As Georgia positions itself for change in the law affecting immigration workers, many fear an economic boycott. ”It’s a labor-intensive process that machines just can’t do because they’d bruise the delicate crop — a $140 million-a-year industry. This farm has 500 acres of onions with some 80,000 plants per acre,” said one area farmer who relies heavily on migrant workers for help. “Our biggest fear is that because of the way the bill could be structured we won’t be able to find enough workers to do the work that we need done in a short amount of time,” he says. [Fresh Plaza]
State legislatures continue to grapple with immigration issues at an unprecedented rate. In the first quarter of 2011, state legislators in the 50 states and Puerto Rico introduced 1,538 bills and resolutions relating to immigrants and refugees. This number surpasses the first quarter of 2010, when 1,180 bills were introduced. As of March 31, 2011, 26 states enacted 63 laws and adopted 78 resolutions, totaling 141 measures. As of March 31, one additional bill was vetoed in New Jersey. [Hispanically Speaking News]
Smith & Williamson has warned staffing agencies that they could be set to receive demands from clients for VAT refunds going back a number of years. In the recent case of Reed vs HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) , the first tier tax tribunal found that an employment bureau should only charge VAT on its commission, rather than its whole charge to clients, including national insurance contributions, holiday pay and salary. [Integral search and Selection UK]
“Contract workers may look more expensive just based on their hourly rates, but when you look at the loaded hourly rate of full-time employees, it is about equal, if not more,” says Kyle Hawke, co-founder/owner of Whinot, a Charlottesville, Virginia-based company that connecting small business owners to independent workers. [Open Forum]
I’d say lying about temping is the least of her problems. [Debt Management Today]
This guy says, “Job Boards are not the biggest threat to the recruitment industry in my opinion, but they may help to cleanse it of some under-performing operators which is good for everyone.” [Open PR]
A group of Arizona unions filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the constitutionality of two new Arizona laws which are set to go into effect within the next six months. [Arizona Central]
In an Interview with Microsoft’s first CEO Michael Scott, he explained Apple’s growth strategy. “Most of the time when we were growing, we had to bring in temp workers because we couldn’t hire them fast enough, so we’d bring in temporary workers, then we’d pay the headhunter fees to convert them over to Apple employees. [Business Insider]
A total of 1,500 workers at Tangerine Confectionery on Clifton Road, Marton, the largest independent sweet manufacturer in Europe, had their skills brought up to date following a massive investment from temporary worker supplier Gap Personnel. The firm is the sole supplier of staff to Tangerine Confectionery’s production sites and invested £25,000 in the major training program. [Blackpool Gazette UK]
Alabama Attorneys release “How to Fire an Employee and Not Get Sued“. [Scibd.]
A temp worker’s reflection at the completion of an assignment. [Roving Lady]
