VetJobs is an appropriate employment service delivery system for EEOC, VEVRAA/JVA and OFCCP compliance support!

The VetJobs Early Eagle is for member employers, recruiters, friends and supporters of VetJobs. Feel free to forward this newsletter to friends and other employers.

This issue sponsored by Employer Support of the Guard & Reserve and TECHEXPO Top Secret

Contents:

1. Message from the Top

2. EDGE Report

3. Veterans Curation Project

4. US Brain Drain

5. Health Care Costs Projections

6. Salary Increase Projections

7. Flag Etiquette

8. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of October 27, 2009

9. Significant Events this Month in Military History

Thank you for reading the VetJobs Early Eagle employer newsletter. If you like this newsletter and what VetJobs and the VFW do to assist veterans and their family member find employment, please go to http://www.weddles.com/poll.htm and vote VetJobs for the WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award!

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1. Message from the Top

Happy 10th Birthday to VetJobs!

As of 11:00 AM on November 11, VetJobs will have been serving the hiring needs of employers seeking to hire veterans and their family members for ten years! During that time, millions of veterans have used the VetJobs site and employers have hired tens of thousands of veterans using VetJobs. Thousands of employers have made use of the Employer Resources section of VetJobs, as well as called VetJobs for assistance regarding employment campaigns to reach veterans, transitioning military, wounded warriors, disabled veterans and their family members.

VetJobs is pleased to be sponsored and partially owned by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. In fact, VetJobs been endorsed by more veteran service organizations than any other site. VetJobs has been endorsed and has alliances with the Vietnam Veterans of America, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the Association of the United States Navy, the Veterans of Modern Warfare, the Student Veterans of America, Hope4Heroes, and various intelligence related organizations. Being recognized and used as their job board by so many important veteran service organizations has kept VetJobs in the forefront of reaching those veterans seeking employment. Additionally, VetJobs materials are now used in state and federal Department of Labor offices, DOD Transition Assistance Program and Army Career & Alumni Program offices worldwide, as well as Veteran Administration offices. This phenomenal reach has assisted our member employers in identifying qualified candidates to hire from the transitioning military and veteran market place!

Due to VetJobs’ leading position in the industry, VetJobs is regularly cited in the press, radio and TV. VetJobs has been highlighted in USA Today, regularly quoted by Military Times, various news services, and was on the CBS 60 Minutes program regarding USERRA last November.

Due to the impact VetJobs has had in the employment market, VetJobs has been elected to the Board of Governors of the International Association of Employment Web Sites, been appointed to the Small Business Council of the US Chamber of Commerce and has been subpoenaed to testify before the President’s Commission on the National Guard and Reserve. VetJobs has testified before Congress and worked with members of Congress regarding veteran and employment issues on many occasions. VetJobs has developed a national reputation for being a major advocate for transitioning military, veterans, wounded warriors, disabled veterans and their family members.

Important to our member employers, over the last ten years VetJobs has come to be recognized by the industry evaluators as THE leading military related job board on the Internet. VetJobs awards include: CareerXRoads Top Site; seven year recipient of AIRS Top Recruiting Site; six year recipient of WEDDLE’s prestigious User’s Choice Award; four year recipient of Workforce Management’s Top 10 Recruiting Site; and was the only military job board selected by Reader’s Digest in its list of 18 top sites! Notably, BusinessWeek is running an article about VetJobs which identifies VetJobs as the leading military job board in the November 16 issue, which comes out November 7 in time for Veterans Day. No other military related job board has received all these prestigious recognitions!

It has been an exciting ten years. But the bottom line for the staff at VetJobs and our veteran service organization partners is that millions of veterans and their family members have come to the site seeking and receiving help and guidance on their job search, which in turn translated to tens of thousands of veterans and their family members being hired by you, our member employers. The VetJobs mission is to assist veterans, transitioning military, wounded warriors, disabled veterans and their family members find jobs. Over the last ten years VetJobs has met that mission!

But it is you, our member employers who have made VetJobs what it is today. Because you continue to use VetJobs as a quality recruiting source, VetJobs has had one of the highest renewal rates in the industry.

Thank you for your support. The staff of VetJobs and I look forward to continue serving you in the coming years.

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In addition to VetJobs birthday, on November 11 we celebrate Veterans Day. Originally known as Armistice Day, it was created by an Act of Congress on May 13, 1938. It set the 11th of November of each year as a legal holiday to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and be known as Armistice Day, which was set in remembrance of the end of World War I. The Armistice was signed at 11:00 AM on the 11th day of the 11th month. In 1954, after World War II had required the greatest military mobilization in the history of the United States and following the Korean War, the 83rd Congress amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word Armistice and inserting the word Veteran. With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became known as Veterans Day, a day to honor American veterans of all wars. We will forever be in the debt of our veterans as they are the guarantors of our freedoms. Let us honor them accordingly.

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On November 10 we celebrate the Marine Corps’ 234th birthday! If you see a Marine, say Semper Fi and Happy Birthday! To view an outstanding Marine Corps Birthday message, please visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7Bicfc9dp0

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November is the month we celebrate Thanksgiving. The tradition of the Pilgrims’ first Thanksgiving is steeped in myth and legend. Few people realize that the Pilgrims did not celebrate Thanksgiving, though some of their descendants later made a “Forefather’s Day” that usually occurred on December 21 or 22. Several Presidents, including George Washington, made one-time Thanksgiving holidays. In 1827, Mrs. Sarah Josepha Hale began lobbying Presidents for the instatement of Thanksgiving as a national holiday, but her lobbying was unsuccessful until 1863 when Abraham Lincoln finally made it a national holiday with his 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation. Now Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday of November. This was set by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939 and was approved by Congress in 1941, who changed it from Abraham Lincoln’s designation as the last Thursday in November, which could occasionally end up being the fifth Thursday and hence too close to Christmas for businesses.

As you celebrate Veterans Day and Thanksgiving, please remember our troops who are serving in defense of our country in Afghanistan, Iraq and many other overseas locations. For many of the troops overseas, their holidays will be celebrated at the tip of the spear as they continue the fight in the War on Terrorism.

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On the economic front, the unemployment rate in September climbed to 9.8% while the unemployment rate for all veterans rose to 8.9%. The unemployment rate for many younger veterans who participate in the Guard and Reserve is exceptionally high due to DOD’s two year call up policy and heavy use of the Guard and Reserve to prosecute the wars. Too many employers will not now hire as a new employee someone who is active in the Guard and Reserve as the candidate will be gone for one to two years. While I recognize that many employers cannot run their businesses with employees gone for such extended periods, many are able to support the mission of the National Guard and Reserve. Anything you can do to assist by employing members of the Guard and Reserve is vital to the security of America.

The economy and what is happening to the job market seems to be on everyone’s mind. Yet even with 15 million people looking for work, many employers tell me they cannot find enough qualified people for good-paying career jobs. Economists say the main problem is an unequal match between available work and people qualified to do it. The unequal match will make it harder for the unemployment rate to drop down to a healthier level.

According to labor analysts, even during this recession companies are having a difficult time finding qualified accountants, health care workers, software sales representatives, actuaries, data analysts, physical therapists, morticians, pharmacists, and electrical engineers. Several pundants complain that there are six people for every job opening, the highest ratio on government records since 2000. They get these ratios by dividing the total number of unemployed by the total number of estimated jobs available. As the pundants generally are pushing a political or economic agenda, they disregard the fact that employers do not hire a candidate just to fill a job. As an employer, you know you hire “qualified” candidates who are capable of performing specified activities! That is the real world.

Recently there have been news reports that the recession is over or nearly over, and it may be in some areas. I use the word area to mean both geographic as well as industry sectors. But the economy is not one big monolith that moves uniformly. While some parts of the economy and sectors are in recovery others are still heading down. The bottom line is the U.S. economy is still shedding jobs and it is expected that the unemployment rate will rise above 10% in the months to come. While some have referred to this recovery as a jobless recovery, I prefer to use the term “less jobs recovery” as unlike the last recession, many of you are still hiring, but at a greatly reduced rate.

What is disconcerting in this recession is the credit markets have not yet recovered. Small-business lending and consumer lending have contracted, if not completely stopped in many areas. And mortgage lending is being entirely underwritten by the government, meaning more taxes to those left working. I believe the lack of lending to small businesses is perhaps the largest cause for concern in this economy because small businesses are and always have been the engines of innovation and job creation that brought America out of past recessions. Small businesses account for the largest proportion of real employment in the United States.

I hear from many employers of all sizes that they know they need to hire new employees because the ones left in the business since the many lay-offs are being over worked. But employers, especially small to medium size companies, are hesitant to start hiring in the current political climate. They are concerned about the ever expanding federal government and who is going to pay for the expanding government; about the way the leaders of the current Congress are attempting to raise taxes in the middle of a deep recession; about the threats of mandatory increased health care costs; and about the lack of access to capital. They are concerned about the way the federal government is now intervening and taking control of major industries and the financial system, thus destroying capitalism, our free enterprise system, and potentially leading the United States into socialism which has failed miserably in Europe.

On top of all this, the United States has one more potential major shock to the economic system coming around the start of January when the commercial real estate sub-prime market is expected to hit. No one seems to know if it will be as bad as the residential sub-prime market collapse, but all agree it will hurt the economy in a major way.

If you are a student of history, you will remember that the Great Depression lasted ten years in the United States, but only about four years in Europe. Unfortunately, the current administration and Congress are repeating many of the same errors today that kept America in the Great Depression for so long during 1930’s.

It will be interesting to see what the future holds. But this much is sure. If you need a quality employee, hire a veteran. And VetJobs is the best medium to reach the veteran candidate market!

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Finally, we welcome the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) as a new sponsor of our newsletters. Please read their message below. If your company has not signed a Statement of Support, then have your appropriate company representative visit www.esgr.mil and sign up immediately! Supporting our National Guard and Reserve is critical during this time of war. Your support is appreciated!

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As always, if there is anything we at VetJobs can do for you, please do not hesitate to call or email. Feel free to share the Early Eagle with other employers!

And remember, Freedom Is Never Free – Support Our Armed Forces and Veterans!

Best regards,

Ted Daywalt
President

/—-November Early Eagle sponsor is Employer Support of the Guard & Reserve—-\

Nominate Your Company for the 2010 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award!

It is only possible for our National Guard and Reserve members to perform at their best with the support of loved ones, friends, neighbors and, particularly, employers. Thousands of employers across the nation employ National Guard and Reserve members, fully aware that at any moment they may be called to serve. And when this happens, both the employee and employer face challenges. We are grateful for the many employers who remain patriotically steadfast in support of their military employees, both financially and emotionally, going well beyond the law. Supportive employers allow service members to perform their duties while alleviating concerns about their jobs and loved ones back home.

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense agency, invites nominations for the 2010 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award

Freedom Award recipients support their Guard and Reserve employees and their families in important ways, both large and small. Past recipients have provided differential pay during deployments, continued insurance benefits and sent comfort items in care packages. Some of the most valued assistance has been the support extended to deployed service members’ families. When one National Guard member was deployed, his employer filled his seat at his sons’ sports games. After another service member’s family hit hard times during a deployment, his employer stacked gifts under the family’s Christmas tree. And during the deployment of a single father, his employer sent his daughters off to school each morning with a wake up phone call. These seemingly small acts have a significant impact on the lives of National Guard and Reserve members and their families.

Any employer supportive of its National Guard and Reserve employees or their families is eligible for Freedom Award nomination. Past recipients of the award have ranged from a small family-owned farm in Iowa to large corporations, including Chrysler and Microsoft, to public sector employers like the City of Austin, Texas.

The 2010 recipients will be announced in the spring and honored in September at the 15th annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award ceremony in Washington, D.C. Recipients of the 2009 award met with President Barack Obama and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, and received their awards at a ceremony with the keynote given by Dr. Jill Biden.

Visit www.freedomaward.mil/nominate.aspx? to submit a nomination.

\-----Please visit your November Early Eagle sponsor Employer Support of the Guard & Reserve at www.esgr.mil-----/

2. EDGE Report

Robert Half International recently issued the 2009 Employment Dynamics and Growth Expectations (EDGE) Report, which provides an overview of the current hiring environment, as well as a glimpse of what the post-recession staffing landscape will look like. Here are some findings of which you should be aware.

1) It is taking hiring managers 4.5 to 14.4 weeks to fill a vacancy. A shortage of qualified applicants was noted as the top hiring challenge.

2) Companies aren't focusing exclusively on full-time additions. 40% said they intend to bring in contract, part-time or temp employees.

3) 45% of workers plan to change employers or careers when the economy recovers.

4) Information Technology is expected to be a top area for change in the coming years. When managers were asked which departments will add positions first, technology ranked first.

/---November Early Eagle sponsor is TECHEXPO Top Secret----\

TECHEXPO Top Secret’s next job fairs are:

11/17, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, BWI Marriott, 1743 West Nursery Road, Baltimore, MD, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Pre-register at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm

11/18, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, Ritz Carlton Tysons Corner, 1700 Tysons Boulevard, McLean, VA, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Pre-register at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm

TECHEXPO Top Secret job fairs bring you face to face with security-cleared professionals. For 2009 event schedule, contact Nancy Mathew 212-655-4505 x225 or NMathew@TechExpoUSA.com. http://www.TechExpoUSA.com

\-----Please visit your November Early Eagle sponsor TECHEXPO Top Secret ----/

3. Veterans Curation Project

The mission of the Veterans Curation Project (VCP) is to provide wounded veterans with job training through the rehabilitation and preservation of archaeological collections owned or administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. On October 20, 2009, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Center of Expertise (CX) for Curation and Management of Archeological Collections (CMAC), St. Louis District, conducted a public opening of a groundbreaking new project. At the VCP laboratory in Augusta, GA, Iraq and Afghanistan returnees along with Vietnam era veterans are taking part in archaeological curation training under the Wounded Warrior Care Project. Two additional laboratories will open in St. Louis, MO, and Washington, DC. The skills obtained by the Wounded Warriors participating in the VCP are readily transferable to jobs in health care, police, fire, administrative, government and engineering career fields. The Augusta VCP, working in collaboration with the CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project, the VA and the Georgia Department of Labor will assist VCP participants in job preparation and placement. To learn more about this exciting new program, contact “Sonny” Trimble at Michael.K.Trimble@usace.army.mil.

4. US Brain Drain

Joyce Gioia of the Herman Group reports that more than 50% of the science graduate students in the United States are foreign-born. Due to a lack of emphasis on the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) subjects and the fear that the curricula will be too challenging, native-born students have passed up these post-college options. Filling the void have been the foreign-born for whom a US graduate degree was and is a meaningful ticket to a prosperous future. A trend the Herman Group had forecasted numerous times is now official: Within the next five years, hundreds of thousands Chinese and Indian immigrants who in the past would have stayed and worked for US companies will go home permanently. This history-making trend was recently revealed in a study by Professor Vivek Wadhwa of Duke University. The Brain Drain is already affecting US companies and will have increasingly devastating consequences.

There are several reasons why this homecoming is taking place. First, there are increasing job opportunities for the foreign students at home. In the last two years, the economies in India and China both grew much faster that the US. Not only are they welcomed with open arms, but because they have studied abroad, they have a better understanding of how to do business in the US. China even offers financial assistance and housing incentives to lure skilled workers home.

Second, because the Asian cultures are so different from those of the US, there is a strong comfort factor that is missing for workers choosing to stay. They miss their loved ones and rarely enjoy the same support systems.

Finally, US immigration laws and attitudes (fueled by 9/11 and recent economic challenges) discourage immigrants from staying. The now long and arduous process of obtaining one of the relatively few H1-B visas or applying for green card status dishearten even the most enthusiastic. The same situations apply to graduate students from South America, Africa, and the Middle East.

5. Health Care Costs Projections

SHRM reports that U.S. employers will see an increase in their medical benefit expenditures of 7% in 2010, creating significant affordability challenges for employers and employees. The study findings show that many employers are preparing to take action by embracing new approaches to benefit management that could transform the current model of health care delivery. To receive resources on this topic, visit SHRM's Hot Topics Express Request service at http://messaging.shrm.org/ct/L7auMFp1qzfx/ and select key term HEALTH CARE COSTS (BENEFITS).

6. Salary Increase Projections

SHRM reports that corporate salary budget increases have dropped to historic lows. New surveys indicate that the economic downturn continues to put pressure on employee salaries, though projections for 2010 suggest improvement. To receive resources on this topic, visit SHRM's Hot Topics Express Request service and select key term SALARY INCREASE PROJECTIONS (COMPENSATION).

7. Flag Etiquette

The “Star Spangled Banner” has been designated as the national anthem of the United States of America since 1931. During the playing of the anthem, when the flag is displayed, persons not in uniform should stand at attention facing the flag with their right hand over their heart. Those in uniform should begin saluting the flag at the first note of the music and hold the salute until the last note of the anthem is played. Veterans in civilian clothes have the option of saluting or placing their hand over their heart. Those veterans wearing veteran service organization caps or uniforms of other patriotic organizations should salute.

8. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of October 27, 2009

The total number currently on active duty from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 108,131; Navy Reserve, 6,432; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 13,315; Marine Corps Reserve, 8,146; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 683. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 136,707, including both units and individual augmentees. A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel who are currently activated may be found at http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Oct2009/d20091027ngr.pdf

9. Significant Events this Month in Military History

1775 – Continental Congress establishes two battalions of Marines. Samuel Nicholas was appointed “Captain of Marines” on 28 November 1775, and promoted to major on June 25, 1776. Because of his senior status among other Marine officers of the Revolution, he is numbered as the first Commandant.

1775 – Americans under General Richard Montgomery capture the British fort of Saint Johns. (War of Independence)

1861 – The Confederate raider Nashville captured and burned the Union clipper ship Harvey Birch in the Atlantic Ocean. (Civil War)

1864 – Union General W.T. Sherman began his march to the sea from Atlanta, GA, in an effort to cut the Confederacy in two. (Civil War)

1865 – Dr. Mary E. Walker, the first female surgeon in the Union Army, is presented with the Medal of Honor, the first woman to receive that award.

1910 – First airplane flight from the deck of a ship.

1917 – American troops were first engaged in fighting attacking German troops near the Rhine-Marne Canal in France. (World War I)

1918 – World War I ends at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month with the signing of an Armistice. (World War I)

1942 – Operation Torch begins with Allied landings in northwest Africa (World War II).

1943 – U.S. Marines landed on Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands, one of the bloodiest campaigns waged by American forces against the Japanese in the Pacific (World War II).

1965 – Battle of Chu Pon-ia Drang River, Vietnam. U.S. 1st Calvary fought North Vietnamese regulars for four days (Vietnam War).

1967 – American troops broke a North Vietnamese assault at Loc Ninh, near the Cambodian border (Vietnam War).

1968 – Battle of Nui Chom Mountain. The 4th Bn, 31st Infantry, 196th Inf Bde fought and destroyed the 21st NVA Regiment on Nui Chom Mountain southwest of Da Nang, Vietnam in a fierce six day battle. Cpl Michael Crescenz received the Medal of Honor as they fought inch by inch up the steep mountain. (Vietnam War)

1979 – Iranian militants seized the US Embassy in Tehran, held 65 Americans hostage.

1999 – VetJobs went live on the Internet.

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VetJobs is exclusively sponsored and partially owned by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (www.vfw.org) and endorsed by the Vietnam Veterans of America (www.vva.org), the Naval Reserve Association (www.navy-reserve.org), the Veterans of Modern Warfare (www.vmwusa.org), the Student Veterans of America (www.studentveterans.org), the Military Order of the Purple Heart (www.purpleheart.org) and Hope4Heroes (www.hope4heroes.org).
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You were opted-in when you became a paid employer member, were referred to VetJobs or were part of an organization which opted-in to VetJobs.

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VetJobs
P. O. Box 71445
Marietta, GA 30007-1445
877-Vet-Jobs (877-838-5627)
770-993-5117 Office
770.993.2875 Fax

Veterans make the best employees!
Freedom Is Never Free – Support Our Armed Forces and Veterans!

