HR Update
Winter, 2005
  
The latest issue from Holloway Human Resource Consulting
 
 
In this issue:
 
* Did You Post Your OSHA 300A Today?
* Several States Have a Minimum Wage Higher Than the Fed. $5.15/Hour
* 123 Cities and Counties in the U.S. Have a Living Wage Ordinance
* Check Out our Updated RESOURCES Page on the Website
 
 
OSHA FORM 300A MUST BE POSTED ON FEBRUARY 1
 
Do you have your Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Form 300A posted?  Should you?  Most employers with 11 or more employees, and certain "covered employers" are required to post the Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses in their workplaces from February 1 until April 30, each year.  Form 300A reports the employer's total number of deaths, missed workdays, job transfers or restrictions, and injuries and illnesses as recorded on Form 300 (the Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses).  Form 300 must be maintained by the employer throughout the year. 

Form 300A is one of three OSHA forms required as part of the agency's recordkeeping rule that took effect in January 2002.  To learn more about the rule's requirements and whether you must comply, and to get a copy of the OSHA forms, visit the RESOURCES page at www.hhrconsulting.com   For a more detailed discussion of the posting requirements, read the February 2004 HR Update, also available on the website.
 
 
SEVERAL STATES HAVE A MINIMUM WAGE HIGHER THAN THE FEDERAL $5.15 PER HOUR
 
On January 1, 2005 the Oregon minimum wage increased to $7.25 per hour.  In addition to Oregon, 13 other states and the City of San Francisco either have a minimum wage higher than the federal minimum wage, or will increase their minimum wage rates above the federal rate in 2005.   Currently, the highest minimum wage in the U.S. is the City of San Francisco, which on January 1, 2005 increased their rate to $8.62 per hour.
 
 

States (and city) With a Minimum Wage Above the $5.15 Per Hour Federal Rate as of January 1, 2005

State

Minimum Wage

City of San Francisco

$8.62

Washington

$7.35

Oregon

$7.25

Alaska

$7.15

Connecticut

$7.10

Vermont

$7.00

California

$6.75

Massachusetts

$6.75

Rhode Island

$6.75

District of Columbia

$6.60

Illinois

$6.50

Maine

$6.35 **

Hawaii

$6.25

Delaware

$6.15

Florida

$6.15 *

New York

$6.00

                       

*  Increases from $5.15 Effective 5/2/05

** Increases to $6.50 effective 10/1/05

 

To get the new 2005 Oregon or Washington minimum wage posters in English or Spanish you can visit the RESOURCES page at www.hhrconsulting.com and download the poster directly from the State website.  For minimum wage posters in other states, please contact me directly and I will send you the link.

 

 

LIVING WAGE ORDINANCES
 
Beyond the state minimum wages, 123 cities and counties throughout the United States have enacted "Living Wage Ordinances" which tie wage and/or benefits requirements to government contract eligibility or other forms of government financial assistance.  For example, Ashland, Oregon currently has a living wage requirement of a wage and benefit package worth at least $11.44 per hour.
 

For more information about the Living Wage Ordinances, and to see a list of the cities and counties throughout the U.S. with an active living wage law, you can visit:
 
 
UPDATED RESOURCES PAGE
 
Be sure to check out the Updated RESOURCES page at www.hhrconsulting.com for ready access to many of the required State and Federal forms and posters required of employers, and discussions on many areas of interest to employers.  The page is updated regularly so check back often.
 
 
If you have questions regarding the topics addressed in this HR Update, or any other human resource management or safety related issues, please call or email. 
 
To schedule a complementary 30 minute phone consultation please call (541) 941-1821  
Sincerely,
 
 
Fred Holloway, MSIR, SPHR 
Holloway Human Resource
Management Consulting
2019 Aero Way, Suite 103-177
Medford, Oregon 97504
(541) 941-1821
 
 
HR Updates are provided as a courtesy to clients and friends.  Please feel free to distribute this HR Update to your colleagues.  If you have a topic or subject area you would like see addressed in future editions, please contact us. 
 
Be sure to read past issues of HR Update at www.hhrconsulting.com for more information to help your company succeed.
 
 
Holloway Human Resource
Management Consulting
Helping Companies Succeed
 
A comprehensive HR consulting firm offering small and mid sized organizations an alternative to in-house HR expertise, or support and guidance for your existing HR department, so you can get the help you need when you need it.

 

Fred's experience covers the full range of Human Resource management, and includes establishing HR functions and best practices, ensuring legal compliance and sound employee relations practices, public and private sector, multi-state and international Human Resources, developing employee handbooks and job descriptions, performance management and employee development, acquisition integration and plant consolidations, management coaching and strategic HR planning, as well as many others.

 

For more information, please visit www.hhrconsulting.com or call (541) 941-1821