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Va. bills advance to halt minimum wage increases
RICHMOND, Va. – Two bills introduced by Republicans to halt future minimum wage increases have advanced to the House floor. Minimum wage in Virginia increased to $11 an hour on Jan. 1 and is set to increase to $12 next January. The House Commerce and Energy committee approved House Bill 320, introduced by Del. Nicholas […]
Va. job openings, number of hires rebound from October 2021
Virginia had 301,000 job openings in November, a small rebound from October 2021, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) data released Jan. 21. In October 2021, job openings in Virginia declined by about 28,000, which was the largest drop among states. The Virginia job openings rate […]
New Va. unemployment claims down 32%
Virginia’s new unemployment claims declined by almost 32%, the Virginia Employment Commission reported Thursday. For the filing week ending Jan. 22, Virginians filed 1,940 initial claims, down 909 from the previous week. Continued claims totaled 7,543, an increase of 484 claims from the week before. Compared to the same week last year, initial claims were […]
Flex time
The traditional 9-to-5 workday at the office is a thing of the past at forward-thinking companies looking to recruit and retain top talent. “That’s out the door,” says Melody Donovan-Hopkins, a director and senior human resources consultant with Fahrenheit Advisors in Richmond. In its place is a flexible work model that was gaining popularity even […]
Roaring ’20s repeat possible, Richmond Fed president says
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President and CEO Thomas Barkin said he could visualize another round of the “roaring ’20s,” he said Thursday during the Virginia Bankers Association/Virginia Chamber 2022 Financial Forecast event. Driven by investment and real estate appreciation, the nation has seen a 28% boost in household net worth over the past two […]
Youngkin names labor secretary
Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin announced Thursday that former U.S. Labor Department Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management George “Bryan” Slater is his pick for Virginia’s secretary of labor. “Workforce development will play a crucial part of jumpstarting our economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Bryan’s experience and leadership will be critical to the [&he[...]
Va. had fewer job openings in October
Virginia had 308,000 job openings in October, the largest drop in openings among U.S. states, as well as 108,000 quits, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) data released Dec. 17. In September, Virginia had a record-setting 336,000 job openings, but in October, openings declined by 28,000, […]
Trucking on: How truckers are battling historic labor shortage
RICHMOND — From hand sanitizer and vaccines to groceries and toilet paper, truck drivers are trucking through the COVID-19 pandemic despite a historic labor shortage. Many industries moved workers home during the start of the pandemic, but truckers worked “to meet the needs of this country.” “The trucking industry has stepped up and delivered through […]
2021 LABOR/EMPLOYMENT LAW Q&A
Laurie L. Kirkland Blankingship & Keith PC, Fairfax Title: Principal Other legal specialties: Commercial litigation Education: Bachelor’s degree, Harding University; law degree, George Mason University Spouse: Joshua B. Isaacs Children: Daughter Norah, 6 months Recently read book: Having loved “The Giver,” by Lois Lowry since middle school, I recently discovered that it was the [...]
Newsroom unions urge Lee to reject Alden’s offer
A dozen Lee Enterprises newsroom unions, including three in Virginia, wrote an open letter to company management Monday, urging Lee to reject Alden Global Capital’s purchase offer of approximately $144 million. “Alden has cut their staffs at twice the rate of competitors, resulting in the loss of countless jobs,” the letter reads. “They’ve fostered unhealthy […[...]
Va. had record 328,000 job openings in September
Virginia had 328,000 job openings in September and 123,000 quits, 4,000 fewer quits than the April 2021 peak, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) data released Nov. 19. The September job openings number set a record previously set in July, when there were 320,000 openings. The […]
Hampton Roads State of the Region report shows slow recovery
The Hampton Roads region is slowly recovering from pandemic-spurred economic distress but has lost a large chunk of its workforce, according to Old Dominion University‘s Dragas Center for Economic Analysis & Policy’s 2021 State of the Region Report released Tuesday. Hampton Roads’ labor force and individual employment levels peaked in February 2020, only to be […]