VetJobs is an appropriate employment service delivery system for EEOC, VEVRAA/JVA and OFCCP compliance support!

Seven year recipient of AIRS Top Recruiting Site
Six year recipient of WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award
Four year recipient of Workforce Management Top 10 Recruiting Site
Only military job board selected by Reader’s Digest
CareerXRoads Top Site

VetJobs is a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business

VetJobs is an appropriate employment service delivery system for EEOC, VEVRAA/JVA and OFCCP compliance support!

The VetJobs Early Eagle is for member employers, recruiters, friends and supporters of VetJobs. Feel free to forward this newsletter to friends and other employers.

This issue sponsored by TECHEXPO Top Secret and CRI University

Contents:

1. Message from the Top

2. US Chamber Veteran Event in November

3. History of Columbus Day

4. History of Navy Day

5. New Al Qaeda Bomb Technique Seen As Severe Threat to Airline Security

6. Discriminatory Twist in Networking Sites Puts Recruiters in Peril

7. Flag Code

8. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of September 29, 2009

9. Significant Events this Month in Military History

Thank you for reading the VetJobs Early Eagle employer newsletter. If you like this newsletter and what VetJobs and the VFW do to assist veterans and their family member find employment, please go to http://www.weddles.com/poll.htm and vote VetJobs for the WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award!

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1. Message from the Top

OFCCP – The mere pronouncing of the letters is starting to give many human resource managers the chills. The acronym stands for Office of Federal Contract Compliance Program, a division of the US Department of Labor (DOL). The law that created OFCCP was meant to promote compliance with equal employment and non-discrimination among Federal contractors, but in the process of writing applicable statutory regulations, bureaucrats at DOL have “re-interpreted” the law so it applies to just about any organization over 50 employees.

In FY 2008, OFCCP made total financial assessments, the new politically correct way to say fines at DOL, of $67,510,892 in back pay and annualized salary and benefits for a record 24,508 American workers who had allegedly been subjected to unlawful employment discrimination. This marks the fourth consecutive year that OFCCP has posted record enforcement numbers. FY 2009 has already surpassed the $67 million in assessments. The 2008 monetary assessments reflected a 133% increase over financial assessments obtained in FY 2001. This also represents a 30.8% increase over assessments of $51,680,950 received for 22,251 workers in FY 2007

OFCCP reportedly quadrupled their staff last year and now many of the new auditors are hitting the streets conducting audits. The FY 2010 budget request includes a program increase of $25,600,000 to fund another 213 FTEs and a new case management system. Obviously, DOL has found a real money maker for the government.

It is well understood that OFCCP intends to audit significantly more construction contractors than it has in previous years in light of the increase in federal construction contractors resulting from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). And OFCCP is targeting many large defense related contractors where the potential for assessments are the greatest.

To learn more about OFCCP compliance, I strongly recommend you visit http://www.dol.gov/esa/ofccp/regs/compliance/ofcpcomp.htm and read the areas on compliance and the FAQs as an OFCCP auditor may be visiting you soon. There are strict (if not onerous) requirements for record keeping regarding job postings and resume searches. You need to be aware of these myriad record keeping requirements (some of which conflict with EEOC) or you will be paying assessments.

When you are going through an audit, you cannot tell the auditor you will provide the requested data in a few days or weeks. You have to have all the data available during the audit. A rhyme has started making the circuit for those who have been audited that goes: have the right data right now or write a check!

With the increased number of audits taking place, I am hearing of some strange activity that is not covered on the OFCCP internet site, in the FAQs or the final rules when it comes to how the audits are taking place.

Here are some examples:

- Several national members have seen a distinct pattern in the audits. When an auditor conducts a desk audit and does not find anything on which to give an assessment, the auditor’s superiors, particularly at the regional level, tell the auditor to go back and dig deeper until they can find something on which to assess. The obvious goal of the return visits and deeper digging is to levy an assessment. This no longer sounds like a government audit, but does sound very much like a person who has to meet a quota!

-When companies have membership on various job boards, the recruiters who conduct resume searches frequently all use the same access codes. In one audit, I am told the auditor looked at the various resume searches conducted on a major job board and asked which recruiter did which resume search. The company did not keep track of who was doing each search, so could not answer specifically. The company was reportedly hit with an assessment. On the VetJobs site, we make it possible for an administrator to assign access codes to each recruiter so the company can track which recruiter conducted which resume searches. All the required data for an OFCCP audit is captured for each identified recruiter.

-Last month, a major government contractor was receiving a desk audit and the auditor asked for something no one had heard of before. Many companies use job posting services to broadcast their jobs to various job boards. In the past, auditors accepted the batches as proof that the jobs had been posted to the listed sites. However, this auditor asked to see a screen print of a specific job on specific job boards from a date last year. Of course, no one has been keeping such records as this “new” requirement is not listed on the DOL OFCCP site or in any of the final rules. The government contractor was reportedly hit with an assessment since they could not produce a screen shot.

After hearing about this latest incident, VetJobs is now working on a program that will capture screen shots of all jobs posted via the FTP batch system and keep the data for the required two years. We hope to have the system live in sixty days.

There have been other disturbing incidents reported to VetJobs whose sole goal seems to be to raise money and we are looking to verify the reports. If you have had a strange or disturbing incident during an audit, I would like to hear about it. You can send it to me at info@vetjobs.com.

The bottom line here is OFCCP is not something to be treated lightly when it comes to the record keeping required of your company. The assessments are growing and it is quite apparent that OFCCP is being used by DOL as a money maker. So prepare well. Be sure the internet sites you use can truly provide you OFCCP compliance support. Caveat emptor truly applies in this arena. If you have questions, feel free to contact me via email or call me at 877-838-5627. I look forward to hearing from you.

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This month we celebrate the 234th birthday of the United States Navy. At an October 13, 1775 meeting in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress voted to fit out two sailing vessels, armed with ten carriage guns, as well as swivel guns. The frigates were to be manned by crews of eighty and to cruise the Atlantic for three months to intercept transports carrying munitions and stores to the British army in America. This was the original legislation out of which the Continental Navy grew and as such constitutes the birth certificate of the Navy. If you meet a current or former member of the Navy, say Happy Birthday!

Other events celebrated this month include:

October 12 – Columbus Day

October 13 – Navy Day.

September 15 through October 15 – Hispanic Heritage Month

October 31 – Halloween.

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Have you ever been to a function where the United States flag is presented and seen people who do not put their hand over their heart as the flag goes by? Or been to a political event and seen individuals who do not rise when the group is saying the Pledge of Allegiance? Unfortunately, this is happening more now than in the past. Much of this improper behavior is due to ignorance. Much can be attributed to the fact that many schools in the effort to be politically correct do not teach flag manners – how to honor and display the American flag.

Case in point, I was recently at a town hall meeting where four protestors deliberately sat through the presentation of the flag and the Pledge of Allegiance. This was disturbing to many of the attendees, and while it is the right of the protesters to make a political statement by refusing to honor the flag of our country, I considered it an insult and a public display of their gross ignorance. There are better ways to protest than to dishonor the flag of the United States.

For members of the military who have served and fought for our country, few things evoke such strong emotion as seeing the flag presented at a ceremony to honor an event or seeing a flag draped over a coffin as a sign of mourning for a hero or loved one.

An unfurled flag symbolizes the love and pride that we have as a nation. The flag is a poignant reminder of America’s greatness and our fortune to live in a country which values freedom above all else. The flag signifies the commitment made by our forefathers and fallen comrades who battled bravely to defend the honor of this sacred emblem of a free federal republic that signifies American unity, power and purpose as a nation. Our flag continues the promise of liberty, justice and freedom for all. The flag reflects America’s continuing pledge to uphold our democratic based ideas and work for peace throughout the world.

So starting with this newsletter, I will be adding a paragraph each month on how to properly display the flag – See article 7 below. Be sure to fly your flag at both home and at your place of work. If you need a flag, a great place to buy one is at the VFW Store at www.vfwstore.org.

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On the economic front, the US economy may have bottomed out and is slowly starting to climb out of the recession. Many pundits and politicians like to claim it is due to the stimulus package passed by congress, but I rather doubt that is the reason since less than five percent of the stimulus package has been spent! For many sectors, the federal stimulus may provide the economic shot in the arm that is critical to stemming catastrophic job and population losses. But these short-term stimulus projects must be conceived, developed, and managed in the context of a longer-term plan for economic health of the economy. If the economy is indeed resetting itself, as the data suggest, then communities and regions must commit to a longer-term vision, strategies, and implementation plans to ensure continued growth.

Some indications that the economy is improving include:

- Jobless claims fell to the lowest level since July

- The Federal Reserve reported that American households were $2 trillion richer on June 30 than they were three months earlier, the first time in two years that household net worth had increased.

- The Conference Board reported the index of leading economic indicators rose 0.6% in August, the fifth straight increase.

- In some markets home prices have increased the most since 2005.

- Gross domestic product contracted at a 1.2% annual rate from April to June, the smallest drop in a year.

- The “cash for clunkers” effort and first-time homebuyer credits are giving manufacturing and housing, the two areas at the center of the economic slump. The plans were a boost last quarter, but will not help as the economy moves forward.

- Many economists predict the worst is over and the third quarter will be a strong growth quarter.

- The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index has jumped 57% since it reached a 12-year low on March 9 of this year.

- Encouraged by government subsidies to buy cars, U.S. consumer spending soared 1.3% in August. This is the fastest increase since the post-9/11 shopping binge eight years ago

- Declines in business stockpiles, which dropped last quarter at the fastest pace on record, have set the stage for a pickup in manufacturing.

- The drag from housing is dissipating. Sales of new homes rose last month to the highest level in almost a year.

- And finally, payroll decline is slowing.

While all this is good news, we still have a long, long way to go before the economy is sound again. Importantly, while the worst of the housing sub-prime debacle caused by the Congress and the socialistic Community Re-investment Act has passed, the country still faces the possibility of a similar debacle in the commercial real estate sector. How that will play out is still very much up in the air.

Let us hope that some of our leaders in Congress will follow the much heralded moves by European governments away from socialism to capitalism. Europe had been the largest test bed for socialism in world history and all the European states have concluded socialism does not work. The ideas were great until they had to start paying the bills. Hopefully our government leaders will learn from the European experience!

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Please look at article 2 below concerning a special program called Business Steps Up: Hiring Our Heroes Summit sponsored by the United States Chamber of Commerce. If you can attend on November 12, you will be participating in a very exciting program. I will be participating in the program and look forward to seeing you there!

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Also, be sure to read article 5 below about the legal perils of using social networking sites (SNS) as a sourcing tool for candidates. SNS can be effective in some cases, but if used exclusively as a source will have serious EEOC, JVA and OFCCP compliance issues. And those issues mean you may pay some serious fines. So beware.

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Finally, October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. One in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime, and women 20 to 24 are at the greatest risk. Most cases of domestic violence are never reported to the police. And men are victims, too. More than 834,000 men report being domestically assaulted annually. People who are abused often feel as though no one will believe them, or they think they have nowhere to go for help.

While we cannot concern ourselves with every detail of a person’s life, we can be aware of changes in behavior, moods and certainly appearance of those around us. If you are in a leadership position, part of the responsibility of being a leader is taking care of those for whom you are responsible. It is your responsibility to make sure your people are OK, both at work and at home. The mark of a good leader is the ability to listen and then act.

Please be aware. For more information, visit the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence at http://dvam.vawnet.org/. No one deserves to be abused!

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As always, if there is anything we at VetJobs can do for you, please do not hesitate to call or email. Feel free to share the Early Eagle with other employers!

And remember, Freedom Is Never Free – Support Our Armed Forces and Veterans!

Best regards,

Ted Daywalt
President

/—October Early Eagle sponsor is TECHEXPO Top Secret—-\

TECHEXPO Top Secret’s next job fairs are:

10/6, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, Doubletree Hotel Colorado Springs, 1775 E Cheyenne Mountain Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Pre-register at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm
10/6, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, Doubletree Hotel Colorado Springs, 1775 E Cheyenne Mountain Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Pre-register at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm

10/20, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, BWI Marriott, 1743 West Nursery Road, Baltimore, MD, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Pre-register at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm

10/21, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, Sheraton Reston, 11810 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Pre-register at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm

TECHEXPO Top Secret job fairs bring you face to face with security-cleared professionals. For 2009 event schedule, contact Nancy Mathew 212-655-4505 x225 or NMathew@TechExpoUSA.com. http://www.TechExpoUSA.com

\—–Please visit your October Early Eagle sponsor TECHEXPO Top Secret —-/

2. US Chamber Veteran Event in November

On November 12 the United States Chamber of Commerce’s National Chamber Foundation will host its second annual Business Steps Up: Hiring Our Heroes summit to focus on employment issues facing returning military, veterans, reservists, National Guard and their families. Key leaders of the U.S. military and members of the veteran’s affairs community, including keynote speaker General Eric Shinseki, will discuss ways the private sector can support our returning military personnel while benefitting from that workforce’s extensive training and experience. For more information, please visit http://ncf.uschamber.com/businessstepsup2009/. If you attend, please be sure to tell the Chamber you heard about the event via VetJobs Early Eagle!

3. History of Columbus Day

The first recorded celebration honoring the discovery of America by Europeans took place on October 12, 1792 in New York City. The event, which celebrated the 300th anniversary of Columbus’ landing in the New World, was organized by The Society of St. Tammany (also known as the Columbian Order). San Francisco’s Italian community held their first Columbus Day celebration in 1869. In 1892, President Benjamin Harrison urged citizens to participate in the 400th anniversary celebration of Columbus’ first voyage. It was during this event that the Pledge of Allegiance, written by Francis Bellamy, was recited publically for the first time. Colorado was the first state to observe the holiday in 1905. In 1937, President Roosevelt proclaimed October 12 as “Columbus Day” and in 1971, President Nixon declared the second Monday of October a national holiday.

4. History of Navy Day

In the United States, the Navy League of the United States organized the first Navy Day in 1922, holding it on October 27 because it was the birthday of the Navy-supporting President Theodore Roosevelt. Although meeting with mixed reviews the first year, in 1923 over 50 major cities participated, and the United States Navy sent a number of its ships to various port cities for the occasion. The 1945 Navy Day was an especially large celebration, with President Harry S. Truman reviewing the fleet in New York Harbor. In 1949, Louis A. Johnson, secretary of the newly-created Department of Defense, directed that the U.S. Navy’s participation occur on Armed Forces Day in May, although as a civilian organization the Navy League was not affected by this directive, and continued to organize Navy Day celebrations as before. In the 1970s, the “birthday” of the Continental Navy was found to be October 13, 1775, and so CNO Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt worked with the Navy League to define October 13 as the new date of Navy Day.

/—October Early Eagle sponsor is CRI University—-\

There are many recent changes in the laws, regulations and court case history which require employers to take steps to ensure compliance, as exemplified by recent changes to the Family and Medical Leave Act and enactment of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. There is also a greater emphasis on enforcement by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) which increases the potential liability each employer faces.

CRI University provides informative, dynamic one hour webinars on important, timely topics that impact every employer. These webinars are as important for CEOs, COOs, and CFOs as they are for HR personnel due to the liability exposures employers face from issues including Disparate Pay, EEOC and OFCCP compliance, Family Medical Leave Act, Human Rights in the workplace, online Applicant Management systems, Testing and Assessments, online Performance Appraisal Systems, Interviewing: the Behavioral Approach, Job Ads – Get the most for your $$ .

CRIUniversity delivers a series of one hour webinars to update employers on who must be compliant with the EEOC and/or OFCCP and what is required for compliance and the risks for noncompliance. Please join us for webinars of interest to you. (All CRIUniversity webinars qualify for HRCI credits.)

For more information, please visit
www.cricompliance.com
www.criuniversity.com
www.criw.com

\—–Please visit your October Early Eagle sponsor CRI University —-/

5. New Al Qaeda Bomb Technique Seen As Severe Threat to Airline Security

The CBS Evening News reported Al Qaeda has developed a new tactic that allows suicide bombers to breach even the tightest security. Aviation experts are particularly concerned. When al Qaeda operative Abdullah Asieri tried to kill Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Nayef last month, he avoided detection by two sets of airport security including metal detectors, palace security and spent 30 hours in the close company of the prince’s own secret service agents. Using a trick from the narcotics trade, which has long smuggled drugs and in body cavities, Asieri had a pound of high explosives plus a detonator inserted in his rectum. The blast left the prince lightly wounded. As an assassination, it was a failure. But as an exercise in defeating security, it was perfect per Chris Yates, an aviation security consultant. This is the nightmare scenario. On a plane at altitude the effects of such a bomb could be catastrophic, and there is no current security system that could stop it.

6. Discriminatory Twist in Networking Sites Puts Recruiters in Peril

The following information is summarized from an article by Fay Hansen at Workforce Management.

Sourcing applicants from Twitter or LinkedIn or screening candidates through Facebook or MySpace may open employers to discrimination charges.

In the rush to cut recruiting budgets and avoid the avalanche of résumés now generated by job boards, employers are increasingly tapping professional and social networking sites as a sourcing tool. Some employers now rely heavily or even exclusively on Twitter or LinkedIn to fill open positions. While this approach may create short-term cost savings and new efficiencies, it may also skew applicant pools and trigger discrimination lawsuits.

“Networking sites, including Twitter, exclude whole populations,” says Jessica Roe, managing partner at Bernick, Lifson, Greenstein, Greene & Liszt in Minneapolis. “We are going to end up with a very homogenous workforce. The social networks represent limited social groups and very small labor pools. It’s an enormous issue……Social networking sites are problematic because the population is limited and highly selective,” Roe notes. “I anticipate more race and age claims over the next two years, and a significant portion will be from sourcing through social networking sites, where the users are generally white and age 20 to 40. We’ll see lawsuits.” According to the latest data from Quantcast, only 5% of LinkedIn users are black and only 2% are Hispanic.

Using networks for recruiting is ripe with risk for future discrimination claims, says Pamela Devata, a partner at Seyfarth Shaw in Chicago. “Sourcing from professional network sites such as LinkedIn carries a risk that the method could be challenged on discrimination grounds,” Devata says. “It represents a hiring pool that is not open to the general population. Using a limited network may have a disparate impact. If hiring through these networks can be challenged, it will be.” Employers should consider the risk of litigation arising from disparate impact claims.

Employers who rely heavily on professional and social networks for sourcing candidates may also encounter record-keeping issues. “When the OFCCP [Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs] or plaintiffs’ attorneys come along with a discovery request and want to see the trail for recruiting, these employers are going to come up short,” Mollica warns. “The problem they will have created is that the data and the paper will not be there, and they will only have evidence in digital form on smart phones and flash drives. How will they pull it together? Employers will be left throwing up their hands. Worse yet, when the EEOC comes knocking to investigate a complaint, the records are in a digital mist, and that could be a terrible problem. It’s risky because the records aren’t there.”

When sourcing is complete and recruiters move into the selection phase, using social networks to screen candidates generates additional legal risks. “The use of the Internet to screen candidates exposes recruiters to information on individuals who are members of groups protected under federal law,” Mollica notes. Some of the information recruiters gain from Facebook or MySpace pages, such as race and gender identification, would normally be available on applications or in interviews. “But identifiers that might not normally be apparent, such as religion, pregnancy, age and sexual orientation, may be revealed on social networking sites,” Mollica notes. “The risk is that visiting Facebook or MySpace pages or even Googling candidates may reveal information that no employer should have in a properly constructed application or interview.” Consequently, recruiters must think carefully about what they may find before they troll social networking sites.

In addition, record keeping becomes an issue. “It is perilous to search the Internet for information about candidates without keeping a record,” Mollica notes. “But where does that record live? On every office computer, on the recruiter’s home computer, on smart phones? What happens is that a judge or jury draws an inference that if you didn’t maintain records, the records must have been prejudicial.”

7. Flag Code

The Flag Code, a national guideline on ways in which the flag is to be respected, states that no disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America. When rendering the Pledge of Allegiance, persons should stand at attention, face the flag, and if in uniform, salute, or otherwise place the right hand over the heart. Persons wearing the caps of veteran service organizations may salute. Uniformed organizations like Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts should render respect to the flag in accordance with the traditions of the organization whose uniform they are wearing.

8. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of September 29, 2009

The total number currently on active duty from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 109,188; Navy Reserve, 6,405; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 15,949; Marine Corps Reserve, 8,559; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 656. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 140,757, including both units and individual augmentees. A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel who are currently activated may be found at http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Sep2009/d20090929ngr.pdf

9. Significant Events this Month in Military History

1781 – British troops under General Lord Charles Cornwallis surrendered to General Washington at Yorktown, Virginia, effectively ending the American Revolution.

1775 – The US Navy was established.

1901 – The first British Navy submarine was commissioned.

1944 – Battle of Leyte Gulf

1950 – The invasion of North Korea started.

1952 – Battle of Hill 598 began, Korean War

1957 – The Soviet Union launched Sputnik I, first man-made earth satellite.

1962 – The U.S. began its blockade of Cuba to compel the Russians to remove long-range missiles aimed at the United States.

1964 – The Chinese exploded their first atomic bomb.

1965 – The Battle of the La Drang Valley, Vietnam War.

1968 – The Bombing of North Vietnam ended.

1969 – Battle of Loc Ninh, Vietnam War

1971 – Operation Jefferson Glenn, the last major operation in which US ground forces participated in Vietnam

1973 – Egypt and Syria launched military offensive against Israel

1983 -Terrorist attack on Marine Barracks, Beirut

1983 – Operation Urgent Fury, Grenada

1993 – Battle of Bakhara Market, Mogadishu, Somalia

2000 – Bombing of the USS Cole by Al-Qaeda terrorists

2001 – Operation Enduring Freedom began in Afghanistan

2001 – War on Terror Began

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VetJobs is exclusively sponsored and partially owned by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (www.vfw.org) and endorsed by the Vietnam Veterans of America (www.vva.org), the Naval Reserve Association (www.navy-reserve.org), the Veterans of Modern Warfare (www.vmwusa.org), the Student Veterans of America (www.studentveterans.org), the Military Order of the Purple Heart (www.purpleheart.org) and Hope4Heroes (www.hope4heroes.org).
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The VetJobs Early Eagle is for member employers, recruiters, friends and supporters of VetJobs. Feel free to forward this newsletter to friends and other employers.

This issue sponsored by TECHEXPO Top Secret, CRI and WEDDLE’s

Contents:

1. Message from the Top

2. History of Labor Day

3. VetJobs Recommends: Dear America

4. Flexible Hours for Nonexempt Workers May Be Next on Lobbyists’ Agenda

5. Implementation of E-Verify

6. Furlough Use on the Rise

7. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of August 28, 2009

8. Significant Events this Month in Military History

Thank you for reading the VetJobs Early Eagle employer newsletter. If you like this newsletter and what VetJobs and the VFW do to assist veterans and their family member find employment, please go to http://www.weddles.com/poll.htm and vote VetJobs for the WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award!

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1. Message from the Top

VetJobs and the Veterans of Foreign Wars have always been at the forefront of assisting transitioning military and veterans find employment. VetJobs has been recognized as the leading military related job board on the Internet by Workforce Management Magazine, Reader’s Digest, AIRS and WEDDLE’s. VetJobs has been recognized by many press organizations including USA Today and featured on CBS 50 Minutes. VetJobs has had great success in connecting employers with transitioning military, veterans and their family members.

I am pleased to announce that BusinessWeek Special Sections will be honoring VetJobs with a special advertising section in the November 16 issue which comes out on November 6, just prior to Veterans Day. If your company would be interested in participating in this advertising event to promote the hiring of transitioning military, veterans, National Guard, Reserve and their family members, please have your human resources or marketing department contact Jonathan Meigs, Producer, Special Ad Sections at jon@meigsmedia.com or call him at 518-329-0332. This would be a great opportunity for your company to show its support of hiring veterans! A great way to celebrate Veterans Day! Those who participate will benefit by demonstrating their support for hiring veterans to the over 4.7 million business executives and key decision makers in corporate America. This event will be a way for any size company to have great exposure before the American business community in America’s leading business magazine, BusinessWeek!

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September has many military related dates:

9/2 is V-J Day when Japan formally surrendered in 1945, effectively ending World War II.

9/10 celebrates the incorporation of the Naval Sea Cadet Corps.

9/11 is Patriot Day established to remember those who perished in the attack on the United States. In spite of the radical Islamic attack on the United States, America stands united! You can show your pride with items from the VFW Store located at http://www.vfwstore.org/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=238

9/14 celebrates the writing of the Star Spangled Banner in 1814.

9/17 celebrates the approval of the United States Constitution in 1787.

9/18 is the birthday of the United States Air Force. If you meet a member of the USAF, say Happy Birthday!

9/19 is National POW/MIA Day. If you would like to order POW/MIA items, please visit http://www.vfwstore.org/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=97

9/29 is VFW Day when the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) was established. The VFW is the oldest continuous veteran service organization in the United States! The original purpose of the VFW was to assist returning veterans receive healthcare and find jobs. The VFW is still fighting for veterans today! If you are eligible, please become a member by visiting www.vfw.org.

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On September 11 we commemorate those who died from the attack on America by radical Islamic terrorists. The day will be marked throughout the United States and abroad with services of remembrance. Please observe a solemn moment of silence on the morning on September 11 as we remember not only the terror, but also the heroism of those who stood in harm’s way.

Since that fateful day in 2001, there have been many radical Islamic terrorist attacks against democracies worldwide. In many of the debates about the ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, I notice that people forget to remember that it was the United States that was attacked on September 11. Unfortunately, we have too many apologists in our midst who seem to think America is the problem in the world. Such is not the case. We did not attack Islam or other Islamic countries. Never forget that the world is involved in a prolonged conflict with a non-state, radical religious group that wants to eliminate the nation state as we know it and the freedoms that have come to identify the democracies of the world and our free market economies.

I maintain that we can not negotiate with the radical Islamic terrorists since their sole goal is our elimination and the restoration of the Caliphate. Conflict theory teaches you can not negotiate with an entity whose sole purpose is your elimination. The radical Islamists care not for who they kill in order to reach their goal of expanding Islam. As a result, this conflict will be with us for a long, long time. This has many ramifications for the type of military the United States needs to maintain, as other conventional threats and historical enemies of America are re-emerging, especially Russia and China who are actively re-arming at the very time America’s current leadership wants to disarm the United States. The United States and other democracies did not start the conflict with radical Islam, but we will not back away from it! Let us pray that our leaders have the will to sustain this fight to the finish and commit whatever resources are necessary to win.

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On the economic front, job losses slowed in July as the unemployment rate unexpectedly fell back to 9.4% from 9.5%. Given the margin of error in the unemployment methodology, this is a wash. Economists are in disagreement as to where the unemployment rate is heading. Obviously, it did not stop at 8.0% as the current administration said it would. Some economists think it may go to 10% before it turns around. But if it remains static, that would be a good sign that maybe, just maybe things are finally starting to turn around. And that would be interesting since over 95% of the stimulus package has yet to be spent. Maybe the Congress will wake up and realize that the stimulus package is not causing an economic stimulus, but rather lays an excessive debt burden on our population. The federal deficit toped $1.27 trillion, a new record and in the last seven months has reflected the fastest growth of putting America in debt in our history!

Bank of America reports that as the economy continues its slow crawl toward recovery, the upcoming Labor Day holiday could mark a turning point in the job market. An analysis of layoff trends by global outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. indicates that the heaviest job-cutting of the year may have occurred in the opening months of 2009, when recession-related downsizing appears to have reached its peak. According to a survey among 500 employers and employees conducted by Robert Half International and CareerBuilder, more than half of employers are saying they plan to hire full-time employees in the next 12 months, and 40% expect to hire contract, temporary or project professionals. The survey also found that 47% of hiring managers cited under-qualified applicants as their most common hiring challenge.

In spite of all the bad economic news, there are some bright spots. Health-care and education added 17,000 jobs. The Institute of Supply Management’s Manufacturing Index, one of the most-watched gauges of production activity, is edging toward recovery. The index measures how much manufacturing is shrinking or expanding, with a reading below 50 indicating contraction. For July, the Index stood at 48.9, just shy of expansion. Though still contracting (for the 18th consecutive month), the index has improved seven months in a row. Most in manufacturing say their situation is improving but marginally.

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Finally, Monday, September 7, is when the United States celebrates Labor Day! I give a brief discussion of the history of Labor Day in article #2 below. Unfortunately, too many of our citizens think of Labor Day as the last day of summer. But when celebrating Labor Day this year, let us recognize not only the American labor movement and all it has brought about, but also those who labor to protect our country who are in the military. Many of our active duty, National Guard and Reserve brothers and sisters will not have the luxury of celebrating the holiday with their families. Please keep them in your prayers as they continue to defend our country! Happy Labor Day!

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As always, if there is anything we at VetJobs can do for you, please do not hesitate to call or email. Feel free to share the Early Eagle with other employers!

And remember, Freedom Is Never Free – Support Our Armed Forces and Veterans!

Best regards,

Ted Daywalt
President

/—September Early Eagle sponsor is TECHEXPO Top Secret—-\

TECHEXPO Top Secret’s next job fairs are:

9/22, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, BWI Marriott, 1743 West Nursery Road, Baltimore, MD, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Pre-register at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm

9/23, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, Ritz Carlton Tysons Corner, 1700 Tysons Boulevard, McLean, VA, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Pre-register at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm

TECHEXPO Top Secret job fairs bring you face to face with security-cleared professionals. For 2009 event schedule, contact Nancy Mathew 212-655-4505 x225 or NMathew@TechExpoUSA.com. http://www.TechExpoUSA.com

\—–Please visit your September Early Eagle sponsor TECHEXPO Top Secret —-/

2. History of Labor Day

As the Industrial Revolution took hold of the United States, the average American in the late 1800s worked 12-hour days, seven days a week in order to make a basic living. Children were also working, as they provided cheap labor to employers and laws against child labor were not strongly enforced. With the long hours and terrible working conditions, American unions became more prominent and voiced their demands for a better way of life. On Tuesday September 5, 1882, 10,000 workers marched from City Hall to Union Square in New York City, holding the first-ever Labor Day parade. Participants took an unpaid day-off to honor the workers of America as well as vocalize issues they had with employers. As years passed, more states began to hold these parades, but Congress would not legalize the holiday until 12 years later.

3. VetJobs Recommends: Dear America

From time to time, the staff of VetJobs learns of a movie or book we like to recommend to our readers. This month we strongly recommend the book Dear America, edited by Bernard Edelman for the New York Vietnam Veterans Memorial Commission. The latest version of the book has a new introduction by Senator John McCain. The book is a compilation of letters written by the men and women who fought and served in the Vietnam War. The book inspired an HBO film that received two Emmy Awards, a Peabody and a host of film festival honors. This is a must read book for anyone who has any interest in what really happened in Vietnam. Published by Norton & Company, 1985.

4. Flexible Hours for Nonexempt Workers May Be Next on Lobbyists’ Agenda

Jessica Marquez of Workforce Management Magazine reports with bills circulating in Congress that would enable flexible work schedules, the next focus for Capitol Hill lobbyists may be flextime for nonexempt workers. Flexible work arrangements traditionally have been the domain of exempt, salaried employees, but now more companies are using them for nonexempt, hourly workers, experts say. According to a recent study by WorldatWork and Work Design Collaborative, 45% of survey respondents report they include nonexempt employees in their flexible work arrangements. But offering nonexempt workers flexible work arrangements may require some changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act, which, among other things, regulates how employers keep track of overtime for nonexempt workers. Tracking overtime can be complicated if an employee is working a flexible work schedule or teleworking. FLSA requires that nonexempt employees who work more than 40 hours a week get paid overtime. This is problematic for nonexempt employees who occasionally want to work compressed workweeks and more than 40 hours a week on other weeks. A bill in Congress would allow companies to provide compensatory time for employees in the private sector instead of overtime. This would mean that companies can provide time off with pay instead of overtime pay. “We oppose the idea of compensatory time instead of overtime,” said Bill Lurye, associate general counsel for the AFL-CIO. “The FLSA only requires a 40-hour workweek and it’s easy to comply with and offer flexible work arrangements. We believe there are companies that have flexible work arrangements that are in line with FLSA.” A number of organizations, including WorldatWork, are watching the issue closely and expect it to become a larger discussion in coming months.

/—September Early Eagle sponsor is CRI University—-\

There are many recent changes in the laws, regulations and court case history which require employers to take steps to ensure compliance, as exemplified by recent changes to the Family and Medical Leave Act and enactment of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. There is also a greater emphasis on enforcement by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) which increases the potential liability each employer faces.

CRI University provides informative, dynamic one hour webinars on important, timely topics that impact every employer. These webinars are as important for CEOs, COOs, and CFOs as they are for HR personnel due to the liability exposures employers face from issues including Disparate Pay, EEOC and OFCCP compliance, Family Medical Leave Act, Human Rights in the workplace, online Applicant Management systems, Testing and Assessments, online Performance Appraisal Systems, Interviewing: the Behavioral Approach, Job Ads – Get the most for your $$ .

CRIUniversity delivers a series of one hour webinars to update employers on who must be compliant with the EEOC and/or OFCCP and what is required for compliance and the risks for noncompliance. Please join us for webinars of interest to you. (All CRIUniversity webinars qualify for HRCI credits.)

For more information, please visit
www.cricompliance.com
www.criuniversity.com
www.criw.com

\—–Please visit your September Early Eagle sponsor CRI University —-/

5. Implementation of E-Verify

SHRM Online reports that implementation of the E-Verify rule for federal contractors is imminent, as a district court rejected business groups’ challenge of the rule on August 26, 2009. Contractors with contracts of $100,000 or more on or after September 8, 2009, and their subcontractors should do a fire drill “to get people prepared,” Mary Pivec, an attorney with Keller and Heckman LLP in Washington, D.C. Not only will new hires at covered federal contractors and subcontractors be subject to E-Verify, but so will incumbent employees, she noted. And all new hires of covered entities throughout the United States, regardless of whether the new hires are at facilities working on the contract, will be subject to E-Verify under the rule, Pivec added. In addition, indefinite supply or delivery contracts valid for at least six months beyond September 8 with substantial orders remaining are subject to modification adding the E-Verify requirement. Pivec recommended that HR review all I-9s of incumbents assigned to covered contracts, and “either meet in person to confirm that the information provided in Section 1 is currently accurate and/or that DHS work authorization is currently valid—or confirm that information by written communication before running the incumbent employee data through the E-Verify system.”

/—September Early Eagle sponsor is WEDDLE’s University—-\

The best Guides to the Best Job Boards
Completely updated for today’s economic challenges, WEDDLE’s Guides are the Gold Standard of guides to the best online resources for job seekers and career activists. Whether you’re looking for a job at the moment or not, you need these one-of-a-kind references right now. They’ll put you on the fast track to the best employment opportunities today, tomorrow and into the future.

They include:
-WEDDLE’s 2009/10 Guide to Employment Sites on the Internet, called the Zagat of the online employment industry by the American Staffing Association. It lists our picks for the Top 100 job boards and the Best & the Rest-a directory of 10,000+ sites organized by career field, industry and geographic location.

-WEDDLE’s 2009/10 Guide to Association Web Sites, your roadmap to the “hidden talent market” online. It lists 3,000+ professional and technical associations; organizes them by career field, industy and location; and describes their job search and networking resources online.

How can you get these books? Simply call our customer service team at 203-964-1888 today.

\—–Please visit your September Early Eagle sponsor WEDDLE’s —-/

6. Furlough Use on the Rise

Furloughs are becoming increasingly viewed as a viable option for controlling labor costs while retaining talent, a new survey by global management consultancy Hay Group has found. Among more than 100 U.S. organizations polled in May 2009, more than one-third either has a furlough policy or is using furloughs as a way to control costs. Within that group, half anticipate using furloughs to cut costs for six to 12 months. And while furlough maximums vary from four days to one year, more than half of those using them or who have a furlough policy do not have an established maximum length, the Hay Group found.

Among those using furloughs or who have a furlough policy in place:
-About 75 percent of those on furlough are nonexempt employees; about 68 percent are exempts or equivalent.
-65 percent do not allow employees to volunteer for full- or partial-length furloughs.
-71 percent indicated compensation levels are being cut commensurate with time off; 52 percent indicated incentives would not be impacted due to reduced annual pay.
-75 percent indicated accrued, allotted vacation or floater time continues to be accrued during furloughs.
-More than 60 percent continue employees’ health care benefits during the furlough period but are required to pay the employee’s contribution portion.
-More than 60 percent indicated employer contributions to defined contribution plans are continued based on reduced pay; nearly 10 percent said the employer match is discontinued during furloughs.
-80 percent are continuing employee 401(k) loans, as they would when employees take leaves of absence.
-30 percent of furloughs are intermittent, 27 percent are continuous and 43 percent are “other.” One week, 60 days or a short amount of days frequently constituted “other.”

7. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of August 28, 2009

Total number currently on active duty in support of the partial mobilization for the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 36,741; Naval Reserve, 6,494; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 26,348; Marine Corps Reserve, 3,789; and the Coast Guard Reserve 1,096. This brings the total Reserve and National Guard on active duty to 74,468 including both units and individual augmentees. A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve who are currently on active duty can be found at http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Aug2002/d20020828ngr.pdf.

8 Significant Events this Month in Military History

1783 – The Peace Treaty of Versailles was signed between the USA, Britain, France, and Spain, ending the American Revolution.

1787 – United States Constitution Approved

1814 – US Naval Captain Oliver Hazard Perry defeated a British flotilla in the Battle of Lake Erie (War of 1812).

1814 – During a British naval attack on the City of Baltimore, Francis Scott Key composed a poem entitled “The Star Spangled Banner.”

1847 – American forces captured Mexico City, effectively ending the Mexican War.

1862 – Battle of Chantilly – Confederate forces attack retreating Union troops in Chantilly, VA (Civil War).

1864 – Confederate troops abandoned Atlanta in the face of continuing attacks by federals under General W.S. Sherman (Civil War).

1899 – Founding of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States

1908 – LT Thomas E. Selfridge was killed at Ft. Myer, VA, in a plane flown by Orville Wright. Selfridge was the first man to die in an airplane accident.

1939 – German troops invaded Poland, beginning World War II.

1939 – Britain and France declared war on Germany (World War II).

1941 – British Naval forces sank the German battleship Bismarck off the French coast (World War II).

1943 – The allied invasion of Italy began (World War II).

1945 – V-J Day, Japan signed formal surrender (World War II).

1951 – The United States, Australia and New Zealand sign a mutual defense pact, called the ANZUS Treaty.

1951 – Battle of Heart Break Ridge began (Korean War).

1962 – United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps Incorporated

1967 – Siege of Con Thien Began (Vietnam War).

1969 – President Richard Nixon ordered resumption of heavy bombing of North Vietnamese targets (Vietnam War).

1982 – The United States Air Force Space Command is founded.

1983 – Korean Air Flight 007 is shot down by a Soviet Union jet fighter when the commercial aircraft enters Soviet airspace. All 269 on board are killed, including United States Congressman Lawrence McDonald (Cold War).

1994 – Operation Uphold Democracy began (Haiti).

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VetJobs is exclusively sponsored and partially owned by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (www.vfw.org) and endorsed by the Vietnam Veterans of America (www.vva.org), the Naval Reserve Association (www.navy-reserve.org), the Veterans of Modern Warfare (www.vmwusa.org), the Student Veterans of America (www.studentveterans.org), the Military Order of the Purple Heart (www.purpleheart.org) and Hope4Heroes (www.hope4heroes.org).
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
You were opted-in when you became a paid employer member, were referred to VetJobs or were part of an organization which opted-in to VetJobs.

To REMOVE or CHANGE your subscribed address, click here:
http://mh.databack.com/c.php?L=earlyeagle&E=#email#

VetJobs
P. O. Box 71445
Marietta, GA 30007-1445
877-Vet-Jobs (877-838-5627)
770-993-5117 Office
770.993.2875 Fax

Veterans make the best employees!
Freedom Is Never Free – Support Our Armed Forces and Veterans!

