BUSINESS BRIEFS
Payroll budgets in Hawaii up 3.8%
Advertiser Staff
Hawai'i employers increased their payroll budgets by an average of 3.8 percent this year and plan to raise them by another 3.8 percent next year, according to a survey by the human resources association, WorldatWork.
The survey found the average national increase was 3.9 percent this year, similar to increases planned for 2009. The organization annually polls employers to see how much they are increasing their budgets. This year it surveyed 2,700 organizations representing 13.6 million North American employees.
"Pay increases are only one way an organization attracts and retains talent regardless of the overall economy," said Anne Ruddy, president of WorldatWork, in a news statement. "Organizations continually evaluate the attractiveness of their entire rewards package and develop new programs accordingly."
The survey also found nine out of 10 employees can expect to receive base pay increases this year.
CREDIT UNION POINTS TO BOGUS E-MAIL
The Kauai Community Federal Credit Union said it is working to counteract a bogus e-mail targeting its members that began circulating yesterday.
The so-called phishing e-mail attempts to trick people into giving their account information by notifying them their account has been temporarily suspended. The e-mail says people need to reactivate their accounts by calling a number in Oregon.
The credit union said anyone receiving a suspicious e-mail purporting to be from it should forward it to abuse@kcfcu.org.
CONSTRUCTION INTERNSHIPS EXPAND
Kiewit Building Group Inc. said it is expanding its internship program this year to include 12 interns from universities across the country, including in Honolulu.
The company's internship program had five interns in 2006 and eight in 2007.
"Our interns are given an amazing opportunity to be mentored by some of Hawai'i's most talented construction professionals," said Lance Wilhelm, senior vice president of Kiewit Building Group. "We want to give them the best opportunity possible during their education, and in turn, we are able to evaluate prospective employees."
The internship program offers students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience while they work to complete their degrees. Internships are offered in civil engineering, construction management, construction engineering, mechanical engineering and business management.
FARMERS CONFERENCE COMING SOON
The state's farming community will gather Sept. 4 and 5 in Honolulu for the 2008 Hawaii Agriculture Conference.
The theme for this year's trade show at the Hawai'i Convention Center is "Growing with Intention."
The event will include the 13th Annual Hawaii MIDPAC Horticultural Conference, the Hawaii Food and Agriculture Products Luncheon, and workshops on bioenergy and the future of farming in Hawai'i.
The keynote speaker is author Paul Roberts, whose 2004 book "The End of Oil" anticipated the current energy crisis. The event is hosted by the Agricultural Leadership Foundation of Hawaii, The Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, the state Department of Agriculture and the University of Hawai'i College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.
Trade-show table rental for the two days is $500 for businesses and $250 for nonprofit organizations and government exhibitors. To register online visit www.hawaiiagconference.org. The registration deadline is Aug. 15. For more information, call 956-8240.
