California lawmaker has plans for gig economy workers — Staffing quote of the week

“As the economy changes, the law has to change as well,” California Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) told the Los Angeles Times in a story about a new gig economy bill she will introduce in January. “Our rules for unions come out of a different era. We have to accept that. There...

Little tolerance for marijuana use, SHRM survey finds

Medical or recreational use of marijuana is legal in 23 states and the District of Columbia, but employers in those locations continue to have a zero-tolerance policy about the drug’s use in the workplace, according to the Policies for Marijuana Use in the Workplace survey of HR professionals released...

Futurestep’s 2016 talent acquisition predictions

Futurestep, a division of Korn Ferry (NYSE: KFY), released its 2016 predictions for talent acquisition. The list is based on insights from 24 global experts. It reflects trends that have emerged during the past 12 months and those predicted to dominate during the coming year.

The trends Futurestep believes...

Uber updates IC contract language; drivers’ attorney takes issue

Uber updated driver contract language Friday to require individual arbitration. The move came days after a federal judge ruled previous contract language calling for individual arbitration wording was unenforceable. The judge’s Dec. 9 ruling expanded the number of drivers who could take part in the...

US tech survey finds 78% expect to increase hiring

A record 78% of US technology hiring managers expect to increase tech hiring in the first six months of 2016, and 71% of companies are looking to bolster their tech teams by 11% or more, according to job board Dice’s Tech Hiring Survey released today.

The survey found 27% of respondents anticipate “substantially...

Oregon Supreme Court rules against cab company in IC case

The Oregon Supreme Court last week upheld a ruling that certain Broadway Cab LLC taxicab drivers were not independent contractors and held the company liable for unemployment insurance taxes on the drivers’ wages for 2008 and 2009.

The Court Of Appeals previously agreed with an administrative law judge...

Mexico’s economic activity unlikely to accelerate in coming months, indexes suggest

Mexico’s rate of economic expansion is unlikely to pick up in coming months, according to The Conference Board.

The Conference Board’s leading economic index for Mexico rose in October and September’s reading was revised to a gain. Despite the gain, however, the six-month change in the leading economic...

British Columbia will be Canada’s fastest-growing economy

The economy across Canada has been picking up speed, and that is expected to carry through into 2016, according to The Conference Board of Canada’s Provincial Outlook: Autumn 2015. British Columbia, Manitoba, and Ontario will be the growth leaders in 2016, according to the report, with the British...

Report lists top staffing exec challenges

Sales growth/net new accounts, account penetration and sourcing candidates ranked as the top three challenges facing staffing executives in a new ClearEdge survey of 55 staffing executives. When asked to choose just one primary concern, “sourcing candidates” was the answer executives gave most.

Staffing...

Senators Cruz and Sessions propose H-1B reform legislation

US Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) on Thursday introduced the American Jobs First Act of 2015 (S. 2394), which would require  a minimum wage of $110,000 for H-1B workers and eliminate the  Optional Practical Training Program.

Key highlights of the proposed bill include:...