Employer Update from the Maine Department of Labor October/November

Maine Department of Labor sent this bulletin at 10/31/2014 02:03 PM EDT

Vol. 1, Iss. 8 - October/November 2014

Commissioner's Corner

Commissioner of Labor Jeanne S. Paquette

What Separates You as an Employer?

We know that Maine faces an aging problem. Data show that we need to attract new people to Maine, especially younger workers with young families.

This task is not insurmountable.

In October, the Best Places to Work in Maine program awarded more than 70 Maine businesses, in small-, medium- and large-employer categories, as a "Best Place to Work" based on feedback from anonymous employees. Promoting our workplace culture is key to attracting new talent, both locally and from out of state.

Are we including reasons for living in our town or state in our recruitment messaging?

Do we promote living in Maine on our careers page of our website?

Does your town have a community group that offers a "Welcome Wagon" to new residents?

As the economy moves from an employers' market to an employees' market, we must highlight what makes our organizations exceptional in order to attract the best talent.

When was the last time we asked our own employees why they choose to work and live in our great state? Utilizing their input can help in your recruitment messaging.

Employer Services

Hiring Assistance

Maine Apprenticeship Program

Maine’s Job Bank

Work Experience for ASPIRE Participants

Inclusion of people with disabilities into the workforce

New Webpage for Employers Hiring Workers with Disabilities

MDOL's Bureau of Rehabilitation Services (BRS) partners with businesses interested in diversifying their workforce by hiring or retaining people with disabilities. Its new webpage links to state and national resources to answer employer's questions and connect your business with other Maine employers that hire people with disabilities.

Employer Contacts

Email: mdol@maine.gov

Phone:

Department of Labor Customer Service
(207) 623-7900

Unemployment Tax
(207) 621-5120

CareerCenters
1-888-457-8883

Foreign Labor Certification
(207) 623-7900

Work Opportunity Tax Credit
(207) 623-7981
1-888-457-8883

Wage and Hour / Youth Employment / Overtime
(207) 623-7900

SafetyWorks!
(207) 623-7900

Rehabilitation Services
1-800-698-4440

Center for Workforce Research and Information
(207) 623-7900

Hiring people with disabilities
1-855-ALL-HIRE

Free Labor Posters

TTY users dial Maine Relay 711.

Mail
Maine Department of Labor 54 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333

Social Media Links for the Department of Labor, CareerCenters and SafetyWorks!

A service of the Maine Department of Labor

Paul R. LePage

Governor

Jeanne S. Paquette

Commissioner

Maine Job Bank Has Record 9,200 Open Jobs

The Maine Job Bank at http://www.mainecareercenter.com has 9,219 job openings active on October 31, an all-time high.

Commissioner of Labor Jeanne Paquette explained how the department uses the Job Bank to help laid-off, unemployed or underemployed workers, "Our first place to look for jobs for affected workers is the Maine Job Bank. We thank all employers who have let us know of their openings in light of recent layoffs and suggest that all employers post positions on the Job Bank; there they can post and access their account 24/7 at no charge. There is also no cost to job seekers to search or post their resumes.”

The Maine Job Bank is one of many no-charge services provided by the CareerCenters.

Click to learn more.

New Federal OSHA Recordkeeping Regulations Start Jan. 1, 2015

OSHA has changed the lists of businesses required to maintain OSHA Recordkeeping forms based on their NAICS code. Specifically automobile dealers, certain real estate lessors, janitorial businesses and certain social service agencies will now be required to record and maintain OSHA injury and illness forms, assuming business has 11 or more employees. Some businesses will now be exempt from maintaining the forms such as publishers, gasoline stations with convenience stores and corporate headquarters. There are also new rules on reporting fatalities, amputations, loss of an eye, and inpatient hospitalizations.

SafetyWorks! has scheduled two additional classes on OSHA recordkeeping: Nov. 17 and Dec. 8. Both classes run from 8 am to 3:30 p.m. in Augusta at the SAFETYWORKS Training Institute. Call 207-623-7900 to enroll.

SafetyWorks! can provide your organization or business with a one-hour overview on these updates. Contact 207-623-7903.

Further information on the changes is available at https://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping2014/index.html

DOL Hosts HR Day

Collage of HR Day events at the Department of Labor, including various people visiting with staff at booths and Commissioner Paquette welcoming the at

Labor Commissioner Jeanne Paquette welcoming attendees to the event and staff from the CareerCenters, Legislative Affairs and Unemployment Compensation answering questions from guests.

On Oct. 2 and 30, MDOL hosted more than 300 employers at our bi-annual "HR Day" to connect HR professionals or those with HR responsibilities with services the Department offers to support day-to-day operations. Topics included recruitment services, wage and hour and labor standards compliance, unemployment hearings processes, workforce development, and an update on Maine's changing labor market.

The Department is gauging interest in a third event later this year. If interested, e-mail timothy.j.sardano@maine.gov.

White House Recognizes Maine's Business's Leadership in Employing People with Disabilities in Maine

On Oct. 14, 2014 the White House honored David Bartage of Falmouth, plant finance manager of Procter and Gamble’s facility in Auburn, as a "Champion of Change"—part of a focus on people doing extraordinary work to create employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

Bartage’s leadership helped develop accessible employment opportunities at the Auburn plant’s FlexiCenter, where 40 percent of employees are individuals with disabilities. Since the FlexiCenter’s inception, there has been an increase in customization productivity and workforce morale across the entire plant.

