labor lawAdivision of labor law center

With layoffs and wage reductions mounting, many employers are besieged by pleas from help from employees and former employees. It is enough to touch the heart of even the most hard-nosed small business owner. Employer’s resources are strained to the limit, and often Human Resource pros just don’t have any more to offer.

As severance packages shrink, employees are increasingly demanding more from their former employers.

That’s why it is important for Human Resource professionals to know about a new resource they can direct workers to.

The federal government recently expanded GovBenefits, a program to provide information about government assistance and benefit programs.

GovBenefits is available at www.govbenefits.gov. The website is an excellent source on a number of resources for employees including: 

• Expanded unemployment insurance
• Continued health benefits
• COBRA premium reductions
• Federal training programs
• Disaster relief funds
• Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF)
• Food stamps
• Affordable housing
• Career Development 

GovBenefits recently launched a Twitter account to provide continuous updates about government resources available to workers and their families. The tweets will address new site content, and new government benefits programs. (more…)

The US Department of Labor recently announced a one-stop internet tool for employers and employees affected by the Midwest Floods of 2008.

“We want to make information easily accessible and help quickly available to Americans affected by the devastating flooding in the Midwest,” said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. “In addition to our toll-free telephone number, we’ve set up a Midwest Flood Recovery Assistance Web page to guide affected residents on unemployment insurance, personal safety during cleanup operations and many other helpful resources for workers and employers.”

Some in the Midwest are calling the 2008 floods the “Hundred Year Floods.” In Lake Delton, the overflow nearly drained a lake, destroying the area’s popular Wisconsin Dells resort industry. Further downstream, many towns have virtually been wiped out by flooding – even those FEMA claimed were in no danger.

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