VetJobs is an appropriate employment service delivery system for EEOC, VEVRAA/JVA and OFCCP compliance support!

Seven year recipient of AIRS Top Recruiting Site
Six year recipient of WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award
Four year recipient of Workforce Management Top 10 Recruiting Site
Only military job board selected by Reader’s Digest

VetJobs is a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business

VetJobs is an appropriate employment service delivery system for EEOC, VEVRAA/JVA and OFCCP compliance support!

The VetJobs Early Eagle is for member employers, recruiters, friends and supporters of VetJobs. Feel free to forward this newsletter to friends and other employers.

This issue sponsored by TECHEXPO Top Secret

Contents:

1. Message from the Top

2. VetJobs Recommends: Taking Chance

3. DOD Announces 2009 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award Recipients

4. Industry Job Openings

5. ICE Launches New Audit Initiative

6. Companies Hit Hard with Negligent Hiring Lawsuits

7. Federal Minimum Wage Rises

8. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of July 28, 2009

9. Significant Events this Month in Military History

Thank you for reading the VetJobs Early Eagle employer newsletter. If you like this newsletter and what VetJobs and the VFW do to assist veterans and their family member find employment, please go to http://www.weddles.com/poll.htm and vote VetJobs for the WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award!

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1. Message from the Top

While there are no federal holidays this month, today we also celebrate Air Force Day, which was established on August 1, 1947 by President Truman “in recognition of the personnel of the victorious Army Air Forces and all those who have developed and maintained our nation’s air strength.” August 1 was chosen to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment, in 1907, of the Aeronautical Division in the Office of the Chief Signal Officer of the Army.

And this month we also celebrate the birthday of the US Coast Guard! On August 4, 1790, the United States Coast Guard was founded. With the War on Terrorism, the Coast Guard has a very vital role in the defense of our country both at home and overseas. If you meet a member of the Coast Guard this month, tell them “Happy Birthday!”

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Our active duty, reserve and National Guard forces are under tremendous strain with the continued wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Stop and think about the size of our military today compared to the recent past when there were nearly 3.5 million people on active duty. Today, there are roughly 1.4 million on active duty, less than half what we had at the end of the Vietnam War.

The estimated population of the United States on July 1, 2009 is 307,041,000. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 226,706,000 are in the work force. Throw in another 20,000,000 illegal aliens (no one really knows with certainty how many illegal aliens are in the United States), and you have a population base of roughly 327, 041,000 that is being defended by 1,400,000. That equates to only four tenths of a percent (.4%) of the population is defending the other 99.6%! If you include the 1.3 million in the Guard and Reserve who are now used as if they were active duty forces, there are a total of 2.7 million people defending the 327,041,000, or roughly eight tenths of a percent (.8%) defending the other 99.2%.

In 1970, there were over 45 million living veterans in the United States. In 1999 when VetJobs was founded, there were nearly 30 million veterans of which 18 million were in the work force. Today, the BLS reports there are 22,196,000 living veterans of which 12,169,000 are in the work force. Depending on the survey, upwards of 1,700 veterans now die each day!

This data has many ramifications. With 37 years of an all volunteer military, America now has two generations of citizens that have no idea of what really goes on in the military and the importance of having a strong military. This lack of understanding impacts political and social attitudes towards the military. Today, there are fewer defenders of our freedoms living who understand the importance of maintaining a strong military. And without a strong military, we can not maintain our freedoms, our free market capitalist economy and our constitutional republic.

This trend also impacts the way recruiters and hiring managers look at transitioning military and veterans. Most human resource personnel have no idea of the high level of skills and leadership that veterans bring to their company. In fact, the most common complaint from veterans on their first job is they are seriously under employed. This comes from taking a job that is much below their levels, but that originates from many hiring managers not understanding what the military candidate has to offer.

To bring this point home, let me give you an example. I was speaking at a CEO conference when a company president made the comment that he needed strong managers with leadership skills to groom and promote to vice president. I suggested he should hire junior military officers or senior enlisted personnel. His comment to me was that he wanted people with “real world experience”. I answered his comment asking “How many of your vice presidents manages a $50,000,000 budget, leads 18 people – that is a good ratio of people to money – and goes through an intensive six month training program to learn their systems and equipment, and if they make a mistake will take Duvall County off the face of the earth? I just gave you the basic job description of a weapons officer on a Navy frigate in Mayport, Florida, who also has several other collateral duty assignments. And by the way, that weapons officer is a female who just turned 23 years old!”

He was astounded. He was still operating from a Beetle Bailey or John Wayne movie paradigm. The military has dramatically changed in the last twenty years, but because so few are associated with the military today, being two generations removed, few know what really goes on. And as a result they are missing out on one of the most diverse, highly trained, technically capable teamwork oriented work forces in the world today! That is why we at VetJobs say: Veterans make the best employees!

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An outstanding organization that assists our military forces coping with the stress of constant travel is the United Services Organization (USO). To those military and veterans who travel extensively, a USO facility is a welcomed site. USOs are located in most major airports and in some cases in down town districts near military bases. With donations down, the USO could use your assistance in several ways. USO offices are always looking for volunteers to help staff the facilities and greet the troops. You can also donate needed items to USO facilities such as paper goods (toilet paper, paper plates, napkins, cups and cutlery) and snacks (store bought cookies, chips, candy, nuts, soft drinks, donuts, cakes, etc). Make it a habit that when you travel to drop off donations to your local USO. It will be truly appreciated!

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Finally, we congratulate the employers who were selected for the 2009 DOD Freedom Award (see article 3 below). This is a very prestigious award and speaks well of those selected. VetJobs appreciates all employers who are willing to support the members of the National Guard and Reserve!

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As always, if there is anything we at VetJobs can do for you, please do not hesitate to call or email. Feel free to share the Early Eagle with other employers!

And remember, Freedom Is Never Free – Support Our Armed Forces and Veterans!

Best regards,

Ted Daywalt
President

2. VetJobs Recommends: Taking Chance

Taking Chance is the remarkable true story of a Marine’s death in battle, another Marine’s journey of discovery and a nation’s reverence and gratitude toward its war dead. After hearing of the heroic death of a young Marine in Iraq, LCOL Strobl (Kevin Bacon) volunteers to escort the remains of Lance Corporal Chance Phelps back to his hometown in Wyoming. On a trip across America’s heartland, Strobl finds himself on an unexpectedly emotional sojourn into the soul of a country mourning not only Lance Corporal Phelps, but all of America’s fallen heroes. Taking Chance is an HBO movie and a 2009 Sundance Film Festival selection. This movie is a must see for every American

/—August Early Eagle sponsor is TECHEXPO Top Secret—-\

TECHEXPO Top Secret’s next job fairs are:

8/18, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, BWI Marriott, 1743 West Nursery Road, Baltimore (Linthicum), MD, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Pre-register at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm

8/19, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, Sheraton Reston, 11810 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Pre-register at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm

TECHEXPO Top Secret job fairs bring you face to face with security-cleared professionals. For 2009 event schedule, contact Nancy Mathew 212-655-4505 x225 or NMathew@TechExpoUSA.com. http://www.TechExpoUSA.com

\—–Please visit your August Early Eagle sponsor TECHEXPO Top Secret —-/

3. DOD Announces 2009 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award Recipients

The Department of Defense has announced the recipients of the 2009 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, the highest recognition given by the U.S. Government to employers for their outstanding support of their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve. The 2009 recipients are:

AeroDyn Wind Tunnel LLC – Mooresville, NC

AstraZeneca International – Wilmington, DE

Cambridge, MA Fire Department – Cambridge, MA

Consolidated Electrical Distributors, Inc. – North Charleston, SC

First Data Corporation – Greenwood Village, CO

FMC Technologies – Houston, TX

Jackson Parish Sheriff’s Department – Jonesboro, LA

Marks, O’Neill, O’Brien & Courtney, P.C. – Wilmington, DE

Microsoft Corporation – Redmond, WA

Mid America Kidney Stone Association – Kansas City, MO

NetJets – Woodbridge, NJ

Ohio Department of Public Safety – Columbus, OH

Perpetual Technologies, Inc. – Indianapolis, IN

Santa Ana Police Department – Santa Ana, CA

TriWest Healthcare Alliance – Phoenix, AZ

A record 3,200 National Guard and Reserve members or their family members from across the country nominated their supportive employers for the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. A national selection board comprised of senior Defense officials and business leaders selected the recipients for this year’s award. The Freedom Award will be presented to these employers during a formal ceremony Thursday, September 17, 2009 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C.

4. Industry Job Openings

According to the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the below lists job openings by industry, seasonally adjusted, in thousands, comparing May 2008 to May 2009:

2008 2009
Total 4,009 2,554

Private 3,577 2,221

Construction 162 39

Manufacturing 280 91

Trade/transport/utilities 649 430

Retail trade 402 302

Professional/business services 681 520

Education/health services 728 537

Leisure/hospitality 575 269

5. ICE Launches New Audit Initiative

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) launched a bold, new audit initiative by issuing Notices of Inspection (NOIs) to 652 businesses nationwide. The notices alert business owners that ICE will be inspecting their I-9s and hiring records to determine whether or not they are complying with employment eligibility verification laws and regulations. Inspections are one of the most powerful tools the federal government has to enforce employment and immigration laws. This new initiative illustrates ICE’s increased focus on holding employers accountable for their hiring practices and efforts to ensure a legal workforce. For more information, visit www.shrm.org.

6. Companies Hit Hard with Negligent Hiring Lawsuits

Staff Patrol reports a significant legal issue is emerging with the potential to affect all employers. Under the doctrine of negligent hiring, employers are being sued for the improper and criminal acts of their employees. Many companies may purchase web-based access to criminal databases in an attempt to screen their employees. However, there is a big misconception about a centralized, nationwide criminal records database that reports from every jurisdiction in the United States. No such comprehensive background check exists to employers online. These “do-it-yourself” database searches may cover many jurisdictions, but they are all incomplete. U.S. Senator Herb Kohl said, “The current system of state-based background checks is haphazard, inconsistent, and full of gaping holes”.

Many hiring managers may wonder if performing a background check is worth the effort if there are no guarantees. Staff Patrol reports that if you do not properly check an employee for criminal records and an infraction occurs, it is almost guaranteed that you will be confronted with the potential of a serious negligent hiring lawsuit. Average settlements in negligent hiring lawsuits are now approaching one million dollars. Juries in such cases will assume that if you could have known, you should have known. Showing that you have exercised due diligence in making your hiring decisions will dramatically decrease your chances of being found negligent.

7. Federal Minimum Wage Rises

The first increase to the federal minimum wage in 10 years was effective in 2007. The third and final increase, effective July 24, 2009, raises the federal minimum wage to $7.25. Since employers must pay the higher of the federal or state minimum wage, the impact will be felt in the 29 states that have a minimum wage lower than $7.25.

8. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of July 28, 2009

The total number currently on active duty from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 111,879; Navy Reserve, 6,685; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 13,925; Marine Corps Reserve, 8,341; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 698. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 141,528, including both units and individual augmentees. A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel who are currently activated may be found at http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jul2009/d20090728ngr.pdf .

9. Significant Events this Month in Military History

1782 – The Purple Heart Medal was established by Congress.

1790 – US Coast Guard established.

1801 – The USS Enterprise seized the Tripolitan corsair Tripoli in naval action in the Mediterranean Sea (War with Tripoli).

1864 – Admiral David Farragut, USN, exclaiming “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead,” ran through a Confederate minefield at Mobile Bay, Alabama, and captured a defending group of Confederate ships (American Civil War).

1914 – Germany declared war on Russia and France declared full mobilization for war (World War I).

1914 – Britain declared war on Austria-Hungary (World War I).

1941 – Beginning of the three-year siege of Leningrad by German troops (World War II).

1942 – US Marines landed on Guadalcanal, in the Solomon Islands, the first American amphibious operation in World War II.

1945 – The US Army Air Force bomber Enola Gay, piloted by COL Paul Tibbets, dropped the first atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima, Japan. (World War II).

1945 – The second atomic bomb is dropped by a U.S. plane on Nagasaki, Japan.

1945 – The Empire of Japan surrendered to the Allied forces, ending World War II.

1950 – Defense of Pusan/Naktong Perimeter began (Korean War).

1952 – The Battle of Bunker Hill (Hill 122) began (Korean War).

1982 – Eight hundred U.S. Marines landed in Beirut, Lebanon, as part of a multinational force overseeing the withdrawal of PLO fighters.

1990 – Operation Desert Shield began.

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VetJobs is exclusively sponsored and partially owned by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (www.vfw.org) and endorsed by the Vietnam Veterans of America (www.vva.org), the Naval Reserve Association (www.navy-reserve.org), the Veterans of Modern Warfare (www.vmwusa.org), the Student Veterans of America (www.studentveterans.org), the Military Order of the Purple Heart (www.purpleheart.org) and Hope4Heroes (www.hope4heroes.org).
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You were opted-in when you became a paid employer member, were referred to VetJobs or were part of an organization which opted-in to VetJobs.

To REMOVE or CHANGE your subscribed address, click here:
http://mh.databack.com/c.php?L=earlyeagle&E=#email#

VetJobs
P. O. Box 71445
Marietta, GA 30007-1445
877-Vet-Jobs (877-838-5627)
770-993-5117 Office
770.993.2875 Fax

Veterans make the best employees!
Freedom Is Never Free – Support Our Armed Forces and Veterans!

VetJobs is an appropriate employment service delivery system for EEOC, VEVRAA/JVA and OFCCP compliance support!

Seven year recipient of AIRS Top Recruiting Site
Six year recipient of WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award
Four year recipient of Workforce Management Top 10 Recruiting Site
Only military job board selected by Reader’s Digest

VetJobs is a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business

VetJobs is an appropriate employment service delivery system for EEOC, VEVRAA/JVA and OFCCP compliance support!

The VetJobs Early Eagle is for member employers, recruiters, friends and supporters of VetJobs. Feel free to forward this newsletter to friends and other employers.

This issue sponsored by WEDDLE’s and TECHEXPO Top Secret

Contents:

1. Message from the Top

2. Supreme Court Says “Strong Basis” Needed in Disparate Impact Cases

3. IRS Offers Tax Credit Guidance to Businesses Hiring Unemployed Veterans and Certain Youth

4. DOL Increasing Auditing Staff

5. Compliance Update – Department of Labor Administrative Review Board

6. National Veterans’ Training Institute (NVTI)

7. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of June 23, 2009

8. Significant Events this Month in Military History

Thank you for reading the VetJobs Early Eagle employer newsletter. If you like this newsletter and what VetJobs and the VFW do to assist veterans and their family member find employment, please go to http://www.weddles.com/poll.htm and vote VetJobs for the WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award!

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1. Message from the Top

We enjoyed meeting old friends and making new acquaintances at the 61st Annual Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) Conference in New Orleans, LA, this past week. While attendance was definitely down, 5,700 versus the 11,000 in Chicago last year, we appreciated having the extra time to talk with many of you. I was excited to hear of so many companies that are now hiring and looking for veterans! VetJobs is proud to be the longest continuously exhibiting military group at SHRM. For ten years VetJobs has represented veterans to the human resource community at SHRM conventions. Your use of VetJobs has made us the leading military job board on the Internet!

With your help, VetJobs has been averaging about 28,000 real jobs a day on the site. This is a 3% increase over the same time period last year. VetJobs is one of the few job boards on the internet that has more jobs posted over the same time last year. Fortunately, many of you want to hire veterans and many more need candidates with security clearances. Your support in hiring veterans, especially the wounded warriors, is appreciated. America would not have its freedoms or a free market economy if our military was not there to protect us!

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I am pleased to announce that VetJobs has been selected by Maid Brigade franchise to be one of the judges on a panel to award 100 free Maid Brigade franchises this fall. Yes, I did say free! This is going to be a very exciting competition as veterans must compete for these franchises. Many studies have indicated that veterans make better entrepreneurs than others because veterans can better assess risk and have better leadership skills than most. If you know of a veteran who wants to be an entrepreneur and own their own business, please refer them to http://www.maidbrigadegiveaway.com/ for more details on how they could become a winner!

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This month we celebrate the Fourth of July holiday, a time when families throughout the country attend picnics, races, parades, political rallies and fireworks displays. Congress established Independence Day as a holiday in 1870. In 1938 Congress reaffirmed it as a holiday. I would encourage everyone to learn and understand the history of the Fourth of July and recognize that it is NOT just a holiday to kick off the summer. Knowledge of our history is what will keep the Fourth of July near and dear to the hearts of all Americans.

Your company should display a flag on the 4th of July. If you need a flag, you can order one from the VFW Store at www.vfwstore.org.

In addition to the Fourth of July, the 27th of July is the anniversary of the end of the Korean War, frequently referred to as the “Forgotten War”. The 1950-53 conflict cost America 33,651 killed in action and 103,284 wounded. More than 1.5 million American men and women fought in Korea. Here at VetJobs, our prayers and thoughts go out to the Korean War veterans and their extended families.

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On the economic front, the unemployment rate in May continued to rise, increasing from 8.9 to 9.4 percent. Steep job losses continued in manufacturing, while declines moderated in construction and several service-providing industries.

But it is not just all bad news. The health care industry added 24,000 jobs in May. And the general consensus by economists seems to be that the economy in general and employment specifically are getting worse but at a slower rate. Many economists now say we have passed the bottom and are on the way back up, but it will be a slow and lengthy recovery.

Housing starts bounced back with a vengeance in May, rising 17.2% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 532,000 after plunging 12.9% in April to a postwar low according to the Commerce Department. The surprising increase was led by a 62% gain in new construction of multifamily dwellings. Starts of single-family homes rose 7.5% to a 401,000 rate, the highest since November. Other data shows the hiring rate, while low, remains unchanged at 3.1% percent with 4,099,000 new hires reported in April.

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Finally, I am proud to announce that on June 6, VetJobs signed a mutual support agreement with The Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH). Their logo is on the site in the VSO endorsement and alliance pages. MOPH joins the Veterans of Foreign Wars (www.vfw.org – VFW is the sponsor of VetJobs), the Vietnam Veterans of America (www.vva.org), the Naval Reserve Association (www.navy-reserve.org), the Veterans of Modern Warfare (www.vmwusa.org), the Student Veterans of America (www.studentveterans.org) and Hope4Heroes (www.hope4heroes.org) in supporting VetJobs mission of providing jobs for transitioning military, veterans and their family members. The various veteran service organization endorsements assist VetJobs in its reach into the veteran market place, giving your jobs exposure better than any other military related site!

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Have a great 4th of July holiday and please remember the real reason America celebrates this day!

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As always, if there is anything we at VetJobs can do for you, please do not hesitate to call or email. Feel free to share the Early Eagle with other employers!

And remember, Freedom Is Never Free – Support Our Armed Forces and Veterans!

Best regards,

Ted Daywalt
President

/—July Early Eagle sponsor is WEDDLE’s—-\

Completely updated for today’s economic challenges, these books are the Gold Standard of guides to the best online resources for job seekers, career activists and human resource professionals.

The guides include:

- WEDDLE’s 2009/10 Guide to Employment Sites on the Internet, called the Zagat of the online employment industry by the American Staffing Association. It lists our picks for the Top 100 job boards and the Best & the Rest-a directory of 10,000+ sites organized by career field, industry and geographic location.

- WEDDLE’s 2009/10 Guide to Association Web Sites, your roadmap to the “hidden talent market” online. It lists 3,000+ professional and technical associations; organizes them by career field, industry and location; and describes their job search and networking resources online.

Although these books won’t be available on Amazon or in bookstores for 4-6 weeks, you can get them right now by visiting WEDDLE’s online bookstore at www.weddles.com or call our customer service team at 317.598.9768 today.

