Just A Few Days Left To Submit Your Print Pieces
The deadline for Print Excellence Awards submissions is February 15, 2015.This competition celebrates the very best in print and why not see how your work stacks up against the competition? Additional entry forms can be found on our website at www.wsprint.org. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call 1-800-910-4283 (ext. 777). All pieces must be shipped (or delivered by hand) to WSPA c/o ASU Print & Imaging Lab (6075 S. Innovation Way W. Technology Room 117. Mesa, AZ 85212. Award ceremonies will be held on April 23, 2015 in Phoenix (Rustler's Rooste) and April 30, 2015 in Denver (Embassy Suites Downtown). Mark your calendars!
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 IRS Provides Advice to Small Employers on Upcoming Changes for Tax Credits
The IRS has issued a list of changes regarding the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit for tax years beginning in 2014 or later, along with a list of return preparer best practices. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS. The IRS fact sheet reminds small employers that they may continue to be eligible to claim the tax credit for tax years beginning in 2010 - 2013, and, if an employer was eligible for the credit in prior years but failed to claim it, it advises an amendment to prior years' returns, although the usual refund limitations apply. To be eligible to claim the credit, small employers are generally required to purchase a qualified health plan (QHP) from a Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Marketplace, although, for 2014, small employers in certain states may purchase a SHOP QHP directly from an insurance agent or broker. To meet the SHOP participation requirement for 2014, they must then obtain a letter of SHOP eligibility from the SHOP Marketplace. Transition relief from this requirement is also available for some small employers.
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 New OSHA Rule In Effect
An important reminder that OSHA's revised injury reporting rule took effect on January 1, 2015 and its scope includes all printing operations. OSHA has dramatically reduced the threshold for when an injury must be reported and has also added some additional categories. Employers will now be required to report any work-related incidents that result in an amputation, loss of an eye, or in-patient hospitalization of one or more employees within 24 hours. Any fatality must still be reported within eight hours. Before this revision, employers were only required to report a work-related injury hospitalization of three or more employees and did not even need to report an amputation or loss of an eye. Importantly after this revised requirement goes into effect, OSHA will act on the reports and they can and will most likely trigger an inspection. In addition, these reports will be made publicly available via the OSHA website for customers, employees, and competitors to read. |
 Union Membership Falls in 2014
In 2014, the union membership rate was 11.1 percent, down 0.2 percentage points from 2013 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Private-sector unionization was at 6.6 percent, compared to 35.7 percent for the public sector.
Manufacturing union membership fell to 9.7 percent (from 10.1 percent in 2013) and Non-durable goods manufacturing fell to 10 percent (from 10.4 percent). New York had the highest union membership rate in the country at 24.6%, while North Carolina had the lowest at 1.9 percent.
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 Profit With Volume There's no question that managing a multi-shift business is more difficult than one that runs days only. Life is simpler when the boss can go home at five o'clock and click it off. The problem is that profitability and even survival is unlikely that way. Simply put, the clients won't pay enough for the work to enable the business to function on that level. Firms in our industry who have changed their focus to 24/5 or 24/6 have made a wonderful discovery. They now have more than doubled the dollars they earn to pay for the same overhead because they didn't have to get a bigger building or buy more equipment to do so. Yes, they had to add management strength to handle the operation and they had to move away from a rigid adherence to their estimating system to generate the volume, but at the end of the day there were real profit dollars at the end of the month. As a bonus, they usually discovered that 24/5 shortened their turnaround time - a big deal in a world of "I need it yesterday."
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Weekly Photo Feature:
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
Each week E-Connects will share incredible photos on just how lax companies can be when it comes to safety.
The goal - to keep a safe work environment front and center on the minds of all of your employees.
Duck tape may be great in a pinch but it is never acceptable as a replacement for a lock for lockout tagout purposes.
If you come across a funny safety pic you think should be featured, email Michael Makin at mmakin@wsprint.org
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 Let us hear about your news! Have exciting news at your facility? For example, recognized for community service or install a new press? Hire a new employee you want to show off? Let us know so we can share in a future edition of E-Connects.
Send your news to Michael Makin at mmakin@wsprint.org.
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Quote For The Week
"Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death."
Albert Einstein
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