Small Biz Offers a Solution to Unemployment

Unemployment numbers continue to rise- the latest numbers from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics finds that the number of unemployed persons has increased to 15.1 million, and the unemployment rate has doubled to 9.8 percent since the recession began. Kathy Brockmann, corporate executive recruiter at Extended Care Clinical LLC, sees this as an opportunity for their organization. The Evanston-based health care consulting firm is worried about finding enough trained nurses and nursing assistants for the long-term-care facilities it serves as they look to expand. They are also concerned that as the economy picks up the shortage of qualified caregivers will grow. As a result they are collaborating with nearby colleges to offer laid- off or downsized unemployed workers the opportunity to be trained in the nursing field for free. The “Pay It Forward…Helping Americans Get Back to Work” program offers qualified individuals to attend nearby schools like Wilbur Wright College in Chicago or Everest College in Northwest Indiana to become a Certified Nurses Aide (CNA). In addition to covering the more than $7,000 costs of tuition and course materials per student, the program offers assurance of employment after they complete their CNA coursework and while they move on to pursue an LPN or Licensed Practical Nurse certification. Representatives from Extended Care Clinical LLC say that they initiative is highly successful with hundreds of applicants.

Employers Beware of Retaliation Lawsuits

As unemployment numbers rise the Equal Opportunity Commission is reporting that more employees are filing allegations that they were fired as a means of retaliation. The number of claims has risen by 23 percent. Officially the EEOC say there are a variety of reasons for the increase while employment lawyers say that many of the clients who are filing the claims are laid-off workers. Experts and attorneys say that retaliation lawsuits are the number one risk for employers today. Retaliation is often easier to prove than discrimination since a 2006 Supreme Court decision broadened the definition.