Berks & Beyond Blog

When we last looked at the Harrisburg economy six months ago, indicators were largely positive.  In terms of unemployment rates, the Harrisburg-Carlisle region was faring significantly better than the nation, at a rate 1.2 percent percent lower than the national average.

So how are things looking now?

Download the “Harrisburg-Carlisle.pdf” file on this Selected BLS Economic Indicators page to see how the Harrisburg-Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) stacks up against Pennsylvania and the nation.

The latest statistics show the Harrisburg-Carlisle MSA’s unemployment rate at 6.6% – once again, significantly lower than the national (7.4%) and state (7.3%) rates.  In addition, total nonfarm employment is also up 1% in the Harrisburg area from the same time last year.  Improvements in nonfarm employment locally are slightly higher than the state average (.8% increase), but lower than the improvement seen nationwide (U.S. nonfarm employment edged up 1.4%).

For comprehensive employment statistics, follow this link:

Bureau of Labor Statistics Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA: Nonfarm employment and labor force data

Or, visit the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC’s website to get a summary of the Harrisburg Regional 2013 Economic Forecast meeting held yesterday.  The meeting covered the status of the nation’s economic expansion, as well as external factors (such as the European sovereign debt crisis) that threaten our continued recovery.

Want to learn more?

Contact us and a Berks and Beyond staffing professional will show you how our services can help you make the most of our current economy.  Our staffing services for Central and Southern PA employers will keep your workforce flexible, while allowing you to capitalize on new business opportunities.

When we last looked at the economy seven months ago, indicators were largely positive.  As a nation, nearly every industry added workers in January, with restaurants, health care, manufacturing, and professional and business services registering the biggest hiring gains.  In terms of unemployment rates, the Harrisburg-Carlisle region was faring significantly better than the nation, at over 2 percent lower than the national average.

So how are things looking now?

Download the “Harrisburg-Carlisle.pdf” file on this Selected BLS Economic Indicators page to see how the Harrisburg-Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) stacks up against Pennsylvania and the nation.

The latest statistics show the Harrisburg-Carlisle MSA’s unemployment rate at 6.7% – once again, significantly lower than the national (7.9%) and state (7.3%) rates.  However, total nonfarm employment is actually down .3% in the Harrisburg area from the same time last year, while the state’s employment increased .5%.  Essentially, little has changed in the last six months for both our local area and our nation.  Jobs are being added, but not at a fast enough pace to significantly improve our economy.

For comprehensive employment statistics, follow this link:

Bureau of Labor Statistics Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA: Nonfarm employment and labor force data

Want to learn more?

Contact us and a Berks and Beyond staffing professional will show you how our services can help you make the most of our current economy.  Our staffing services for Central and Southern PA employers will keep your workforce flexible, while allowing you to capitalize on new business opportunities.

Edwin Kauffman Promoted to Management Role in Expansion Location

Wyomissing, PA – Berks and Beyond Employment Services, Inc. is pleased to name Edwin Kauffman as Branch Manager of their Carlisle office.   In his new role, Kauffman will manage sales, customer service and day-to-day activities for the recently opened expansion branch.  Additionally, he will ensure that Berks and Beyond sends out only the highest quality employees with the experience, skills and work ethic to consistently exceed clients’ expectations.

“Ed has proven to be a great asset to our team, rising very quickly through the ranks at Berks and Beyond,” says Chris Garner, President of Berks and Beyond Employment Services, Inc.  “His passion for staffing and strong work ethic will help our newest branch grow to become the leading staffing service in our newest market.”

The Carlisle branch, which opened earlier this year, is the seventh location for the leading Central and Southern Pennsylvania staffing firm.  Located at 1 Alexandra Court, Carlisle, PA 17015, the branch is part of Berks and Beyond’s strategic plan to open offices where their clients are located – to recruit the best candidates locally and deliver superior customer service.

When interviewed, Kauffman humbly stated, “I’d like to thank Chris Garner and Berks and Beyond Inc. for giving me the opportunity to prove myself as an asset to a company that values and rewards hard work and dedication.”

Outside of the office, Kauffman plays bass guitar in a band, listens to music and enjoys going to see shows.  He spends most of his free time kayaking, camping, fishing, hunting and participating in other outdoor activities.

In the wake of historic employment litigation (e.g., Vizcaino v. Microsoft), some companies have adopted policies limiting assignment length for temporary and contract employees from staffing firms.  Why?  These employers view assignment limits as a way to protect themselves from the kind of “retro-benefits” claims Microsoft faced back in the 1990s.

Unfortunately, these assignment limit policies have downsides.  They can cause economic harm to on-time temporary or contract employees whose assignments are terminated prematurely, and they can disrupt your company’s business operations.  To better protect your organization, you should closely examine its staffing policies to ensure that such limits are truly necessary – and not based on misinformation.

If you have questions about co-employment law, as it relates to assignment limits and associated benefits, here is a great resource with the answers you need.  The American Staffing Association’s Staffing Smarts Intelligence Report:  Assignment Limits and Concerns About Benefits Liability, by Edward A. Lenz, Esq., General Counsel, reviews the basic principles of law that apply to employee benefits plans, and then describes steps employers can take to avoid retro-benefits exposure:

Create a plan that expressly excludes staffing firm employees. The report suggests template language (that your legal counsel should review)  you can use for the purpose of excluding staffing firm employees from participation in your Erisa plan.

Use employee waivers. In addition to amending benefits plans, you may be able to achieve additional protection through agreements in which the staffing firm’s employees expressly waive their right to the company’s benefits.

Allow the staffing firm to handle employment related functions for temporary and contract staff, such as:  recruiting, screening, determining wages, hiring, firing, assigning, resolving disputes, disciplining, etc.

Keep the lines between direct staff and contingent staff clear. The report includes several other steps (such as channeling social invitations through the staffing firm) you can take to avoid blurring the distinction between your core staff and temporary employees.

Make Co-Employment Work with Berks & Beyond. Read our tips for successful co-employment, or contact Berks & Beyond with your staffing questions.  We help Central and Southeastern Pennsylvania employers like you use staffing to achieve more.