Human Resources News - Human Resources News Headlines | Bizjournals.com

Human Resources: headlines from the week of July 26, 2010

NLRB sets Sept. 13 as start for giant Kaiser Permanente union election (Sat, 31 Jul 2010 00:51:24 GMT)

The National Labor Relations Board has set Sept. 13 as the start date for a by-mail union representation election at Kaiser Permanente, according to the National Union of Healthcare Workers, one of the unions that will take part in the balloting.

Bruce Coppa forms his own business consulting company (Fri, 30 Jul 2010 22:02:13 GMT)

Bruce Coppa has launched his own boutique business consulting firm called Coppa Consulting Inc. just weeks after stepping down as chief operating officer of Communications Pacific.

Northrop cuts jobs in Newport News (Fri, 30 Jul 2010 21:00:13 GMT)

Northrop Grumman Corp. — which warned in April that 330 jobs were at risk at Fort Eustis in Newport News, Va., as the company competed for a contract renewal — said will cut 173 jobs there even though it got the renewal. (NOC)

Midwest compensation costs rise in the second quarter (Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:17:29 GMT)

Costs are rising for Midwest employers, according to a report released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday.

Hoefer Wysocki Architects will move to Leawood, add jobs (Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:15:12 GMT)

Hoefer Wysocki Architects LLC will move its headquarters — and 67 jobs — across the state line to Leawood.

Duane Morris adds construction partner (Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:56:31 GMT)

Duane Morris LLP has hired Stanley Martin as a partner in the firm’s construction group, the law firm said on Friday.

Pinellas County Job Corps Center to open in November (Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:52:48 GMT)

The new Pinellas County Job Corps Center will open for its first students in November.

ACME names Adamek director (Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:46:36 GMT)

ACME Business Consulting Inc. has promoted Chris Adamek to managing director for the Portland practice.

Fort Hudson Health system names two to board (Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:43:12 GMT)

Fort Hudson Health System, a nonprofit senior health care and housing organization in Fort Edward, New York, named Gretchen Stephan and David Capron to its board of directors.

Howard University Hospital to cut jobs (Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:41:20 GMT)

Howard University Hospital is laying off an unknown number of workers as part of major restructuring plan, its chief executive confirmed to the Washington Business Journal on Friday.

PwC downsizing in the Bay area (Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:34:47 GMT)

PricewaterhouseCoopers announced it will be cutting about 500 jobs in the Tampa Bay area.

Allbritton’s Ryan to chair Ronald Reagan Commission (Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:09:15 GMT)

Allbritton Communications Co. President and Chief Operating Officer Fred Ryan has been elected chairman of the Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission and will lead the commission’s 12 members in developing plans to mark the 100th birthday of the Ronald Reagan.

Winn-Dixie to close Sarasota store (Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:32:45 GMT)

Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. has scheduled 30 underperforming stores for closure between now and Sept. 22. (WINN)

American Italian Pasta Co. changes leaders following sale (Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:54:17 GMT)

American Italian Pasta Co. CEO Jack Kelly has decided to leave following the $1.2 billion sale of the Kansas City-based pasta maker. (RAH)

Automated Health Systems to cut 160 jobs (Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:43:15 GMT)

Automated Health Systems has filed a notice with the state that it will close its facilities in Milwaukee and Madison, resulting in the loss of 160 jobs.

Downtown janitors reach tentative accord (Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:21:14 GMT)

Janitors represented by the Service Employee International Union Local 1 have reached a tentative two-year agreement with downtown cleaning companies that would preserve health benefits and give cleaners a modest raise while controlling cleaning costs in the downtown business area, according to union representatives.

Networking calendar for week of 8/2 (Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:05:18 GMT)

To submit networking meeting or event information, e-mail phoenixcalendars@bizjournals.com.

Air Force prefers Beale for spy planes (Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:56:16 GMT)

The U.S. Air Force announced Thursday that Beale Air Force Base is the preferred site for the MC-12W program.

County Board vote will restore airport maintenance positions (Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:12:07 GMT)

The Milwaukee County Board took action Thursday to rescind the layoffs of seven airport maintenance worker assistant employees at Milwaukee’s General Mitchell International Airport.

