Ohio Employment Grant 4

March 30th, 2007 Posted by Amelia

A company in Franklin County recently received a $50,000 Business Development Grant to update their equipment.

The Ohio employment grant is one in a series made by the state, to increase productivity at Ohio factories and protect workers’ jobs. The grant goes to Ventures, Ltd., also known as Resource Interactive in Columbus. The company was founded in 1981 as Resource Interactive to perform channel marketing for computers. One of its first clients was Apple. The company helps business clients plan, create, build, assess and optimize their customer’s digital experience.

Today, the company specializes in e-commerce sites, micro-sites, intranets and extranets, community websites, display advertising and blogs.
With the grant, Resource Interactive will reconfigure its existing 41,825 square-foot space and purchase machinery and equipment to expand its e-commerce development department. The advertising and marketing operations will also be expanded.

Equipment to be purchased wiht the grant includes a Storage Area Network system, a blade server system, computer servers, routers, and related equipment. Ohio was in competition with Minnesota and New York for this $2 million project, which is expected to create 90 jobs and retain 133 positions within the first three years of the project’s initial operation.

The grant was among 3 totaling $275,000 recently announced by Lt. Governor Lee Fisher. The grants aid in the growth and development of businesses and the creation and retention of jobs in Ohio. The grants, administered by the Ohio Department of Development, were recently approved by the State Controlling Board and are expected to create 130 jobs and retain 50 positions.

“The projects approved for state assistance today represent the very best of Ohio’s traditional manufacturing strengths, as well as job creation in growing high-tech fields,” said Lt. Governor Fisher, who also serves as Director of the Ohio Department of Development. “I want to commend each company for considering Ohio for projects that will help further develop our existing business base and boost new and growing industry sectors in the state.”

No Comments >> Posted in Employment Laws,Labor and Employment,Ohio

Hawaii Worker Safety

March 30th, 2007 Posted by Amelia

While many at home are performing the annual spring cleaning, employers are advised to do a spring cleaning of sorts. Updating safety procedures, ensuring that precautions are taken in the workplace and educating employees on potential safety issues can help keep the workplace safe for everyone.

Hawaii worker safety should be the primary focus of all employers, especially with the threat of power outages and electrical storms. For some businesses, the solution is simple. If there is a power outage, shut down the business until power is restored. However, for many businesses, this is not an option. Having proper procedures in place can save lives and reduce unnecessary injury and loss of property.

For employers, spring cleaning should consist of making sure smoke and fire alarms are installed and in proper working order. Batteries should be tested regularly so that in the event of a fire, employees can exit the building as quickly as possible. Carbon monoxide detectors should also be present and working properly because, unlike smoke or fire, carbon monoxide is odorless and impossible to detect without a device. Employers should be aware, however, that if they use a carbon monoxide detector that uses electricity for power, in the absence of electricity, the detector will not function.

Airflow in the workplace can be an issue when the power goes out. Employers can have generators installed to provide electricity and maintain proper ventilation. Generators, when installed by a licensed electrician, can provide the necessary power to maintain operations and reduce the risk of fire in the workplace. Proper installation by a licensed electrician will help reduce the risk of an electrical back feed, thus reducing the risk of electrocution.

Restaurant workers and other food preparation facilities should pay particular attention to proper ventilation procedures. When airflow is restricted due to a power outage, heat from stoves and ovens can build up causing unsafe working conditions and, potentially hazardous fire conditions. Never use heating appliances without proper ventilation to the outside.

No Comments >> Posted in Federal Labor Laws,Health and Safety,Regulations

Mississippi W-2 Form

March 30th, 2007 Posted by Amelia

According to IRS regulations, employers must provide workers with their Mississippi W-2 form by the deadline, February 1, 2007. The forms must be complete and accurate. If an employee has not received their form by the middle of February, they should contact the IRS immediately.

The IRS takes the fact that an employee has not received their W-2 very seriously. They will advocate on behalf of the employee to ensure they receive their W-2. Every eligible employee must have a W-2 in order to file taxes. It is no longer acceptable to use a pay stub to verify income, as was the case prior to 2004. Without a current and accurate W-2, your tax return will be rejected, you will have to file more IRS forms, and your refund (if you are owed one) will be delayed. This is a hassle, not only for the employee, but also for the IRS. It is in everyone’s best interest to make sure employers provide the information in a timely manner.

