May 9, 2012

"BUSINESS IN UTAH" AND "UTAH FACTS" AVAILABLE ONLINE

Utah Talks

In conjunction with the Governor’s Economic Summit, GOED publishes “Business in Utah,” a comprehensive, four-color magazine that covers the breadth of our economy. A popular insert in the magazine is a 32-page “Utah Facts” booklet.

The magazine highlights major economic clusters in the state. Topics in the insert include workforce, healthcare, transportation, education, energy and utilities, population, quality of life, and government.

You can download a soft copy of both publications at http://business.utah.gov/GOED/about/businessutah/

MONTHLY ECONOMIC REPORT...AND CONSUMER CONFIDENCE UP

Utah Talks

Every month the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget publishes “Notes on the Economy.” This two-page summary highlights Utah key metrics – from employment to average annual pay to representative home prices. You can view the latest report at http://governor.utah.gov/dea/econsummaries/EconomicSummary.pdf

In a related article, Zions Bank Consumer Attitude Index showed that consumer confidence has increased in every category in the last six months. Read the details at http://dev.utahbusiness.com/articles/view/economic_confidence_trends_upward

EMPLOYERS POSTED 3.74M MARCH JOBS DESPITE SLOWDOWN
Today in Manufacturing

The Labor Department said the figure was the highest in four years, which suggests that weaker hiring gains in March and April could be temporary ...   continue

UTAH: UNIFORM RULE REPEALED

The Employers Council

In 2011, Governor Herbert told his cabinet members to evaluate which business regulations should be kept, modified or eliminated, in order to encourage a regulatory environment that both protects Utahns and does not hamstring business.

One rule that the Utah Labor Commission therefore repealed, effective April 16th, is the rule that required employers to furnish work uniforms for free (yet allowed a refundable deposit not to exceed $20 on each uniform). However, rules still in effect prohibit deducting the cost of uniforms from employees’ wages without their written acknowledgment; require providing and paying for personal protective equipment (PPE) when necessary because of workplace hazards; etc.

POLITICS & THE WORKPLACE

The Employers Council

The political drama unfolding on our national stage is consuming many conversations -- that can become heated. The drama may be even more polarizing due to Super PACS. When political dialogue gets heated in the workplace, what are the implications for HR? Freedom of expression is good, and supports an environment that honors diversity, seeks widespread ideas, allows for respectful disagreement, and fosters continuous improvement. The challenge is to ensure that conversations of politics, religion, differing beliefs, etc., do not escalate into disruptive conflict and hurt feelings.

Disruptive behavior can result in decreased productivity. Policies banning all political discussions are difficult to enforce. Many employers conduct "respectful workplace" training, and also establish rules of conduct that allow employer intervention when appropriate. It is important that managers are trained to not ignore conversations that can escalate into conflict among co-workers. When conversations turn into heated discussions, they generally do not stop on their own. Managers must take appropriate actions to put a stop to discussions that cease to be reasonably objective. This already dramatic political season promises to become ever more dramatic as it reaches the home stretch for party conventions and subsequent general elections.

For tips on resolving conflicts at work, contact The Employers Council at www.ecutah.org.