Unemployment
Benefit Payments Drop
Wisconsin's yearly unemployment benefit payments have fallen by more than half since 2010, pulling the trust fund out of a $1.3 billion deficit.
Following the recession, Wisconsin has worked to address its deficit by tightening eligibility requirements, cutting down on fraud, and increasing recuperation of overpayments.
According to Department of Workforce Development data, unemployment benefit payments have declined steadily since 2010, dropping from almost $1.3 billion to $535 million in 2015. Meanwhile, the trust fund has climbed out of a $1.3 billion deficit to a positive $743 million.
startribune.com
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Anniversaries
Kris Merten
Branch Manager
Chilton
21 years
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Ciji Hansen
Staffing Specialist
Appleton
9 years
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Celebrating Over 40 Years of Staffing Excellence! |
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$15 Minimum Wage Impact
Most CFOs say minimum wage increases would cause them to reduce
current workforce, says survey.
According to the latest Duke University/CFO Global Business Outlook survey, nearly 75% of minimum-wage paying firms in the United States said that they would reduce current or future employment if the minimum wage is raised to $15 per hour.
The survey has been conducted each quarter for the last 20 years, making it the world's longest-running and most comprehensive research on senior finance executives.
The latest survey results reflect what would happen as a minimum wage was increased incrementally.
At a $15 minimum wage, 41% would lay off current employees, while 66% would slow future hiring. Also, 66% of affected firms would reduce employee benefits at a $15 wage, and 49% would raise prices. At a $10 minimum wage, about 20% say they would lay off current workers, 44% would slow future hiring, 20% would reduce employee benefits, and 43% say they would raise their prices. An increase to $8.75 would affect fewer firms, but among those, 11% say they would lay off current employees, and 36% say it would slow future hiring.
While respondents generally indicated they could reasonably accommodate such a modest hike in minimum wage, they said it could also accelerate an ongoing shift away from labor and towards machinery.
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New Overtime Rules Due in July
Despite strong objection by business leaders, the Department of Labor's final rule revising the white-collar overtime exemption regulations will most likely become effective later this summer.
The current minimum salary a worker has to be paid to be exempt from overtime is $23,660 per year. Under the proposed rule, this would more than double to $50,440 per year.
Proponents of the rule argue that the higher threshold is necessary to bring the standard up to date, and that it will
increase the wages of salaried employees. Opponents have raised concerns that rather than increasing wages of employees who are currently salaried to meet the new threshold, many companies will convert these employees to an hourly status, thus eliminating the scheduling flexibility these employees have enjoyed.
The Department of Labor has not suggested changing the executive, administrative, professional, computer, or outside sales duties tests as of yet. However, the agency sought comments on whether they should be changed and whether they're working to screen out employees who are not actually white-collar, exempt employees. Early indicators were that the Department of Labor would look to adopt a California-style rule in which employees would be required to spend more than 50% of their time performing exempt duties to be classified as exempt.
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One Minute Ideas
10 Things to let go of to be happy...
1. Let go of toxic people in your life.
2. Let go of regretting past mistakes.
3. Let go of the need to be right.
4. Let go of feeling sorry for yourself.
5. Let go of negative self talk.
6. Let go of the need to impress others.
7. Let go of limiting beliefs.
8. Let go of the need to please everyone.
9. Let go of gossip and complaining.
10. Let go of worrying about the future.
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Recipe
Grilled Stuffed Jalapenos
14 jalapeno peppers, halved lengthwise, and seeded
2 slices center-cut bacon
1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup shredded, extra-sharp cheddar cheese
1/4 cup minced green onion
1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 small garlic clove, minced
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
2 tablespoons chopped, seeded tomatoes
Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy. D
rain bacon on paper towels, and crumble.
Combine bacon, cheeses, green onion, lime juice, salt, and garlic in a bowl, stirring to combine. Fill pepper halves evenly with cheese mixture.
Place peppers cheese side up on grill, cover and grill peppers 8 minutes, or until bottoms of peppers are charred, and cheese mixture is lightly browned.
Place peppers on serving platter.
Sprinkle with tomato, and cilantro.
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Inspirational Quote
"Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings."
- Salvador Dali
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