Charlie Liem named to head Florida’s business regulation (Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:08:28 GMT)

Gov. Charlie Crist appointed Charlie Liem secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

Study: Most laid-off execs find comparable jobs (Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:28:01 GMT)

Most laid-off executives are finding new positions at the same or higher levels than their previous jobs, according to a study released Thursday by Right Management. (MAN) (HRB)

Belk hit with discrimination suit over Raleigh firing (Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:57:11 GMT)

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed suit against Charlotte-based Belk Inc, claiming that the company’s Crabtree Valley Mall store discriminated against an employee based on her religion.

Insurance broker opens office at The Greene (Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:24:10 GMT)

Neace Lukens, a private insurance broker, has opened an office at The Greene.

Salinas packer ordered to pay in harassment suit (Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:21:40 GMT)

Hilltown Packing Co., a broccoli packer based in Salinas, was ordered to pay $48,000 and furnish other relief to settle a sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Winn-Dixie closing Helena store (Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:01:18 GMT)

Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. plans to shutter just one Alabama store out of the 30 it plans to close in five states.

Manpower: Most laid-off execs finding comparable jobs (Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:17:30 GMT)

Most laid-off executives are finding new positions at the same or higher levels than their previous jobs, according to a study released Thursday by Right Management. (MAN)

Assurant Employee Benefits improves quarterly premiums and income (Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:14:18 GMT)

Assurant Employee Benefits posted improvements in both income and premiums for the second quarter, helped by fewer instances of disability and death among the insurer’s clients. (AIZ)

Harshman named ATI President, COO (Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:55:25 GMT)

The day after reporting the company had swung to a profit in the second quarter, Allegheny Technologies Inc. announced that Chairman and CEO L. Patrick Hassey is giving the up the title of president of the speciality metals maker.

Panera to hire 25,000, Chairman Shaich says (Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:33:43 GMT)

Panera Bread Co. plans to hire 25,000 workers in the coming year, Chairman Ron Shaich told CNBC on Wednesday. (PNRA)

SFN revenue rises in second quarter (Wed, 28 Jul 2010 21:00:07 GMT)

SFN Group, the staffing services company formerly known as Spherion, reported that net income rose for the second quarter ended June 27. (SFN)

Burch to replace Miller as finance secretary (Wed, 28 Jul 2010 20:56:43 GMT)

Katherine Miller is stepping down as secretary of the New Mexico Department of Finance & Administration to become the Santa Fe County manager.

Safe Auto cuts 47 jobs (Wed, 28 Jul 2010 20:56:02 GMT)

Safe Auto Insurance Co. is cutting dozens of employees, largely from its calls centers, as it trims costs to adjust to weaker sales and changing customer habits.

Schwarzenegger: Furloughs will be back (Wed, 28 Jul 2010 20:51:44 GMT)

Stepping up pressure on California legislators to approve a budget, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered renewed furloughs for state workers in a bid to conserve cash.

Taleo Corp. loses $1.4M in Q2, CFO leaving (Wed, 28 Jul 2010 20:34:44 GMT)

Stock option costs of $3.7 million and $3.2 million in acquisition costs helped push Taleo Corp. to a $1.4 million loss in the second quarter ended June. (TLEO)

Jonathan Billings retires abruptly from FBR Capital Markets (Wed, 28 Jul 2010 20:28:50 GMT)

Jonathan Billings has stepped down abruptly from Arlington-based FBR Capital Markets Corp., where he was executive vice president and head of the institutional brokerage division. (FBCM)

Stimulus funds to boost programs for disabled (Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:38:22 GMT)

More than $2 million in stimulus funding will help boost a number of projects that benefit Ohioans with disabilities.

Winn-Dixie plans layoffs, store closures (Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:15:28 GMT)

Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. said it is closing 30 underperforming grocery stores, eliminating 120 corporate and field positions, and consolidating its four operating regions into three. (WINN)

Juut wins national employer award (Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:04:40 GMT)

Juut Salonspa, a Minneapolis-based salon and spa with eight locations in Minnesota and California, received a 2010 National Employer of the Year Award for its extensive hiring of individuals with disabilities in their salons and home offices.

oDesk hires its first CFO (Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:41:38 GMT)

Nilesh Lakhani will be the first chief financial officer at oDesk Corp. in Menlo Park. (IBM)

ODesk names chief financial officer (Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:20:42 GMT)

ODesk Inc. on Wednesday named Nilesh Lakhani chief financial officer.

