ISM manufacturing index hits 13-year high in wake of hurricanes

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in September at a faster pace than August, according to the Institute for Supply Management’s purchasing managers index for US manufacturing. September’s index reading was 60.8, up from August’s reading of 58.8. Bloomberg reported American...

Supreme Court to hear employee arbitration argument (Wired)

The US Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments today on whether employers can prohibit class-action claims from workers suing over labor disputes by requiring each employee to submit individual claims through private arbitration. Wired reports. Uber has much riding on the outcome, because it includes...

Here are the dangers of misclassifying workers as independent contractors (Lexology)

There has been a recent rise in class action against employers alleging misclassification of workers as independent contractors, law firm Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP writes in a report on Lexology detailing the dangers of misclassification. “While misclassification issues are nothing new, the proliferation...

SThree's leader of Americas operations to step down

Professional staffing provider SThree announced the executive director and CEO of its Americas operations, Steve Quinn, will step down from its board effective Saturday.

The company, which ranks on the list of largest staffing providers in the US, doesn’t anticipate naming a board-level successor...

Hiring process grows more complex, competitive for creative workers, report says

Creative professionals may have more hoops to jump through before getting hired despite today’s healthy job market, according to new research by The Creative Group, a division of Robert Half International Inc. (NYSE: RHI).

It found marketing and advertising executives received an average of 32 resumes...

Feds say agricultural firm discriminated against US workers in favor of H-2A visa temps

The US Department of Justice sued Loveland, Colo.-based Crop Production Services Inc. claiming it discriminated against at least three US workers, preferring to hire temporary workers through the H-2A visa program.

Crop Production Services imposed drug tests and background checks on US citizens before...

People: Caldwell, Lofton, Diversified Search, StevenDouglas, Centennial

The Caldwell Partners (TSX: CWL.TO), a Toronto-based executive search firm with operations in Canada, the US and Europe, this week appointed Chris Beck as chief operating and financial officer. This is a new role that encompasses all financial and investor relations functions, as well as providing day-to-day...

Lyft may be taking step toward IPO (Reuters)

Human cloud ride-sharing platform Lyft is close to hiring an initial public offering advisory firm, Reuters reported, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter. It would be the first concrete step by the second-largest US ride service company to become publicly listed.

International staffing industry group lauds Brazil’s labor reform (staffingamericalatina)

The modernization of Brazil’s labor legislation was lauded during a meeting of the World Employment Confederation Latin America on Tuesday in Paris, staffingamericalatina reported. Brazil’s new regulatory framework for labor is thought to be able to restore investment potential in the country for...

IKEA Group to acquire human cloud firm TaskRabbit

Home furnishing retailer IKEA Group agreed to acquire TaskRabbit Inc., the San Francisco-based human cloud company that allows consumers to contract out individual tasks online.

The transaction was signed Monday and is expected to close in October. After the completion of the transaction, IKEA Group will...