OSHA Steps Up Enforcements
OSHA has announced three enforcement efforts that add to obligations for employers and increase penalties for violations. They include:
1. Rescinding the Enhanced Enforcement Program (EEP) and replacing it with the Severe Violator Enforcement Program (SVEP) to increase its enforcement efforts against employers who have demonstrated an “indifference” to workplace safety obligations.
2. Altering the penalty classification and assessment scheme, which will result in increased fines for violations. As a result of the changes, OSHA predicts that the average penalty for a serious violation will increase from $1,000 to $3,000 or more.
3. Initiating a rulemaking for an injury and illness prevention program. The rule would contain three distinct parts requiring employers to plan, prevent, and protect employees from workplace injuries and illnesses. Under the rule, OSHA would require employers to create a plan for identifying and remedying risks associated with hazards and OSHA violations.
If you are worried your company is at risk of an OSHA inspection, contact the Printing Industries of America Environmental, Health and Safety Department at 800-910-4283, ext. 792. Additional information regarding OSHA and the printing industry can be found at www.printing.org/osha.
Managing Personnel Files
It is always good for a company to periodically review its practices related to maintaining and handling information in employee personnel files. A few guidelines to remember:
By law the company must separate employee's personnel files as follows:
- Medical Information File – medical related information from the employee's personnel file must be placed in a medical information file.
- Financial Information File – the company, as a matter of sound practice, should have financial information removed from personnel files and placed in a financial information file.
- Separate Binder or File – any copies of the documentation provided by the employee to comply with the I-9 (Immigration Form) must be attached to their I-9 and kept in a separate binder or file.
- Basic Personnel File – this file should contain information that is related to the employee's job performance or employment records such as their application form, W-4, etc. As a general rule the employee should be aware of all the information contained in their personnel file.
Regarding access to personnel files:
- The contents of an employee's file, except for letters of reference and certain other limited kinds of information are open for the employees' inspection upon request, at reasonable times.
- An employee, upon their request, must receive from the company a copy of any form or document that has been signed by them.
- The company must keep personnel records confidential based on a legitimate business or job related need to know. However, there are certain times when information may be given to persons outside of the company. These include responses to subpoenas, court orders, or orders of administrative agencies; in a lawsuit in which the employee and/or the company are parties; to administer employee benefit plans; or to a health care provider.
Should You or Shouldn't You Offer Extended Terms?
It's hardly surprising nowadays to have prospects ask if they can receive extended terms. While it's always better to receive payment earlier rather than later, don't automatically refuse their business. In truth, it's better to have someone tell you up front that they want /need 180 days to pay rather than give you the order and then take the same amount of time to pay for it anyway. Buyers seeking extended terms have limited their sources of supply (i.e., your competition); so there should be no hesitation on your part to ask for a price to compensate for the cost of capital. Of course, before offering the terms and accepting the order, be sure to check the buyer's credit (call PGAMA for assistance with this). It's also a good idea and very reasonable to get a personal guarantee from the buyer. Finally, accepting this type of order assumes that your working capital position will support it, and that it's not so large an investment that non-payment will destroy your business.
Economy Impacting FSC Certification
There was a time when print buyers insisted on the use of paper from sustainable forests, with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) emerging as the buyer's certifier of choice. However, tough economic times combined with the generally higher cost of FSC certified paper has impacted print buyers' enthusiasm for the product, and significantly decreased demand. As a result, a number of firms around the country are opting not to renew their FSC certification, and are not losing business as a result of that decision.
Interviews: What Not to Ask
Legally speaking, you can ask just about anything at a job interview. But there are plenty of questions that you shouldn't actually ask, because they could be interpreted as discriminatory. If an employer then chooses not to hire the applicant, it can be very easy for that person to say that he or she didn't get the job due to discrimination. Some major no-no's:
* Are you planning on having children?
* Have you ever been arrested?
* What religion do you practice?
* Have you ever declared bankruptcy or had your wages garnished?
* Do you have any handicaps?
* What ethnic background do you come from?
* Are you pregnant?
Even a question like "What does your husband do?" could be problematic since the answer reveals both sexual orientation and marital status. In order to make sure that you stay on track during an interview, plan questions ahead of time based on what skills are needed to fulfill the job. It's also a good idea for small business owners to ask their attorney for a list of questions that are best avoided.
Excerpted from "Questions You Can't Ask When Hiring", first published May 14, 2010 on www.openforum.com.
