New
Tax Credits for Hiring Unemployed
Two new Federal tax benefits are now available to employers
hiring workers who were previously unemployed or only working part time.
These provisions are part of the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment
(HIRE) Act enacted into law on March 18th. Employers who hire unemployed
workers this year (after Feb. 3, 2010 and before Jan. 1, 2011) may qualify
for a 6.2-percent payroll tax incentive, in effect exempting them from their
share of Social Security taxes on wages paid to these workers after the date
of enactment. This reduced tax withholding will have no effect on the employee's
future Social Security benefits, and employers would still need to withhold
the employee's 6.2-percent share of Social Security taxes, as well as income
taxes. The employer and employee's shares of Medicare taxes would also still
apply to these wages. In addition, for each worker retained for at least
a year, businesses may claim an additional general business tax credit, up
to $1,000 per worker, when they file their 2011 income tax returns.
The two tax benefits are especially helpful to employers
who are adding positions to their payrolls. New hires filling existing positions
also qualify but only if the workers they are replacing left voluntarily
or for cause. Family members and other relatives do not qualify. The new
law requires that the employer get a statement from each eligible new hire
certifying that he or she was unemployed during the 60 days before beginning
work or, alternatively, worked fewer than a total of 40 hours for someone
else during the 60-day period. The IRS is currently developing a form employees
can use to make the required statement.
Businesses, agricultural employers, tax-exempt organizations
and public colleges and universities all qualify to claim the payroll tax
benefit for eligible newly-hired employees. Household employers cannot claim
this new tax benefit. Employers claim the payroll tax benefit on the federal
employment tax return they file, usually quarterly, with the IRS. Eligible
employers will be able to claim the new tax incentive on their revised employment
tax form for the second quarter of 2010.
Do
You Have A Social Media Policy?
‘Social
media‘ is the term commonly given to websites, online tools and other
Interactive Communication Technologies (ICT) which allow users to interact
with each other in some way – by sharing information, opinions, knowledge
and interests. Blogs, podcasts, ‘wikis’, message boards, social
bookmarking websites, social networking websites (such as LinkedIn, MySpace
and Facebook) and content sharing websites (such as Flickr, YouTube). It
is seemingly common sense, but unless it is prohibited in writing, social
media could potentially interfere with an employee’s
work time. That's why it is important to add a social media policy to your
employee handbook. Not sure of what to say? Printing Industries of America
has several examples to choose from taken from other printing companies around
the country. Check them out and choose one that works for your firm at
http://www.printing.org/page/5986.
Emerging
from 'The Great Recession'
As firms struggle to emerge from 'The
Great Recession,' they need to focus on the opportunities that likely
exist within their own client base. This should start with a spread sheet
exercise that tracks sales by client over the last year--job by job--and
captures materials and outside purchases on each of them, thus showing
net value added for each one. Then sort this in order of value added
dollars.
The folks at the top of the list are the gold in your
business, and chances are they make up a very substantial part
of your total value added. You may find they share characteristics in
common (same industry or business model) that will help you look for
prospects that are similar. You may even be able to use your present
clients as referrals. It's also worthwhile to remember that high value
clients may have tough demands or pay slowly, but they DO pay. If you
can manage these conditions, it separates you from the competition and
makes higher pricing possible.
OSHA
Wants to Add to Form 300
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) recently issued a proposed rule that would add a column
to Form 300 to track musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Form
300 tracks an employer's occupational injuries and illnesses
for the year. Many business groups believe that the addition
of the MSD column on the form is an effort by OSHA to collect
MSD data so they can make a case to Congress that the agency
should be allowed to create a new ergonomics standard.
OSHA also is proposing to remove existing
language from its record keeping compliance directive that "minor
musculoskeletal discomfort" is not recordable as a restricted
work case "if a health care professional determines
that the employee is fully able to perform all of his or
her routine job functions, and the employer assigns a work
restriction for the purpose of preventing a more serious
injury." OSHA is concerned that this language creates
confusion among employers about recording MSDs. OSHA's proposal
attempts to clarify that employers must record abnormal conditions
resulting in minor musculoskeletal discomfort, regardless
of whether the conditions include objective signs of an injury
or illness-so long as all of the other criteria for recording
are met.
PGAMA will keep the membership informed as to any status
changes on these proposals.
Membership
Is A Treasure-Are You Enjoying the Riches?
If you're not sure what your PGAMA membership
has to offer, do not delay--contact Jan Keadle today
and find out about the array of programs that can benefit
you and your employees. Jan is your Membership Services Director,
and she will be happy to walk you through the PGAMA website
to familiarize you with the treasures available 24/7. But
if you prefer you can make an appointment with her to personally
visit your company to discuss member benefits. She's trained
to show you how you can save money on products and services,
credit and collections information and publications.
Contact Jan today to revisit the value of your membership through participating
in the Association's programs and services, jan@pgama.com or 410-319-0900/877-319-0906
ext. 106.
Member
Anniversaries
Congratulations to the following
members marking major anniversaries of Association membership:
30 years
Brown & Associates
25
Years
Byron S. Adams
20 Years
MargolisBecker
15 Years
Ex Arte Design
Metro Printing Equipment
Spectrum Printing & Graphics
Member
News
Many thanks to the
PGAMA members who volunteered their time and resources
to support the 2010 Maryland SkillsUSA competition last
weekend. 10 students competed in the event, which was held
at Printing Specialist Corporation in Glen
Burnie, MD. The winner was Travis Smith from the Center for
Applied Technology North (Anne Arundel County), taught by
Michael Born. Travis is now eligible to enter the national
level competition to be held this summer. PGAMA will sponsor
him, if he chooses to participate, by covering travel and
lodging expenses.
