As companies increase their reliance on freelancers, virtual outsourcer oDesk plans to sell health insurance to its 150,000 U.S. workers
Archive for February, 2010
Outsourcing Firm Sells Health Insurance
Saturday, February 27th, 2010WellPoint Raised Rates to Boost Profit
Saturday, February 27th, 2010WellPoint Inc. sought to raise health insurance rates in California to boost profits and cover costs ballooned by executive pay and corporate retreats, U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman said, citing internal company documents.
Explaining Informal Investors
Saturday, February 27th, 2010Finding so-called informal investors for a debt or equity financing in a small company isn’t easy. It helps to understand who they are
Self-Employed Push to End ‘Health-Care Tax’
Saturday, February 27th, 2010A Guide to Self-Employment
Saturday, February 27th, 2010Regulators ease up on small business loans
Friday, February 26th, 2010It’s a chicken-and-egg problem that’s plagued the credit markets for a year: Small businesses become riskier lending bets in a downturn, prompting banks to slash their lending. But tight credit cuts off the financing companies need to hire and grow, which in turn drags on the economy and causes more businesses to fail.
Regululatory Alerts Item – Labor Department Publishes Final Rule on H-2A Visa Program
Friday, February 26th, 2010On February 12, the Department of Labor published the final rule regarding the H-2A program, which allows agricultural employers to hire temporary foreign workers during seasonal or peak times. The final rule reverses many provisions of the final H-2A rule that was released in December 2008. The rule changes the method for calculating the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) to be paid to H-2A workers, which will result in an increase of $1.02 in hourly wages paid to H-2A workers. The rule also requires applicants to submit documentation that they have followed H-2A rule requirements, rather than attesting compliance. The final rule will also require employers to pay increased transportation expenses, visa expenses and border crossing fees. DOL has removed the proposal to include reforestation and pine straw industries to the H-2A program, pursuant to small business comments. This rule will become effective on March 15, 2010.
Advocacy Recommends That TSA Consider Costs; Alternatives to its Proposed Aircraft Repair Station Security Rule
Friday, February 26th, 2010On February 19, 2010, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of
Advocacy (Advocacy) submitted comments to the Transportation Security
Administration (TSA) on TSA’s Proposed Aircraft Repair Station Security Rule.
Advocacy recommended that TSA clarify several provisions and consider
alternatives that would make the proposed rule less costly to small business.
A telecommuting pioneer’s call center revolution
Wednesday, February 24th, 2010When Jim Ball ran a traditional call center in Golden, Colo., in the late 1990s, employee turnover was rampant. Often, Ball was forced to hire just about anyone who walked in the door because few people were willing to commute to the call center and sit in a sterile cubicle for minimum wage.
Getting the Startup Equation Right
Wednesday, February 24th, 2010Deciding which Great Idea to pursue is just the first step, says Caterina Fake. The next essential is forming the team that can make it happen
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