Labor & Employment

Washington, D.C. -- A report released Tuesday by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates found that cargo volumes at U.S. ports are forecast to increase 3.9% in December following a 5.6% decline in November.

According to the monthly Global Port Tracker report, container volumes were negatively impacted in November by the West coast strike by workers at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, but resolution of the strike after eight days meant disruption in December was limited to just two days.

Cargo volumes at U.S. ports are forecast to increase 3.9% in December following a 5.6% decline in November, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report compiled by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

The West coast strike by workers at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach negatively affected container volumes in November, but resolution of the strike after eight days meant disruption in December was limited to just two days.

WASHINGTON — Top officials at Johnson & Johnson and the Food and Drug Administration are among those to receive service and leadership awards from the Food and Drug Law Institute. The honorees include Minnie Baylor-Henry, worldwide VP for regulatory affairs at Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices & Diagnostics; John M. Taylor III, counselor to the commissioner, Office of the Commissioner, FDA; Alan Bennett, managing partner of the Ropes & Gray DC office and Thomas O. Henteleff, managing partner of Kleinfeld, Kaplan and Becker.

Menlo park, Calif. -- Technology executives expect information technology hiring to increase in first quarter 2013, according to the just-released Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Index and Skills Report.

In the latest quarterly survey, 17% of chief information officers (CIOs) said they plan to expand their IT departments, and 8% expect cutbacks, for a net 9% projected increase in hiring activity. This is up six points from the previous quarter's projections. Seventy-five percent of CIOs plan to maintain their current staffing levels.

Particularly in the current economy, it is not uncommon for purchasers, anywhere along the supply-to-distribution chain, to claim financial distress and file for bankruptcy relief.

How can a person or entity hope to collect on debts owed by a "bankrupt" purchaser? What follows is a primer on bankruptcy terms and procedures, as well as steps an unsecured creditor may follow to be in the best position to collect on what is owed without incurring substantial attorneys’ fees.

TORRANCE, Calif. — Smack Sportswear, a maker of custom-designed volleyball and beach active apparel, has lured the former True Religion Apparel executive Charles A. Lesser out of retirement and into its CFO spot.

Smack manufactures its Southern California-inspired apparel in its headquarters, five miles away from the home of beach volleyball.

CHICAGO — OfficeMax has appointed EVP, CFO and CAO Bruce Besanko, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, to the USO of Illinois’ board of directors. Besanko will join the USO's finance committee and serve a three-year term.

Washington -- Import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to increase 3.9% in December despite a strike that closed the nation’s largest port complex for the first few days of the month, but retailers are keeping a close watch on a possible strike on the East Coast and Gulf Coast, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

Walmart is occupying the familiar role of corporate villain again this week as new details emerge regarding a fire that killed 112 people at a Bangladesh apparel factory used by one of the retailer’s suppliers.

LAKELAND, Fla. — Retired Publix president and director emeritus Mark C. Hollis has passed away at that age of 78.