Job - Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota - Digital Marketing Intern Job

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota - Digital Marketing Intern Job

Job - Orbital ATK - Communication Specialist

Orbital ATK - Communication Specialist

Job - Maccabee Public Relations - Digital and Social Media Content Internship (Paid)

Maccabee Public Relations - Digital and Social Media Content Internship (Paid)

Job - Stratasys Ltd.- Intern - Social Media

Stratasys Ltd.-   Intern - Social Media

How To Make Freelance PR Writing a Sustainable Career

The job market is diminishing. While the unemployment rate in Minnesota is lower than the national average, there is no doubt that improving technology is leading to a loss of traditional manufacturing jobs. Graduates are finding it tough to enter their dream career and the job market in general is changing. More job seekers are turning to internships, while others are taking on less secure work in the emerging sharing economy. If you have marketing and skills and a creative mindset, you can try freelance PR writing, allowing you to earn income while working for yourself.

Is There Demand for Written Content?

While news websites and magazines are cutting costs, the demand for specialized writers is increasing due to the internet. Social Media and search engine sites such as Facebook and Google have a constant need for PR material because they must be updated on an ongoing basis.

PR writing is more broad than you may think. You can do anything from completing paid survey assignments to designing Google ads. Basically, anywhere you see specialized content is a potential job opportunity for writing in the PR industry.

Where to Seek Work 

Firstly, you need to know where to find work, which can be done using the right laptop and an internet connection. Start by searching job sites such as Career Builder or Craigslist. The more sites you search the better chance you have of finding the right opportunity.

If you are an experienced PR writer, you can limit your search to large corporations, who will offer well-paid, regular work. If you are just starting out, however, look for individuals who need some PR. Maybe they’ve just released a book or are starting a project and need you to help market their new venture.

Alternatively, approach local political parties and non-profit organizations. They will have less money to offer, but there is a never ending demand from these smaller organizations for PR. While all experience is valuable, never work for free. This is a waste of time and won’t help your career to progress. If you are serious about making a living from PR writing, then you need to value yourself enough to charge a fee, however small.

Making a Success of It 

 

Once you’ve found work, you need to prove that you are capable. The best thing you can do for your career is to impress your client so that they will approach you if new opportunities arise. Building a strong reputation ensures a sustainable flow of paid work.

Freelance writing might sound like an unstable source of income, and for many it is, but it is also a growing market with endless opportunities. If writing is a serious passion of yours, then rest assured a living can be made from the comfort of your own home. All that is required is a dedication to research and the drive to succeed.

Job - Sleep Number - Corporate Communications & Public Relations Sr Director

Sleep Number - Corporate Communications & Public Relations Sr Director

Job - IMDb Social Media Marketing Manager

IMDb Social Media Marketing Manager

Job - 3M - Digital Paid Media Specialist

3M - Digital Paid Media Specialist

Avoiding common overtime infractions in Minnesota

Avoiding Common Overtime Infractions In Minnesota

Employment law is a complicated topic which most people do not like discussing. However, understanding and following these laws is important as it can save your company thousands of dollars from being spent on lawsuits which can arise from law violations. Do you know if your company employees understand the Fair Labor Standards Act?

Most employers fumble easily, especially on overtime violations. There has been a rise of FLSA lawsuits over the past years because employers continue to violate the Fair Labor Standards Act unknowingly. It is hard enough running a business, so you do not want the additional stress of facing the law for overtime violations. Below are ways to avoid common overtime infractions.

Understand How Overtime Accumulates

One way to avoid overtime infractions is to know how to calculate overtime. Calculate the overtime based on the total hours your employees work. Overtime hours are estimated by the week, not every two weeks.

Unfortunately, most employers find ways to avoid paying employees overtime wages. It's easier to adjust the workweek or change the time zone to reduce or eliminate overtime, but the DOL understands all these tricks.

The Federal FLSA Vs. The Minnesota FLSA

To avoid common overtime infractions, one needs to understand the FLSA because the DOL takes these violations very seriously. The FLSA is a set of laws put together to protect employees. According to the federal FLSA, employers need to pay their employees overtime wages for all hours worked above 40 hours every week.

However, the Minnesota law requires them to pay employees for all hours worked above 48 hours every workweek. Businesses that do not compensate staff for overtime violate the law and commit wage theft.

Employers are expected to be up to date on the current federal and Minnesota laws to avoid overtime violations. If the company is found liable for FLSA violations, they will be on the hook for back wages, fines and could face jail time.

Put Into Action Clear Overtime Policies

Another way to avoid overtime violations is by employing overtime policies and consistently following them as a company. A rock-solid overtime policy is the best way to protect your business against FLSA violations. As a rule, employers should always review and update these policies and ensure they are being implemented and followed.

Do Not Overlook Off-The-Clock Work

Employees are on the clock when they;

• Take work home
• Stay late
• Clock in early
• Work through lunch

Employers need to pay their staff for all the work they know about. Unfortunately, many employers tend to overlook off-the-clock work. The best way to avoid overtime violations is to have a strong policy that defines when employees are allowed to work off-the-clock.

Ensure you train employees to account for all their work time and learn how to calculate their overtime.

Also, avoid automatic timesheets that clock your staff's in and out at predetermined times or deduct for breaks. This will fail to record any given day that an employee works through lunch or clocks in earlier.

