In what may be the largest ever employment law case, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals plans to rehear an appeal filed by Wal-Mart challenging a ruling by a U.S. District Court judge in California certifying a class action of roughly 1.5 million female Wal-Mart employees. The underlying lawsuit asserts claims against Wal-Mart for violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The lawsuit, brought initially by six female employees, alleges that women employed in Wal-Mart stores are paid less than men in comparable positions despite having higher performance ratings and greater seniority. The lawsuit also alleges that women employees received fewer, and waited longer for, promotions to in-store management positions. ...more

February 27, 2009

Drugstore operator Walgreen Co. said Thursday it will cut 1,000 jobs by midyear, or about 9 percent of corporate management, through a combination of voluntary buyouts and layoffs. ...more

January 9, 2009

Here's a bit of good news for those weary of negative economic reports: Ikea has begun hiring in Tampa. The Sweden-based furniture and accessories chain has begun recruiting for about 400 non-management positions at its future store, which is under construction along Adamo Drive near Ybor City. ...more

January 6, 2009

The blue paint is dry on the outside, the drywall is going up inside and IKEA is set to begin recruiting employees next month. On Tuesday, IKEA public affairs director Joseph Roth said the company's new store on Adamo Drive has already finished interviews for 50 new management positions. ...more

December 10, 2008

Ikea, the mammoth furniture retailer known for Swedish designs and Swedish meatballs, may begin recruiting workers by January. ...more

December 9, 2008

Economy Jolts Into Decline; Bad Recession Seen WASHINGTON (AP) - The government reported Thursday that the economy shrank in the summer, sending the strongest signal yet that a recession may have already begun. ...more

November 2, 2008

I would like to offer my personal observations on the upcoming Clerk of Courts race between Bob Germaine and Mary Wilson. In criticism of Bob Germaine, Mary Wilson has publicly stated that Bob Germaine, if elected, would be "double dipping" because he would be receiving his pension and his salary as clerk of courts at the same time. Nothing to my knowledge precludes Bob from seeking public office while concurrently drawing a pension. Many have done so in the past. Should Bob Germaine be denied the opportunity to seek public office because he has dedicated the last 36 years of his life working for the clerk of courts office, and as a result, he receives a pension? For that matter, should any retired state or county employee, myself included, who receives a pension through the Florida Career Service Retirement System, be denied an opportunity to seek public office? I think the answer is obvious. ...more

October 26, 2008

Danica Patrick is the best-known driver in the IndyCar Series, and she erased any doubt she belongs in April when she became the first woman in history to win a major open-wheel race. ...more

June 28, 2008

The fallout from Amendment 1 and a faltering economy could force the county to cut the number of government departments from about 25 to 12, County Administrator Hamilton said Thursday. ...more

June 6, 2008

MANAGERS WOULD TAKE ON MORE JOB DUTIES ...more

June 5, 2008