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Kimberly Hester, a grade school teacher's aide in Michigan, was fired for refusing to hand over her Facebook password to her supervisors. Hester posted a picture of a co-workers' shoes and pants bunched around her ankles on Facebook in April 2011 with the caption, "Thinking of you." She posted the picture in jest, but a parent who's on her Facebook friend list saw the image and reported it to Frank Squires Elementary where Hester was employed, prompting the investigation. Teachers have gotten in trouble for Facebook status messages before, but in Hester's case, it's her refusal to hand over her...

Job seekers asked to throw their privacy out the window For all the good it can do, social networking also has its share of downsides. Putting personal information of any kind on the internet raises plenty of privacy concerns on its own, and handing over your username and password can be like giving away the keys to your very identity. But if you're in the process of seeking new employment, that may be exactly what you'll have to do.The image below is a snapshot of an application from North Carolina for a clerical position at a police department. One of...

A new Gallup poll shows ObamaCare is working just as planned: kill the private health insurance industry in order to implement a single-payer government system. The number of people insured through employer provided health insurance continues to decline. The percentage of American adults who get their health insurance from an employer continues to decline, falling to 44.5% in the third quarter of this year. This percentage has been steadily declining since Gallup and Healthways started tracking Americans' health insurance sources in 2008. At least 45% of Americans got their health insurance from an employer in every month in 2010, compared...

He doesn’t think it’s too much to ask of a job seeker. A resume, a statement of salary expectations and a single written paragraph that answers a question like, “What do you believe a good customer service representative’s attitude should be?” (snip) Stories are legion of inept or half-hearted applicants who submit resumes marred by misspellings, show up at interviews dressed for a beach party, make inappropriate jokes, fail to learn basic details about the job and company in question, and otherwise leave hiring managers aghast. (snip) “Who the hell is going to hire these people?” asks Heinemeier Hansson. “Who...

Gibson CEO: Obama Administration Told Us Our Problems Would Go Away If We Used Madagascar Labor (Audio).......KMJ Radio host Chris Daniel interviewed Gibson CEO Henry Juszkiewicz on Wednesday. Juszkiewicz told Chris that the Obama Administration told them, “Your problems would go away if you used Madagascar labor instead of our labor.”

Any day now, the U.S. Department of Labor, under former Big Labor treasurer and now Obama’s current Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, intends to announce a new definition for the term “Employer” that will protect her union boss friends. When the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA) passed, Congress defined the term “Employer” very broadly as “any employer or any group or association of employers engaged in an industry affecting commerce … an employer within the meaning of any law of the United States relating to the employment of any employees.”

Establish smart spending habits. Live like you're poor. How do you do that? Drive your cars into the ground, don't eat out very much, avoid expensive and potentially unhealthy processed foods, buy food in bulk, buy just enough clothes to fit your needs, and use public transportation. ... Use credit cards only as a convenience to avoid carrying cash; limit your credit card spending so that you can easily pay off the balance each month. Make every dollar count with your spending, so you can free up money to invest in the future. Get healthy. One of the best things...

The American Civil Liberties Union has taken up the cause of a Maryland man who was forced to cough up his Facebook password during a job interview with the Department of Corrections in that state. According to an ACLU letter sent to the Maryland Department of Corrections, the organization requires that new applicants and those applying for recertifications give the government "their social media account usernames and personal passwords for use in employee background checks." The ACLU calls this policy "a frightening and illegal invasion of privacy" and I can't say that I disagree. Keep in mind that this isn't...

A day after union workers rejected for a second time a contract that might have saved their jobs, the Metro East company told them it was moving about 1,000 ammunition production jobs from Metro East to Oxford, Miss. As members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 9 left the East Alton catering hall where the ballots were tallied Tuesday night, more than a few of the employees ventured that Olin was bluffing. The company, they maintained, had no intention of following through on its threat to move their jobs. On Wednesday, Olin called their bluff by...

The rough economy has made many people desperate for a job. In their eagerness for gainful employment, many people may overlook improper interview questions. Depending on how they are asked, questions about personal topics such as marital status, race and health are more than just poor manners - they are illegal under federal and some state and local laws

Everyone agrees the American job picture is a disaster. Unemployment estimates from June stretch from the official 9.5% to 16.5% to a sickening 22% by the most inclusive definition. Economists, politicians and pundits debate the reasons. You’re familiar with the arguments. --Those on the right look at the $1.8 trillion of cash reserves held by American companies--and those are just the publicly traded ones-- and conclude that business has gone on a capital strike. Business is refusing to invest aggressively in the future, including hiring more people, in an atmosphere of rising taxes and regulations, not to mention overt rhetorical...