Classify Employees Correctly

This can be tricky. It is easier if you have a Human Resource department because they understand labor laws. According to research, more than three million employees are currently misclassified. Employees earning less than $455 every week are non-exempt. Besides, to be salaried-exempt, an employee has to be an executive or administrative. Furthermore, there is also the problem of classifying workers as independent contractors when they should be considered as employees and part of your staff.

As opposed to employees, independent contractors define their work and only do short-term work. Misclassifying employees can attract a higher fine, therefore; you need to assess the classification status of all workers.

Better Safe Than Sorry

You need to pay employees overtime wages for all the hours worked even if the overtime was not approved. To avoid overtime infractions, it is essential for your company to implement and put safeguards in place to prevent unnecessary overtime. Besides, you have the option as an employer to discipline staff members who fail to follow these overtime policies put in place.

Remember to be practical with these tips so your company is not just another employer guilty of overtime violations. These violations, according to the FLSA attract a maximum civil monetary penalty of $1,925. That can really add up!   

Author Bio:

Tim Becker Partner at Minneapolis’ Johnson // Becker PLLC, and lead sponsor of WageAdvocates.com. He is committed to providing clients effective, aggressive legal representation, and has prosecuted numerous individual FLSA violation claims.

Job - United Technologies - Communications Specialist

United Technologies - Communications Specialist

Job - Goff Public is hiring!

Goff Public is hiring!

Target - Marketing Development Program Intern

Target - Marketing Development Program Intern

Job - Carmichael Lynch - Account Supervisor (Digital)

Carmichael Lynch - Account Supervisor (Digital)

Job - Granite City Food and Brewery, Inc. - Event & Sales Manager

Granite City Food and Brewery, Inc. - Event & Sales Manager

Job - Cargill - Communications Coordinator

Cargill - Communications Coordinator

Job - Patterson Companies - Communications Specialist

Patterson Companies - Communications Specialist

Job - New PR Account Manager Opening At Maccabee Public Relations

New PR Account Manager Opening At Maccabee Public Relations

Job - Bellmont Partners Paid Internship

Bellmont Partners Paid Internship

Job - UTC Aerospace Systems - Communications and Public Relations Intern

UTC Aerospace Systems - Communications and Public Relations Intern

Ad Veteran and Media Visionary, Nicole Pomerleau Joins Riley Hayes

Riley Hayes has hired Nicole Pomerleau, formerly of Arrow, GroupM’s Minneapolis office managing all of Target’s media. Prior to Arrow, Pomerleau served as Colle+McVoy’s Media Director. Her passion for guiding new and emerging media strategies has also taken her from San Francisco to London, working at agencies including FCB, McCann and Mediacom.

Pomerleau joins Riley Hayes with a wealth of big brand experience and an entrepreneurial spirit. She will serve as the agency’s Vice President of Media.

“I am thrilled to announce that Nicole will be joining the Riley Hayes team,” said Tom Hayes, Riley Hayes’ President. “When I started looking for a new media leader, I had high expectations. Nicole is a visionary in the field who will help us execute on LoveAction in a way that produces remarkable results for our clients.”

John Himle Joins Padilla as Executive Vice President, Senior Counsel

Padilla announced today that John Himle, founder and CEO of Himle Rapp & Company, Inc., now Rapp Strategies, is joining the agency as executive vice president and senior counsel in early October. Himle is a seasoned public relations practitioner with more than 35 years of experience in strategic counsel, public affairs, enterprise risk management, corporate reputation and crisis management. Himle’s expertise spans several sectors including transportation, financial services, health care, regulated industries, agribusiness, energy and environmental.

“With his experience in corporate strategy, enterprise risk management and public affairs, John will enhance Padilla’s Corporate Practice, which has expertise in investor relations, employee engagement, and crisis and critical issues management,” said Padilla CEO Lynn Casey. “We’re excited to add his knowledge to Padilla’s robust group of talented corporate communications and crisis management professionals who help clients build, grow and protect their brands and reputations.”

First elected in 1980, Himle served five terms as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives and held leadership positions including assistant majority leader, floor leader and assistant minority leader. Among his legislative works, Himle was chief author of the legislation that was required to build the Mall of America. Himle also served eight years as a commissioner on the Metropolitan Airports Commission, where he was responsible for overseeing government approvals and construction related to the $3 billion expansion of the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport (MSP).

Himle founded his original firm in 1982, which became Himle Horner Inc. in 1989 with the partnership of Tom Horner. The firm was rebranded as Himle Rapp & Company, Inc. in 2011, when Himle and Todd Rapp purchased Horner’s interests. Himle recently sold his ownership in Himle Rapp to Todd Rapp and formed Himle LLC where he will continue to serve some select clients and also manage his outside business interests.

“I’m excited to be working with Padilla, which has a stellar reputation in Minnesota and beyond,” Himle said. “I have known and respected Padilla for years, and the opportunity to work with the agency’s talented teams on significant clients and create new services in the corporate space was very appealing.”

Himle also is a corporate independent director of the Kraus Anderson Companies, past-chair of the Board of Trustees of the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia), and director and past-chairman of the Public Affairs Council in Washington, D.C. Himle has received recognition for his various contributions, and is often asked to speak to business, civic and professional service organizations.