Employers typically run into problems delivering W-2s when an employee has left the company before to December 31, especially if the employee relocated in addition to leaving their position. Employers are dependent on an employee updating their address and other contact information in the event they relocate. A particularly important person/department who needs to have the updated information is the payroll department. They are responsible for generating the W-2s. If they do not have updated information, even if someone else in the company does, receipt of the W-2 will be delayed.

An alternative way to receive your W-2 is in PDF format, typically distributed through email. If offered by an employer, workers must sign consent forms to receive the information electronically. Even though an employee opts to receive their W-2 online, they still have the right to request a paper version. In this case, the employer must provide the copy by the February 1 deadline.

No Comments >> Posted in Employment Laws,Labor and Employment,Mississippi

New Jersey Worker Safety

March 30th, 2007 Posted by Amelia

In the springtime, thunder and lightening storms can create dangerous working conditions. It is important to have a safety plan in place in the home and the workplace to maintain the safest conditions possible should the power go out.

Employers are advised to create procedures to address New Jersey worker safety issues. Prevention is the best defense against potentially serious consequences resulting from loss of electricity. When employees are educated about the risks in the home and in the workplace, loss of property, serious injury, and even death can be avoided.

For those employed in the food services industry, proper ventilation must be maintained if the electricity goes out during a storm. Airflow is typically regulated by heating and air conditioning systems. Without power, air will no longer circulate. When heating sources such as gas ovens or stoves are used in enclosed spaces, heat can build up in the work environment creating unsafe conditions, and, potentially, a serious fire hazard. Employers should educate employees on proper ventilation techniques in case of a power outage.

Employees should be prohibited from using cooking appliances as heat sources. Ovens and stoves should never be used when there is no electricity as they can cause a fire. Caution should also be exercised when using propane heaters. If a fireplace or wood burning stove is used as a heat source, they should be cleaned regularly, and checked for proper installation and ventilation.

A battery-operated radio should be accessible in case of a power outage. Employees should use radios to obtain regular updates. Check batteries regularly to ensure the radio will work when needed.

Fire alarms, smoke detectors, and carbon monoxide detectors should be installed throughout the workplace (and in the home). Batteries should be tested and changed regularly to ensure the alarms will be in working order if they are ever needed.

No Comments >> Posted in Federal Labor Laws,Health and Safety,Regulations

Ohio Employment Grant

March 30th, 2007 Posted by Amelia

Yet another Ohio employment grant was recently awarded to Springfield-based Qbase, Inc. Located in (Clark County, Obase will receive a $200,000 Business Development grant to purchase updated computers for a new facility.

Qbase, Inc. specializes in data management, data analysis and marketing, particularly in the non-profit, higher education and government sectors. The company also provides support to the burgeoning healthcare industry.

With the grant, Qbase, Inc. will establish a new division at Nextedge Applied Research and Technology Park in Springfield. This division will design and build an innovative computer-intelligence platform for the healthcare industry. The program is expected to control healthcare costs and improve the quality of patient care.

Qbase, Inc. will lease 15,000 square-feet of a 54,000 square-foot building in the park for the project. The facility will house research and development, software development, business development and sales and marketing functions. Equipment to be purchased includes production computer servers, Web services servers, certification servers, testing servers, data fabrication servers, data storage servers data analytics servers, and related computer equipment.

The total bill for the project is more than $4.1 million, with the grant covering $200,000 of that. The project is expected to create 100 jobs within the first three years.

“I want to commend each company for considering Ohio for projects that will help further develop our existing business base and boost new and growing industry sectors in the state,” said Lt. Governor Lee Fisher when awarding the grant. “The projects approved for state assistance today represent the very best of Ohio’s traditional manufacturing strengths, as well as job creation in growing high-tech fields.”

The grant was among 3 totaling $275,000 recently announced by Lt. Governor Lee Fisher. The three business grants will aid in the growth and development of businesses and the creation and retention of jobs in Ohio.

No Comments >> Posted in Employment Laws,Labor and Employment,Ohio

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