Posts filed under 'Events'
March 3rd, 2008
The Department of Labor just proposed new rules for the Family Medical Leave Act, the 15-year-old law that was a centerpiece of President Bill Clinton’s first-term agenda.
The law was created in 1993 to give workers up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for a sick family member or a newborn child. Of course, the law is a bit more complicated in the real world. In the 15 years since its enactment, the law has been through legal battles, including some Supreme Court decisions. The DOL has extensive compliance requirements — the new regulations alone are more than 120 pages long.
The biggest changes to the law concern new entitlements. Under the proposed rules, a worker can take up to 12 weeks off when family members are called to active military duty. Workers can also take up to 26 weeks off in a 12-month period to care for an injured service member.
A local human resource management firm is offering a free breakfast seminar to educate companies about how the proposed rules could affect them.
Samuel J. Castree, senior vice president and counsel at Staff Management Inc., will explain the new rules from 8 to 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 12, at Giovanni’s Restaurant and Convention Center. A continental breakfast will be served beginning at 7:30 a.m.
To reserve a spot, call Barb Heinzeroth at 815-282-3900 or email her.
January 17th, 2008
Nearly four dozen employers will be looking for workers at the job fair in Belvidere on Wednesday. Another nine employment agencies and 12 education and training organizations will also be on site at the Belvidere Community Center, 111 W. First St.
Employers
Cargill Meat Solutions (Beardstown)
Leading Edge Hydraulics
Bi-State Point of Sale Solutions
Ford Tool and Machine
Gwen Brooks State Farm (Belvidere)
Belvidere Dental Designs
Aflac
Home Depot
Franklin Wire and Display
Servicom
Bourn and Koch
NCO Group
West Corporation
Ingersoll Machine Tool
K & M Machine-Fabricating
Belvidere Police Department
YTB Travel
DialAmerica Marketing
Abrasive-Form Inc.
Benefit Solutions
DHL Express
Consortium Group
Haldex Hydraulics
Allstate Insurance
Rockford Health System
Winnebago County Sheriff
Excel Gear
Advanced Technology Services
Cintas Corporation
Nationwide Insurance
Relive International
Woodward
Printpack Inc.
MetLife
United States Steel Corp.
Ambit Energy
Primerica
Hintzsche Fertilizer
OSF St. Anthony Medical Center
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois
Material Testing Laboratories
Averitt Express
Forte Automation Systems
Sure Care Home Health
Wahl Clipper Corporation
Bioadvantage Fuels
Employment agencies
Global Staffing Services
Furst Staffing
Workplace
Stateline Staffing Services
QPS Companies
SRI Systems Research Inc.
Working World Staffing Services
Staff on Site
Assured Staffing
Education and training
TechWorks
Upper Iowa University
Fabricators and Manufacturers Association (FMA)
Rockford Real Estate Academy
Rasmussen College
Rock Valley College
Kishwaukee College
Colorado Technical University
Kaplan University
Building & Fire Code Academy
January 17th, 2008
The founder of CHIP, the Coronary Health Improvement Project, will give a two-day seminar about using the plan to reduce health care costs at corporations.
Dr. Hans Diehl will direct the Executive FastTrack to Better Health from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, and Friday, Feb. 29, at the new visitors center at Anderson Japanese Gardens.
The seminar is limited to the first 55 executives who sign up. Among the local companies already participating in the healthy lifestyle program are SwedishAmerican Health Systems, Chrysler and Woodward Governor.
For more information or to register, call 815-316-6361 or visit chiphealth.com.
January 16th, 2008
After Chrysler announced the layoffs of more than 1,000 workers at its Belvidere Assembly plant, several job and training agencies put together a job fair for Jan. 23. The fair is open to everyone, not just Chrysler employees.
So far 59 organizations have signed up, including manufacturers, health care providers, insurance companies, employment agencies and education and training groups.
Organizers are looking for more employers to participate, but the sign-up period ends Friday. It’s free. To register your company for the job fair, send an email to John Strandin or call the Workforce Connection at 815-395-6600.
The job fair will be from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23, at the Belvidere Community Builidng, 111 W. First St.
December 6th, 2007
Last month, 136 students from Rockford area high schools piled on four buses to go to the FABTECH show in Chicago, a massive trade show at McCormick Place. It was all part of an effort to get young people interested in manufacturing careers.
Local manufacturers say they’re having a hard time finding qualified workers to run machines — machines that require extensive training in mathematics and computer programming. And the average age of local machinists is getting older. So five companies and three organizations sponsored the students’ trip to see 470,000 square feet of exhibitions from nearly 1,000 companies.
Sponsors were Woodward, Forest City Gear, W.A. Whitney, Specialty Screw and Reliable Machine. The Rockford Area Economic Development Council, the Rockford Community Foundation and the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association also chipped in.
“The shortage of skilled workers is a major industry concern and the number one issue facing employers in the metal forming and fabricating sector,” said Gerald Shankel, president & CEO of FMA in a press release. “This initiative addressed the importance of introducing young people to these jobs in order to train tomorrow’s workforce.”
The event must have had an effect. Some of the students from Guilford are building a Web site and photo slide show of their field trip. Here’s one of the photos:
Caption: Guilford High School students pause to watch an equipment demonstration at the W. A. Whitney booth during the FABTECH Show at McCormick Place on Nov. 14. (Photo provided)
November 20th, 2007
On Jan. 1, every public place in the state goes smokeless, but many employers and business owners are confused about exactly what the Smoke Free Illinois Act covers and what its rules are.
The Belvidere Area Chamber of Commerce will host a breakfast meeting at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, to explain the new law and its effects. The event is sponsored by the Boone County Department of Public Health and presented by its administrator, Doug Beardsley. It will be located at the Belvidere YMCA community room, 220 W. Locust St., Belvidere.
There will be a complimentary continental breakfast. For more information, call the chamber at 815-544-4357.
November 14th, 2007
The toughest obstacle for former criminals who want to turn their lives around is finding a job. Nearly every employer asks if you’ve been convicted of a felony, and many won’t give an applicant a second look if the check the “yes”box.
But the law provides ways for ex-offenders to clean up their rap sheet. Several local agencies will host a day-long seminar Thursday on expungement, the process of purging or sealing criminal and arrest records. The event will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Promise of Life Temple, 714 Third Ave., Rockford.
Many people who have never been convicted can qualify for the program along with others who were convicted of misdemeanor or non-violent crimes.
The event is co-sponsored by Exchange, Illinois Department of Employment Security, the Safer Foundation, Carpenter’s Place and the Workforce Connection.
Representatives of local agencies will be present with information about services available to ex-offenders. Among the agencies participating are the Salvation Army, the Illinois Department of Human Services, Rockford Sexual Assault Counseling, Winnebago County Weed and Seed, Northwest Community Center, Crusader Clinic, Rockford Rescue Mission, Careers Inc. and YouthBuild.
There also will be attorneys volunteering to discuss the expungement and sealing process.
