GDP grows 2.6% in Q4, rate is lower than forecast

US real gross domestic product grew at an annual rate of 2.6% in the fourth quarter, according to the “advance” estimate of GDP growth released today by the US Commerce Department. In the second quarter, real GDP increased 3.2%.

Bloomberg reported growth missed the median forecast of 3% in a Bloomberg...

Cross Country CFO takes COO role; firm announces other changes

Cross Country Healthcare Inc. (NASD: CCRN) appointed former Executive VP and CFO William Burns to role of chief operating officer. In addition, former Corporate Controller Christopher Pizzi was named senior VP and CFO.

Burns joined the company in April 2014. He previously was group VP and corporate controller...

Uber CEO pens open letter supporting benefits system in Washington state

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi called on business, labor and government in Washington state to develop a portable benefits system in an open letter co-signed by Service Employees International Union 775 President David Rolf and Civic Venture Partners founder Nick Hanauer.

“The world of work is changing...

People: Delta, Gattaca, Resources Connection, HealthTrust, AESC, Leonard Keifer, Phoenix5 and more

The Delta Companies, one of the largest providers of healthcare staffing in the US, promoted Paul Estrada to executive VP of Delta Physician Placement. Estrada joined The Delta Companies in 2012 as director of marketing for DPP and most recently was its senior VP.

UK-based specialist engineering and technology...

Mastercard providing financial tools for gig workers (Forbes)

Forbes reports on Mastercard’s new program, called the Inclusive Futures Project, which the company says can “address the challenges of workers who juggle multiple jobs, variable paychecks and inconsistent benefits.”

Execs at World Economic Forum discuss AI’s impact on jobs (CNBC)

The impact of artificial intelligence on jobs has become a hot topic of debate with gloomy headlines predicting that AI will take away millions of jobs in the coming decades. CNBC spoke with chief executives at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, for their take on the future of work and what...

Report details legal changes to affect staffing firms in 2018

The new year is bringing legal changes that will affect staffing firms in the US that use workers on H-1B visas. For those operating in Ontario, legislation will provide for equal pay between temporary workers and traditionally employed workers.

Major legal developments affecting staffing firms this year...

Fundamental shifts in CIO role, TEKsystems research finds

CIOs will need to adopt a dual role with an increasing shift toward becoming a “partner-liaison” for tech initiatives outside core IT’s traditional domain, according to research from TEKsystems.

According to data gathered in conjunction with TEKsystems 2018 IT Forecast, trends indicate new initiatives...

Employee retention remains top workforce challenge, SHRM survey finds

Employee retention and turnover ranks as the top workforce management challenge, cited by 47% of HR leaders surveyed for the 2018 SHRM/Globoforce Employee Recognition Report. It is the third consecutive year this challenge has topped the list.

Recruitment was the second-biggest challenge at 36%, while...

US leading index edges up, pointing to strong growth in first half of year

The Conference Board’s US Leading Economic Index edged up 0.6% in December to a reading of 107.0 (2016 = 100), following increases of 0.5% in November and 1.3% in October.

“The US [Leading Economic Index] continued rising rapidly in December, pointing to a continuation of strong economic growth in...