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.”

2011 Staffing Employee of the Year

Swati Patel from The Winter Wyman Companies

Swati Patel is an outstanding employee and a talented Compensation professional who has used the flexibility of contract employment to both further her career and act as a bridge to permanent employment. Swati is currently on her second long-term contract assignment for Winter, Wyman. She is a true professional – smart, confident and takes pride in her work.

On her first assignment, Swati assisted with re-vamping global compensation programs for a non-profit. She traveled to other countries, including Afghanistan, to meet with key leaders to complete this task. After four months on contract, Swati converted to a permanent employee. After a year, her role transitioned and changed and she left on positive terms and came back to Winter, Wyman.

She is now in the fourth month of her current contract assignment working for another non-profit. She is partnering with HR leadership to implement a new compensation program. Swati’s global business acumen and dedicated work ethic have proven so valuable to her client that they have already extended her original assignment.

Swati is an excellent example of how a talented professional can pursue a rewarding career via contract employment and we are proud to nominate her for Staffing Employee of the Year.

Swati Patel [Winter, Wyman Companies] 2011 Staffing Employee of the Year

2011 Staffing of the Year Nominees

2011 MSEW Reception

Fun at MSEW Dinner

2011 MSEW Dinner

Massachusetts Staffing Association Wins National Awards

The Massachusetts Staffing Association was honored at Staffing World® 2011, the annual convention and expo of the American Staffing Association, held Oct. 11–14 in New Orleans. MSA received a Chapter Merit Award for its outstanding programs and chapter efforts during 2011, and a Legislative Superior Merit Award for its outstanding legislative efforts.

MSA legislative director, Aaron Green, CSP, and executive director, Jean McCarty, CSP, accepted the award from ASA chairman, Bill Yoh, TSC, CSP, 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.

Legislative Superior Merit Awards recognize 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 political activities.

Aaron Green, CSP, Professional Staffing Group, Elected Chairman of American Staffing Association

The American Staffing Association board of directors for 2012 was elected during the trade group’s annual meeting at Staffing World® 2011, the ASA annual convention and expo, Oct. 12 in New Orleans. Representatives from 12 independent firms and 12 national companies serve on the board of directors.

Aaron is the founder of Professional Staffing Group and PSG Global Solutions. One of Massachusetts’ largest staffing firms, Professional Staffing Group provides clients with office support, creative, technical, and financial staff. PSG Global Solutions, based in the Philippines, provides offshore outsourced recruiting to staffing firms. Aaron is past president of the Massachusetts Staffing Association and is currently its legislative representative.

MA Anti-Staffing Registration Bill Introduced

Would Prohibit Direct Hire and Conversions Fees, Impose Numerous Onerous Requirements

Last year, the Massachusetts Staffing Association, ASA, and lobbyists Roger Donoghue and Tara O’Donnell of Donoghue, Barrett, & Singal, were successful in defeating several anti-staffing bills in Massachusetts, including an onerous staffing firm registration bill. Unfortunately, another registration bill recently was introduced by the legislature — and this time it is much worse.

HD 1899 would prohibit staffing firms from charging permanent placement and conversion fees, potentially require in-state offices, and potentially prohibit staffing firms from sending candidate resumes to clients for purposes of generating client interest and job orders.

The bill also includes temporary worker “right to know” provisions that would require staffing firms to provide temporary workers with written notice of, among other things, job descriptions, the name and address of client worksites to which the temporary employees are assigned, wage rates, the expected duration of the assignment, and transportation costs. The bill would impose potential rate caps, meal and lodging requirements for certain out-of-state workers, and other onerous requirements, as well as draconian penalties for violations.

For firms that assign thousands of workers per year in Massachusetts, these requirements would be disastrous.

In the coming weeks, MSA will be reaching out directly to staffing firms to engage them in efforts to defeat this bill. Staffing firms that are not contacted, but wish to become involved, should coordinate their efforts with MSA by contacting MSA legislative director, Aaron Green, at agreen@psgstaffing.com or (617) 250-1030.

Thank you for your involvement and critical support of our industry in Massachusetts.

American Staffing Association
277 S. Washington St., Suite 200
Alexandria, VA 22314-3675
703-253-2020
703-253-2053 fax
americanstaffing.net