Employer Articles

“I can’t come to work today because my boots are muddy,” the construction worker told us. “Well, you work outside, so that’s to be expected,” we told him.  “Can’t you go to work with mud on your shoes?”  The answer was no. Another worker told us he wouldn’t be able to go to the jobsite, [...]

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protects employees from retaliation in a variety of situations.  It says an employer cannot discriminate against an employee or applicant because they: Oppose a practice Make a claim of unlawful employment practice Make a charge of discrimination or harassment Testify, assist or participate in an investigation, proceeding or [...]

There is a lot of talk on the federal and state level about offering tax credits to businesses for job creation.  It’s a great idea, and probably no business owner would turn one down. Are you aware that there already is a tax credit for hiring job seekers who face specific barriers to finding work? [...]

Governor Gregoire has outlined her plans to create new jobs in Washington State.  We know firsthand in our community that this help can’t come soon enough for our businesses who are struggling to stay afloat, and for our job seekers who are competing for diminished opportunities. Senator Derek Kilmer from the 26th District is taking [...]

Technology Ain’t Like it Used to Be In the 1980s, I worked for the IT division of a large federal contractor.  We were early adopters of email technology.  Nowadays, email is a vital fixture of most businesses, but in the 1980s the concept was still in its infancy.  Employers were trying to understand email’s role [...]

The days are becoming shorter. Winter, in all its gloomy grayness, is beginning to touch the landscape. The holidays and their legion of attendant stresses are fast approaching. The economy is in turmoil and the nation is gripped by anxiety. It’s enough to make anyone feel a little depressed or crazy! It feels like a [...]

West Sound Workforce nominates Anthea Kranovich as the September 2008 Employee of the Month! Kranovich works as a Lobby Specialist, handling a multi-line phone system while employing excellent speaking and critical thinking skills. In her nomination, Kranovich’s supervisor said: Anthea came to us literally on the spur of the moment because an employee was leaving [...]

The headlines scream at us almost daily that the unemployment rate is rising, and that businesses are shedding jobs. More employers are receiving unemployment claims, causing their experience ratings to be re-evaluated and their tax rates to rise. In these tough economic times, it is important for employers to understand the ins and outs of [...]

Tagged with: unemployment

One of the more unpleasant responsibilities of managers and HR personnel is to terminate employees. While this is never an enjoyable task, it is important that it be done with forethought and planning in order to protect the security of the facility and company. IN ADVANCE: Prepare a checklist:Create a list of everything that must [...]

For some people, prices at the pump are painful, but for others, they’re actually crippling. When commuting becomes a hardship, employers can find themselves facing a choice of losing good staff or providing economic assistance to offset the expense of transportation. Members of the workforce are scrambling to find jobs that are closer to their [...]