Washington State Department of Labor and Industries has a new publication under the General Occupational Health Standards. The new publication is Chapter 296-62 WAC - Part L: Atmospheres, Ventilation, and Emergency Washings. The number is F414-042-111 6-99 edition. The changes noted in this publication are effective June 17^th, 1999.

Flexible work arrangements - A 1998 William M. Mercer study of more than 1,800 large and mid-sized employees finds that 61 percent of the companies polled have a flexible worktime program in place, with an additional 12 percent thinking of adopting flextime work arrangements. Telecommuting programs have increased the fastest, with 33 percent of respondents offering work-at-home opportunities compared to only 6 percent in 1993.

Reference checks - Over 80 percent of 854 employees surveyed check references when hiring executive, professional, and technical employers compared to 68 percent or less for skilled laborers and part-time or temporary employees, according to 1998 data from a Society for Human Resource Management survey. (Do those reference checks!)

Temporary workers - Three out of four employees think working as a temporary employee is "very beneficial," according to a survey of 1,150 temporary workers by the National Association of Temporary and Staffing Services. (Don't overlook your Temps!)