\—–Please visit your July Early Eagle sponsor WEDDLE’s —-/

2. Supreme Court Says “Strong Basis” Needed in Disparate Impact Cases

The U.S. Supreme Court today employers some guidance on the use of assessment tests, saying the results of these tests can not be ignored simply because they have an adverse impact on a protected group. Ruling 5-4 in the case of Ricci v. DeStefano, the court’s majority said just because a disproportionate share of whites pass a test does not make the test discriminatory. Writing for the majority, Justice Anthony Kennedy said invalidating test results because of the statistical racial outcome, “… is impermissible under Title VII unless the employer can demonstrate a strong basis in evidence that, had it not taken the action, it would have been liable under the disparate-impact statute.”

Employment lawyers reacted with caution, saying the 92-page decision, including a dissent by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, will take time to digest. Their initial impression, however, is that the court appears to have tempered if not invalidated the 80% rule of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. That rule states that the selection of a group at less than 80 percent of the group with the highest rate will be considered by the EEOC as evidence of discrimination. However, the Supreme Court ruled statistics are not enough to show disparate impact.

/—July Early Eagle sponsor is TECHEXPO Top Secret—-\

TECHEXPO Top Secret’s next job fairs are:

7/21, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, BWI Marriott, 1743 West Nursery Road, Baltimore, MD, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM

7/28, TECHEXPO Top Secret Job Fair, Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City, 1250 South Hayes Street, Arlington, VA, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM

TECHEXPO Top Secret job fairs bring you face to face with security-cleared professionals. For 2009 event schedule, contact Nancy Mathew 212-655-4505 x225 or NMathew@TechExpoUSA.com. http://www.TechExpoUSA.com

\—–Please visit your July Early Eagle sponsor TECHEXPO Top Secret —-/

3. IRS Offers Tax Credit Guidance to Businesses Hiring Unemployed Veterans and Certain Youth

Businesses planning to claim the newly-expanded work opportunity tax credit (WOTC) for eligible unemployed veterans and unskilled younger workers hired during the first part of 2009 have until Aug. 17 to request the certification required for these workers, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

Newly-revised Form 8850 (http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8850.pdf), is now available and is used by employers to request certification from their state workforce agency. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, enacted in February, added unemployed veterans returning to civilian life and “disconnected youth” to the list of groups covered by the credit. Though eligible unemployed veterans and disconnected youth who begin work anytime during 2009 or 2010 may qualify a business for the credit, certification by the state workforce agency is required.

In general, an unemployed veteran is a person discharged or released from the military during the five years preceding the hiring date who received unemployment benefits for at least four weeks during the one-year period ending on the hiring date. A “disconnected youth” is a person age 16 to 24 on the hiring date who has not been regularly employed or attending school and who meets other requirements.

The WOTC offers tax savings to businesses that hire workers belonging to any of 12 targeted groups, including unemployed veterans and disconnected youth. The other 10 include people ages 18 to 39 living in designated communities in 43 states and the District of Columbia, Hurricane Katrina employees, recipients of various types of public assistance, and certain veterans, summer youth workers and ex-felons. The instructions for Form 8850 detail the requirements for each of these groups.

Normally, a business must file Form 8850 with the state workforce agency within 28 days after the eligible worker begins work. But under a special rule, businesses have until Aug. 17, 2009, to file this form for unemployed veterans and disconnected youth who begin work on or after Jan. 1, 2009 and before July 17, 2009. Notice 2009-28 (http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-09-28.pdf), posted at www.IRS.gov, and the instructions for Form 8850 provide details on this special rule.

4. DOL Increasing Auditing Staff

Whether you are a large or small company; government contractor or not; you are impacted by one of the divisions within the Department of Labor, Employment Standards Division. For this compliance update, we are only addressing the Wage and Hour Division and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs Division.

A requested increase of $35 million will enable the Wage and Hour Division (WHD) to strengthen its enforcement of low-wage and vulnerable workers. If DOL gets its way, it will be able to increase its staff by 288 full time employees, most of whom will be investigators and inspectors. The additional staff will enable the program to conduct more targeted investigations, provide additional compliance assistance, and ensure that cases effectively maximize compliance on behalf of the greatest number of workers.

During Fiscal Year 2008, WHD employed 731 investigators who completed 28,200 compliance actions and 1,790 compliance assistance events. WHD collected more than $185,200,000 in back wages for more than 228,000 workers nationwide on cases concluded in Fiscal Year 2008.

The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) enforces equal employment, affirmative action, and non-discrimination among federal contractors. A requested increase of $23.6 million, including an additional 213 full-time employees, will be directed toward strengthening the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs’ overall enforcement efforts. The additional staff will be scattered among regions and will be front-line investigators. The staffing request for OFCCP for Fiscal Year 2010 is 798 full time employees compared to 585 full time employees in Fiscal Year 2009. A significant percentage of the budget will support enforcement and outreach efforts related to compensation. OFCCP will place additional emphasis on outreach and training, as well as improving the various approaches and investigative techniques used to evaluate compensation. The budget request also includes $2 million to develop a new case management system. The budget increases demonstrate the government’s commitment to the monitoring and compliance of equal opportunity and affirmative action provisions of federal contracts. Bottom Line: More money means more resources to conduct inspections, investigations and audits.

5. Compliance Update – Department of Labor Administrative Review Board

In the ruling of Office of Federal Contracts Compliance Programs (OFCCP) v. UPMC Braddock, ARB Case No. 08-048 (May 29, 2009), a Department of Labor Administration Review Board (ARB) issued a ruling that hospitals contracting with a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) to provide medical services to federal employees are to be considered “subcontractors” even when the subcontract does not have written EEO and Affirmative Action provisions.

The three University of Pittsburgh Medical Center hospitals were contracted providers for a HMO participating in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP). They contracted with UPMC Health Plan to provide medical services for individuals insured by the Health Plan. Even though none of the three hospitals held a federal contract, UPMC Health plan had one with the Office of Personnel Management to provide medical coverage.

After the hospital received an OFCCP scheduling notice of a compliance review, they argued that they were not subject to the OFCCP requirements since they were never notified by the Health Plan of their federal contractor status or of the Medical Center’s subcontractor obligations.

The hospitals referred to a DOL precedent (OFCCP V. Bridgeport Hospital) that held that hospitals that provide medical coverage through an insurance company’s arrangement with the federal government were not federal subcontractors because the medical coverage was not necessary to the performance of the insurance company’s direct federal contractor, which was to provide insurance, not medical services, to federal employees. The ARB distinguished this case from Bridgeport Hospital by looking at the underlying contract. In Bridgeport, the prime contractor, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Connecticut had a contract with OPM to provide health insurance to federal employees. In the UPMC case, the prime contract was to provide medical services to federal employees.

Both the Administrative Law Judge and ARB found that such clauses were incorporated into the hospital’s contract by operation of law and therefore the hospitals were bound by them. Additionally, even though the UPMC’s contract with the OPM specifically excluded “providers of direct medical services and supplies” from its definition of “subcontractor,” the ARB found that parties to a contract cannot agree to eliminate compliance with federal anti-discrimination laws.

EMPLOYER IMPACT: This decision reinforces that employers cannot rely on contract language to insulate the organization from OFCCP requirements. Employers should examine their customer/vendor agreements and contractual relationships to determine if the goods and services being provided create federal subcontractor status even if the contract language is silent on this topic.

6. National Veterans’ Training Institute (NVTI)

For nearly 23 years, a one-of-a-kind institute that develops and enhances the skills and knowledge of the country’s veterans’ employment and training personnel has operated in Denver, Colorado. The institute, known as the National Veterans’ Training Institute (NVTI), aims to help disabled veterans outreach program (DVOP) service professionals and local veterans employment representatives (LVER) build upon their knowledge base that will in turn, enable them to better serve our nation’s veterans as they seek jobs and training. Skills provided in the training include resume building skills, interview techniques, how to market employment services to employers and providing case management to the hard-to-place veteran clients. While NVTI does not provide services directly to veterans, they do offer training to veterans representatives to assist their veteran clients in becoming gainfully employed. To date 70,000+ veterans’ employment and training professionals have attended NVTI training. Training has been held in Denver, CO, at regional sites throughout the U.S. and at military bases abroad.

While only federal DOL staff are eligible for NVTI training, the Institute has developed e-learning courses that benefit NVTI participants, as well as other users. One of the most beneficial and relevant e-learning courses developed by NVTI is the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) basic on-line course, USERRA 101, found at www.nvti.cudenver.edu/Userra101 This free interactive course goes through several examples of some tricky employment and reemployment issues which allow the learner to gain basic knowledge about USERRA. It is available to anyone who is affected by service members who need to be called away from their employment to serve their country and provides them guidance, information and resources in creating a positive relationship between the service member and their employer. A follow-up course to USERRA 101 has also been created, USERRA 102, which is available at www.nvti.cudenver.edu/Userra102. Employers, human resource personnel, lawyers, service members and a wide range of individuals have benefited from these courses.

In addition, NVTI’s staff produced the award winning (New York Film Festival) 5-part Ultimate Job Search for the 21st Century video series. This program comes with an interactive on-line workbook. More information about this outstanding job search program can be found at http://www.nlc.cudenver.edu/UJS

NVTI is a contract program, funded by the Department of Labor, Veterans’ Employment & Training Service (VETS) and is administered by the University of Colorado Denver. For more information about NVTI, please visit www.nvti.cudenver.edu.

7. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of June 23, 2009

The total number currently on active duty from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 110,364; Navy Reserve, 7,027; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 15,645; Marine Corps Reserve, 8,787; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 739. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 142,562, including both units and individual augmentees. A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel who are currently activated can be found at http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jun%202009/d20090623ngr.pdf.

8. Significant Events this Month in Military History

1775 – George Washington took command of the Continental Army at Cambridge, MA. (American Revolutionary War).

1814 – American force led by GEN Jacob Brown defeated British force led by GEN Phineas Riall at Chippewa River, just north of British Fort Erie (near Niagara Falls, NY). A gray-uniformed Brigade led by young American BG Winfield Scott drove the British back. Scott’s men wore gray because Army contractors had run out of blue cloth. To this day, West Point cadets wear gray to commemorate this victory (War of 1812).

1863 – Confederate forces under GEN Robert E. Lee, defeated after three days of fighting at the battle of Gettysburg, PA, began their withdrawal to the South (American Civil War).

1898 – American naval victory over the Spanish at Santiago, Cuba (Spanish-American War).

1907 – Founding of the Aeronautical Division of the US Army Signal Office; the forerunner of the US Army Air Force and later the U.S. Air Force

1914 – World War I began

1915 – U.S. Marines landed in Haiti following the assassination of the Haitian president Vilbrun Guillaume. The Marines remained as occupation forces for nine years.

1918 – Beginning of the Second Battle of the Marne in Northern France between German forces on one side and French, American, British, and Italian troops on the other side. The battle ended on 4 August (World War I).

1926 – U.S. Army Air Corps established.

1943 – The U.S. Army’s Fourth Division, part of General Omar Bradley’s II Corps, captured San Stefano in Sicily (World War II).

1944 – The island of Saipan in the Marianas (Western Pacific) fell to U.S. troops following their defeat of Japanese defenders (World War II). Napalm was used for the first time during the American invasion of Tinian in the Marianas.

1950 – General of the Army Douglas MacArthur was named commander of all UN forces in Korea (Korean Conflict).

1953 – The Korean War ended.

1970 – Siege of Fire Base Ripcord began (Vietnam War)

1973 – Congress refuses to extend the military draft law. The military draft expired automatically on July 1, 1973.

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VetJobs is exclusively sponsored and partially owned by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (www.vfw.org) and endorsed by the Vietnam Veterans of America (www.vva.org), the Naval Reserve Association (www.navy-reserve.org), the Veterans of Modern Warfare (www.vmwusa.org), the Student Veterans of America (www.studentveterans.org), the Military Order of the Purple Heart (www.purpleheart.org) and Hope4Heroes (www.hope4heroes.org).
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The VetJobs Early Eagle is for member employers, recruiters, friends and supporters of VetJobs. Feel free to forward this newsletter to friends and other employers.

This issue sponsored by TECHEXPO Top Secret

Contents:

1. Message from the Top

2. VetJobs Recommends: Work Strong: Your Personal Career Fitness System

3. West Point Graduate Is 7th Generation at the Academy

4. Executive Job Outlook Improves

5. Department of Labor Seeking More Funding for Workplace Safety Enforcement

6. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of May 26, 2009

7. Significant Events this Month in Military History

Thank you for reading the VetJobs Early Eagle employer newsletter. If you like this newsletter and what VetJobs and the VFW do to assist veterans and their family member find employment, please go to http://www.weddles.com/poll.htm and vote VetJobs for the WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award!

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1. Message from the Top

The Society of Human Resource Management’s (SHRM) 61st Annual Conference & Exposition will be taking place June 28 through July 1 in New Orleans, LA, at the Morial Convention Center. If you are attending, come by and visit VetJobs in booth 2423 and check out our show specials!

This is the tenth year that VetJobs has been exhibiting at the SHRM Annual Conference. I am proud to state that VetJobs has been exhibiting continuously at SHRM longer than any other military related job site or military related agencies. So do come by and visit. We always enjoy meeting our customers face to face.

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VetJobs has another veteran service organization supporting the VetJobs mission. The Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) (www.purpleheart.org) has signed a mutual support agreement. You will be seeing their logo on the VetJobs site. MOPH joins the Veterans of Foreign Wars (www.vfw.org – VFW is the sponsor of VetJobs), the Vietnam Veterans of America (www.vva.org), the Naval Reserve Association (www.navy-reserve.org – soon to be the Association of the US Navy), the Veterans of Modern Warfare (www.vmwusa.org), the Student Veterans of America (www.studentveterans.org) and Hope4Heroes (www.hope4heroes.org) in supporting the VetJobs mission of providing jobs for transitioning military, veterans and their family members. VetJobs is supported and endorsed by more veteran service organizations than any other military related job site!

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In June, we celebrate the following special days:

June 6 – D-Day
June 14 – 234th Birthday of the U.S. Army
June 14 – Flag Day
June 21 – Father’s Day
June 21 – First day of summer

If you meet an Army person this month, say Happy Birthday!

D-Day was the turning point in World War II. June 6, 1944 saw the start of the largest air and sea operation in military history. On D-Day, the Allies landed around 156,000 troops, of which 73,000 were Americans. The amount of equipment used was staggering. In the airborne landings on both flanks of the Normandy beaches, 2,395 aircraft and 867 gliders of the RAF and USAAF were used on D-Day. Operation Neptune involved huge naval forces, including 6,939 vessels: 1,213 naval combat ships, 4,126 landing ships and landing craft, 736 ancillary craft and 864 merchant vessels. Some 195,700 personnel were assigned to Operation Neptune: 52,889 US, 112,824 British, and 4,988 from other Allied countries. By the end of the 11th of June, 326,547 troops, 54,186 vehicles and 104,428 tons of supplies had been landed on the beaches.

There is no “official” casualty figure for D-Day. Total Allied casualties on D-Day are estimated at 10,000, including 2,500 dead. British casualties on D-Day have been estimated at approximately 2,700. The Canadians had 946 casualties. The US forces lost 6,603 men. On June 6, take time to reflect on what took place on the beaches at Normandy and appreciate the sacrifice made by so many to ensure the continuation of our free market economy and our Federal Republic. Their sacrifices helped give us the freedoms we enjoy today.

Flag Day was first observed in 1877 on the 100th anniversary of the Continental Congress’ adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of the United States. In that year, Congress asked that all public buildings fly the flag on June 14. The idea quickly caught on and many people wanted to participate in waving the flag. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Flag Day as a national celebration. However, the holiday was not officially recognized until 1949 when President Harry Truman signed the National Flag Day Bill. Although Flag Day is not celebrated as a Federal holiday, Americans everywhere continue to honor the history and heritage it represents.

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This month we also celebrate the creation of the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). Founded in 1972, ESGR has been the leading advocate supporting members of the National Guard and Reserve. Over 4,500 volunteers, ranging from business executives, senior government representatives, educators and military personnel, serve on local ESGR Field Committees. With help and resources from the National ESGR Headquarters in Arlington, VA, the 56 ESGR Field Committees conduct employer support programs, including informational briefings, mediation and recognition of employers whose policies support or encourage participation in the National Guard and Reserve. By explaining the missions of the National Guard and Reserve and by increasing public awareness of the role of the employer, ESGR works to develop a dialogue among employers, the ESGR Committees, and local National Guard and Reserve unit commanders and service members. If you want to get involved, visit www.esgr.net and click on your state to volunteer!

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On the economic front, more than 90% of economists predict the recession will end this year, although the recovery is likely to be bumpy. That assessment came from leading forecasters in a survey by the National Association for Business Economics. It is generally in line with the outlook from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and his colleagues.

About 74% of the forecasters expect the recession, which officially started in December 2007 and is the longest since World War II, to end in the third quarter. Another 19% predict the turning point will come in the final three months of this year, and the remaining 7% believe the recession will end in the first quarter of 2010.

One of the major forces that plunged the economy into a recession was the financial crisis that struck with force last fall due to the corruption on Wall Street and the effort by members of Congress to use the Community Re-investment Act to conduct social engineering. Economists say recoveries after financial crises have always tended to be slower.

Current unemployment is 8.9% and is expected to marginally climb this year. Companies won’t be in a rush to hire until they feel certain any recovery is firmly rooted and they can trust what this administration is doing to the economy. The economic moves by the Federal Government so far are not creating the sense of security many in the private sector would like to see.

With joblessness rising, consumers, who are the major shapers of overall economic activity, will likely remain cautious, making for a tepid turnaround. And given the big bite the recession has taken out of household wealth, notably the values of homes and investment portfolios, consumers probably will stay subdued for some time. The forecasters believe the worst is already behind the country in terms of lost economic activity.

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In the April newsletter, I gave the economic definitions of capitalism and socialism. However, many readers pointed out that I had left out the definitions for fascism and communism. So, here all four definitions:

Capitalism – an economic system in which investment in and ownership of the means of production, distribution and exchange of wealth are privately or corporately owned and development is proportionate to the accumulation and reinvestment of profits gained in a free market

Fascism – A social and political ideology with the primary guiding principle that the state or nation is the highest priority, rather than personal or individual freedoms; a governmental system led by a dictator (an individual or a governmental dictatorship) having complete power, marked by stringent social and economic control, a strong, centralized government regimenting all industry and commerce.

Socialism – Any of various theories or systems of social organization in which the means of producing and distributing goods is owned collectively or by a centralized government that often plans and controls the economy, preferably in government controlled markets. Socialism is the stage in Marxist-Leninist theory intermediate between capitalism and communism, in which collective ownership of the economy under the dictatorship of the proletariat has not yet been successfully achieved.

Communism – a system of social organization in which all economic and social activity is controlled by a totalitarian state dominated by a single and self-perpetuating political party.

Watch what is happening in the American economy today and using the above universally accepted definitions, decide for yourself where the economy of the United States is headed.

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Finally, I was honored to be the keynote speaker at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, GA for the Memorial Day weekend. Having been raised in a military family and then spent over 27 years in the Navy and Naval Reserve, I have always attended Memorial Day ceremonies due to what Memorial Day represents. So this was a very special honor for me. If you would like to read what I said, you can see the text to the speech in the Media Center on VetJobs at http://vetjobs.com/media/category/article-of-the-month/. The speech will be posted to YouTube.

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As always, if there is anything we at VetJobs can do for you, please do not hesitate to call or email. Feel free to share the Early Eagle with other employers!

And remember, Freedom Is Never Free – Support Our Armed Forces and Veterans!

Best regards,

Ted Daywalt
President

/—June Early Eagle sponsor is TECHEXPO Top Secret—-\

TECHEXPO Top Secret’s next job fairs are:

6/16, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, BWI Marriott, 1743 West Nursery Road, Baltimore, MD, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Pre-register at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm

6/16, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, Doubletree Hotel Colorado Springs, 1775 E Cheyenne Mountain Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Pre-register at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm

6/18, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, Sheraton Reston, 11810 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Pre-register at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm

TECHEXPO Top Secret job fairs bring you face to face with security-cleared professionals. For 2009 event schedule, contact Nancy Mathew 212-655-4505 x225 or NMathew@TechExpoUSA.com. http://www.TechExpoUSA.com

\—–Please visit your June Early Eagle sponsor TECHEXPO Top Secret —-/

2. VetJobs Recommends: Work Strong: Your Personal Career Fitness System

From time to time VetJobs finds exceptional books or films we recommend and like to bring to your attention. This month we highlight Work Strong: Your Personal Career Fitness System. This is Peter Weddle’s newest book on conditioning your career for sustainable success. Designed specifically for the challenging workplace of the 21st Century, Work Strong not only tells you what to do for career success, but when, where and how to do it.

