• NEW GUIDELINES FOR INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR STATUS ARE TROUBLE FOR EMPLOYERS. Effective last week, pursuant to an ‘Administrative Interpretation,’ the Dep’t of Labor formally adopted an ‘economic realities’ test – under which “most workers are employees,” based on six determinative factors: (1) permanent vs indefinite relationship; (2) “special skill and initiative” required; (3) whether “managerial skill affects worker’s opportunity for profit or loss”; (4) work being integral to the business; (5) nature and degree of employer control; and (6) “relative investment” of worker compared to company. Since risk of back pay, payroll taxes, penalties and litigation cost is now substantially greater, Independent Contractor status treatment should be re-evaluated by many business owners. DCG can help. [FREEMAN FREEMAN SMILEY EMPLOYMENT LAW BULLETIN – July 16, 15]
  • AFTER THE 20+MILLION FEDERAL DATA HACK, “a 30-day ‘cybersprint’ ordered by the President to plug the most glaring security holes in government computer networks and prevent another embarrassing theft of personal information, financial data and national security secrets is little more than digital triage on networks that are cobbled together with out-of-date equipment, defended with the software equivalent of Bubble Wrap,” say cyber-security officials and technology experts. [LBN NEWS – July 19, 15]
  • MEANWHILE, THE INTERNET OF ‘CONNECTED DEVICES’ WILL GROW TO $50 BILLION IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS and today’s average device has over twenty identified security vulnerabilities, according to the CEO and CSO for 70,000+ employee CISCO SYSTEMS who create connected devices. “Security is no longer just about protecting information, it is critical to maintaining trust with customers, company reputation, safeguarding intellectual property and critical infrastructure.” Of businesses that were attacked last year, over 80% “were not able to identify the breach themselves and, on average, it took over six months to even realize their security had been compromised… Some estimate that up to $21 trillion of global economic value creation could be at risk if companies and governments are unable to successfully combat cyber threats.” DCG is at the forefront of data security concern and assists businesses with strategic programs for optimal risk protection.  [FORBES – July 13, 15]
  • ‘HATE SPEECH’ LAWS are written in such a way that anyone saying something that ‘offends’ or ‘insults’ someone else can be guilty – even without intention or awareness they did so. In many countries (including Canada, Mexico and most European), “you can be detained without bail and sent to prison for Hate Speech.” The American Bar Ass’n defines it as speech that offends, threatens or insults based on “race, color, religion, origin, sexual orientation, disability or other traits.” A main media talking point by left wing progressives is that constitutional protection does not apply to Hate Speech since it’s “not the same as Free Speech” and, accordingly, demands legislative and/or judicial) laws; “the ultimate goal is shutting down all speech that offends them in any way,” by threat of legal fees & penalties. In Canada, Human Rights Commissions have the power to “enter private residences and remove all items pertinent to their investigations.” One crusade, led from the liberal University of Wisconsin, purports examples of ‘racist’ comments to include: “Asking someone where they are from or were born; Telling someone they speak good English; Stating that you have several black friends; Asking an Asian person for help with science or math; Believing that the most qualified person, regardless of race, should get the job; Telling a black person who is being too loud to be quiet, or an Asian or Latino who is too quiet to speak up; Calling something ‘gay’; Mistaking a person of color for a staff member when you’re in a store; Doing an impression of someone’s dialect or accent.” Wow.   [ZEROHEDGE.COM – July 4, 15]
  • IN TODAY’S LIBERAL LEFT CULTURE, “WINNING, IN ANY NORMAL POLITICAL SENSE SIMPLY ISN’T ENOUGH. What they really want, and in fact demand, is that you believe and agree with them. It’s not enough to say ‘I’ve had my day in court and prevailed’; in effect, they now add: ‘If you still disagree, I will attack you without quarter and set others on you to deprive you of your status in your profession, your standing in your community, and even your livelihood.’ You will be forced to admit the error of your ways and must accept that you’ve sinned; you must discard your own values and accept the ideas of your betters.” Supported by mainstream media, the barrage will continue unmercifully until their superior wisdom is acknowledged. [THE FEDERALIST.COM]         But applause to one ballsy TV newslady who tells it like it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8Q0MMHwx4k  
  • THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK: Oh Great! Someone built a flying gun for consumers:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqHrTtvFFIs  

“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” – Thomas Edison