Offset & Beyond Puts Members in Spotlight
The Offset & Beyond Conference, held in Baltimore last week, was extremely well received by attendees, with the best turnout of any Printing Industries of America event in the past year. Those who came enjoyed the chance to mingle and discuss common problems, solutions, and what the future holds for the industry; with the overall consensus that while printers are continuing to deal with an unsettling economy, it is still incredibly feasible to make a profit. Given its hometown location, PGAMA members played a large role in the Conference, including:
- Katherine Kurzman of EnerNoc, who was a panelist for "Reduce your Energy Cost Today" seminar, and Bart Krupnick of MargolisBecker who was a facilitator for the same program
- Anne Quirk, of M&T Bank, who served as a panelist for the seminar "Financing Your Business in a Challenging Economy"
- Bindagraphics, Advantage Bookbinding and K & W finishing, all of which were featured stops on the popular Bindery tour
In addition to the creation of local industry stars, other highlights of the Conference were:
- Speaker D. Michael Abrashoff, former Navy commander and author of It's Your Ship, who discussed empowering a crew to improve the way things are done
- U.S. Representative Kevin McCarthy's talk that credited the printing industry as key to his political success, and his recommendation of four books to challenge people to think differently about their business and the world economy (The World Is Flat, From Good to Great, Money Ball, and The Forgotten Man)
- Jeffrey Hayzlett, chief marketing officer for Eastman Kodak, who summarized how business owners can ensure their business is thriving
- A panel discussion about the truth behind "Do Not Mail"
- And Ben Cooper, executive director, The Print Council, whose session "The Case for Print," reminded everyone how important and viable print will continue to be in the coming years
Look for more info and photos from the event in the Summer issue of PGAMA's Print Matters magazine coming in late June.
Member
News & Activities
Congratulations to Marty Anson and Jerry Nocar, who were inducted into the Binding Industries of America Hall of Fame last Tuesday during the 2010 Offset & Beyond Conference.
EU Services believes in the value of investing in professional training for press operators. See what VP Tom Loudon had to say about Heidelberg's Print Media Academy in the latest Printing Impressions PI World.
MOSAIC's eco-friendly printing practices were the focus of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce blog on May 21st. Check it out at http://blog.mdchamber.com/mosaic-makes-conservation-a-top-priority?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MarylandChamberBlog+(Maryland+Chamber+Blog)
Upcoming
Events
| June 2-23 |
CSR
Training Webinar Series, Noon-1:00pm.
Sid Chadwick's
CSR Webinar Series continues. Part 3 on June 2 focuses
on Winning More Profitable Work and will address:
- Improving your request for quote hit-ratio
- What a more effective estimate/quote should contain
- Questions to ask for improved quotes and proposals
- How to follow-up with customers, before the award, and win needed work
- Using suppliers to win work, and create elevated margins and perceived value
Cost is $75 per session. All
you need to participate is a phone and a computer with Internet connection! Register
with PGAMA up to two days before broadcast, 410-319-0900/877-319-0906 or www.pgama.com. |
June 1-3
Registration extended 'til 2:00pm tomorrow, 5/28! |
Introduction
to Printing, PGAMA
Boardroom. Give your new-to-the
industry employees an understanding of
how the entire printing process works--from
start to finish. Great for CSRs, Sales, Management
& more! Course schedule is Tues: 8:30am
- 4:30pm; Wed: AM field trip/PM class; Thurs:
8:30am-Noon. Cost
is $295.00/person for members/$495.00/person
for non-members. Fee includes all instructional
materials, lunch every day, & transportation
for field trip. To register contact Debbie at
PGAMA, 410-319-0900/877-319-0906 or online
at www.pgama.com. |
| June 10 |
Webinar:
Improving Employee Performance through Coaching,
2:00-3:00pm. Printing Industries of America is
offering this successful webinar again for managers
ready to coach their employees for Peak Performance!
You’ll hear about strategies and approaches
which will help you to tap into your employees’ strengths
and optimize their performance. Led by Richard
(Rick) Green, Principal, Green Communication
Strategies, a consultant to the Printing Industries
of America who also speaks at conferences to
help companies improve their supervisory skills.
Cost is $49 for members/$99 for non-members.
More info and register at www.printing.org/node/5972 |
June 14
Only 2 weeks to go~ hurry and make your reservation! |
PGAMA's
5th Annual Golf Outing,
at Crofton
Country Club in Crofton, MD. PGAMA’s
annual golf outing is the perfect place to
make contacts with fellow members and other
professionals. There’s also excellent
food, awards, and cash prizes;* so recruit
a foursome, polish your swing, and prepare
for a challenging game on this Arnold Palmer
course. *Prizes are given for Longest Drive,
Closest to Pin, and Hole in One.
Cost is $150
per person. (Lunch/awards only is $45 per
person.) To Register: Call the office, 410-319-0900/877-319-0906. Sponsors
Welcome~Only $125 to sponsor a hole! For
info, 410-319-0900. |
June 22
|
Cocktails
& Connections-FREE Member
Happy Hour, at Caddies
on Cordell in Bethesda, MD. Member firm Xerox
is sponsoring this event, and invites members
for cocktails, appetizers, and an exclusive
opportunity to meet and learn from Roger Gimbel,
President of Gimbel & Associates,
who will discuss variable data color printing
with live examples of real world successful
applications currently being done. He will
have real business examples of personalized
and customized direct mail marketing,
trans-promo statements, and related marketing
campaigns he has used successfully. Join us
just for drinks, or beat the traffic and
come to the presentation first at 3:30pm, then
stay for happy hour from 5:30-7:30pm. This
is a FREE event for members ($25 for non-members),
but pre-registration is required. RSVP
to PGAMA by June 18, 410-319-0900/877-319-0906
or online at www.pgama.com. |
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