Jobs End Year on Strong Note But Signs of Slowing: More than 4.5 million jobs were added to the economy throughout 2022, and December finished with 223,000 jobs being added to the payrolls, which beat some economists' predictions. The unemployment rate ticked down again to 3.5 percent, the lowest of the pandemic recovery. December represented the fewest added jobs number of the year, and was about 50 percent lower than December 2021. The top sector for hiring was Education and Health (78,000 jobs) followed by Leisure and Hospitality (67,000 jobs). February and July 2022 were the best months of the year, although jobs have seen a steady slide since the July peak.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mercedes-Benz Announces Rollout of Charging Network: It was a busy week at the Consumer Electronic Show this past week in Las Vegas, as EVs continue to be the project du jour for many OEMs. The German automaker was also in on the action as it revealed plans for its widescale, high-power charging network, starting with North America, followed by Europe, China, and other markets. The company says that the North American network is scheduled for completion by 2027, representing more than 400 hubs with 2,500+ high-power chargers located close to motorways, major intersections, and metropolitan areas.
The OEM says that charging hubs will be complete with food outlets and restrooms situated nearby, and facilities will be equipped with surveillance cameras and other measures to provide a safe and secure charging environment at all times. The network will be open to all electric vehicle brands, but Mercedes-Benz customers will enjoy special benefits, such as the ability to reserve a charging spot.
Source: Mercedes-Benz
NLRB Poised for Enhanced Workers’ Rights in 2023: The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) announced its intention to crack down on companies that are misclassifying employees as independent contactors (ICs) in the coming months. Reuters is reporting that the NLRB General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo is eyeing the overturning of decisions made during the Trump administration that tended to favor businesses, in order to “protect workers’ rights” and “make it easier for workers to unionize.” Abruzzo also issued a memo in October concerning electronic surveillance of workers: The memo describes various technologies that are increasingly being used to closely monitor and manage employees such as those that record workers’ conversations and track their movements using wearable devices, cameras, radio-frequency identification badges, and GPS tracking devices. Employers may use this data to manage employee productivity, including disciplining employees who fall short of quotas, penalizing employees for taking leave, and providing individualized directives throughout the workday. She’s urging the NLRB Board to consider measures that would protect employees from such so-called intrusive or abusive technology.
Sources: NLRB, Reuters
[01.10.23]