Work
Kentucky hospital workforce is rebounding, but still has too many vacancies??
Kentucky’s non-doctor health care workforce is on the mend, though state hospitals still have thousands of unfilled positions.? That’s according to an August report released by the Kentucky Hospital Association that shows 12% of positions in the state’s hospitals were empty in 2023, with nurses being the most in-demand. The data comes from 94% of […]
Kentucky Senate budget short of what child care advocates say is needed
FRANKFORT — Child care advocates applauded elements of the Kentucky Senate’s budget, unveiled Wednesday, but said lawmakers have not gone far enough to save the struggling industry.? The proposed child care spending is a “monumental investment,” said Sarah Vanover, a policy and research director for Kentucky Youth Advocates.? “We appreciate the fact that this is […]
As more states add paid family leave, advocates say there’s a need for federal policy
When the Minnesota legislature was debating a paid sick leave bill last year, business owners argued that such a law would not allow them to provide as many employee “perks” or be as “adaptive” to employee needs as they say they would be without such a requirement.? But a half dozen witnesses made a case […]
A soldier’s death leaves his family rooted in the Kentucky town he chose
HOPKINSVILLE — More than 6,000 miles from home, U.S. Army helicopter pilot Shane Barnes texted with his wife, Samantha, about her weekend plans in Hopkinsville with their girls, Amelia, who is 5, and Katherine, who will be 2 in a few months. It was Friday, Nov. 10, the day before Veterans Day. Samantha told Shane […]
Millions more workers would receive overtime pay under proposed Biden administration rule
Salaried workers who have been ineligible for overtime pay would benefit from a proposed Biden administration regulation. The Department of Labor’s new rule would require employers compensate full-time workers in management, administrative, or other professional roles for any overtime worked if they make less than $55,068 annually. Currently, the salary threshold is $35,568. The change […]
Federal call center workers call attention to workplace inequities during march
Call center workers that help Americans navigate the ACA marketplace and Medicare used this year’s March on Washington to spotlight their demands for more paths to advancement, higher pay, and more breaks between calls. They’re looking to bring government attention to their cause after previous efforts to get the attention of officials with the Department […]
Pregnant workers have new protections. Here’s what to expect from your boss.
Almost two months after workplace accommodations for pregnant workers became law, the rules surrounding what employers can and cannot do have yet to be finalized — but that doesn’t mean the protections are not in place. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s proposed regulations are expected to offer more clarity once finalized, but workers can still […]
Employers, KCTCS team up to help Kentucky workers pursue education
Kentucky companies who offer tuition assistance to employees as well as flexibility at work can now earn the designation “Education First Employer” through a new statewide initiative announced this week.? At least 45 companies have already signed up to be Education First Employers. The program also requires them to partner with colleges in the Kentucky […]
VP Kamala Harris unveils new wage rule for federal projects
Construction workers who work on federal projects are poised to receive better wages and worker protections under a Department of Labor rule touted by Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday. Speaking at a union hall in Philadelphia, Harris praised the Biden administration’s economic agenda and pointed out that the new rule would be the first […]
Advocates for coal miners say MSHA’s proposed silica dust rule needs teeth
The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration is hosting a public comment hearing in Beckley on Thursday on a proposed rule that could strengthen silica exposure standards — one of the leading causes of black lung — for coal miners. The proposed rule would, for the first time, implement a separate exposure limit for silica […]
A ‘she-cession’ no more: After COVID dip, women’s employment hits all-time high
After fears of a “she-cession” during the pandemic, women have returned to the workforce at unprecedented rates. Much of the gain reflects a boom in jobs traditionally held by women, including nursing and teaching.? Many good-paying jobs in fields such as construction and tech management are still dominated by men, a continuing challenge for states […]
States, cities turn to community organizations to battle wage theft?
About five years ago, most of Minneapolis’ Subway, Little Caesars and McDonald’s franchise restaurants did not comply with city wage standards. Now workers at each of the locations that violated the law receive the required minimum wage and time off when they’re sick. This is all thanks to a co-enforcement program, where the city’s labor […]