Most Hawaii employers are already aware that they face higher payroll taxes in 2010 due to the increase in unemployment and the drain on the unemployment insurance trust fund.

To help companies calculate their estimated UI taxes for next year, the Dept. Read more

Hawaii will receive funds from the U.S. Dept. Read more

The final rule issued Jan. 16 by the U.S. Dept. of Labor limits a state’s payment of unemployment benefits only to those who are “able and available” for work. Read more

There were only 19,750 unemployed workers for the whole state in July, for a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.0 percent, according to the latest figures released by the Dept. of Labor and Industrial Relations. Read more

Hawaii has received more than $30 million from the U.S. Employment and Training Administration for unemployment insurance incentive payments, which are meant for states whose UI laws meet federal criteria to permanently expand benefits, according to the Office of Inspector General. Read more

HEC members can get this handy fact sheet summarizing the payroll information for Social Security, Temporary Disability Insurance, Workers Compensation, Unemployment Insurance, minimum wage and mileage here.
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Federal legislation extending the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program through November 30, 2010 does not contain any extension of the COBRA subsidy for involuntarily terminated employees. Read more

Legislation was introduced in the U.S. Senate on February 11 to extend the COBRA subsidy for workers who are involuntarily terminated up to May 31; and to extend current federal extended unemployment benefits.
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Hawaii companies need to step up and tell their legislative representatives exactly how the jump in their unemployment insurance taxes will affect their individual business and current or future hiring, according to speakers at HEC’s January 29 briefing on the pending UI tax hike.
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State unemployment insurance trust funds are in “historically poor financial condition,” the General Accounting Office reports. Read more