Hampton Roads
Employment News
Volume 14 February 2009
In This Issue
VCATS: Poised for Impact
Unemployment Rates
Changes In Employment Law
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VCATS: Poised for Impact
Introducing the First VCATS Graduates 
 

VCATS
 
The Virginia Council on Advanced Technology Skills (VCATS) is Virginia's only industry-endorsed workforce training and certification initiative, established to address a mounting need for a skilled workforce in advanced manufacturing. Funded in part by the U.S. Department of Labor, VCATS is co-led by the Virginia Manufacturers Association (VMA); Virginia Biotechnology Association (VaBio); Training and Development Corporation, a national, non-profit organization; and private-sector partners.

Why is this the industry program of choice? Designed and validated by its founding industry partners, VCATS curriculum is customized to meet the demands of the advanced technology industry. VCATS is poised to advance the state's fourth largest private industry sector.  VCATS will position Virginia to meet its growing demand for advanced manufacturing technicians in three ways: 1) developing a competency-based training and certification program in collaboration with existing and emerging employers, 2) educating current and prospective employees on the lucrative benefits of advanced manufacturing careers, and 3) developing a labor-exchange resource that makes job placement easier for both employers and employees.
 
The 2008 Virginia Industry Leadership Forum, hosted in Williamsburg, VA by the Virginia Manufacturers Association, provided the backdrop for the first of many steps VCATS will take to support industry advancement. Twenty-three manufacturing technicians received their Certificate of Completion for Level 1 Advanced Manufacturing Technician Training. VCATS congratulates these first graduates who have set the program in motion to reach its goal of awarding sixty Level 1 Certificates by April 2009.

Visit www.vacats.org for more information or to contact Sheryl Bryan, VCATS program director. 
 
 

VMA
Reliance Staffing Services is a proud member of the VMA.
 
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As the year moves along we are working hard to provide you and your firm with relevant employment news.  As always we welcome your feedback, feel free to let us know if you have a suggestion or a story of your own!  Simply reply to this email and your comments will go directly to our Vice President!  Thank you.
Unemployment Rates
  
 December 08 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Source: Virginia.gov
 
Recent Changes In Employment Law
 
By Arlene F. Klinedinst, Esq.
Vandeventer Black LLP

January 2009 was an important month for changes in federal labor and employment law.  This article will summarize three January changes in federal employment law, but is not intended to substitute for legal advice. 
 
First, as of January 1, 2009, recent amendments to the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA") became effective.  The ADA applies to all employers with 15 or more employees, and prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in the workplace.  ADA also requires covered employers to reasonably accommodate disabilities of applicants and employees, unless such accommodation would create an undue burden on the employer or pose a direct threat to the health and safety of the disabled individual or co-workers.  
 
The ADA amendments overrule several years of case law which defined "disability" narrowly.  The new amendments to ADA broaden the definition of "disability" to afford protection to more people.  Currently, an impairment will be qualify as a "disability" under ADA if it substantially limits one or more major life activities, which now include not only walking, sleeping, eating etc., but also major bodily functions such as respiration, circulation, reproduction, etc.  The amendments also clarified that a disabled individual's use of aides, medicines, or other devices will not be considered in determining whether an impairment substantially limits a major life activity, except for ordinary eyeglasses in the case of sight-impaired individuals.  The amendments further specify that an impairment which is episodic or in remission also will be considered a "disability" if it substantially limits an individual's major life activity when it is active.  
 
Another change to federal employment law occurred on January 16, 2009, when the new regulations under the Family and Medical Leave Act ("FMLA") became effective.  Those final regulations were issued on November 17, 2008, by the Department of Labor ("DOL"), and are extensive.  They can be found at the DOL's website, www.DOL.gov
 
Only employers with 50 or more employees are covered by the federal FMLA.  To be eligible for FMLA leave, employees must have been employed by a covered employer for at least one year, must have worked at least 1250 hours during the previous 12 months, and must be employed at a location where the employer has 50 or more employees within a 75-mile radius.  

One of the most important changes in the new FMLA regulations is the issuance of new FMLA forms for various types of FMLA leave.  Those forms are available from the DOL website and are recommended for notifying employees of their FMLA rights and documenting employees' FMLA leave. 
 
 
 
Need Temporary Staff?  
The goal of Reliance Staffing is to understand your personnel needs and provide you with the most qualified, experienced  professionals possible.
 
Our screening, training and matching process begins with a thorough interview and evaluation of each applicant's experience and past performance. Next we use real-world, custom designed tests to measure the applicant's skills and professionalism in a live environment. Finally, we examine the requirements of our client's open position and select the ideal candidate for the assignment.
 
We take pride in knowing that we can provide our clients with the most skilled and knowledgeable employees available today. 
 
Contact Reliance Staffing Services Today
873-6644 Newport News
490-1700 Virginia Beach
382-7222 Chesapeake
925-0400 Suffolk
Client
Comments 
"The group you sent today was awesome, as well!  Thank you so much for your hard work, I have been very impressed by the quality of individuals that you have sent to me.  All of the individuals that we are bringing in, I know, are going to be a great addition to our team!"
 
Christy Morris, Director of Operations
Global Advantage, Inc.