-Career Fitness includes both a revolutionary philosophy of work and a regimen of daily, weekly and monthly activities that empower you to apply that philosophy to your career.

-Using physical fitness as a metaphor, it introduces an approach to career self-management that is appropriate for everyone from senior executives and seasoned professionals to recent graduates and those who are reentering the workforce after an extended absence. Work Strong helps you tap both sides of your brain in learning how to build a healthy career.

-It encourages you to use your reasoning ability on the left side of your brain by presenting all of the information you need to Work Strong in your career. That’s the Career Fitness System

-It also encourages you to use your creative ability on the right side of your brain by presenting a fictional account of what it would be like to Work Strong. That’s The Diary of a Career Activist.
In today’s world of work, you have only two choices: you can be the master of your career or you can be its victim. Get the tools you need to take charge of the one-third or more of your life you spend at work. Get Work Strong today! You’ll increase the paycheck and the satisfaction you bring home from work! To order a copy, visit http://www.weddles.com/jobcatalog.htm.

3. West Point Graduate Is 7th Generation at the Academy

When Caroline Miller marched across the stage at West Point, she was the seventh generation in her family to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy. Members of Miller’s family have been attending the academy dating back 173 years, to when Andrew Jackson was president. The Miller clan forms a long gray bloodline longer than any still existing at West Point. Miller’s ancestors have fought in the Civil War, World War I, World War II and Vietnam.

4. Executive Job Outlook Improves

ExecuNet’s Recruiter Confidence Index ticked slightly higher in April, 2009, indicating that the market for executive jobs is showing signs of growth after bottoming out in November, 2008. In April, 41% of 142 executive recruiters polled by ExecuNet said they’re confident that the executive job market will improve in the next six months. Half of respondents believe their search assignments will increase at least 10% over the next six months. Only 15% of search professionals say they’re pessimistic about the future of the market for executive jobs. April marked the Recruiter Confidence Index’s second consecutive increase since March, 2008.

5. Department of Labor Seeking More Funding for Workplace Safety Enforcement

Workforce Management reports the first Department of Labor budget of the Obama administration places an emphasis on workplace safety enforcement and other worker protections. In a detailed proposal announced May 7, the agency asks Congress for $1.7 billion in funding for programs designed to ensure that employees are kept safe on the job and are paid all the wages and benefits they are due. The request represents a 10% increase over the previous fiscal year. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration would receive a $51 million increase in funding and hire 160 new officers. The Wage and Hour Division would get a $35 million budget increase and add 200 investigators. In a Web video accompanying the release of the budget, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis said that cracking down on workplace violations “is a very important part of my vision.” Overall, 670 people will be added to the enforcement staff, which Solis said will bring it to a level it has not reached since 2001. Congress, which is dominated by Democrats, is likely to approve the budget largely along the lines of the Obama request. Democrats on Capitol Hill are enthusiastic about strengthening OSHA.

6. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of May 26, 2009

The total number currently on active duty from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 109,076; Navy Reserve, 6,562; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 15,386; Marine Corps Reserve, 9,199; and the Coast National Guard Reserve, 758. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 140,981, including both units and individual augmentees. A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel who are currently activated can be found at http://www.defenselink.mil/news/May2009/d20090526ngr.pdf

7. Significant Events this Month in Military History

1775 – The United States Army was founded. The Continental Congress named Colonel George Washington of Virginia Commander-in-Chief of the American Army.

1865 – The American Civil War ended with the surrender of the last Southern forces, led by GEN Edmund Kirby-Smith, at Shreveport LA (Civil War)

1877 – Henry Ossian Flipper, the first African-American graduate of West Point, was commissioned a second lieutenant.

1916 – Congress authorized The Army Reserve Officers Training Corps.

1927 – Captain Charles A. Lindbergh, an Army reservist, completed the first non-stop transatlantic airplane flight from New York to Paris in 33.5 hours.

1940 – The British began evacuating 338,000 British and French troops from Dunkirk, a Belgian coastal city. (WW II)

1941 – Allies invade Syria and Lebanon (WW II)

1941 – Germany attacks the Soviet Union (WW II)

1942 – The decisive Battle of Midway opened in the Central Pacific. (WW II)

1944 – D-Day invasion of Normandy by Allied troops. Operation “Overlord” was the largest air and sea operation in military history. (WW II)

1944 – The Battle of Saipan (WW II)

1944 – GI Bill signed into law.

1949 – The first African-American graduate of the Naval Academy was W.A. Brown.

1950 – The Korean War began with US troops arriving on June 29th. (Korean War)

1951 – The US Eighth Army launched attacks against Chinese forces all along the front lines in Korea, slowly driving the enemy back. (Korean War)

1967 – The USS Liberty was attacked by Israel, a controversy that continues today.

1972 – The National Committee for Employer Support of the National Guard and Reserve created.

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VetJobs is exclusively sponsored and partially owned by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (www.vfw.org) and endorsed by the Vietnam Veterans of America (www.vva.org), the Naval Reserve Association (www.navy-reserve.org), the Veterans of Modern Warfare (www.vmwusa.org), the Student Veterans of America (www.studentveterans.org), the Military Order of the Purple Heart (www.purpleheart.org) and Hope4Heroes (www.hope4heroes.org).
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
You were opted-in when you became a paid employer member, were referred to VetJobs or were part of an organization which opted-in to VetJobs.

To REMOVE or CHANGE your subscribed address, click here:
http://mh.databack.com/c.php?L=earlyeagle&E=#email#

VetJobs
P. O. Box 71445
Marietta, GA 30007-1445
877-Vet-Jobs (877-838-5627)
770-993-5117 Office
770.993.2875 Fax

Veterans make the best employees!
Freedom Is Never Free – Support Our Armed Forces and Veterans!

VetJobs is an appropriate employment service delivery system for EEOC, VEVRAA/JVA and OFCCP compliance support!

Seven year recipient of AIRS Top Recruiting Site
Six year recipient of WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award
Four year recipient of Workforce Management Top 10 Recruiting Site
Only military job board selected by Reader’s Digest

VetJobs is a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business

VetJobs is an appropriate employment service delivery system for EEOC, VEVRAA/JVA and OFCCP compliance support!

The VetJobs Early Eagle is for member employers, recruiters, friends and supporters of VetJobs. Feel free to forward this newsletter to friends and other employers.

This issue sponsored by TECHEXPO Top Secret

Contents:

1. Message from the Top

2. WOTC for Hiring Unemployed Veterans

3. Millions Find Work in February

4. Study: Engaging the 21st Century Multi-Generational Workforce

5. Air Force Reservist Awarded $800K in Military Discrimination Lawsuit

6. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of April 28, 2009

7. Significant Events this Month in Military History

Thank you for reading the VetJobs Early Eagle employer newsletter. If you like this newsletter and what VetJobs and the VFW do to assist veterans and their family member find employment, please go to http://www.weddles.com/poll.htm and vote VetJobs for the WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award!

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1. Message from the Top

While the United States continues in the recession and unemployment has crept up to 8.6%, I am proud to announce that VetJobs is averaging over 28,000 jobs a day and traffic is exceeding 100,000 plus visitors a month. These are important statistics as most sites, especially the large comprehensive job boards, have seen their postings drop from 30% to 50% in terms of job postings over the same time last year.

VetJobs is holding even with its job postings from the same time last year as many employers want to hire veterans and VetJobs is the leading site for reaching veterans. Additionally, VetJobs is the leading site for candidates with security clearances. Other than VetJobs, the few internet job boards that are doing well during the recession are niche job boards, mostly in the healthcare sector.

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Now that DOL has quadrupled the size of the OFCCP division and is fielding more auditors, I have heard from many employers who are concerned about receiving an OFCCP audit. There has been a lot of confusion in the market place since there are two sites that claim they are the ONLY acceptable sites for OFCCP compliance. That is simply NOT the case. VetJobs is an acceptable replacement to America’s Job Bank (AJB) for EEOC, VEVRAA/JVA and OFCCP compliance purposes. The DOL FAQ is quite clear that you must make an effort using an “appropriate employment service delivery system” to meet EEOC and VEVRAA/JVA compliance issues. VetJobs is an appropriate employment service delivery system! And VetJobs was one of the early sites to implement a true OFCCP compliance program.

Concern about OFCCP has risen since more companies are now being audited and the amount of fines (DOL prefers the term “assessments”) have increased each year. During FY 2008, OFCCP assessed a record $67,510,982. Wouldn’t it be nice if DOL was as diligent in making sure that employers did not hire illegal aliens? Or better yet, implemented an effective work visa program so employers could hire people from other countries without fear!

The FY 2008 monetary relief reflects a 133% increase over financial remedies obtained in FY 2001. This also represents a 30.8% increase over assessments of $51,680,950 in FY 2007. I have heard some employers describe their audits as being more of an effort by DOL auditors to find something on which to assess in order to meet a “quota” versus a legitimate audit to ascertain what the company could do to be better.

Many people are concerned about how to comply, particularly since OFCCP requirements directly conflict with some EEOC requirements, causing many employers to have to keep two sets of books. Maybe the new administration will finally get the OFCCP versus EEOC conflicting requirements issue fixed.

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May is National Military Appreciation Month! What is your company doing to show appreciation for our military? You might consider flying a flag at your place of business, sending an email or letter of thanks at www.millionthanks.org, shipping a care package to a soldier through www.uso.org/donate, or writing an uplifting message to our deployed military at www.americasupportsyou.mil. The ultimate way to show appreciation is to hire veterans, especially members of the Guard and Reserve (see article #2 below).

And even though we are in a recession, many of you have called me about the difficulty you are having finding qualified candidates. Fortunately, VetJobs offers you a way to reach highly qualified candidates, many of whom had security clearances. So a good way to really show appreciation for our military is to hire transitioning military, veterans, and their family members. And VetJobs is the best way to reach the veteran market place.

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The special days of recognition this month include:

Loyalty Day – May 1
National Day of Prayer – May 1
Victory in Europe Day – May 8
Military Spouse Day – May 8
Mother’s Day – May 10
Armed Forces Day – May 16
National Maritime Day – May 22
Memorial Day – May 25

In 1933, Congress decreed May 22 as National Maritime Day and each year since then it has been a day for the United States to observe its proud maritime heritage, honor the men and women who serve and have served as merchant mariners, and recognize the many benefits that result from our American maritime industry.

Victory in Europe Day marks the date when the World War II Allies formally celebrated the defeat of Nazi Germany and the end of Adolf Hitler’s Third Reich. Of interest, the Allies had agreed to mark May 9, 1945 as Victory in Europe Day, but Western journalists broke the news of Germany’s surrender prematurely, precipitating the earlier celebration. If you know a World War II veteran, tell them thank you for freeing our world from the Nazi socialist tyranny and for preserving the freedoms and our free market economy we enjoy today!

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women’s groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War. While Waterloo, NY, was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, it’s difficult to prove conclusively the origins of the day. It is more likely that it had many separate beginnings; each of those towns and every planned or spontaneous gathering of people to honor the war dead in the 1860s tapped into the general human need to honor our dead.

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Finally, following on my discussion last month concerning the March 20 USA Today headline story titled Jobless rate at 11.2% for veterans of Iraq, Afghanistan, things have definitely changed. At the time of the USA Today story, the unemployment rate for the 18 to 24 year old OEF/OIF veterans was 11.2% when the unemployment rate for their civilian counterparts was 8.8%. While the telephone survey technique of 60,000 households may be indicative of the general population, there is a large margin of error when trying to apply the survey results specifically to the veteran demographic.

The most recent DOL survey had a considerably different result. The unemployment rate for the 18 to 24 year old non-veteran age group has risen to 15.3% and the unemployment rate for the veterans of the same age group is only 14.3%. The unemployment rate for all veterans is 8.6%, the same as the national unemployment rate. Wouldn’t’ it be nice if USA Today would update the story so as not to give the general public the impression that our younger veterans are having a harder time then non-veterans? Of course, that will probably not happen.

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As always, if there is anything we at VetJobs can do for you, please do not hesitate to call or email. Feel free to share the Early Eagle with other employers!

And remember, Freedom Is Never Free – Support Our Armed Forces and Veterans!

Best regards,

Ted Daywalt
President

/—May Early Eagle sponsor is TECHEXPO Top Secret—-\

TECHEXPO Top Secret’s next job fairs are:

5/19, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, BWI Marriott, 1743 West Nursery Road, Baltimore, MD, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Pre-register at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm

5/20, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, Ritz Carlton Tysons Corner, 1700 Tysons Boulevard, McLean, VA, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Pre-register at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm

5/21 TECHEXPO Top Secret Job Fair, Huntsville Marriott, 5 Tranquility Base, Huntsville, AL 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Pre-register at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm

TECHEXPO Top Secret job fairs bring you face to face with security-cleared professionals. For 2009 event schedule, contact Nancy Mathew 212-655-4505 x225 or NMathew@TechExpoUSA.com. http://www.TechExpoUSA.com

\—–Please visit your May Early Eagle sponsor TECHEXPO Top Secret —-/

2. WOTC for Hiring Unemployed Veterans

On 17 February President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009 (H.R.598). Among its many provisions, Section 1221 of the Act amends and supplements Section 51 of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to create additional incentives to hire an unemployed veteran. Effective for 2009 and 2010, the Act includes an unemployed veteran as a member of one of the targeted group for purposes of eligibility for the “Work Opportunity Tax Credit” (WOTC). For definition purposes, an unemployed veteran is an individual who:

(i) Has been discharged or released from active duty in the Armed Forces at any time during the 5-year period ending on the hiring date (the day the veteran is hired by the employer), and;

(ii) Is in receipt of unemployment compensation (under State or Federal law) for not less than 4 weeks during the 1-year period ending on the hiring date.

The credit equals 40% (if the veteran performs at least 400 hours of service to the employer) or 25% (if the veteran performs between 120 and 399 hours of service to the employer) of the first $6,000 in wages (up to a maximum credit per employee of $2,400) paid to the newly hired veteran. An employer may make the WOTC election at any time during the three (3) year period prescribed by law for filing (without regard to extensions) the federal income tax return. The U.S. Employment Service will notify an eligible employer of their availability for the WOTC. The WOTC will not be available to an employer if the employee had been previously employed by the employer at any time. However, a successor employer will be entitled to the WOTC to the same extent as if they were paid by the predecessor.

3. Millions Find Work in February

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 4.4 million Americans found jobs in February. That’s only slightly less (and February is a short month) than the 4.5 million new hires in January. The 4.4 million new hires in February included a substantial number of workers coming from the ranks of the unemployed and underemployed.

4. Study: Engaging the 21st Century Multi-Generational Workforce

A new study just released from the MetLife Mature Market Institute details the most important factors for engaging different segments of the workforce. Titled “Engaging the 21st Century Multi-Generational Workforce”, the study indicates that employers can maximize the strength of their workforces and optimize worker productivity by using best practices, geared to the various generations. Identifying the values of the groups, the report reflects the “hot buttons” that are most effective in producing the desired motivation.

Conducted in partnership with Boston College’s Sloan Center on Aging & Work, the study explores the drivers of engagement for employees of different ages, including demographic characteristics, factors related to the job, and work-team factors. The Institute defines “engagement” as “a positive, enthusiastic, and affective connection with work that motivates an employee to invest in getting the job done, not just ‘well’ but ‘with excellence’”.

Also noteworthy was the MetLife finding that older workers are more engaged than younger workers. For many business leaders, this information will come as no surprise. The research suggests that “focusing on the talent management of older individuals is important because they may best relate to the Baby Boomer customer base responsible for $3.8 trillion of annual spending in the US. They also found the highest levels of engagement among women, without elder care responsibilities, in good physical and mental health, with a positive self-perception and those having job security.

Three key findings indicate that employee engagement can be greatly enhanced by simple and cost-efficient efforts, including providing strong training and development opportunities, encouraging work team inclusion, offering customized benefits plans, and promoting a culture of workplace flexibility and supervisor supportiveness. None of these findings came as new revelations to us and we found the absence of life-work balance interesting, but not surprising, given the economic times.

Wise employers will update their assumptions about the generations, based on these findings and will pay particular attention to how they may enhance employee engagement through the quality of the employment experiences they offer.

5. Air Force Reservist Awarded $800K in Military Discrimination Lawsuit

A federal court in New Haven, Connecticut, awarded approximately $800,000 in damages plus interest to an Air Force reservist whose civilian employer did not reinstate him to his previous position and salary upon return from active duty. The award is the largest ever for one plaintiff under USERRA. Air Force Reserve Sergeant Michael Serricchio filed the lawsuit against former employer Wachovia Securities for violating his statutory right to reemployment following military service. Serricchio worked as a financial advisor for Prudential Securities before being called to active duty following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

6. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of April 28, 2009

The total number currently on active duty from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 103,709; Navy Reserve, 6,750; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 14,892; Marine Corps Reserve, 7,575; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 697. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 133,623, including both units and individual augmentees. A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel who are currently activated can be found at http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Apr2009/d20090428ngr.pdf

7. Significant Events this Month in Military History

1756 – French & Indian War began, lasting for seven years.

1846 – The U.S. declared war against Mexico. Mexican troops under General Mariano Arista were defeated at Palo Alto, Texas, by U.S. Army under General Zachary Taylor. (Mexican American War)

1863 – Confederate General Robert E. Lee defeated Union troops under Union General Joseph Hooker at the Battle of Chancellorsville, VA, with the considerable aid of Confederate General Thomas J. (Stonewall) Jackson, who decisively routed the Union right wing. (Civil War)

1940 – German troops invaded Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. (WW II)

1942 – Congress created the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC).

1942 – Fall of Corregidor (WW II)

1942 – Battle of the Coral Sea, the first major naval action fought without either side having visual contact with enemy forces. (WW II)

1945 – German forces surrendered Berlin to the Russians. (WW II)

1945 – The German military in Europe surrendered unconditionally to GEN Eisenhower and other allied commanders in a French school building at Rheims, France, ending World War II in Europe. V-E Day (Victory in Europe Day) was formally proclaimed on 8 May. (WW II)

1968 – Mini-Tet (Vietnam War)

1972 – Operation Linebacker (Vietnam War)

1975 – Capture and Release of SS Mayaguez by Khmer Rouge forces, the first battle action of the United States Navy boarding a ship at sea since 1826.

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VetJobs is exclusively sponsored and partially owned by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (www.vfw.org) and endorsed by The Vietnam Veterans of America (www.vva.org), The Naval Reserve Association (www.navy-reserve.org), and The Veterans of Modern Warfare (www.modernveterans.com), and the Student Veterans of America (www.studentveterans.org).
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You were opted-in when you became a paid employer member, were referred to VetJobs or were part of an organization which opted-in to VetJobs.

To REMOVE or CHANGE your subscribed address, click here:
http://mh.databack.com/c.php?L=earlyeagle&E=#email#

VetJobs
P. O. Box 71445
Marietta, GA 30007-1445
877-Vet-Jobs (877-838-5627)
770-993-5117 Office
770.993.2875 Fax

Veterans make the best employees!
Freedom Is Never Free – Support Our Armed Forces and Veterans!

VetJobs is an appropriate employment service delivery system for EEOC, VEVRAA/JVA and OFCCP compliance support!

Seven year recipient of AIRS Top Recruiting Site
Six year recipient of WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award
Four year recipient of Workforce Management Top 10 Recruiting Site
Only military job board selected by Reader’s Digest

VetJobs is a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business

Issue 10:4, Wednesday, April 1, 2009

www.vetjobs.com 

VetJobs is an appropriate employment service delivery system for EEOC, VEVRAA/JVA and OFCCP compliance support!

