Accelerating the solar workforce
When local school systems decided to add solar arrays to their buildings, regional environmental nonprofit Appalachian Voices and other members of the Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia counted it as a victory in their six-year efforts to develop a renewable energy cluster in Virginia’s coalfield counties. In January, Southwest Virginia Community College and Mountain Empire […]
Virginia companies weigh office returns
Many companies in Virginia are taking a flexible approach on whether employees must return to work in offices or continue working remotely or via hybrid models. For instance, Capital One Financial Corp., the McLean-based credit card company, is planning to reopen its U.S. offices in a hybrid model on Sept. 6. Capital One delayed its […]
Future shock
As companies across Virginia continue to adjust to workplace changes created by the COVID-19 pandemic, many human resources managers say one thing is clear: The way people work has changed for good. “This is a new work environment — the workplace has changed now,” says Kirstin Shelton, vice president of human resources for Octo Consulting […]
Training’s in the cards for Hard Rock Bristol
Mike Pauley started learning poker from his grandfather around age 8 and traveled around the nation playing competitively during his early 20s. When he learned that the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol was hiring casino dealers, he applied online. “I had thought about having a career somewhere, but I didn’t want to move away […]
Need a job? Fairfax wants you
In the past two years, despite the pandemic, the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority attracted more than 5,000 people to eight career fairs. The website for the workforce initiative — workinnorthernvirginia.com — lists jobs, internships and training opportunities from more than 500 companies and is getting 45,000-plus views per month, the EDA says. “We’re really […]
Bank of America grants VUU $1M
Bank of America granted Virginia Union University $1 million for its new banking and financial services workforce development program, the university announced Monday. VUU’s Sydney Lewis School of Business will lead the program, called MORE for My Opportunity is Real Essential, in partnership with the university’s workforce development division and its Evelyn Reid Syphax School [&helli[...]
SCHEV funds internship programs at 3 Va. colleges
The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) this week awarded $535,000 in funding to the University of Virginia, Old Dominion University and Marymount University for the Innovative Internship Fund and Program, also known as the Virginia Talent+ Opportunity Partnership. U.Va. and ODU will each receive $250,000 to connect employers with students and increase […]
GMU establishes health workforce center
George Mason University has established the Mason Center for the Health Workforce, the university announced Monday. The new center, directed by PJ Maddox and Caroline Sutter, will address the shortage and immediate need for health care workers in Virginia. It will serve as a technical assistance center for health workforce research, program evaluation, planning and […]
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 […]
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 […]
Primary care
When the pandemic rocked employees‘ well-being last year, executives at McLean-based software solutions company B&A went out of their way to make people feel valued and connected. “We realized that a lot of folks were struggling with what was going on in the country and the world,” says Jonathan Evans, president and CEO of B&A, […]
Gimme a break
Of all the company perks offered by Ryan LLC, the paid, weeklong summer break often tops the list of employee favorites. Summer break dates are announced ahead of time, and the whole company shuts down. Clients are notified that the international tax services and software provider’s employees will be off. The setup allows Ryan’s workers […]