Washington • Thousands of Utah companies may be breaking state law by hiring employees without using a federal work status verification program, but officials aren’t concerned and there’s no rush for businesses to comply because they face no penalties. Starting July 1, companies in Utah with more than 15 employees were required to check the legal status of new workers, though only about 3,000 companies in the state were doing so as of Friday, 10 days after the law took effect, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. That’s less than a third of businesses in the state that...

Come 2014, we might begin to see help-wanted ads that emphasize the lack of employer-provided insurance, especially for modest wage-earners. It's known that ObamaCare redistributes from the rich to modest earners. Less well understood is how much the generous subsidies benefit some modest earners over others. The health care law creates incentives for employers and employees to shift away from job-based health care, leading some to predict cost overruns. Consider a family of four with

The Congressional Budget Office predicts up to 10 million people would lose employer-sponsored health care coverage under Senate Democratic health care reform plan. The CBO released the data last night. "Firms that would choose not to offer coverage as a result of the proposal would tend to be smaller employers and employers that predominantly employ lower-wage workers‚"people who would be eligible for subsidies through the exchange," The CBO reports, "although some workers who would not have employment-based coverage because of the proposal would not be eligible for such subsidies."

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12, 2009 – Army Command Sgt. Maj. Rob Lawrence’s position as the Colorado National Guard’s top enlisted soldier is underscored by nearly 25 years of steadfast support from his civilian employer. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Rob Lawrence of the Colorado National Guard speaks prior to Gov. Bill Ritter Jr. signing a proclamation making 2009 the Year of the NCO in Colorado, June 2, 2009. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Cheresa D. Theiral  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. No matter what his military mission has been, First Data Corp.’s loyalty to part-time soldiers never ceases to...

A Senate committee narrowly approved a bill that would encourage companies to adopt policies that let workers keep guns in their cars. The Senate State Affairs Committee voted 4-3 on April 16 to pass a measure that would provide legal protections to companies that “allow or (do) not prohibit” employees to store firearms in their vehicles. Those businesses could not face civil damages for such policies. Rep. Jeff Thompson, R-Idaho Falls, said prohibitions on guns in employee vehicles infringe on the rights of hunters and people who carry guns for self-defense. But he said businesses that have such policies wouldn’t...

To All My Valued Employees, There have been some rumblings around the office about the future of this company, and more specifically, your job. As you know, the economy has changed for the worse and presents many challenges. However, the good news is this: The economy doesn't pose a threat to your job. What does threaten your job; however, is the changing political landscape in this country. However, let me tell you some little tidbits of fact which might help you decide what is in your best interests. First, while it is easy to spew rhetoric that casts employers against...

LACEY, Wash. – Employees of a pizza delivery shop say the owners have cut off the heat in the store. And they say if the workers don’t like it, they can leave.

401(k)s: Employer Contributions Get the AxBy Amy Feldman – 30 mins ago When times are tough, companies find cost savings wherever they can. Now some employers are doing away with the 401(k) match, a benefit once considered almost sacred. **SNIP** Lesser of Two Evils The psychological impact of these cuts may be almost as damaging as the financial harm. Coming at a time when many Americans are struggling to save for retirement and face shrunken stock portfolios, the cutbacks make the goal of a secure retirement even more elusive. Yet for all the unhappiness over slashed 401(k)s, employees understand the...

A Texas employer is facing federal charges for allegedly helping an illegal immigrant return to the United States after he was deported, an illegal who now is accused in the fatal shooting of a police officer, according to a published report. Juan Leonardo Quintero-Perez is accused of shooting and killing Houston policeman Rodney Johnson and jury selection in the capital murder trial is scheduled March 31. He could be sentenced to death if convicted, according to a report by the Associated Press. "Every single time an illegal alien is arrested for a crime, police should be asking who their employer...

The summer that shook the American workplace The new threat and hidden agenda of Labors new Government By Will Fine, Executive Director National Alliance for Worker and Employer Rights This summer has been the summer that shook the foundations of the Employee -Employer relationship as no time has in nearly thirty years. While our national security is being defended overseas, our domestic security has become imperiled by governmental transformation at the hands of Labor Union Central Command that has deployed a government it can control. The credibility of Congress is at stake to defend a free workplace.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 11, 2007 – Although Jessica Strasser’s husband is now deployed to Afghanistan with his Iowa Army National Guard unit, she says life on the farm is immeasurably easier thanks to his employer. Jessica’s husband, 1st Sgt. Matthew T. Strasser, is employed by Augustine and Sons, Inc., a 150-year-old family farm in Rose Hill, Iowa. The Strassers and their two sons, Reece, 9, and Tyler, 7, live rent-free and farm on Augustine and Sons-owned acreage.Matthew is a professional farmer who has grown corn, soybeans and hay and tended cattle and hogs for Augustine and Sons for five years...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 27, 2007 – Nevada Air National Guard commander Brig. Gen. Robert V. Fitch said he couldn’t perform his military job -- sometimes requiring weeks of overseas travel -- without the superb support he receives from his civilian employer, Sierra Pacific Resources. The company is among 15 businesses and organizations selected to receive this year’s Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. Fitch nominated Sierra Pacific Resources for the annual award, which honors businesses and organizations that provide exemplary support for employees in the National Guard or reserves. When not performing Air Guard duty Fitch lives and works...