The industry member
volunteers who helped the event go smoothly were:
Competition Chair:
Keith Roberts, Standard Graphics
Chairman PGAMA Workforce Development Committee: Russ
Hewitt, GraphTec
Judge for Electronic PrePress (Desktop Publishing): Jamie
Stotz, Mosaic
Judge for Finishing (Binding & Folding): John
Gaccek, Standard Graphics
Judges for Offset
Press Operations: Dave
Johnson, Heidelberg; Chris Saulter, Minuteman
Press Glen Burnie
Judge for Oral Professional Assessment (Job Interview): Jack
Biondo, General Envelope
Judge for Production Planning:
Charlie Benjamin, DLLR
Supervisor, Technical Knowledge Test: Paul
Foster, PGAMA
Student Gift Bags sponsored by: xpedx
Ink Donation: A & S
Graphics
Competition Host:
Gary Habicht,
Printing Specialist Corporation
Look for pictures of the
volunteers and students in action on pgama.com and in the
spring issue of Print Matters, member magazine!
Upcoming
Events
| April 12-13 |
Seminar:
Total Immersion Digital Color, at
Printing Industries of America in Sewickley,
PA. This brand
new workshop designed to supply you with a
comprehensive look at what it takes to produce
reliable, high-quality digital output. The
instruction will provide two intense days of
hands-on training to get you totally immersed—and
totally knowledgeable—on the subject
of digital color and press optimization. Apply
the troubleshooting, benchmarking, and maintenance
skills you learn at Total Immersion: Optimizing
Color from Your Digital Press to improve color
output and consistency, increase production
speed while maintaining quality, and build
and ensure customer satisfaction. Cost is $595
for members$1095 for non-members. Register
online at http://www.printing.org/node/5965. |
| April 15 |
Webinar:
Maximize Press Time with Pit-Stop Main, 2:00-3:00pm.
While it’s accepted that preventive equipment
maintenance should be scheduled regularly, companies
are often reluctant to give up press time to
do so. Don’t skimp on this necessary task—instead,
learn how to substantially reduce the time it
takes—by up to 60%—and reduce unscheduled
downtime as well. Presented by Ken Rizzo, Director
of Technical and Lean Services for Printing Industries
of America's Center for Technology and Research.
Cost is $99 for members/$199 for non-members.
More details
and register at http://www.printing.org/node/5950. |
| April 20-22 |
ONDEMAND
Conference & Expo, Pennsylvania
Convention Center,
Philadelphia, PA.
Attend ON DEMAND to See Printing Technology in Action & Learn
What You Need to Succeed! Join more than 10,000
Print-for-Profit, Corporate In-Plant and Publishing
Professionals who attend each year to learn how to
establish, manage, market and grow their printing business
with the latest digital printing technology and automated
finishing solutions. All PGAMA members are pre-registered
for a Free
Expo Hall Pass!
*****PGAMA
has arranged for bus transportation to the
Conference on April 21st. Cost is $50 for members/$75 for non-members. Bus will
pick up at College Park, Catonsville,
& White Marsh Park 'n Ride stops. LIMITED
SPACE AVAILABLE-CALL PGAMA BY 4/16 TO SAVE YOUR SEAT,
410-319-0900. |
| April 29 |
Webinar:
Avoiding Combustible Dust Citations, 2:00-3:00pm.
A new National Emphasis Program (NEP) by OSHA
focuses specifically on combustible dust hazards
for general industry, including printers, and
has been triggering numerous OSHA inspections
and citations on printers under a variety of
standards including general housekeeping, hazard
communication, and hazardous locations. OSHA
citations have been issued for operations with
dust accumulation exceeding just 1/32 of an inch!
This program is designed to help printers understand
the scope of the new program and how to avoid
falling victim to citation and penalties. Presented
by Rick Hartwig, Environmental, Health, and Safety
Affairs Manager for Printing Industries of America.
Cost is $99 for members/$199 for non-members.
More details and register at http://www.printing.org/node/6034. |
May 16-19
Baltimore Show! |
2010
PIFE Spring Conference, Baltimore
Hilton, Baltimore, Maryland. Come meet and
network with other finance professionals, plus
find out about the latest technologies and
keys to profitability to help successfully
manage your company’s
finance and administration functions. PIFE
meetings provide continuing education credits.
Learn more at http://www.printing.org/event-calendar/5642. |
May 17-19
Baltimore Show! |
2010
Offset & Beyond,
Baltimore
Hilton, Baltimore, Maryland. Attend
to get the resources, tools, and connections
you need to succeed. Offset & Beyond
offers topics that cover business opportunities
and trends, comprehensive technology, production,
digital, sales, marketing, and financial sessions
via leadership, operations, and production
tracks. Learn more at http://www.printing.org/offsetandbeyond. |
May 17-19
Baltimore Show! |
2010
BIA Mid Management Conference, Baltimore
Hilton, Baltimore, Maryland. The
BIA Mid-Management Conference brings together
mid-managers from trade binderies, graphic finishing,
information packaging, custom loose-leaf manufacturing,
and the suppliers to those industries. Be prepared
for a blitz of information, new products and ideas,
as well as unparalleled networking with your
peers from around the world. Plant tours featuring
PGAMA members, too! Learn more at http://www.printing.org/event-calendar/5946. |
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