeal process for employers to challenge fair share contribution assessments. The state’s Department of Unemployment Assistance and Division of Health Care Finance and Policy will have authority to waive or mitigate an employer’s fair share contributions, fines, and interest and related fees, and will be barred from accruing or collecting interest, penalties, or fees while an appeal is pending. DUA must issue a written decision within 90 days for employers with more than 50 full-time equivalent employees, and within 30 days for employers with 50 or fewer full-time equivalent employees.

Anne M. Duffy, Esq. Assistant Counsel American Staffing Association 277 South Washington Street, Suite 200 Alexandria, VA 22314 (703) 253-2020 (703) 253-2038 direct (703) 253-2053 fax aduffy@americanstaffing.net americanstaffing.net

HB 4304 “An Act Establishing a Temporary Workers Right to Know” passes

ASA Legal Analysis

Massachusetts Staffing Bill Enacted American Staffing Association (08/02/12) Stephen Dwyer

After almost a year of political wrangling, on Monday the Massachusetts state senate passed HB 4304, which requires staffing firms doing business in the state to send temporary employees written notice of each assignment’s wage rate, the starting and end times of the assignment, and the expected duration of the assignment, among other things. The bill also prohibits staffing firms from charging temporary employees for certain items and services and prohibits fraudulent conduct. The bill now goes to Gov. Deval Patrick, who is expected to sign it, and the law will take effect Jan. 31, 2013.

The American Staffing Association and the Massachusetts Staffing Association, an ASA-affiliated chapter, along with lobbyists Roger Donoghue and Tara O’Donnell of Donoghue, Barrett & Singal PC, engaged in prolonged advocacy efforts that resulted in “professional” employees, secretaries, and administrative assistants being exempted from the notice requirements.

The advocacy efforts also resulted in numerous onerous provisions being struck from the bill. As originally drafted, the bill would have prohibited staffing firms from charging reasonable fees for services, including permanent placement fees; prohibited staffing firms from sending candidate résumés to clients to generate jobs; imposed potential rate caps; required staffing firms to provide meals, lodging, and transportation expenses to out-of-state workers whose temporary assignments were cancelled through no fault of the staffing firm; and imposed severe penalties, no matter how small the violation or whether the violation was inadvertent. None of these provisions is included in the bill that passed the legislature.

In the coming months, the Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards will propose regulations to implement the law. ASA and MSA plan to meet with the agency to express the industry’s remaining concerns and provide input into the regulatory process.

In the meantime, staffing firms doing business in Massachusetts should become familiar with HB 4304′s requirements and discuss them with their legal counsel so as to be in compliance when the law takes effect. Staffing firms in the state should also continue to meet with their legislators to educate them about their businesses and the staffing industry so as to help prevent future harmful legislation.

Stephen C. Dwyer General Counsel American Staffing Association 277 S. Washington St., Suite 200 Alexandria, VA 22314-3675 703-253-2020 703-253-2037 direct 703-253-2053 fax sdwyer@americanstaffing.net americanstaffing.net

Revised MA Anti-Staffing Bill Passes Out of Committee; Advocacy Efforts Continue

South Shore Staffing President Ed McDaid Elected to Board of Directors at South Shore Chamber of Commerce

The Canton company founder was elected to a three-year term.

Ed McDaid, founder and President of the eight-year old firm  South Shore Staffing (www.southshorestaffing.com), has been elected to a  three-year term on the Board of Directors of South Shore Chamber of  Commerce.

In this capacity, he will  work with the Chamber’s Directors and management team to help shape and  guide the direction and growth of the Chamber, which is one of the  largest organizations in the state.

McDaid, a Canton resident,  has been an active member of the South Shore Chamber of Commerce and has  served on their Human Resources Advisory Group as well.  Additionally,  he is a member of the American Staffing Association and is a past board  member of the Mass Staffing Association. He said, “As a South Shore  based business, and one that works extensively in this region, the South  Shore Chamber is a powerful organization and voice for businesses here,  and I am honored to have been selected to play a key role with the  Chamber over the next three years.”

Associate Member – The Murphy Insurance Group Recognized by Boston Magazine

Unemployment Decline Masks U.S. Labor Force Drop: Economy

Unemployment Decline Masks U.S. Labor Force Drop: Economy BusinessWeek (02/08/12) Alex Kowalski
Although the U.S. unemployment rate fell to a three-year low of 8.3% in January, the U.S. Department of Labor reports that the number of working-age people in the labor force hit a 29-year low. The working-age population rose 1.51 million, but 83% of those people were not in the work force. The work force participation rate tumbled to 63.7% in January, as 88 million people age 16 and up were unemployed and not seeking work.
Even so, some U.S. Federal Reserve officials, including James Bullard, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, view the economic data as favorable, and staffing firms have reported growth since the end of 2009. Carl Camden, president and chief executive of the staffing firm Kelly Services Inc., says, “The ongoing economic uncertainty will help create a greater awareness of temporary staffing benefits and a secular shift in demand for temporary workers.”