A Briefing on a public hearing Thursday over a memorandum that restricts staffing firms' ability to bring in foreign workers on H-1B visas is included in the latest research from Staffing Industry Analysts. Other research released includes reports on fourth-quarter mergers and acquisitions and reports based on the 2009 Staffing Buyer Survey.

BRIEFING - Feds blasted over H-1B restrictions for staffing
*Memo restricts staffing firms' ability to bring in foreign workers on H-1B visas
*Experts say political pressure propelled memo
*'Attack on the staffing industry's business model'
*Lawsuit under consideration 
 
INSIGHT - 2009 Buyer Survey: To what degree do buyers properly classify 1099/independent contractors?
*Fewer than one in five buyers sure they are 100% compliant
*A third say they "don't know" if they are
*Buyers using a compliance vendor still doubtful they are compliant

INSIGHT - 2009 Buyer Survey: To what degree do buyers set assignment limits for contingent workers?
*About half of buyers set CW assignment limits
*Wide disparity in degree of such limits
*Assignment limits same now as in 2006 
 
INSIGHT - Staffing mergers and acquisitions for 4Q09
*Publicly announced M&A activity still subdued
*But Pulse survey data suggests flurry of smaller deals
*Heavier M&A activity in healthcare segment