On July 27, President Joe Biden issued a statement noting that the U.S. Department of Labor will continue ramping up its crackdown on heat-related safety violations. Biden also specifically asked DOL to issue its first-ever Hazard Alert for Heat. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health…
Industrial Output Jumps in July on Sharply Higher Utilities Output
Industrial production increased 1.0% in July, according to the U.S. Federal Reserve, on the back of strong utility use from the hot summer weather and a rebound in automobile production. The advance in factory output in July was above expectations of a 0.5% increase, according to a poll by the…
Walmart Cuts Starting Pay for Some New Hires
Walmart is paying some new store workers less than it would have three months ago, a sign that employers are seeking to cut labor costs as the once-hot market for hourly employees cools. The retailer changed its wage structure for hourly workers in mid-July. Under the new structure most new hires…
Labor Is a Terrible Guide to Inflation, but Nobody Wants to Admit It
Although central banks continue to focus on labor market tightness as they work to steer inflation below 2%, observers note that it might not be the best gauge. For instance, a significant decline in inflation in 17 affluent nations occurred when unemployment was on the decline or holding steady…
The Economy Was Supposed to Slow by Now. Instead It’s Revving Up
Although economists and U.S. Federal Reserve officials earlier this year anticipated a slowdown in the economy due to reduced spending and investment amid higher interest rates, recent economic data show the economy is accelerating. Now, many of the analysts who had expected a recession this year…
What Impact Will President Biden’s AI Executive Order Have in the Workplace?
President Joe Biden’s Executive Order on “Safe, Secure and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence” addresses the impact of AI on workers, but it is important to note that while the president has control over agencies and government contractors, only Congress has the authority to pass laws that…
Cannabis Job Market Returns to Positive Growth
The legal cannabis industry added 22,952 new jobs in 2023, a 5.4% year-to-year increase that brings the total number of full-time equivalent jobs supported by the industry to 440,445, according to a report by Vangst, a cannabis industry jobs platform. Michigan and Missouri led the nation in…
How to Avoid a PR Nightmare: Lessons Learned From Cloudflare’s Viral Firing of Tech Worker
In response to the trend of Generation Z employees recording and sharing their terminations on social media platforms, employers might be tempted to implement policies that prohibit employees from recording workplace conversations. This may get them in hot water with the U.S. National Labor…
Industrial Production Surges Again Amid High Demand for Air Conditioning During Heat Wave
Industrial production rose in June for the second month in row, driven by rising auto sales and high demand for air conditioning during a spell of especially hot summer weather. Output rose 0.9% last month after a sizable increase in May. Economists surveyed by the Wall Street Journal had…
Just Announced—Come to Staffing World to Hear Author and Business Consultant Debbie Peterson
Are you ready to create your best future alongside the industry’s brightest leaders? Staffing World® 2024, the ASA annual convention and expo, brings together people from all experience levels and segments of the staffing industry for unprecedented learning, networking, and collective advancement. This year’s event, Oct. 22–24 in Nashville, TN, will feature highly sought-after speaker,…
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