New
Guidance for COBRA Subsidy
The U.S. Labor Department has issued new guidance for COBRA
subsidies. Although a federal law authorizes COBRA health insurance premium
subsidies to employees involuntarily terminated through Dec. 31, according
to the Labor Department, some employees laid off before then may not be eligible
for the subsidy. To qualify, the individuals must have been involuntarily
terminated from Sept. 1, 2008 through Dec. 31, 2009, and they must have been
eligible to receive COBRA during that period. Find out the potential
problems with the second condition here.
Also, there is a bill in Congress now that would extend
the COBRA subsidy to June 30, 2010, but Congressional leaders have already
said they don't expect to pass it until after January 1, however, it probably
would be retroactive back to January. Questions? Contact PIA's
Human Relations Director,
Jim Kyger, 202-730-7968.
Another
Extension Sought for CPSIA
Printing Industries of America has submitted
a petition to extend the testing and certification stay for another year
for books and other printed matter. If the petition is granted, the testing
and certification deadline will be extended until Feb. 10, 2011, which will
provide additional time to continue the work with vendors to seek additional
exemptions for component materials such as spot inks, laminates, hot stamping
foils, adhesives, metal coil, and plastic coil. For those remaining items
that require testing, the workshop being hosted by the Consumer Protection
Safety Council will focus on what will be required for sampling, component
testing, verification, elements of a reasonable testing program, and small
volume manufacturing concerns. The results of the two-day workshop will be
incorporated into a final testing rule to be released early next year. Stay
tuned.
What
"the Doctor" Orders
Industry consultant Joe Webb, known as "Dr. Joe," hosted
a webinar last week with his forecast for the coming year. His major prediction
was there would be no economic uptick in sight for the foreseeable future.
Webb said there would be low economic growth (increase in the nation’s
Gross Domestic Product) for 2009--he predicts just 2%--and that GDP will
also be below 3% for 2011. That means small business owners who want to
remain in the game need to service current customers
to the very best of your ability, and look for new business opportunities
with them. Try to alleviate their burdens with
product and service offerings, while keeping costs in check.
Dr. Joe also stressed the importance of staying in constant contact
with vendors and suppliers--strengthening relationships
that are working and addressing problems with any that are not. His final
words of advice were to avoid lowering prices; use networking events
to broaden connections and find new clients; and maintain internal marketing
initiatives to let everyone know you’re still in the game.
Protect
Employees from Identity Theft
Nearly
10 million Americans were victims of ID theft in 2008,
an increase over 2007, and for employers whose
workers get victimized, the damage can be
costly. "Employees dealing
with the aftermath of identity theft are less productive,
and
it can take up to 330 hours to resolve the crime," says
Paige Schaffer, vice president of operations and chief service
officer for Europ Assistance USA, a Washington-based company
offering ID-theft assistance. That's why employers are urged
to become more proactive in protecting and educating employees
about identity theft. One
organization that can help
is the San Diego-based Identity
Theft Resource Center. Linda
Foley, the center's founder, suggests HR leaders print out
some of the information on the site and "post in break
rooms." Other advice to share with your staff:
* Never
take your Social Security card shopping
* Don't walk away from
the cashier who is holding your card to grab one last item.
*
Keep your eyes on your card at all times, and protect credit
cards, driver's licenses and checks from wandering eyes.
* When
ordering items online, the Web site should be a secure one,
indicated by https://.
* Before ordering, research the Web and
read the fine print. Reliable companies should advertise their
physical business address and at least one phone number.
* Do not use debit cards for online shopping, as they don't
have the same protections as credit cards and can be used
to remove funds immediately from accounts.
The
Perfect Gift for Printers, Designers
Pantone suggests
that you brighten someone's holiday with one (or more) of
its new iPhone or iPod touch cases now available in Pantone
Colors. Cases come in eight hot Trend Colors and
can be personalized, for free, with two lines of text. You
can also add a corporate logo when you order 10 or more cases.
Each case is only $19.99. Order online at http://www.pantone.com/pages/ipodcase/product.aspx.
MD
School Earns PrintEd Accreditation
Harford Technical High School has been
awarded PrintED accreditation in the following areas: Introduction
to Graphic Communications, Digital File Preparation, and
Offset Press Operations. The accreditation is good through
December 2014.
Member
News
PGAMA
is pleased to announce that Beacon
Printing Company has joined the list of members
on the Maryland Green Registry. The Maryland Green
Registry is a FREE and voluntary, self-certification program
offering tips and resources to help organizations set and
meet their own goals on the path to sustainability. Learn
more at http://www.mde.maryland.gov/MarylandGreen/default.htm.
Congrats to Mount
Vernon Printing Company for receiving
a 2009 Energy Saver Award form the Department of Energy. The
company was recognized for achieving more than 75,000 MMBtu
total energy savings, or more than 7.5% total energy savings.
Learn more about the award at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/12/prweb3331964.htm.
Looking
to sell your business? A Philadelphia company is interested in buying a small print
business located within 20 miles of downtown D.C. If interested,
contact Paul Foster, 410-319-0900.
Upcoming
Events
| December
21 |
Pick up
for Annual Food
Drive-Walker Supply Co. drivers will
begin picking up food collected for Manna Food Bank
and the Maryland Food Bank. For more info, contact
Kyle Walker, 800-775-9528. |
| January 11 |
Deadline
for Excellence in Print Awards entries. Call
for entries brochures were mailed last week. Remember,
all PGAMA members can enter one piece for FREE! |
| January 26 |
Seminar:
Women [and one Man] in the Environment,
1:30-5:30pm at The National Museum for Women in the
Arts (1250 New York Avenue, Washington, D.C.) PGAMA
member Derek Smith & Associates, LLC is sponsoring
this event, which features executives from "corporate
America" who will speak about the growing sustainable
market and what they want from print, paper, packaging
and design partners. Registration & list of speakers
at www.paperleadership.com.
Major credit cards, PayPal accepted. |
| February 4 |
PGAMA Tech Talk: Using
Technology to Track Clients & Prospects-
Join us for a MAGE Lunch & Learn hosted by
PGAMA’s
VP Paul Foster about FREE web-based tools that
can be used to create a “virtual assistant” that
will automatically update you when clients and
prospects are in the news. This info can help you
spot industry trends and give you an inside scoop
to make phone contact. Bring your laptop to participate.
Geared to all sales & marketing personnel and
LIMITED TO 20 ONSITE PARTICIPANTS. Simulcast available
on request. Cost is $15 for MAGE members or $25
for non-MAGE members. Includes lunch. Reserve your
spot by calling 410-319-0900 or sign up at www.pgama.com. |
| February 16 |
Save
the Date for the MD Legislators’ Luncheon-Plan
to join us for this annual meet and greet with local
elected officials in Annapolis,
MD. Look for more info in upcoming
PGAMA newsletters and emails. |
February 28-
March 4 |
Printing
Industries of America Presidents' Conference,
Scottsdale, AZ. 2010 is
the year to reinforce the foundation of your
business. This year’s program was developed
with the intention of helping industry leaders
like you focus on the core elements of your business—those
things that can help you remain stable, as well as
increase profit margins. Topics to be addressed Include:
Communicating the Value of Print * Methods
for Cost Reduction * HR Issues * Economic Forecast
* And much more! Complete info and registration
at http://www.printing.org/page/3499. |
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