Age Discrimination in Florida on the Rise

The following article is from FCHR Commissioner Mario Valle of Naples. This article covers the recent increase in age discrimination cases seen by the Florida Commission on Human Relations, and how employers can ensure discrimination-free workplaces.

Did you know that May is Older Americans Month?

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Age Discrimination in Florida is on the Rise
Unfortunately, older Americans often face discrimination and stereotyping in the workplace. In addition to being viewed as senile, seniors are often thought of as generally incompetent, suffering from physical disabilities, lacking in technological skills, and unable (or unwilling) to learn new things.
As the state agency which enforces the state’s civil rights laws, we are all too aware of the discriminatory actions which continue to plague our seniors. In fact, the number of age discrimination cases closed by the Commission has increased every year since 2004. During the 2007-2008 fiscal year, 20% of employment complaints closed by the Commission were based on age discrimination. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has reported that age-discrimination allegations by employees are at a record high, jumping 29% to 24,600 filed in the year ended Sept. 30, up from 19,103 in 2007.
It is important for businesses to realize that a workforce of individuals from a variety of age groups can be very beneficial. Older workers have years of experience that can be used to teach and mentor younger, less experienced workers.
Managers and business owners should find ways to work with their employees by learning how to communicate across generations, allowing for collaborative decision making, creating a support system that will allow employees to openly talk about issues they may be facing, and utilizing team building exercises to create unity among staff members. Most importantly, business owners and managers must stay abreast of Florida’s anti-discrimination laws and implement sound workplace policies to ensure fair treatment for all.
Lets work together to ensure that Florida’s businesses, and seniors, thrive! For more information on age discrimination, please visit the Florida Commission on Human Relations’ web site at http://fchr.state.fl.us/.
- Commissioner Mario Valle (Naples)

Small Business: The Economic Backbone of Central Florida

Below is an article from the Office of Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas in the 24th District, Florida. I hope you find it informative.


Small Businesses: The Economic Backbone of Central Florida
Congresswoman Kosmas believes that small businesses are the engines for job creation in Central Florida and we must do all that we can to support them through these difficult economic times.
The state of Florida has been hit hard by rising unemployment. In 2008, Florida suffered the second worst job loss of any state with more than 255,000 jobs lost. As of February, Florida's unemployment rate was 9.4%.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will jumpstart the economy by cutting taxes for 95% of American workers and providing tax incentives for small businesses to encourage new job-creating investments.
The tax relief and recovery package also provides entrepreneurs and lenders financial relief from the current economic crisis that will help encourage borrowing and lending to all small businesses, including start-ups. It also offers businesses access to the capital and the tools they need to drive economic recovery and to create and retain jobs, helps unlock credit markets for small businesses, and temporarily eliminates some loan fees for borrowers and lenders.
This legislation is an important first step toward revitalizing our economy, but Congresswoman Kosmas will keep fighting to support small businesses so they can create jobs and invest in our community. Below are some facts about what the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act means for small businesses.
Increasing Access to Loans Backed by the Small Business Administration
· $375 million for temporarily eliminating fees on SBA-backed loans and raising SBA's guarantee percentage on some loans to 90 percent. The elimination of fees, announced on March 16, will remain in effect until the end of the calendar year or until the funding is exhausted. The elimination of fees is retroactive to the day the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was signed into law.
· $255 million for a new loan program that will provide up to $35,000 in interest free loans to help small businesses meet existing non-SBA debt payments.
· $30 million for expanding SBA’s Microloan program, enough to finance up to $50 million in new lending and $24 million in technical assistance grants to microlenders
· $20 million for technology systems to streamline SBA’s lending and oversight processes
· $15 million for expanding SBA’s Surety Bond Guarantee program
Tax Incentives to Create Jobs and Spur Investment

· Allows businesses to improve cash flow by providing a 5-year carryback of net operating losses (NOLs). This would allow businesses to write off 90% of losses incurred in 2008 and 2009 against taxes assessed over the previous five years (current law limits NOL carryback to the previous two years). This would not be available to companies that have benefited under the TARP.
· Helps businesses quickly recover costs of new capital investments by extending the increased bonus depreciation for businesses making investments in new plants and equipment in 2009.
· Extends small business expensing by doubling the amount that small businesses can immediately write off on their taxes for capital investments and for purchase of new equipment in 2009 to spur small business investment.
· Provides small businesses with relief by repealing the onerous 3% withholding tax on payments to government contractors.
· Provides incentives to create new jobs with business tax credits for hiring recently discharged unemployed veterans and youth that have been out of work and out of school for the 6 months prior to hire.
· Temporarily extends ability for business to accelerate the recognition of a portion of their historic AMT or research and development credits in lieu of bonus depreciation.
· Improves small business capital gains legislation by increasing the exclusion for individuals on the gains from the sale of certain small business stock from 50% to 75%.
· Reduces the 2009 required estimated tax payments for certain small businesses
· Temporarily reduces the S Corporation built-in gains holding period from 10 years to 7 years for asles occurring in 2009 and 2010
· Repeals a Treasury Department Notice that prevented taxpayers that acquire companies from claiming losses that were incurred by the acquired company prior to the taxpayer’s ownership of the company
· Clarifies the treatment of certain ownership changes in the Economic Stabilization of Act 2008

Tax Incentives for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency to Spur Energy Savings and Create Green Jobs

· Three-year extension of the production tax credit (PTC) for electricity derived from wind (through 2012) and for electricity derived from biomass, geothermal, hydropower, landfill gas, waste-to-energy and marine facilities (through 2013).
· Permits businesses that place new facilities in service during 2009 and 2010 to claim either a 30 percent investment tax credit (ITC) instead of the production tax credit, or apply for a grant of up to 30 percent of the cost of building a new renewable energy facility from the Energy Department. These provisions will help speed up investment in new facilities and will address current renewable energy credit market concerns.
· Establishes an enhanced R&D tax credit for research expenditures in the fields of fuel cells, battery technology, renewable energy, energy conservation technology, efficient transmission and distribution of electricity, and carbon capture and sequestration, in 2009 and 2010.
· Increases incentives to install pumps that dispense alternative fuels including E85, biodiesel, hydrogen, and natural gas. More alternative fuel pumps are needed for consumers who are seeking to fill up flex-fuel and alternative fuel vehicles.
· Repeals subsidized energy financing limitation on the investment tax credit in order to allow business and individuals and individuals to qualify for the full amount of the investment tax credit even if such property is financed with bonds or through any other subsidized energy financing
· Removes the dollar limitation on certain energy credits to ensure that eligible properties would be eligible for an uncapped 30% credit.