State Educates Public on Industry Partnership Model

Garret Oswald speaking to the workshop audience.

The Departments of Labor and Education presented industry partnerships to businesses, educators, and workforce and economic development professionals at a workshop in Augusta on Oct. 6.

The industry partnership model brings together businesses and industry, having similar hiring needs, with strategic partners that can deliver education, training, and support services to develop a shared workforce. Contact your local CareerCenter for available training/recruitment services.

Looking SHARP: Steel-Pro

Governor LePage's Senior Economic Policy Advisor, John Butera (right), presents Steel-Pro's President Steve Ladd (left) and COO Craig Wells (center) the SHARP award on Oct. 29, 2014.

Steel-Pro, Inc., in Rockland has earned the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program Award (SHARP) in recognition of its rigorous safety achievement program. Steel-Pro is a custom manufacturer of ASME pressure vessels, biopharmaceutical equipment, modular skids, vacuum chambers, storage tanks and other custom designed equipment and stainless steel applications.

“Employers earn SHARP recognition by operating their facility under strict safety and health management standards,” said Governor Paul R. LePage. “We congratulate Steel-Pro for earning SHARP certification. They demonstrate to their industry that making safety a priority pays off.”

About SHARP: To qualify for SHARP, companies voluntarily undergo a comprehensive safety audit, correct all hazards identified during an onsite health and safety consultation, demonstrate that effective safety and health programs are in place and maintain injury rates below the industry average for the last year of completed data. After awarding the SHARP designation, OSHA removes the worksite from its general scheduled inspection list for two years. If the company continues to meet all conditions of the program, the SHARP designation may be renewed for another two years.

In this Issue

Employer Services
New Webpage for Employers Hiring Workers with Disabilities
Employer Contacts
Maine Job Bank Has Record 9,200 Open Jobs
New Federal OSHA Recordkeeping Regulations Start Jan. 1, 2015
DOL Hosts HR Day
White House Recognizes Maine's Business's Leadership in Employing People with Disabilities in Maine
Looking SHARP: Steel-Pro
Job Fairs

Job Fairs

Lewiston CareerCenter
Nov. 3, 9 to 11 a.m.
Portland CareerCenter
Nov. 5, noon to 3 p.m.
3rd Annual Southern Midcoast Maine Hiring Maine's Heroes Job Fair, Brunswick
Nov. 12, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Hiring Our Heroes, Portland Nov. 12, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Augusta CareerCenter
Nov. 24, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Lewiston CareerCenter
Dec. 1, 9 to 11 a.m.
Portland CareerCenter
Dec. 3, noon to 3 p.m.

Want to participate in an upcoming job fair? Need help with recruitment or training? Contact your local CareerCenter and ask for the Business Services Representative or CareerCenter Manager. Follow your local CareerCenter on social media.

TTY users call Maine Relay 711

Augusta CareerCenter
21 Enterprise Drive, Suite 2
Augusta, ME 04333-0109
Tel: (207) 624-5120
augusta.careercenter@maine.gov

Tri-County CareerCenter
45 Oak Street, Suite 3
Bangor, ME 04401-7902
Tel: (207) 561-4050
bangor.careercenter@maine.gov

Southern Midcoast CareerCenter
275 Bath Road, Suite #3
Brunswick, Maine 04011
Tel: (207) 373-4000
brunswick.careercenter@maine.gov

Calais CareerCenter
One College Drive
Calais, ME 04619-0415
Tel: (207) 454-7551
calais.careercenter@maine.gov

Lewiston CareerCenter
5 Mollison Way
Lewiston, ME 04240-5805
Tel: (207) 753-9001
lewiston.careercenter@maine.gov

Machias CareerCenter
53 Prescott Drive, Suite 1
Machias, ME 04654
machias.careercenter@maine.gov

Portland CareerCenter
185 Lancaster Street
Portland, ME 04101-2453
Tel: (207) 771-5627
portland.careercenter@maine.gov

Presque Isle CareerCenter
66 Spruce Street, Suite 1
Presque Isle, ME 04769-3222
Tel: (207) 760-6300
presqueisle.careercenter@maine.gov

Rockland CareerCenter
91 Camden Street, Suite 201
Rockland, ME 04841-3424
Tel: (207) 596-2600
rockland.careercenter@maine.gov

Skowhegan CareerCenter
98 North Avenue
Skowhegan, ME 04976-1923
Tel: (207) 474-4950
skowhegan.careercenter@maine.gov

York County CareerCenter
9 Bodwell Court
Springvale, ME 04083
Tel: (207) 324-5460
springvale.careercenter@maine.gov

Wilton CareerCenter
865 US Route 2E
Wilton, ME 04294-6649
Tel: (207) 645-5800

SafetyWorks! specializes in practical solutions to help make workplaces safer and healthier.

SafetyWorks!, at no charge to your business, can help you prevent work-related injuries, illnesses and deaths and reduce related costs. Our services are confidential and we don't issue fines or citations.

Click to register

Public Sector: Bureau of Labor Standards (BLS)

Nov. 3, Rockland

Establishing an Effective Safety Committee

Nov. 4, Augusta

School Laboratory Safety

Nov. 5, Portland

10-Hour Construction Standards Training

Nov. 6-7, Augusta

Video Display Terminal Train-the-Trainer

Nov. 13, Augusta

Forklift Operator Training