Employers in the Know 2017

Employers from Stephens and surrounding counties now have a better understanding of some of the new programs and initiatives at the Georgia Department of Labor.

State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler was in Toccoa Wednesday for the 2017 Employers in the Know conference which took place on the Currahee Campus of North Georgia Technical College.

Yesterday’s event is one of a number of such seminars held across the state every month.

Butler says the day-long seminar gives employers the opportunity to ask questions and learn about the latest updates and changes to state and U.S. labor laws.

“What these events are, is we do them around the state,” Butler said. “We bring in guest speakers…this year we have someone from the U.S. Department of Labor who is doing a presentation on wage an hour and we also have people from our department.”

This year, Butler said they fashioned the seminars to be more of a town hall event, allowing attendees to ask questions related to their businesses.

He says that allows his office to get input from Georgia companies about how to improve services.

Butler, added that the events help the Georgia department of Labor differentiate what soft skills employers are seeking.

Areas of concern for employers, Butler said, included the need for more online services from the Georgia Department of Labor.

He said they are already developing ways to streamline services for Georgia employers.

However, one of the biggest issues local employers are struggling with, according to Butler, is finding people with a good work ethic.

Other topics covered Wednesday included assistance with tax credits and employment-related laws, as well as recruitment and staffing.

Wednesday’s seminar included employers from the 13-county Georgia Mountains Region.

Employers from Stephens and surrounding counties now have a better understanding of some of the new programs and initiatives at the Georgia Department of Labor.

State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler was in Toccoa Wednesday for the 2017 Employers in the Know conference which took place on the Currahee Campus of North Georgia Technical College.

Yesterday’s event is one of a number of such seminars held across the state every month.

Butler says the day-long seminar gives employers the opportunity to ask questions and learn about the latest updates and changes to state and U.S. labor laws.

“What these events are, is we do them around the state,” Butler said. “We bring in guest speakers…this year we have someone from the U.S. Department of Labor who is doing a presentation on wage an hour and we also have people from our department.”

This year, Butler said they fashioned the seminars to be more of a town hall event, allowing attendees to ask questions related to their businesses.

He says that allows his office to get input from Georgia companies about how to improve services.

Butler, added that the events help the Georgia department of Labor differentiate what soft skills employers are seeking.

Areas of concern for employers, Butler said, included the need for more online services from the Georgia Department of Labor.

He said they are already developing ways to streamline services for Georgia employers.

However, one of the biggest issues local employers are struggling with, according to Butler, is finding people with a good work ethic.

Other topics covered Wednesday included assistance with tax credits and employment-related laws, as well as recruitment and staffing.

Wednesday’s seminar included employers from the 13-county Georgia Mountains Region.