Read more about the article MD Unemployment Insurance Fund Faces Challenges
County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / Human Resources / Labor
MD Unemployment Insurance Fund Faces Challenges

Maryland’s unemployment insurance trust fund is currently stable. However, the system could fall below federal solvency standards within the next two years. As reported in a Maryland Matters article, Maryland Labor Secretary Portia Wu warned lawmakers that the state’s $2 billion unemployment insurance trust fund is under increasing pressure at a recent Joint Committee on Unemployment Oversight hearing. While it currently meets federal solvency standards, that could change if unemployment rises or large-scale layoffs occur.…

Comments Off on MD Unemployment Insurance Fund Faces Challenges
July 16, 2025
Read more about the article Navigating Cannabis, Safety, and Compliance in the Workplace
County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / Human Resources / Labor / Summer Conference
Navigating Cannabis, Safety, and Compliance in the Workplace

As cannabis laws evolve, employers are facing new challenges in balancing safety, federal obligations, and employee rights. Minnesota’s latest law raises the stakes by requiring greater legal justification before taking employment action. According to a Forbes article, Minnesota passed a bill that recently went into effect, strengthening protections for registered medical cannabis patients in the workplace. Employers must now give these employees 14 days’ written notice before taking any adverse action based on a positive…

Comments Off on Navigating Cannabis, Safety, and Compliance in the Workplace
July 7, 2025
Read more about the article Feds Invests in Skilled Workforce With $84M in Apprenticeship Grants
Economic Development / Labor
Feds Invests in Skilled Workforce With $84M in Apprenticeship Grants

The importance of apprenticeships continues to grow across the country. New federal funding is providing states with more tools to meet workforce needs in both traditional trades and emerging industries. The US Department of Labor announced in a press release nearly $84 million in grants to all 50 states and territories to expand and improve Registered Apprenticeship programs. This funding includes both the base formula and competitive grants, supporting a federal goal of reaching 1…

Comments Off on Feds Invests in Skilled Workforce With $84M in Apprenticeship Grants
July 2, 2025
Read more about the article Federal Funding for Senior Workforce Training and Wages in Jeopardy
Health and Human Services / Labor / Summer Conference
Federal Funding for Senior Workforce Training and Wages in Jeopardy

Federal budget cuts could have an impact on State and local programs that fund workforce training and wages for unemployed, low-income seniors in Maryland.  A federal program that funds workforce training and wages for older, resource-scare residents might be shutting down due to federal budget cuts. According to reports in a number of other states, the US Department of Labor has put state and local funding recipients on notice that funding for the programs would…

Comments Off on Federal Funding for Senior Workforce Training and Wages in Jeopardy
July 1, 2025
Read more about the article CalHeatScore: California’s New Tool for Beating the Heat
Employee Benefits and Relations / Health and Human Services / Human Resources / Information Technology / Labor
CalHeatScore: California’s New Tool for Beating the Heat

Extreme heat is more than a summer nuisance. California’s new tool helps residents identify potential dangers early and take action to stay safe. In a recent Government Technology article, California introduced CalHeatScore, a new tool that forecasts and ranks the risk of heat-related illness on a daily basis. Using a 0-to-4 scale, the system helps residents understand when conditions are most hazardous, with a score of 4 indicating a severe risk. The platform also provides…

Comments Off on CalHeatScore: California’s New Tool for Beating the Heat
June 12, 2025
Read more about the article Richmond Fed to Spotlight Maryland’s Workforce Trends
Business Affairs / County News / Labor / News You Can Use
Richmond Fed to Spotlight Maryland’s Workforce Trends

The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond is hosting a public forum in Baltimore to examine labor force participation trends in Maryland, featuring insights from economists, workforce leaders, and Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman. The event will explore challenges and opportunities shaping who is — and isn’t — in the workforce. Titled “Maximizing Employment: Understanding Labor Force Participation,” the forum will take place on Thursday, June 26, from 8:30 am to 11:00 am, at the Richmond Fed’s…

Comments Off on Richmond Fed to Spotlight Maryland’s Workforce Trends
June 9, 2025
Read more about the article Maryland Opens Emergency Loan Program for Former Federal Workers
Employee Benefits and Relations / Labor / NACo and Federal Issues / News You Can Use
Maryland Opens Emergency Loan Program for Former Federal Workers

Maryland has launched a new emergency loan program to support former federal employees experiencing financial hardship following job loss, providing short-term relief as broader workforce support efforts continue. The Maryland Department of Labor has launched the Federal Emergency Loan Program, offering interest-free loans to former federal workers who are facing financial hardship due to layoffs, closures, or relocations. The online application portal opened on Wednesday, June 5. The General Assembly established the program through the…

Comments Off on Maryland Opens Emergency Loan Program for Former Federal Workers
June 6, 2025
Read more about the article Connecticut Court Ruling Spurs Fast Legislative Fix to Workers’ Comp Law
Courts / Employee Benefits and Relations / Labor
Connecticut Court Ruling Spurs Fast Legislative Fix to Workers’ Comp Law

A high-stakes court decision in Connecticut recently triggered a fast legislative response that underscores how one ruling can shift the balance in workers’ compensation systems. In March 2025, the Connecticut Supreme Court disrupted longstanding workers’ compensation practices by allowing administrative law judges (ALJs) to extend temporary partial disability benefits beyond maximum medical improvement rather than converting claims to permanent partial disability. The decision raised alarms among employers, including public sector entities, who warned that the…

Comments Off on Connecticut Court Ruling Spurs Fast Legislative Fix to Workers’ Comp Law
June 2, 2025
Read more about the article Job Growth Mixed in April: Federal Cuts Offset Local Gains
Labor
Job Growth Mixed in April: Federal Cuts Offset Local Gains

Maryland’s job market is showing signs of resilience, but federal workforce cuts are clouding the overall picture.  Maryland added 2,300 jobs in April 2025, a modest gain shaped by growth in the private sector and state and local government employment. However, this progress was tempered by the loss of 2,600 federal jobs. While some federal influence has yet to be reflected in the numbers, such as administrative leave and buyouts, the effects are already visible…

Comments Off on Job Growth Mixed in April: Federal Cuts Offset Local Gains
May 29, 2025
Read more about the article How Pennsylvania Is Shrinking Time-to-Hire
Cyber / Human Resources / Information Technology / Labor
How Pennsylvania Is Shrinking Time-to-Hire

In Pennsylvania, state leaders are using AI and data to speed up hiring to compete with the private sector's faster timelines. To tackle workforce shortages and fill government positions faster, Pennsylvania has launched a multifaceted effort to modernize its hiring process. The state’s Office of Administration is combining data analytics, applicant tracking dashboards, and generative AI tools like ChatGPT Enterprise to streamline key hiring steps. Since Governor Josh Shapiro took office in 2023, the average…

Comments Off on How Pennsylvania Is Shrinking Time-to-Hire
May 20, 2025
Newer Posts
Older Posts