The VetJobs Early Eagle is for member employers, recruiters, friends and supporters of VetJobs. Feel free to forward this newsletter to friends and other employers.

This issue sponsored by TECHEXPO Top Secret

Contents:

1. Message from the Top

2. DOL Opinion Letters: Shutdowns May Have Impact on FLSA-Exempt Status

3. COBRA Subsidy Model Notices Released

4. OFCCP Releases New List of Contractor Establishments Slated for Likely Audits

5. Policies and FMLA Rights for Ineligible Employee

6. Employers Must Use Revised Form I-9 Effective April 3

7. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of March 24, 2009

8. Significant Events this Month in Military History

Thank you for reading the VetJobs Early Eagle employer newsletter. If you like this newsletter and what VetJobs and the VFW do to assist veterans and their family member find employment, please go to http://www.weddles.com/poll.htm and vote VetJobs for the WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

1. Message from the Top

This month we celebrate the 101st anniversary of the United States Army Reserve! Over the last century the Army Reserve has proven itself on the battlefields of seven major wars and multiple overseas operations. Today it plays a prominent role in both Afghanistan and Iraq. If you meet a member of the Army Reserve this month or have one working in your company, tell them Happy Birthday and thank them for their service!

April has several other important dates, including:

April 1 – April Fools Day

April 5 – Palm Sunday

April 8 – Passover

April 10 – Good Friday

April 12 – Easter

April 19 – Orthodox Easter

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At a time when major job boards like CareerBuilder, HotJobs, Monster and DICE are down from 20% to 40% in terms of job postings over last year, I am pleased to state that VetJobs is holding pretty much even. VetJobs consistently has over 26,000 paid jobs on the site with employers who want to hire veterans and their family members. And our candidate traffic remains very strong. I think our job postings are holding because you, our member employers, want to hire veterans. Additionally, VetJobs has become the leading site for candidates with security clearances. Thank you for your support and using VetJobs to source and hire veterans and their family members!

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I am pleased to announce that Reader’s Digest recognized VetJobs as the top site for veterans finding a job in its April issue. Reader’s Digest conducted a survey of the job board industry and picked a group of niche job sites they thought are the best for their readers who are in the job market. Veterans of Foreign Wars sponsored VetJobs made the list as the only military related job board of choice! See this month’s Reader’s Digest magazine, page 155.

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Finally, on March 20 USA Today ran a story titled: Jobless rate at 11.2% for veterans of Iraq, Afghanistan. The story has created a lot of angst among members of the defense establishment, veteran service organizations (VSOs) and younger veterans, especially OEF and OIF veterans seeking work. I have been researching this story and typical of these types of reports, all is not what it seems. Here is what I have learned:

-The Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) survey is based on state DOL telephone surveys of 60,000 households nationally. While the survey technique may be indicative of the general population, there is a large margin of error when trying to apply the survey results specifically to the veteran demographic.

-The corresponding unemployment rate for non-veterans of that age group was 8.8%, but the margin of error for the veteran demographic could put the OEF/OIF veterans on par with the non-veterans.

-Over the last eight years, the OEF/OIF age group veteran unemployment rate has generally been below the national unemployment rate for same aged demographic. Press reports in the past from government agencies of the OEF/OIF unemployment rate being 14% and 18% were found to be incorrect and some charge they were politically inspired.

While one month’s survey does not make a trend, I think there is some truth to the BLS unemployment survey findings. I am in discussions with BLS about changing the monthly survey to identify which veterans are involved in the 11.2% rate, i.e., are they veterans who have separated from active duty and no longer have a connection with the military, or are they veterans who are still active in the Guard and Reserve? BLS is considering adding questions to the monthly survey to ascertain this information but that will take quite some time to get approved.

What I suspect is the BLS 11.2% unemployment rate for February reflects the various survey findings from the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM), Business Law Review and Workforce Management Magazine that upwards of 70% of companies will not now hire as a NEW employee a person who is active in the Guard and Reserve.

I hear regularly from many of you that the rules were changed regarding Guard and Reserve employees and you are not happy with the changes. Many employers have explained to me in excruciating detail that they can not run their companies with employees who are gone for extended periods of time. The net result is many employers are just not hiring active Guard and Reserve members.

I find that for the most part, employers willingly support current employees who are in the Guard and Reserve and comply with USERRA. But employers prefer not to hire as a NEW employee active members of the Guard and Reserve.

We have a great debt of gratitude to those who serve in the national and state Committees for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), as they have been on the forefront since 1972 getting companies to understand the importance of supporting employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve. You can learn more about the wonderful work ESGR does at www.esgr.net. Unfortunately, DOD’s current policy has negated much of the great work that members of ESGR have done over the last four decades.

You can read about the SHRM and other surveys from my past testimonies before Congress and before the Presidents Commission on the National Guard and Reserve on May 17, 2007 at www.cngr.gov/May%2015-17/Daywalt%20testimony.pdf. More information about this was covered when I was on 60 Minutes which did an excellent piece on the problems Guard and Reserve members face vis-à-vis USERRA. You can see that program at http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/10/30/60minutes/main4558315_page3.shtml.

Anecdotally, as a general rule I find that OEF/OIF veterans who totally separate from the service are not having as hard a time as others finding jobs, particularly those who have a real marketable skill, a college degree or a security clearance.

From the above information and facts, I am of the opinion that the 11.2% unemployment rate for OEF/OIF veterans reflects the difficulty members of the Guard and Reserve demographic are having finding jobs due to the current DOD call up policy.

Another possibility to explain the 11.2% unemployment rate, and I have heard this from several VSOs and veterans, is with the recession, those employees who are last hired are the first let go. Again, this would directly and disproportionately impact members of the Guard and Reserve.

The unemployment numbers for March will be released later this month. I will be monitoring this data over the next several months to see if there is a trend and if the numbers do validate the SHRM and other survey findings regarding members of the Guard and Reserve.

If you have any comments or personal stories about hiring members of the Guard and Reserve at your company you would like to share confidentially with me, or comments and views about the unemployment report of OEF/OIF veterans, please forward your comments to info@vetjobs.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

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As always, if there is anything we at VetJobs can do for you, please do not hesitate to call or email. Feel free to share the Early Eagle with other employers!

And remember, Freedom Is Never Free – Support Our Armed Forces and Veterans!

Best regards,

Ted Daywalt

President

/—April Early Eagle sponsor is TECHEXPO Top Secret—-\

TECHEXPO Top Secret’s next job fairs are:

4/21, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, BWI Marriott, 1743 West Nursery Road, Baltimore, MD, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

4/23, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, Sheraton Reston, 11810 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

TECHEXPO Top Secret job fairs bring you face to face with security-cleared professionals. For 2009 event schedule, contact Nancy Mathew 212-655-4505 x225 or NMathew@TechExpoUSA.com.  http://www.TechExpoUSA.com

\—–Please visit your April Early Eagle sponsor TECHEXPO Top Secret —-/

2. DOL Opinion Letters: Shutdowns May Have Impact on FLSA-Exempt Status 

Many companies affected by the current economic downturn are searching for ways to help weather the storm. Occasional reduction in work hours, implementing mandatory vacations or instituting short-term furloughs can help an employer to retain experienced employees, while allowing the company to achieve cost savings in this time of economic crisis. On March 6, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released three opinion letters written in January of this year in response to employer inquiries about the effect of such short-term shut-downs on employees’ exempt status under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). To learn more about the impact this may have on your company, please visit:

www.ogletreedeakins.com/publications/index.cfm?Fuseaction=PubDetail&publicationid=702

3. COBRA Subsidy Model Notices Released

The Labor Department issued a set of model notices on March 19 that employers can use to describe federal premium subsidies available to employees who lose their jobs between September 1, 2008, and December 31, 2009. Under economic stimulus legislation signed into law last month by President Barack Obama, involuntarily terminated employees must pay only 35 percent of the COBRA premium and the federal government will pick up the remaining 65 percent. The subsidies are available up to nine months, until a terminated employee is eligible for coverage from a new employer or from Medicare. The Labor Department has provided four model notices, each tailored to a specific situation. For more information, visit www.dol.gov and search on Cobra.

4. OFCCP Releases New List of Contractor Establishments Slated for Likely Audits 

The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has sent out a new wave of Corporate Scheduling Announcement Letters (CSAL) to the corporate office of employers with at least two establishments listed for possible compliance review during the fiscal year (Oct. 1 to Sept. 30). Because this is the second-round release of this scheduling cycle, the list of establishments included with the CSAL will include at least one newly identified establishment. As in the past, this letter does not immediately initiate a compliance review. Instead, it provides employers with advance notice of those establishments that are scheduled for likely audits. During the week of March 9, 2009, the OFCCP made available to its regional offices a list of approximately 5,000 facilities eligible for compliance review. An actual audit will be initiated by the employers’ receipt of a scheduling letter. An employer will have 30 days from the receipt of the letter to submit its affirmative action plan to the OFCCP. The OFCCP has indicated that depending on the workload of individual OFCCP offices, not all of the establishments listed on an individual company’s CSAL may actually be reviewed.

The CSAL is addressed to a company’s chief executive officer (or other designated point of contact). Therefore, corporate human resources and in-house counsel should immediately advise the chief executive officer’s office to be “on the lookout” for any letters from the OFCCP so the company can immediately begin to focus its resources on any impending compliance reviews.

Receipt of the CSAL provides an excellent opportunity to review closely your affirmative action plans for those facilities listed on the CSAL before the OFCCP initiates compliance audits. Employers should pay particular attention to adverse impact trends and pay disparities. Investigating such trends now will allow employers to address potential vulnerabilities prior to OFCCP involvement. The OFCCP has been investigating aggressively adverse impact and pay disparity “red flags” that may lead to substantial monetary settlements.

5. Policies and FMLA Rights for Ineligible Employee

Workforce Management Magazine reports that a company handbook can create a contractual relationship or, in the alternative, the enforcement of a promise made in the handbook that the employee has relied on to his detriment. As such, courts have barred employers from asserting the defense of FMLA ineligibility. Steven Peters worked for pharmaceutical manufacturer Gilead Sciences Inc. as a therapeutic specialist. After Peters suffered work-related injuries to his neck and right shoulder, Gilead twice approved his requests for Family and Medical Leave Act leave. Gilead’s company handbook promised FMLA-like benefits of 12 weeks of leave for employees who had worked at least 1,250 hours during the previous 12 months. The handbook did not mention the FMLA requirement that employers have at least 50 employees within 75 miles of the work site, which Gilead did not satisfy. One week before Peters was to return to work from FMLA leave, Gilead notified him that he was not entitled to his same job and offered him a job that would require him to move from Indiana to California. Peters did not respond and was fired. Peters sued Gilead in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana under the FMLA, Title VII, the Americans With Disabilities Act and common-law claims including promissory estoppel. The court granted summary judgment to Gilead on all the claims. On appeal, the Chicago-based 7th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed, holding that employers can offer FMLA-like benefits using eligibility requirements less restrictive than those in the FMLA, which is what Gilead did. Peters’ ineligibility for FMLA leave was irrelevant to the contract-based theories of liability, such as promissory estoppel, because Gilead’s employee handbook contained a leave policy which did not require that Peters work in a facility where 50 or more employees worked within 75 miles of that work site. Peters v. Gilead Sciences, Inc., 7th Cir. No. 06-4290 (7/14/08).

Impact: A company handbook can create a contractual relationship or, in the alternative, the enforcement of a promise made in the handbook that the employee has relied on to his detriment. As such, courts have barred employers from asserting the defense of FMLA ineligibility.

6. Employers Must Use Revised Form I-9 Effective April 3

Unless there is a last-minute change by the Obama administration, employers will be required to use a revised version of the employment eligibility form known as the Form I-9 effective April 3, 2009. Employers must complete a Form I-9 for all newly hired employees to verify their identity and authorization to work in the United States. The interim final rule as published revises the types of acceptable identity and employment authorization documents employers can accept from new hires effective April 3, 2009. To receive a collection of resources on the revised Form I-9, including the updated USCIS Handbook for Employers, visit www.shrm.org.

7. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of March 24, 2009

The total number currently on active duty from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 98,491; Navy Reserve, 6,552; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 14,352; Marine Corps Reserve, 7,389; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 665.  This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 127,449, including both units and individual augmentees. A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel who are currently activated can be found at http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Mar2009/d20090324ngr.pdf .

8. Significant Events this Month in Military History

1775 – British troops under LTC Francis Smith, with MAJ John Pitcairn, Royal Marines, as second in command, marched to Lexington MA and fired on American minutemen on the town green, beginning the American Revolution (Revolutionary War).

1776 – The Continental brig Lexington captures the British ship Edward.

1836 – General Sam Houston and his Texan forces defeated Mexican General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto (War for Texas Independence).

1861 – South Carolina state troops under GEN P.G. T. Beauregard began the bombardment of Fort Sumter, in the harbor of Charleston, SC, beginning the Civil War

1865 – GEN Robert E. Lee surrendered his remaining Confederate forces to GEN Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia, effectively ending the Civil War.

1893 – Rank of Chief Petty Officer created in the United States Navy

1908 – United States Army Reserve established

1915 – Poison gas was first used in battle by the Germans against the British at the Battle of Ypers, Belgium (World War I).

1917 – The Navy takes control of all wireless radio stations in the United States.

1941 – German Luftwaffe raid on the city of Coventry, England. Much of the city was destroyed, including parts of the medieval cathedral. Winston Churchill, the British prime minister, had advance notice of the raid as the Allies had the German “Ultra” code, but Churchill could not warn the city, lest the Germans became aware of how Churchill had received the information (WWII).

1942 – Fall of Bataan and start of the Bataan Death March (WWII).

1942 – The Navy accepts African Americans for general service.

1945 – Lieutenant Junior Grade Ann Purvis and Ensign Jane Kendeigh become the first Navy flight nurses to land on an active battlefield (Iwo Jima).

1945 – Carrier aircraft defeat the last Japanese Navy sortie at the Battle of East China Sea; Yamato, the world’s largest battleship, and five other ships are sunk.

1945 – Invasion of Okinawa began (WW II).

1945 – German Unconditional Surrender to Italian Allies (WW II).

1945 – American planes sank the IJNS Yamato, largest battleship ever built, off the Japanese coast. The Yamato had never fired a shot against an enemy vessel (WWII).

1953 – Battle of Pork Chop Hill (Hill 255) began (Korean War).

1968 – Operation Pegasus was launched by the 1st Air Cavalry Division to relieve the marines at Khe Sanh (Vietnam War).

1975 – The former imperial capital of Hue fell to North Vietnamese troops, along with the entire Thua Thien Province (Vietnam War).

1979 – The first Trident submarine, USS Ohio (SSBN 726), is launched at Groton, CT.

1991 – Persian Gulf War official cease fire begins (Persian Gulf War).

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VetJobs is exclusively sponsored and partially owned by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (www.vfw.org) and endorsed by The Vietnam Veterans of America (www.vva.org), The Naval Reserve Association (www.navy-reserve.org), and The Veterans of Modern Warfare (www.modernveterans.com), and the Student Veterans of America (www.studentveterans.org).

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You were opted-in when you became a paid employer member, were referred to VetJobs or were part of an organization which opted-in to VetJobs. 

To REMOVE or CHANGE your subscribed address, click here:

http://mh.databack.com/c.php?L=earlyeagle&E=#email#

VetJobs

P. O. Box 71445

Marietta, GA  30007-1445

877-Vet-Jobs (877-838-5627)

770-993-5117 Office

770.993.2875 Fax

Veterans make the best employees!

Freedom Is Never Free – Support Our Armed Forces and Veterans!

VetJobs is an appropriate employment service delivery system for EEOC, VEVRAA/JVA and OFCCP compliance support!

Six year recipient of WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award

Four year recipient of Workforce Management Top 10 Recruiting Site

Seven year recipient of AIRS Top Recruiting Site

VetJobs is a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business

Issue 10:3, Sunday, March 1, 2009

www.vetjobs.com 

VetJobs is an appropriate employment service delivery system for EEOC, VEVRAA/JVA and OFCCP compliance support!

The VetJobs Early Eagle is for member employers, recruiters, friends and supporters of VetJobs. Feel free to forward this newsletter to friends and other employers.

This issue sponsored by TECHEXPO Top Secret

Contents:

1. Message from the Top

2. Career Fairs

3. Stimulus Package Changes COBRA Procedures

4. Electronic I-9’s

5. Protecting the company during layoffs

6. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of February 24, 2009

7. Significant Events this Month in Military History

Thank you for reading the VetJobs Early Eagle employer newsletter. If you like this newsletter and what VetJobs and the VFW do to assist veterans and their family member find employment, please go to http://www.weddles.com/poll.htm and vote VetJobs for the WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award!

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1. Message from the Top

There is a new source of quality employees about to hit the market. They are veterans who have gone back to college to earn degrees. Many of these veterans have banded together and created a national organization call the Student Veterans of America (www.studentveterans.org). VetJobs is proud to be a sponsor of this organization as these graduates will make outstanding employees for our member companies.

This weekend I had the opportunity to attend the SVA Midwest Regional Conference held at the Cantigny Golf Club in Wheaton, IL. The first thing you noticed was the banner that stated: Yesterday’s Warrior, Today’s Scholar, Tomorrow’s Leaders. This was an exciting event with over 120 attendees from colleges and universities throughout the Midwest. There was a fabulous line up of speakers from schools, companies, agencies and veterans service organizations who had lots of valuable information for the student veterans. Watching SVA grow from a few chapters in January 2008 to 140 chapters in fourteen months is exhilarating.

These students are highly motivated and will be the future leaders of business in the United States. If you are near a college or university, please contact the school to be sure they are aware of SVA. Point the school’s administration to www.studentveterans.org so they can get a chapter started at their school. If your company is looking for an organization to support, SVA would be a worthy cause. SVA is a veteran student movement with a solid purpose.

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In March we wish a Happy Birthday to the United States Military Academy (USMA). It was in March of 1802 that the United States Congress established the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY. USMA has graduated many outstanding leaders who have been instrumental in the leadership not only of the Army, but the country as well. If you meet a West Point graduate this month, say “Happy Birthday”!

In March, 1915, the United States Congress established the United States Naval Reserve. This year is the 94th birthday of the United States Naval Reserve. So if you meet a Naval Reservist this month, tell them “Happy Birthday” as well.

On March 17 many will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. And be sure to remember to change your clocks forward an hour on March 8 for Daylight Savings Time.

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On the economic front, the bottom line is that it will be quite some time before our economy is healthy again, especially with some of the economic policies that are being implemented. While we are nowhere near the unemployment rates of the past such as the Great Depression (25% plus), the 1975 recession (9.0%) or of the 1982 recession (10.8%), the lack of plentiful jobs makes it difficult for those who are unemployed. Many economists predict a slow, marginal growth rate for 2009.

On the plus side, this recession at least still has companies who are hiring. This morning VetJobs had 24,592 active jobs that employers are trying to fill with veterans and their family members. That is 1,082 more jobs than were posted on February 1 of last month. VetJobs is one of the few job boards that continues to hold its own in this market as most others are down severely in terms of jobs posted.

As I talk with HR leaders around the country, many are still having problems filling jobs in healthcare, engineering, IT and jobs requiring security clearances. Fortunately, VetJobs has the traffic to assist in these areas.

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As always, if there is anything we at VetJobs can do for you, please do not hesitate to call or email. Feel free to share the Early Eagle with other employers!

And remember, Freedom Is Never Free – Support Our Armed Forces and Veterans!

