Training Grants and Withholding Calculator

A couple of items of interest from the latest General Ledger published by AIPB (www.aipb.org).

National Emergency Grants (NEGs) - Covers 50-90% of the hourly/salaried rate for on-the-job training if the new hire is a "dislocated worker" for firms of up to 50 employees.  "Dislocated" includes those laid off or notified they will be; those eligible for UI or who have exhausted their UI benefits; self-employed with no work due to economic factors or a natural disaster -- even displaced homemakers no longer supported by another family member.  There are several different kinds of NEGs.  Details at www.doleta.gov/neg/.
Registered apprenticeships.  Tax benefits and work force grants cover up to 75% of eligible wages for firms of up to 100 employees for combined on-the-job training and apprenticeships for 1,100+ occupations.  Benefits vary by state.  For details, contact your Regional Office of Apprenticeship (OA) at www.doleta.gov/oa/regdirlist.cfm or get in touch with your state apprenticeship agencies at www.doleta.gov/oa/stateagencies.cfm.
Workforce Investment Act Funding offers per diem subsidies for combined on-the-job training and classroom education while the new hire collects UI payments.  Details at the url tinyurl.com/yfhzjje (ignore the warning signals when you put this url in the browser; this is a perfectly safe page.)


Also:
When employees ask about how to complete their W-4's for 2011, you can direct them to www.irs.gov.  Once there, type 'calculator', click Withholding Calculator.  On a series of simple screens, they will be asked to check various boxes and will then know how to complete their W-4.  It would be doubly helpful, it appears, for employees with more than one job and would provide the best way to complete the W-4 for each.