AMN Healthcare Services News Release (05/02/13)

AMN Healthcare Services Inc. reported revenue of $252 million for the first quarter of 2013, up 11% from $226 million during the same period last year. The company’s net income was $7.6 million, up from $4.3 million in the second quarter of 2012. Revenue was $177 million for its nurse and allied health care staffing segment, up 15%; $65 million for its locum tenens staffing segment, up 3%; and $10 million for its physician permanent placement services segment, up 10%.

Mintz Levin Employment, Labor, and Benefits Advisory (04/30/2013) Alden Bianchi; Ed Lenz

When it comes to complying with the Affordable Care Act’s employer shared responsibility rules starting in 2014, staffing firms face particular challenges owing to their large numbers of variable hour and contingent workers, historically high rates of turnover, limited assignment tenure, and low take-up rates where health care coverage is offered. This advisory addresses five questions staffing firms may have about the employer shared responsibility rules: what the rules are, what the compliance challenges are, how temporary workers assigned to clients are treated under the rules, how to find a carrier to underwrite coverage, and how to satisfy the obligation to provide coverage.

Society for Human Resource Management (05/02/13) Theresa Minton-Eversole

A new report by Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. shows that April job cuts totaled 38,121, down 23% from March and 6% year-over-year—the lowest level reported since December 2012. During the first four months of the year, 183,162 job cuts were announced, down just 0.27% from 183,653 job cuts in the same period last year. According to John Challenger, chief executive of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, “The economic slowdown that began late in the third quarter [of 2012] and [that] is expected to turn into another summer slump has yet to result in increased or widespread downsizing.” The sectors cutting the most jobs in April were retail, health care, industrial goods, transportation, and aerospace and defense.