VISTA ---- The American Civil Liberties Union of San Diego and Imperial Counties will ask a judge to stop Vista from releasing the names, addresses and phone numbers of private individuals who have registered with the city as day-labor employers, an attorney with the group said Thursday. The ACLU's legal director, David Blair-Loy, said he would file a class action complaint today in Superior Court on behalf of four anonymous employers to block the release of the information, which has been requested by a local anti-illegal immigration activist. "This is just one of those cases where, I think, the right...

Chain's use of database to fire employees who don't check out angers advocates for immigrants You may have already seen the signs popping up at your local Dunkin' Donuts shop: ``We follow the law! This company hires lawful workers only. " The signs, which have begun appearing in shops around Boston, make public the company's participation, starting June 1, in a voluntary federal program that enables employers to quickly check the immigration status of new hires. Dunkin' Donuts is requiring all of its franchisees to participate in the Basic Pilot Program, which allows employers to verify a worker's status using...

MIAMI, May 7, 2007 – Maintaining good communications with civilian employers of National Guardsmen and reservists is a major component of mission success at the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, the agency’s new chief said in an interview. Gordon Sumner Jr. is the new executive director for the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. Photo by Gerry J. Gilmore  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Gordon Sumner Jr., a retired Army lieutenant colonel, was appointed as the committee’s new executive director March 29. It is critical, Sumner emphasized, that ESGR...

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2007 – The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve has worked to gain and maintain the support of America’s employers for the nation’s National Guardsmen and reservists since 1972. Then-Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney receives the 2006 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award from Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness David S.C. Chu (right) and ESGR National Chairman David Janes (left) during the annual award ceremony Sept. 21 in Washington, D.C. Photo by Spc. Christian Fernandez, USA  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. ESGR is a member of America Supports You,...

Janitors' strike is over, but union efforts continue UM janitors got a chance to form a union Monday, scoring the union's first big win in its Justice for Janitors campaign. But what's next? BY NIALA BOODHOO nboodhoo@MiamiHerald.com

WASHINGTON, April 14, 2006 – With a stroke of Veterans Affairs Secretary R. James Nicholson's pen here today, all 15 U.S. Cabinet secretaries have now signed a joint statement in support of the Defense Department's Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve organization. Veterans Affairs Secretary R. James Nicholson (right) became the last of the 15 U.S. Cabinet secretaries to sign a joint Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve statement of support. Thomas F. Hall (left), assistant secretary of defense for reserve affairs, delivered remarks during the April 14 ceremony. Photo by Samantha L. Quigley  (Click photo for screen-resolution...

My husband jokes that I should have been an electrician. In this age of outsourcing and job insecurity, the trades seem to us to be the best professions of the future. To be sure, most aren't glamorous and are often physically demanding. But a number seem to have financial security and stability, and their job portability doesn't hurt, either. Many of us white-collar employees don't get to choose where we will live; we must go wherever our employer requires us. Many folks in the trades can command a good income, choose their own hours, and put down roots in a...

Governor's proposals get thumbs down at rally FRANKFORT, Ky. Organized labor has displayed its political clout with a massive Capitol rally today. Also today, union members cheered a House committee for rejecting two labor initiatives pushed by Governor Fletcher.

We are THE conservative Labor Reform Organization Our roots are in Ronald Reagan's vision of defending freedom againt forced unionism and threat of strikes.

The Secret Ballot Protection Act poll You have had an election or are about to have one to determine if a union will represent you or not: Was the election

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18, 2006 – Mark L. Kniffen, 41, was overwhelmingly thankful for his employer paying his full salary, allowing him to keep his medical benefits and helping solve family crisis for the 15 months he was in Kuwait and Iraq supporting the war on terrorism. When he returned home from war, Kniffen decided to show his appreciation for what his employer did for him and more than 100 other deployed National Guardsmen and Reservists. He composed a powerful, glowing nomination letter recommending Eaton Corp. for the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. And, to his surprise, the firm...

Secret Ballot Elections protect American worker's freedom Support the right of workers to a Secret Ballot workplace election-Tell Ted Kennedy our workers deserve Democracy in the workplace!

Secret Ballot Elections protect American worker's freedom Support the right of workers to a Secret Ballot workplace election-Tell Ted Kennedy our workers deserve Democracy in the workplace!