Kansas City-area unemployment rises to 8.5 percent (Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:42:27 GMT)

Unemployment in the Kansas City metro area edged up from May to June, though it remained lower than a year ago, according to a report the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released Wednesday.

Texas markets set employment pace (Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:00:04 GMT)

Four Texas markets have registered the nation’s strongest employment gains during the past five years, according to figures released Wednesday morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

CompCare takes full control of Puerto Rican operation (Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:06:59 GMT)

Comprehensive Care Corp. bought out its minority partner in a Puerto Rican subsidiary and now owns all the stock of CompCare de Puerto Rico Inc.

Boeing to cut more defense jobs after reporting 21% profit drop (Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:23:04 GMT)

The Boeing Co. plans to make additional layoffs in its St. Louis-based defense unit in response to Pentagon budget cuts, Chairman and Chief Executive Jim McNerney said Wednesday. (BA)

Denver rated 6th-best city for working mothers (Tue, 27 Jul 2010 22:27:22 GMT)

Denver is the nation’s sixth-best city for working mothers, Forbes.com says. (HGRD)

Nooks and crannies secret key in Thomas’ English Muffins case (Tue, 27 Jul 2010 21:18:54 GMT)

It had all the elements of a high-stakes breakfast caper.

Woods, Beckett named to Spaceport board (Tue, 27 Jul 2010 21:12:16 GMT)

Benjamin E. Woods has been selected by Gov. Bill Richardson to become chairman of the New Mexico Spaceport Authority’s board of directors. Woods has sat on its board since 2005, but as chairman, he now will serve as the designee for Economic Development Secretary Fred Mondragon.

Diagnostic Laboratory Services: Amphetamine use up 70% (Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:50:41 GMT)

Amphetamine use by those working or trying to get a job in Hawaii is up 70 percent compared to a year ago, according to statistics released by Diagnostic Laboratory Services.

Business health group saving costs (Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:50:18 GMT)

New data released by the Business Health Care Group shows that the group’s self-funded member companies saw a four-year aggregate health care cost decrease of 5.4 percent per health plan member when compared with 2005 base-year costs.

Ultimate Software Group revenue increases (Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:37:41 GMT)

The Ultimate Software Group reported that revenue for the second quarter ended June 30 was $54.7 million, up 16 percent from $47.2 million in the prior-year period. (ULTI)

Sandia Labs’ Hommert to address biz luncheon (Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:54:55 GMT)

Sandia National Laboratories new President and Director Paul J. Hommert will speak about energy programs and other developments at the lab at a luncheon in Albuquerque on Aug. 10.

Valley business helps job seekers get creative (Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:28:40 GMT)

Back To Work AZ, a Valley group dedicated to helping unemployed Arizonans increase their chances of landing a job, will host a free event at the Hotel Valley Ho that will teach attendees creative ways to connect with local businesses.

Charlotte ranks 48th for working moms (Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:21:49 GMT)

Charlotte ranks No. 48 among the top U.S. cities for working moms, according to a recent study by a Forbes publication.

Lauer named to national cancer post (Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:21:47 GMT)

A University of New Mexico Cancer Center executive has been appointed to the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Clinical Practice Committee.

Triad Business Index highest since Sept. '08 (Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:18:19 GMT)

The Dixon Hughes Triad Business Index showed an increase in the level of economic activity in the region of 0.5 percent in June, according to the latest analysis by the UNC-Greensboro Bryan School of Business and Economics.

Hearings to discuss civil legal services (Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:36:58 GMT)

Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman will conduct four public hearings to assess the extent and nature of unmet civil legal services for low-income New Yorkers in matters in which their basic human needs are at stake.

