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DEO rules Uber drivers are independent contractors for employment purposes

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The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity issued a final order Thursday afternoon ruling that drivers for ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft are “independent contractors” rather than employees per se. As such, drivers for the transportation network companies do not qualify for unemployment benefits, which are paid in part by the former employers of laid off workers. “The Department finds that the drivers at issue here—providers of transportation services through the Uber software application—are independent contractors, not employees, and are therefore not entitled to…

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Florida jobless rate continues to dip slightly

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Florida’s unemployment rate is still continuing to dip slightly. The October unemployment rate was 5.1 percent, compared to 5.2 percent in the previous month. According to figures released Friday by the Department of Economic Opportunity, the state added 35,200 jobs last month. The jobless rate remains higher than the national rate of 5 percent with approximately 492,000 unemployed Floridians. Gov. Rick Scott touted the new job numbers a stop in Ponte Vedra Beach before a meeting with a private group…

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Personnel Note: Morgan McCord named new press secretary at DEO

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The Department of Economic Opportunity today announced Morgan L. McCord will take over as the agency’s new Press Secretary. DEO Executive Director Jesse Panuccio welcomed McCord, a longtime communications pro, to the department in a statement Thursday afternoon. “Morgan’s strong relationships with the media will help DEO share what Florida is doing to promote economic growth and employment opportunities to all of Florida’s hardworking residents,” said Panuccio announcing the move. McCord comes to DEO by way of the budget watchdog group Florida TaxWatch, where she…

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Disney’s Planet Hollywood to lay off 468 workers next year

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Planet Hollywood at Disney Springs is making plans to lay off more than 450 workers. According to a notice posted on the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity website Monday, the company plans 468 layoffs to take place between Jan. 6 and 19. In February Planet Hollywood announced it was transforming its Orlando flagship location into a four-story stargazing observatory set to debut in spring 2016. The renovations are scheduled to begin early next year. Disney Springs, formerly named Downtown Disney,…

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Florida pro sports teams make another push for state money

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Several of Florida’s professional sports teams are trying again to win state money from the Florida Legislature. State officials said Monday that they had received requests to spend money on the stadiums used by the Miami Dolphins, the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The state has also received a funding request from Daytona International Speedway. It will be up to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity to rank the requests and then submit them to the Legislature for…

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Bill to recognize businesses that support disabled workers clears first hurdle

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A bill that would create a program recognizing businesses that hire or support disabled workers cleared its first Senate committee stop Tuesday by a unanimous vote. SB 388 directs the Department of Economic Opportunity to work with CareerSource Florida to develop the Florida Unique Abilities Partner Program. The Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee, chaired by the bill’s sponsor, Venice Republican state Sen. Nancy Detert, voted 6-0 in favor of the bill. “The Florida Unique Abilities Partner designation will indicate that a company recognizes the important…

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Jack Latvala, Senate budget panel clash with DEO chief on unemployment

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Department of Economic Opportunity head Jesse Panuccio faced a battery of pointed questions and criticism over an executive branch battle with a labor union and the state’s beleaguered unemployment system in a Wednesday meeting of a Senate budget panel. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Tourism, Transportation and Economic Development Chairman Jack Latvala had originally requested the presence of Enterprise Florida CEO Bill Johnson, who was out of state drumming up business in New York. Panuccio gave a presentation that explained recent reports about discrepancies in…

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