Combined with a low unemployment rate in most parts of the country, that means this holiday season is going to be a tough one for employers, especially in wholesale and retail. Get the word out now of your needs for hiring by posting job notices in-house and at high schools, colleges, and community centers. The employee and the employer do not have to report reimbursements for tax purposes if the employee is required to return any excess for unsubstantiated mileage within a reasonable period of time. Generally, the employee must account for the expenses within 60 days after they were paid or incurred and return the excess within 120 days. The United States Postal Service will likely earn more than expected, and therefore will ease the pressure for any rate increase until 2001.
Cost cutting is said to be the reason for the higher profits.
Expect the U.S. Postal Service in the coming months to plan for an increase from the 33 cents for a first-class stamp now. However, even if the U.S. Postal Service requests a rate increase with the Postal Rate Commission late in 1999, the commission would likely not make a decision to increase the rate until September 2000. Also, the U.S. Postal Service does not usually put new rates into effect during the holiday season, so any hike is not expected until early in 2001. If you release confidential medical information and it harms your employee, you may get a subpoena for improperly releasing this information. The ADA requires that all medical information from employees and applicants be kept confidential and stored in separate files away from general personnel files.