Monthly Archives: January 2016

34 Work-Related Deaths Recorded in Idaho in 2014

Thirty-four work-related deaths were recorded in Idaho in 2014 with 18 occurring during transportation incidents. Nationally, workplace fatalities increased by 2 percent from 4,585 to 4,679.

Transportation incidents were the leading cause of workplace deaths in Idaho over the past 10 years – ranging from 42 percent in 2005 to 70 percent in 2011. Half of the transportation accidents occurred in the agriculture sector. Contact with objects and equipment – typically farm implements – was responsible for six Idaho deaths in 2014.

Three fatalities in 2014 were due to falls occurring in construction occupations. Another three fatalities were acts of violence, the first since 2008. The cause of four deaths could not be disclosed due to confidentiality restrictions.

workplace deaths by cause

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A Student’s Guide to Managing Stress

When finals time approaches, many students are faced with an increasing amount of stress. Understanding how to turn this stress into achievement is important to make the grade, and stay healthy.

Some stress is good; It helps us meet challenges, achieve at our best and draw on reserves we didn’t know we have. Extended periods of pressure, however, can lead to health problems, depression and loss in performance and productivity.

While more students suffer from significant amounts of stress, many schools have taken a proactive approach to helping them manage it. In fact, some schools even offer stress management programs or classes. Do you need help identifying your stress level and coping with its causes?

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Commemorate MLK Human Rights Day through Volunteerism and Celebration

Monday, Jan. 18 is Martin Luther King, Jr. – Idaho Human Rights Day and there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer and celebrate the legacy of King throughout Idaho.

Historically, Martin Luther King Jr. Day marks the recognition of the birth and life of the Baptist minister and noted civil rights leader. National legislation passed in 1994 challenges Americans to transform the holiday into a day of citizen action in honor of King.

Learn more about events planned for around the state:

Southwest Idaho

Boise State University MLK March, Rally and Celebrations. The Boise State University annual “Day of Greatness” march and rally themed “The Fierce Urgency of NOW” is Monday, Jan. 18. The public is invited to join at the Jordan Ballroom in the SUB at 9:30 a.m. to make posters for the march beginning at 10:30 a.m. Guest speakers include ASBSU student body President (Brian Garretson), the MLK Living Legacy Committee Chair (Milaun Danclair) and Staff Advisor (Francisco Salinas).

Following the march, an event at the Capitol Building Rotunda at noon will feature Boise State University Trumpeteers, The Boise Gay Men’s Chorus and the Boise Rock School with Dr. Mamie Oliver as the MC, and Keith Anderson from Boise State University as the keynote speaker.

On Monday, Jan. 25 the MLK Living Legacy Committee will host a discussion panel honoring King with keynote speakers including Idaho State Sen. Cherie Buckner Webb (District 19).

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BEA: Idaho’s 2Q 2015 GDP Increased 4.9%

A 4.9 percent increase in Idaho’s real gross domestic product (GDP) between the first and second quarters of 2015 has been ranked by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) as 9th in the nation in percentage change and well above the national average of 3.8 percent.

Seasonally adjusted on an annual basis, the 4.9 percent increase from April to June of 2015 follows a first quarter decline for January through March of 2.4 percent.

According to Department of Labor analysts, statistically, Idaho’s ranking may be difficult to explain and is subject to revision in future releases. However, the new quarterly GDP data series for the states is a first for BEA and is designed to illustrate how specific industries contribute to the accelerations, decelerations and turning points in a state’s economic growth from quarter to quarter.

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People Not in the Labor Force: Why Aren’t They Working?

Since 2000, the number of people who are neither working nor looking for work and counted as “not in the labor force,” increased according to a recent article by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. reasons-for-not-working

From 2004 to 2014, the proportion of the population 16 years and older who said they were not in the labor force increased due to school attendance, illness or disability, or retirement.

The percentage not in the labor force also rose for both men and women 25 to 54 years, and nearly all reasons cited recorded an increase. Women in this age group were more likely than men to cite home responsibilities as the main reason for not working. Men and women 25 to 54 years with less education were more likely to be labor force nonparticipants than their counterparts with more education. From 2004 to 2014, the increases in the percentage of men and women not in the labor force were larger for those with less education.

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Top Mobile Apps for Today’s Businesses

America’s Economy? There’s an App for That. America's Economy App

Take the pulse of the U.S. economy straight from your phone. The America’s Economy app provides real-time updates for 19 key economic indicators released by the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics and Bureau of Economic Analysis. Key economic measures on employment, manufacturing, international trade, retail sales, and residential construction and sales allow those who follow the U.S. economy to be the first to see whether the indicator has gone up or down since the previous report, as well as trends over time.  Source: U.S. Census Bureau. For more information, visit http://www.census.gov/mobile/economy/

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Employer Record Keeping Requirements after Business Closure

How long does an employer need to save staff and customer account records following the closure of a business?

The statute of limitations for the Employment Security purposes is five years and is found at Idaho Code 72-1349(8). While five years is the suggested amount of time to keep these records, for purposes of the IRS, six years is suggested.

— Idaho Department of Labor