'MARCH WILL BRING RISING UNEMPLOYMENT COSTS TO AT LEAST 35 STATES'

(HREonline.com) -- HREonline.com reports that "the cost of federal unemployment compensation is expected to reach $141 billion this year" and "35 states have already increased unemployment-insurance taxes on employers, with the bill arriving in March." Douglas Holmes, president of UWC-Strategic Services on Unemployment and Workers' Compensation in Washington, D.C., says that for many employers across the nation, this will be the first year they've seen double-digit percentage increases. "Such a situation could make employers more reluctant to begin hiring again, 'and that's hardly going to help the economy,' he says." According to the story, HR leaders will also be looking for ways to offset the tax -- "including rethinking lump-sum allocations of separation pay that many employers offer terminated employees." See more at <http://www.hreonline.com/HRE/story.jsp?storyId=320472772>