EMT Jobs Offer Hope to Unemployed Residents
A dozen available firefighter and EMT jobs (Click here) could help some local out-of-work residents.
Along with much of Michigan, Flint has been hit extremely hard by the economic downturn, losing obscure numbers of workers and maintaining an unusually high unemployment rate without much relief in sight.
During March, Flint's unemployment rate increased from 15.9 percent to 16.3 percent, following a decrease from 16.4 percent during February. That increase keeps the city's rate much higher than the national average of 9.7 percent.
Outplacement Firms to Help Displaced Macy’s Employees
National department store Macy's is planning to cut hundreds of jobs - including some near Detroit - as part of its annual process of closing under-performing stores.
The company will close five stores overall, including Macy's stores at Summit Place Mall in Waterford, Mich.; Boise, Idaho; St. Ann, Mo.; Missoula, Mont.; and Burlington, N.J. The closures are expected to affect more than 300 employees, including 70 jobs at the Waterford store.
According to an article by the Detroit Free Press, some displaced employees will be offered positions at nearby stores. In addition, regular full-time and part-time employees who are laid off will be provided with severance benefits and help from unnamed outplacement firms.
Background Check Scope for Solicitors Under Debate
Should solicitors have to undergo a background check? That question is causing a debate among local communities, including many in Michigan.
House Bill 4601, proposed by Rep. Richard LeBlanc would allow communities to pass local ordinances requiring that door-to-door solicitors undergo a national fingerprint background check.
While the bill is not the result of a specific incident, it grew out of requests from many local officials for a more efficient way to conduct background checks on solicitors. The ultimate goal is to allow those officials to have broader access to criminal history information.