Ok, I'm sorry if this is a silly thread, but I'm looking for advice on the legalities of a situation and I'm not sure where to go. I figured there are a lot of freepers here who are pretty darn smart and combined with experiences, could offer some help... Basically a big known company (name withheld) my husband worked for just sent a letter saying that they over paid him by $192 and are requesting it to be paid back. He hasn't worked there since September 2005 and they are just now sending us this letter. Do they have a...

We are up against Kennedy-Miller's wrongly called bill "Employee Free Choice Act" with 204 cosponsors in the House.

Boeing Will Pay $72.5 Million to Settle Sex-Discrimination Suit Associated Press November 12, 2005 6:13 p.m. SEATTLE -- Boeing Co. has agreed to pay $72.5 million to thousands of women to settle a class-action action sex-discrimination lawsuit, according to documents filed Thursday in U.S. District Court. The pay out is the maximum allowed under a settlement agreement that won preliminary approval from a federal judge last year, The Seattle Times reported. As part of the deal, Boeing admitted no wrongdoing but agreed to change its hiring, pay, promotion practices and how it investigates employee complaints. "We've moved ahead on numerous...

I have a question for the many, knowledgeable freepers out there regarding employer health insurance. Open enrollment is upon us and this year, and the company I work for has sprung a new twist that shockeked myself and my coworkers.As in past years, we are expected to shoulder more of the burden of our health insurance premiums and this year is no different with an $80 to $120 increase in our protion of the monthly premiums. Nobody likes it, but it's a fact, but that's not what concerns me.We are offered employee+spouse and family plans, each with its own, higher,...

Support the Secret Ballot Protection Act now! H.R. 874 : S. 1173 Sign our new NAWER petition! Bring Human dignity and Employee choice back to the workplace

support the secret ballot protection act now in Congress!

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19, 2005 – Jan Packwood was a strong supporter of the Guard and Reserve long before he became president and chief executive officer of IdaCorp and Idaho Power, a commitment that's deepened since he watched several employees and his two sons deploy to Iraq. Packwood, a retired Army Reserve colonel, understands the contribution the reserve components make to national security and the risks members face in the process. He also knows firsthand the difficulties the families they leave behind often face during long deployments, from emotional and financial stresses to problems getting to military medical facilities or doctors...

ANNISTON, Ala., Aug. 12, 2005 – The staff at Anniston Medical Clinic here misses Naval Reserve Petty Officer 3rd Class Shannon Woodard when she's deployed, but they don't complain. "Shannon is a very good employee, so we kind of miss her when she goes," said Dr. Vishala Chindalore, a rheumatologist and Woodard's boss at the clinic, where Woodard serves as a medical technician doing everything from recording patient information to giving injections. "We're very proud that she's in the Navy." That pride is a two-way street, as Woodard sees it. Since the start of the fiscal year, she has been...

By signing Statements of Support of the National Guard and Reserve, employers and political leaders demonstrate their support for their National Guard and Reserve employees, their commitment to Operation Enduring Freedom, and their resolve to bolster the defense of the United States. This map depicts which state governors have signed Statements of Support. Click each State to view the organizations that have signed a Statement of Support.

Incentives, monitoring programs aim to cut employee costs. CYPRESS, Calif. - At age 45, Rick Graham was 5-foot-8 and 235 pounds. His blood pressure was soaring, and he didn't have as much energy as he did when he was younger. The business analyst tried every diet in the book, but the weight kept coming back. Finally his employer decided to do something about it. If Graham would try to eat better and exercise, PacifiCare Health Systems Inc. offered a novel reward: cash. So now, once every 24 hours or so, Graham logs on to a computer system managed by his...

Ray Crosby, the principal owner and president of Champion Safe Co., says he was never "an expert" on the paperwork required to show a worker is legally allowed to work in the United States. He is now. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Paul Cassell fined the Provo company $80,000 for harboring undocumented immigrants and placed it on three years' probation, giving immigration officials the right to inspect paperwork on workers' employment eligibility without prior notice. "There's a lot of burden placed on small employers today," Crosby said, but added the safe-manufacturing business will abide by the law. Employers are required...

New Study Says External Costs Are Primary Competitiveness Challenge to U.S. Manufacturing 03-330 CONTACTS: HANK COX (202) 637-3090; JIM ENGELHARDT (703) 841-9000 Cost Burden Reduces Innovation and Jobs WASHINGTON, D.C., December 9, 2003 – “External, non-production costs add approximately 22 percent to unit labor costs of U.S. manufacturers (nearly $5 per hour worked) relative to their major foreign competitors, and are the primary competitive challenge facing manufacturers and their workers,” said Jerry Jasinowski, President of the National Association of Manufacturers. The finding is part of a new study, “How Structural Costs Imposed on U.S. Manufacturers Harm Workers and Threaten Competitiveness,”...

Substantial Evidence Determination based on false information by Bureau of Labor & Industries