The Leading Edge - Summer 2008 - (Page 11)

gIVE ME an ‘r’ Congress should strongly consider the impact of the Research Experimentation Credit (or R Credit) that expired in 2007 and act now to restore and strengthen it, the R Credit Coalition announced in June. The R Credit, which expired on Dec. 31, 2007, spurred more than $6 billion in innovation-producing investments. That money has funded wages for highly skilled employees at more than 17,700 small and large companies in all 50 states, according to a report by Ernst & Young and released by the R Credit Coalition. “The fact is that 70 percent of the benefit of this credit goes directly to pay American workers developing the products and markets of tomorrow,” says Monica McGuire, executive secretary of the R Credit Coalition. “Simply put, without this important incentive, our nation risks exporting high-skilled jobs to a wide range of countries all too willing to make up for our lack of R investment incentives.” The report found that California accounted for the largest gross volume of R credit expenditures. California, Texas, Massachusetts, Florida, Pennsylvania, New York and Michigan had the most companies reporting R Credit activity. On a per-capita basis, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Washington and New Jersey reported the most R Credit activity. Among the other findings detailed in the report based on 2005 use of the R Credit: • 30 percent of claims went to companies with fewer than 1,000 employees • 16 percent more companies claimed the R Credit in 2005 than in 2003 • R Credit claims increased 34 percent between 2003 and 2005 To view the complete study, visit www.investinamericasfuture.org/2008_study/. COngrESS TaLKS FLEX WOrK Elected officials in Washington, D.C., are discussing flexible work arrangements in a movement that may lead to legislation in the next few months, according to a recent article in Workforce Management. Both Democrats and Republicans have introduced bills on the issue in the past year and some experts say they expect some type of family-time legislation to pass after the presidential election no matter who wins, according to Workforce Management. A Democrat-introduced bill, the Family Flexibility Act, would grant employees the right to request reduced hours or an alternative work schedule. A Republican-introduced bill, the Family-Friendly Workplace Act, would allow private-sector workers to work overtime and apply that to paid time off or “family time.” The Institute for Women’s Policy Research believes flex time legislation is a must for the United States to compete successfully in a global economy. According to a study it conducted in conjunction with the Center for WorkLife Law at the University of California Hastings College of Law, the United States ranks last of 21 highincome countries when it comes to having laws allowing for flexible work arrangements. “Statutory Routes to Workplace Flexibility in Cross-National Perspective” reviewed statutory employment rights in 21 countries that aimed to increase workers’ ability to change their working hours and arrangements to balance work and family, and facilitate lifelong learning and gradual retirement. The results argue that given the U.S. demographic and economic changes, an explicit right to request flexible work could play an important role in the U.S. economy’s future, the authors said. “Most flexible work statutes try to find solutions that are workable for both employer and employee. While employers might have protested before the laws were introduced, once implemented most found them workable,” says Ariane Hegewisch, a scholar in residence at the Institute for Women’s Policy Research and coauthor of the report. Fellow co-author, Janet Gornick, professor of political science and sociology at City University of New York, concurs. “There is a big incentive for policymakers to support flexible work. When more people work, more people contribute to taxes and social insurance and thus provide for those who can no longer work,” she says. To read the full report, visit www.iwpr.org. rEad a gOOd BOOK LaTELy? the leading edge alliance wants to know what books you are recommending these days for people interested in operating and growing a successful business. tell us the book title and why you think it’s worth reading. e-mail your ideas to editor ann m. gynn at ann@wisegroup.com or call her at (216) 523-1212 ext. 17. ThE LEadIng EdgE 11 http://www.investinamericasfuture.org/2008_study/ http://www.iwpr.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of The Leading Edge - Summer 2008

The Leading Edge - Summer 2008 Contents Better Negotiations Instant-Response World Leads to New Expectations for Voice Mail Bits & Pieces Top 10 Misconceptions of Doing Business in Cyprus In a Nutshell: Q&A The Leading Edge Alliance

The Leading Edge - Summer 2008

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