USI names James Dunn Southeast CEO (Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:34:54 GMT)

James W. Dunn was named chief executive officer of the USI Holdings Southeast region. (WSH) (USIH)

Kenexa buys Centre for High Performance Development (Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:52:49 GMT)

Kenexa Corp. said Monday it has acquired the Centre for High Performance Development (Holdings) Ltd., a leadership-development and management-training company with offices in London and New York. (KNXA)

Cozen O’Connor beefs up Washington office (Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:26:10 GMT)

Cozen O’Connor will double the size of its Washington office by acquiring Sher & Blackwell, an international transportation and government affairs law firm. The Sher & Blackwell group will join Cozen Sept. 1, bringing with it 13 lawyers and two government affairs professionals.

ComScore under-reported Yahoo's June stats (Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:15:11 GMT)

Yahoo Inc. said Tuesday that metrics firm ComScore admitted under-reporting the Internet portal's June traffic numbers. (YHOO)

Rainn Wilson sues Portland Web developer (Mon, 26 Jul 2010 22:51:23 GMT)

TV star Rainn Wilson is seeking $400,000 in damages from Think Brilliant Media Studios Inc. as part of a counterclaim filed last week against the Web design firm.

Flooding keeps Eaton facility closed (Mon, 26 Jul 2010 20:38:52 GMT)

Eaton Corp.’s Milwaukee facility remains closed due to damage from last week’s heavy rains and flooding.

THEA board asks Renaissance Planning to apply for grant (Mon, 26 Jul 2010 20:38:03 GMT)

Renaissance Planning Group will go after federal money for Tampa greenway projects.

Albuquerque Center names new executive director (Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:34:12 GMT)

The Albuquerque Center for Hope and Recovery named Alex Bowen Jr. as executive director.

Washington Hospital Center names new president (Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:48:35 GMT)

Washington Hospital Center has named its fourth chief executive in 15 months.

21 candidates seek Meckler’s post (Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:36:27 GMT)

With just a few days to go before its deadline, the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority has received 21 applications from candidates looking to replace its soon-to-retire executive director.

Database of state-by-state employment trends (Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:06:57 GMT)

The DBJ has assembled a database that lists the employment trends for each state and the District of Columbia as of midyear. The database is searchable by state or by national ranking and is sortable.

The Children’s Shelter promotes long-time child advocate to new management role (Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:05:03 GMT)

The Children’s Shelter has a new chief operating officer.

Champion Window sued, discrimination claim (Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:02:53 GMT)

A former employee of Champion Window in Columbus, Ga., has sued the company with the EEOC’s help for alleged age discrimination.

Survey: Florida among weakest U.S. economy (Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:47:05 GMT)

Florida, Nevada, and California have the nation’s weakest economies, according to a midyear review of state employment trends by Portfolio.com and bizjournals.

Laid-off execs bounce back better in South (Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:34:51 GMT)

Laid-off executives really should wish they were in Dixie. (MAN)

Boom turns to bust for Florida (Mon, 26 Jul 2010 14:48:04 GMT)

Nevada, California and Florida have the nation’s weakest economies, according to a midyear review of state employment trends by Portfolio.com and bizjournals — a stunning reversal from half a decade ago.

Elavon CEO Stuart Harvey moving over to Ceridian (Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:59:18 GMT)

Stuart C. Harvey Jr. was named chief executive officer of Ceridian Corp. (USB) (FNF)

Former leaders drop, NY rises on job list (Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:58:26 GMT)

How the mighty have fallen.

NGenera Corp. moves HQ to Silicon Valley (Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:54:57 GMT)

NGenera Corp. has moved its headquarters to Mountain View, Calif.

SEC seeks to freeze Smiths' $3.5M trust (Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:09:37 GMT)

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission plans to try again to freeze the $3.5 million trust David and Lynn Smith set up for their children.

Obama wants reduction in workplace injuries (Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:00:00 GMT)

President Barack Obama ordered federal agencies to establish more aggressive targets for reducing workplace injuries.

Economy places premium on high-quality internships (Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:00:00 GMT)

Mock trials, simulated corporate tax audits and other forms of classroom training have come a long way for students looking to make the transition from classroom to boardroom. But there’s no replacement for old-fashioned, on-the-job training.

Hire calling: Job market rallies (Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:00:00 GMT)

Capital Region employers are still hiring in the recession.

Health care sector bucks trend; hospitals, doctor groups and insurers are hiring (Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:00:00 GMT)

At any given time, Albany Medical Center has more than 300 job openings.

