Workforce
State and local governments face a tight labor market and a competitive disadvantage with the private sector. But salaries aren’t the only issue, with cities, counties and states all grappling with training, retention, remote work and increased union activity.
DHS is using federal funds to reimburse local police who partner with ICE, a policy that could reshape law enforcement in rural communities with limited staffing and resources.
About 1 percent of Kaiser Permanente employees have been placed on unpaid administrative leave for not getting vaccinated against COVID-19 by the Sept. 30 deadline. To return to work, they must be vaccinated by Dec. 1.
The Iowa Economic Development Authority is looking to develop specialized training and certification that increases an employee’s skill set, value and salary, but implementation still has obstacles to overcome.
As companies across the nation struggle to fill open positions, many employers are turning to the approximately 20 million Americans who have past felony convictions. Some experts believe this could create a lasting impact.
The increase is the first in a series that will eventually raise the state’s wage to $15 an hour. The wage raise is the first in the country to be approved by ballot measure, which was passed by 61 percent of voters.
Connecticut’s Southeast Area Transit District bus drivers are calling for improved workplace safety protections amid a rise in assaults against bus operators during the coronavirus pandemic.
The state consistently ranks in the top 10 states for workers with H-1B visa, but there’s a limited number of work permits available each year and political battles have delayed meaningful reform to increase the visas.
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ efforts to keep Florida open have led many state employees to publicly voice concerns that departments are not taking the coronavirus pandemic seriously.
While private employers add workers, multiple factors hold back return of public noneducation jobs.
Thousands of Connecticut residents were overpaid in unemployment insurance, meaning they now owe millions. But some lawmakers want the state to waive repayment and reimburse the unemployment fund.
More than 20,000 custodians statewide could receive a minimum wage increase, employer contribution to union pension plans and bereavement leave, which would generate thousands of dollars in additional wages and benefits.
The Biden administration’s mandate will require state workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19 or undergo weekly testing. Some may decide to leave their job and state to avoid the vaccine.
Farms across the Midwest are struggling to hire domestic employees. In Illinois, the number of foreign agricultural workers has increased more than 250 percent in the past five years.
The four firms that are competing to earn a multimillion-dollar contract to modernize the state’s unemployment system have each experienced problems while working on other states’ unemployment or IT projects.
The state’s Department of Job and Family Services has predicted that it will take until early December to issue a ruling on the massive backlog of unprocessed unemployment benefits appeals.
Thousands of state employees, nearly 8 percent of the state workforce, have filed for exemption from the vaccine mandate, which includes hundreds of state troopers and prison guards.
Current and former employees have accused the state trial court system of discriminatory practices due to their race. Some workers alleged they were passed over for promotions for white colleagues who were less qualified.
California’s proposed bill that would give farmworkers reliable access to N95 masks to protect them against wildfire smoke exposure, ensuring a safe and healthy work environment. But many say it doesn’t address the root issue.
The Biden administration’s federal vaccine mandate will impact about 170,000 workers, approximately one-third of the state’s workforce, even though Maine has one of the highest vaccination rates in the nation.
When workers own the businesses where they work, the benefits can be broad and deep. But they don’t know how these plans work or how to set one up. That’s where state and local governments can help.
The pay increase would affect about 146 workers and would cost about $300,000 per year. The resolution would make Santa Fe the first government in New Mexico to offer a $15 minimum wage for employees.
Federally-assisted unemployment benefits, an extra $300 a week, are set to expire on Sept. 6 and many experts aren’t sure that the end in boosted pay will get people back to work.
The Challenge to Compete Kansas Workforce 2020 report highlights how increasing work experience and apprenticeship opportunities will allow the state to continue to grow. The state will also need to retain young workers.
Despite the labor-market improvement, many domestic employees, one in three of whom are immigrants and many are also undocumented, are still without work or working less hours than pre-pandemic.
Shifts in how we think about work in a post-COVID-19 world could create an opening for fairer hiring with the help of asynchronous interviews, using artificial intelligence to help reduce recruiting bias.
The Unemployment Insurance Agency asked nearly 650,000 jobless aid recipients to resubmit their qualifications due to a system error. While some are being waived, other residents are being asked to pay back their unemployment benefits.
As remote work continues to expand while the coronavirus persists and businesses are reconsidering their office needs, creating opportunities for coworking spaces allow workers to get an office-like feel without a true office.
The state’s unemployment debt amounts to more than 43 percent of all that is owed to the federal government. As much as $11 billion of the state’s unemployment payments were fraudulent.
Gov. John Bel Edwards agreed to a July 31 cutoff for the federally assisted unemployment benefits before the pandemic surged among the unvaccinated. Now the state’s economy is again closing, this time without financial help.
State spending on key public health activities has been flat or in decline since 2008 and salaries lag behind the private sector. Stakeholders are exploring strategies to meet the need for these essential workers.
A campaign in the states to make public workers “at-will” employees and undo civil service protections has gained traction at the federal level. But there are early signs of a counter-trend in local government.
