Developments in Tax and Business
Construction Accident and Fatality Rates Fall
America's construction sites are much safer than they were a decade ago, according to the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). The organization announced the results of a new analysis that found a 38% drop in construction safety incidents and a 47% decline in the construction fatality rate since 1998. The AGC attributed the decline in accident and fatality rates to the federal government's adoption of a safety oversight approach known as "collaborative safety."Combating Illegal Employment
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement launched a new audit initiative on July 1, 2009, that attempts to identify employers that don't comply with employment eligibility verification laws by auditing selected companies' I-9 forms.The High Cost of Employee Absenteeism
Just how costly are unauthorized employee absences? A survey from consulting firm Mercer, The Total Financial Impact of Employee Absences, found that the average total costs of incidental unplanned absences amount to 6% of payroll. The survey also found that incidental unplanned absences result in the highest net loss of productivity per day -- a decline of 21% compared to 15% for planned absences and 17% for extended absences.The content contained within this newsletter is intended to provide generalized information that is appropriate in certain situations. It is not intended or written to be used, and it cannot be used, by you for the purposes of (1) avoiding any penalty that may be imposed by the Internal Revenue Service or (2) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein. Therefore it is important that you seek appropriate advice. If you desire such advice, please contract a member of our firm.