From online job boards to open houses, employers seek applicants for jobs (Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:00:00 GMT)

Etransmedia Technology Inc. uses every available resource when attracting new hires for its rapidly growing technology business in North Greenbush.

Area manufacturers on guard for the GlobalFoundries effect (Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:00:00 GMT)

One of the nation’s largest construction projects has created a new dilemma for area manufacturers.

Employers report difficulty filling jobs, despite recession, tight labor market (Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:00:00 GMT)

As this week’s Made in the Capital Region special section looks at the skills gap in manufacturing, the gap is not a problem exclusive to the industry. It’s not a problem exclusive to the United States either.

Phila. work force investment groups on path to merger (Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:00:00 GMT)

The boards of the Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board and the Philadelphia Workforce Development Corp. are on the path to becoming one this fall, say those close to discussions.

Job seekers in Philadelphia gather at CareerLink (Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:00:00 GMT)

The Pennsylvania CareerLink center at One Penn Center in Center City is a gathering point for the region’s unemployed who are actively seeking jobs.
CareerLink is a publicly funded program that provides job matching, unemployment information, workshops, résumé development, training to make job searches more effective and other services.

Corporate, federal jobs trickle down to Latinos (Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:00:00 GMT)

Jack Arias is a rare breed at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Job growth continues to be sluggish (Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:00:00 GMT)

Colorado job growth this year can be summed up in one word: disappointing.

Health care adds 2,120 jobs so far (Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:00:00 GMT)

Health care employment has risen slightly in Colorado in 2010. Still, industry leaders remain worried about the shortage of providers in rural areas of the state.

Metropolitan Career Center points to job placement successes (Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:00:00 GMT)

Octavia Roberts was juggling full-time work at a nonprofit and school when her position was downsized last year. She looked for a new job without success for over a year before officials with the public welfare system referred her to the Metropolitan Career Center. She spent more than three months brushing up on her job skills with the MCC, and recently landed a customer service position with wireless provider Cricket Communications.

Wage and compensation claim filings surge (Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:00:00 GMT)

In the past few years, with businesses being squeezed and the ranks of unemployed Americans climbing, the number of wage-and-hour lawsuits, along with gender-based and other types of discrimination claims, has been surging. In metro Atlanta, labor and employment attorneys are busier than ever, devising strategies to help organizations cope with the unpleasant realities of the ongoing recession.

Jobless benefits extension could cost companies (Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:00:00 GMT)

The unemployment insurance tax rates of businesses that have cut jobs in the past year may rise even more because of the federal unemployment benefits extension that President Barack Obama soon will sign into law.

New staffing group to expand Charlotte office (Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:00:00 GMT)

The new owners of a Charlotte staffing company plan to double employment to eight and add Triangle and Atlanta offices by year end.

Weekly wage under watch (Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:00:00 GMT)

RALEIGH – The extent to which the North Carolina economy has been hurt in the slowdown will become evident in early August when state officials come up with a new measure of the state average weekly wage.

Recession drying up job opportunities and summer internships for teenagers (Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:00:00 GMT)

Normally at this time of year, the Greater Wichita YMCA is still looking to fill some of the part-time summer positions such as lifeguards that typically go to teenagers.

Worker training grants arriving for companies hiring unemployed (Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:00:00 GMT)

Ohioans left jobless by plant closings and cutbacks may be able to get a fresh start with the help of $3.9 million from Washington’s federal program headed to the state.

Cache Creek scales down, ramps up (Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:00:00 GMT)

Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation is forging ahead with scaled-down expansion plans at its Cache Creek Casino Resort in the Capay Valley.

Survey reveals workers likely to job-hunt as recession fades (Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:00:00 GMT)

Forty percent of professionals say the ebbing of the recession has made them more inclined to look for a new job — and the younger the worker, the greater the chances they’ll be on the move, according to a new survey.

Sullivan helping companies deal with staffing issues (Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:00:00 GMT)

In his multiple roles at global staffing giant Manpower Inc., Owen Sullivan keeps a close watch on work force trends.

Landmark social media suit worries employers (Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:00:00 GMT)

Employers and employees may have more reason to be wary of online social networking activity at work.