Best regards,

Ted Daywalt

President

/—March Early Eagle sponsor is TECHEXPO Top Secret—-\

TECHEXPO Top Secret’s next job fairs are:

3/24, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, BWI Marriott, 1743 West Nursery Road, Baltimore, MD, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Pre-register at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm

3/26, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, BWI Marriott, Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner, 1700 Tysons Blvd, McLean, VA, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Pre-register at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm

TECHEXPO Top Secret job fairs bring you face to face with security-cleared professionals. For 2009 event schedule, contact Nancy Mathew 212-655-4505 x225 or NMathew@TechExpoUSA.com.  http://www.TechExpoUSA.com

\—–Please visit your March Early Eagle sponsor TECHEXPO Top Secret —-/

2. Career Fairs

VetJobs now provides a list of all military related career fairs nationwide on its site at www.vetjobs.com. If you know of a military related career fair that is not listed, please pass the career fair information to info@vetjobs.com.

3. Stimulus Package Changes COBRA Procedures

The enactment into law of HR 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) implements new temporary procedures for employers relating to the administration of Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) benefits.

HR 1 establishes a 65% government subsidy for eligible workers towards their COBRA coverage for up to 9 months. The Treasury Department will administer the subsidy, providing employers or health plans (if they administer COBRA benefits) with a credit against payroll taxes for the cost of the subsidy.  Workers who were involuntarily terminated between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009, with annual incomes less than $125,000 (single) or $250,000 (couples) are eligible.  Additionally, the employee, not the employer, will be responsible for abiding by the salary cap that determines eligibility.  Should an employee accept COBRA coverage when they are ineligible, they will have to remit the subsidy to the federal government through their tax returns. 

Qualified individuals who initially decline COBRA coverage have an additional 60 days after they receive notice of the special election period to receive the subsidy. Should an employee subsequently elect coverage, the effective date of coverage would begin February 17, 2009, the day that HR 1 was signed into law by President Barack Obama.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released guidelines on February 26, 2009, to assist employers with the task of administering these benefits.  Employers can visit http://www.irs.gov/ for more information. Of note, the IRS website contains a FAQ for employers as well as a revised version of Form 941 (Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return), which employers will use to claim credit for the COBRA medical premiums they pay for their former employees beginning with the first quarter of 2009.  The IRS will send this form to employers in mid-March.

4. Electronic I-9’s

Nearly three years ago, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued an interim rule that allows employers to continue completing I-9 forms on paper while storing the forms electronically. However, its guidance stops short of identifying which systems will be acceptable under the law. Visit this link at Workforce for some of the issues that organizations should keep in mind when it comes to electronic storage of these required documents.

http://www.workforce.com/section/03/feature/26/10/61/index.html

5. Protecting the company during layoffs

There is no surefire way to avoid employment litigation in a staff reduction. But taking the time to follow the steps outlined here will minimize the risk of litigation, and will put your company in the best position to defend itself in any post-reorganization employment litigation. Visit this link to of nine ways to protect your company: http://www.workforce.com/archive/feature/25/52/02/index.php

6. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of February 24, 2009

The total number currently on active duty from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 94,696; Navy Reserve, 6,382; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 15,489; Marine Corps Reserve, 7,299; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 728. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 124,594, including both units and individual augmentees. A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel who are currently activated can be found at http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Feb2009/d20090224ngr.pdf .

7. Significant Events this Month in Military History

1802 – Congress established the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.

1815 – Congress declared war against the Barbary Pirates in Algeria, seeking an end to their interference with American shipping in the Mediterranean Sea.

1836 – End of 13 day siege of the Alamo, San Antonio TX, where 183 Americans held off 3,000 Mexican troops.

1846 – American forces under General Zachary Taylor moved across the Rio Grande River into Mexican territory, officially beginning hostilities during the Mexican War.

1862 – Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia destroyed Union vessels USS Cumberland and USS Congress, and damaged the USS Minnesota in waters off Hampton Roads and Fort Monroe, VA.

1915 – Congress established the U. S. Naval Reserve.

1918 – Second Battle of the Somme in France began with a German offensive.

1941 – General Erwin Rommel began his first offensive against the British Army in Libya.

1942 – The first American “Seabees” saw action in New Caledonia, an island in the southwest Pacific, as they landed and began construction of base facilities.

1949 – U.S. Air Force Captain James Gallagher completed the first non-stop flight around the world, refueling several times in mid flight.

1965 – First US ground combat force, the 3,500 man 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, arrived at Danang, South Vietnam.

1972 – North Vietnamese forces launched a massive attack south across the Demilitarized zone, during the Vietnam War.

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VetJobs is exclusively sponsored and partially owned by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (www.vfw.org) and endorsed by The Vietnam Veterans of America (www.vva.org), The Naval Reserve Association (www.navy-reserve.org), and The Veterans of Modern Warfare (www.modernveterans.com), and the Student Veterans of America (www.studentveterans.org).

 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

You were opted-in when you became a paid employer member, were referred to VetJobs or were part of an organization which opted-in to VetJobs. 

To REMOVE or CHANGE your subscribed address, click here:

http://mh.databack.com/c.php?L=earlyeagle&E=#email#

VetJobs

P. O. Box 71445

Marietta, GA  30007-1445

877-Vet-Jobs (877-838-5627)

770-993-5117 Office

770.993.2875 Fax

Veterans make the best employees!

Freedom Is Never Free – Support Our Armed Forces and Veterans!

VetJobs is an appropriate employment service delivery system for EEOC, VEVRAA/JVA and OFCCP compliance support!

Six year recipient of WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award

Four year recipient of Workforce Management Top 10 Recruiting Site

Seven year recipient of AIRS Top Recruiting Site

VetJobs is a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business

Issue 10:2, Sunday, February 1, 2009

www.vetjobs.com 

VetJobs is an appropriate employment service delivery system for EEOC, VEVRAA/JVA and OFCCP compliance support!

The VetJobs Early Eagle is for member employers, recruiters, friends and supporters of VetJobs. Feel free to forward this newsletter to friends and other employers.

This issue sponsored by Candidate Resources Inc. and TECHEXPO Top Secret

Contents:

1. Message from the Top

2. VetJobs Recommends: Work Strong – Your Personal Career Fitness System

3. 2009 WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award Recipients

4. Correction to the January Early Eagle

5. VetJobs Military Career Fairs Page

6. President Signs Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into Law

7. New I-9 Form

8. Revised FMLA and other Notifications

9. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of January 27, 2009

10. Significant Events this Month in Military History

Thank you for reading the VetJobs Early Eagle employer newsletter. If you like this newsletter and what VetJobs and the VFW do to assist veterans and their family member find employment, please go to http://www.weddles.com/poll.htm and vote VetJobs for the WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award!

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1. Message from the Top

It is with great pleasure that I announce that for the sixth year in a row VetJobs is a recipient of the 2009 WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award (www.weddles.com)! This award marks VetJobs not only as one of the top 30 job boards out of 50,000 career sites on the Internet, but one of only nine job boards that have received this prestigious award six years in a row! Your votes have confirmed that VetJobs is the leading military related job board and one of the top career sites on the Internet! The staff of VetJobs wants to personally thank all of you who voted. We appreciate your support and will continue to work hard to earn your votes again for the 2010 WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award.

See article 3 below for the thirty recipients of the 2009 WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award. Those elite sites who have received the award for all six years are: CareerBuilder.com, Craigslist.com, DICE.com, EmploymentGuide.com, Execunet.com, Monster.com, Net-Temps.com, VetJobs.com and Yahoo! HotJobs. I congratulate these six sites as they are the cream of the employment web sites on the Internet.

VetJobs is continuing to hold its own during this recession. When major sites like CareerBuilder, Dice and others are down 18% to 40% in terms of jobs posted over last year, VetJobs has about the same number of jobs posted this time last year. VetJobs is averaging over 23,000 jobs per day with strong candidate traffic.

In addition to the WEDDLE’s award, this past year VetJobs was selected for the fourth consecutive year to the Workforce Management Magazine Top 10 Recruiting Site award and is a seven year recipient of AIRS Top Recruiting Site. These are incredible achievements for a niche job board and reaffirms that VetJobs is the leading military related job board on the Internet and that employers want to hire veterans!

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On February 14 we celebrate Valentine’s Day! Be sure to remember your special person.

On February 16 the country celebrates President’s Day. The original purpose of President’s Day was to honor Washington and Lincoln, but is now the day we honor all of the presidents who have served the United States.

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On the economic front, the news continues to be dismal. The contraction of the economy in the 4^th quarter of 2008 was 3.8%, which was better than the 5.0% contraction that many economists were predicting, but 3.8% is still bad. The national jobless rate rose is now 7.2%, which is 2.2% above normal unemployment.

This recession is a unique one in that it is self-induced. Unlike previous recessions that came about due to economic or technological changes, this one is due to the collapse of our financial system and the lack of credit in the markets. What caused the collapse was the corruption and bad business practices that was rampant on Wall Street and the congressionally mandated Community Reinvestment Act that forced lending institutions to give loans to people who could not repay. It has to be recognized that this recession is due to the fraud and corruption fostered by certain of our elected officials. It is no surprise that today the Congress has the lowest confidence rating in history!

The United States is nowhere near the unemployment rates of the past such as the Great Depression (25% plus), the 1975 recession (9.0%) or of the 1982 recession (10.8%). The American economy saw only marginal growth in 2008, with the 4^th quarter contracting 3.8%. Compared to 1982’s contraction of 6.2%, that is not bad, but it is not good either. The bottom line is that it will be quite some time before our economy is healthy again. Many economists predict a slow and marginal improvement for 2009.

As an employer you are probably seeing many more applicants. That gives you the ability to choose from a wider pool of applicants. However, I still hear from recruiters that while there are more applicants, qualified candidates in several industries are still in short supply, notably healthcare and certain engineering and IT disciplines. Experienced executives are also in short supply.

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The new administration is moving fast to implement new agendas. The first major one that was objected to strongly by the Society of Human Resources and the US Chamber of Commerce is the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (see article 6 below). This bill will cause major changes in the way companies manage and hire, and will cause some businesses to close. Stand by, the employment landscape in America is about to undergo major changes and not for the better.

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As always, if there is anything we at VetJobs can do for you, please do not hesitate to call or email. Feel free to share the Early Eagle with other employers!

And remember, Freedom Is Never Free – Support Our Armed Forces and Veterans!

Best regards,

Ted Daywalt

President

/—February Early Eagle sponsor is Candidate Resources Inc—-\

DISPARATE PAY – LEGAL CHANGES THAT EFFECT EMPLOYERS 

Presented as a fast paced informative one hour WEBINAR on Tuesday February 3, 2009 at 11:00 AM Central Time and repeated on the following Tuesdays, February 10, 17 and 24.

When The House passed HR11 on Friday January 9, 2009, coupled with the GAO Audits released in August 2008, employers received the signal that the Supreme Court’s decision for Goodyear vs. Ledbetter was now history, particularly in light of President Barak Obama’s position on equal pay.  Employers must now assess their disparate pay exposure and take immediate action to mitigate it. This webinar is a must for all decision makers in HR as well as various other operating management positions that make pay and promotional decisions…   

TOPICS COVERED include legislation that established disparate pay, changes to the legislation that established disparate pay, GAO findings, which employers are at risk, the extent of the risk, EEOC litigation and OFCCP audits.

These sessions will be led by Milt Cotter, CEO of CRI. Milt has been a nationally recognized leader in the Human Resources arena in the government sector and private industry for over 45 years.  For more information about CRI’s various webinars visit www.criuniversity.com.

To register for this informative webinar call Andrew Schmidt at 972-641-5494 x204. To register online visit http://www.criuniversity.com. The cost is $65.00 per attendee.

\—–Please visit your February Early Eagle sponsor Candidate Resources Inc —-/

2. VetJobs Recommends: Work Strong – Your Personal Career Fitness System

Work Strong – Your Personal Career Fitness System is Peter Weddle’s new book on how, when, where and with whom you can achieve career success in the 21st Century. Designed specifically for the challenging workplace of the 21st Century: Work Strong not only tells you what to do for career success, but when, where and how to do it. Using physical fitness as a metaphor, the book introduces an approach to career self-management that is appropriate for everyone from senior executives and seasoned professionals to recent graduates and those who are reentering the workforce after an extended absence. Work Strong helps you tap both sides of your brain in learning how to build a healthy career. It encourages you to use your reasoning ability on the left side of your brain by presenting all of the information you need to Work Strong in your career. That’s The Career Fitness System. Get Work Strong for yourself and for your spouse, your sons or daughters and even for your mother and father. Everyone deserves to Work Strong. To place your order, call WEDDLE’s at 317.598.9768

/—February Early Eagle sponsor is TECHEXPO Top Secret—-\

TECHEXPO Top Secret’s next job fairs are:

2/11, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, Sheraton National, 900 South Orme St. Arlington, VA, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

2/18, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, BWI Marriott, 1743 West Nursery Road, Baltimore, MD, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

TECHEXPO Top Secret job fairs bring you face to face with security-cleared professionals. For 2009 event schedule, contact Nancy Mathew 212-655-4505 x225 or NMathew@TechExpoUSA.com.  http://www.TechExpoUSA.com

\—–Please visit your February Early Eagle sponsor TECHEXPO Top Secret —-/

3. 2009 WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award Recipients

Each year, WEDDLE’s conducts a year-long ballot of human resource personnel, recruiters and job seekers to determine which employment-related sites they like best. The balloting is open to all and covers all job boards and career portals, including those operated by commercial enterprises, associations and societies, trade organizations, college and university alumni organizations and affinity groups. The WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award is unique. It is the only award recognizing job boards where the winners are picked not by pundits and so-called experts, but by the actual users of the job boards. As there is no higher accolade than to be recognized by one’s users, the WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award is coveted by the winners.

The 2009 recipients are: Absolutely Health Care; AllHealthcareJobs.com; AllRetailJobs.com; CareerBuilder.com; craigslist.com; Dice.com; DirectEmployers.com; DiversityJobs.com; EmploymentGuide.com; ExecuNet.com; GetTheJob.com; GOJobs.com; Hcareers.com; HealthCareerWeb.com; HEALTHeCAREERS.com; Indeed.com; Job.com; JobCircle.com; JobFox.com; Jobing.com; TheLadders.com; Monster.com; Net-Temps.com; SimplyHired.com; 6FigureJobs.com; SnagAJob.com; TopUSAJobs.com; Vault.com; VetJobs.com; and Yahoo! Hotjobs.com.

4. Correction to the January Early Eagle

In the January Early Eagle was a statement that members of Congress draw their salaries for life. This was not correct. Upon further research, we found that the article we quoted was incorrect. Here is the correct information:

It is not true that members of Congress draw their same pay until they die. The size of their pension is determined by a number of factors – primarily length of service, but also factors such as when they joined Congress (there are some old rules in effect for long time members), their age at retirement, their salary and the pension options they chose when they enrolled in the Congressional retirement system. By law, their retirement can not exceed 80% of their Congressional salary at the time of their retirement.

5. VetJobs Military Career Fairs Page

VetJobs has started listing all military related career fairs nationally and internationally. The list can be accessed from the VetJobs front page by clicking on the Upcoming Career Fairs icon. If you know of a military related career fair that is not listed, please forward the information to info@vetjobs.com.

6. President Signs Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into Law

The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act makes it easier to file large class action lawsuits, expands remedies under the Equal Pay Act to include unlimited punitive and compensatory damages and limit an employer’s ability to justify legitimate pay differences. In effect, this bill has put courts in the position of second-guessing employer pay decisions. Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act already provides adequate remedies for sex discrimination in employment, including any claim that equal pay is being denied based on sex. But proponents supported the bill based on the so-called pay gap which assumes that any gap in pay must be due to unlawful discrimination. This assumption is being used to justify radical rewrites of pay equity laws and put expansive regulation in place. The only parties that benefit from this are the trial lawyers.

The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act would also amend Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and several other civil rights laws by effectively abolishing the statute of limitations in a vast majority of cases. The bill would alter other employment laws, increase frivolous lawsuits, and make it harder to resolve cases in a timely manner. Proponents of the bill argue that it is necessary because employees often don’t realize that discrimination is present. Yet the bill ignores existing legal doctrines that protect unknowing victims and permits anyone to wait decades to file a claim. When employment disputes fester over time, each party becomes more entrenched in its position hindering the resolution of workplace disputes.

7. New I-9 Form

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently revised the Form I-9 used to verify employment eligibility. All employers are required to use the new I-9 beginning February 2, 2009.

The revised I-9 form will include three important changes:

-Requires that all documents presented for verification be current (unexpired).

-Eliminates Form I-688, I-688A and I-688B from List A (documents that establish both identity and employment authorization) because these documents are no longer issued and have now expired. 

-Expands List A by adding two documents: 1) a Temporary I-551 printed notation on a machine-readable immigrant visa reflects the fact that the State Department has used machine-readable immigrant visas for several years, and 2) a Passport from the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) with a valid Form I-94 or I-94A reflects an agreement under the Compact of Free Association between the US and FSM or RMI.

Beginning February 2, 2009, employers may only accept unexpired documents and may only accept those listed on the revised Form I-9. In addition, when an employee’s work authorization requires re-verification, employers should use the revised I-9 form with its new list of acceptable documents.  Failure to do so exposes the employer to civil money penalties. The final revised form and the updated Employer Handbook will be available on the USCIS website, www.uscis.gov, on February 2, 2009.

8. Revised FMLA and other Notifications

The revised final regulations under the Family and Medical Leave Act (RIN 1215-AB35) were effective January 16, 2009. The revisions require the display of a new poster and the use of new forms. For further information about the revised regulations, go to http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/fmla/finalrule.htm.

For copies of the new tools, go to:

Poster – http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/fmla/finalrule/FMLAPoster.pdf

Certification of Health Care Provider for Employee’s Serious Health Condition – http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/forms/WH-380-E.pdf

Certification of Health Care Provider for Family Member’s Serious Health Condition – http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/forms/WH-380-F.pdf

Notice of Eligibility and Rights & Responsibilities – http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/fmla/finalrule/WH381.pdf

Designation Notice – http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/forms/WH-382.pdf

Certification of Quality Exigency for Military Family Leave – http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/forms/WH-384.pdf

Certification for Serious Injury or Illness of Covered Servicemember – for Military Family Leave – http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/forms/WH-385.pdf

9. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of January 27, 2009

The total number currently on active duty from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 94,070; Navy Reserve, 6,148; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 15,289; Marine Corps Reserve, 7,417; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 746. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 123,670, including both units and individual augmentees. A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel who are currently activated can be found at http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jan2009/d20090127ngr.pdf .

10. Significant Events this Month in Military History

1763 – Treaty of Paris ended the Seven Years War in Europe

1778 – The American frigate Ranger carried the Stars and Stripes to a foreign port for the first time as it arrived in France

1795 – Navy Supply Corps established

1813 – The American ship USS Hornet sank the British sloop HMS Peacock in an action off the coast of Guiana (north coast of South America) during the war of 1812

1836 – Mexican General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna began his siege of the Alamo Spanish mission in San Antonio, Texas.

1863 – General Joseph Hooker organized the Army of the Potomac

1863 – The Confederate ship Nashville was destroyed by the Union ironclad vessel USS Montauk on the Ogeechee River in Georgia during the American Civil War

1865 – The battle of Petersburg (American Civil War)

1898 – The battleship USS Maine was sunk following an explosion in the harbor of Havana, Cuba.

1916 – The German Fleet was given orders to attack armed Allied merchant ships without warning during WWI.

1916 – Beginning of the battle of Verdun, in France, which lasted ten months (WW I)

1917 – British intelligence intercepted the “Zimmerman telegram,” sent to the Mexican government by the German foreign minister, promising Mexico that the lands taken from it by the U.S. during the 1846-1848 war would be returned if Mexico entered World War I on Germany’s side and the Germans won. The message was promptly relayed to the U.S. Government

1942 – A Japanese submarine surfaced off the coast of California, shelling the coastline near the town of Ellwood.

1943 – Women’s Marine Corps Auxiliary established.

1943 – The German Afrika Korps defeated American forces during the battle of Kasserine Pass, in Tunisia (WW II)

1944 – Beginning of the German Army offensive against the Anzio bridgehead in Italy (WW II)

1944 – U.S. Marines seized Parry Island from Japanese forces, completing their takeover of the Marshall Islands in the Central Pacific (WW II)

1945 – U.S. Marines began the invasion of Iwo Jima in the Western Pacific (WW II)

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