Jobs

The following release was issued by a Meijer spokesperson on Friday: Meijer Recruiting For More Than 500 Jobs in Indiana Retailer seeking full- and part-time team members for two store openings this summer in Indiana Meijer has announced that it will be conducting interviews for more than 200 positions available at its new Warsaw store scheduled to open this summer. Interviews are already underway for its new Portage store, also scheduled to open this summer.

ELKHART - New jobs are coming to Elkhart. A company that does painting for the RV industry plans to add up to 100 jobs. Bremen-based Precision Painting bought an Elkhart company named Carrera Custom Painting. Company executives say because of demand, they plan to hire 100 skilled employees for the Elkhart location. Precision Painting is taking applications in person at its Elkhart facility on Herman Street this afternoon from 2 to 4:30 p.m.  

SOUTH BEND - If you're looking for a job -- listen up! Home Depot is hiring 80,000 new workers across the country for its busy spring season. That's 10,000 more than the company hired last year at this time.  Home Depot says the jobs include both part-time and full-time positions. Jobs are posted on the store's web site.

FLINT, Mich. (AP) - A Michigan health system plans to begin screening job applicants for nicotine use. The Flint Journal reports ( http://bit.ly/14ONfuG ) that Flint-based McLaren Health Care has instituted a no-nicotine policy for all job applicants, testing them for tobacco use as part of the drug screening process. The policy went into effect Friday and involves all McLaren facilities. It doesn't apply to current employees. Job applicants must also no longer be using smoking-cessation products, such as nicotine patches, to be considered for employment.

ELKHART - An Elkhart company that makes wood products for the RV industry is looking to expand and add up to 100 new jobs. It's happening at the Genesis Products plant on the city's north side. The company wants to invest $4 million to renovate and equip part of its operation. Demand for its wood paneling, doors, cabinets and furniture products is off the charts. “We have sort of been busting at the seams at a couple of our locations,” said Genesis President Jon Helmuth.

PLYMOUTH - A private job fair was supposed to be the next step for employees suddenly laid off from a Marshall County plant late last month, but now the public is invited to attend the event because these workers are receiving some good news. Last week, Indiana WorkOne scheduled a "rapid response" job fair for the workers of Whitley Products in Plymouth. About 100 employees lost their jobs when the fabricated tubing plant closed its doors unexpectedly. However, Plymouth Mayor Mark Senter says all employees got their jobs back and went back to work Friday.

WEST LAFAYETTE - A serious accusation accusation has been made against Purdue by a faculty representative. He claims the University is manipulating job definitions to create the illusion more professors are teaching. Faculty Senate Chairman J. Paul Robinson says postdoctoral students are sometimes classified as faculty to boost the number of professors, and clerical staff reductions have been used to make it look like the school's administration is shrinking. Robinson questioned the honesty of the practice during a presentation to the wniversity Senate this week.

PLYMOUTH - It's been a week since 110 workers lost their jobs due to a plant closing in Marshall County. And now some of them are trying to get back to work. Whitley Products in Plymouth closed last Wednesday after 35 years, saying they didn't have the money to stay in business. "It hurts," said Lorri Prater. "I can't get my unemployment. There's some problem, and I'm the only income. Prater worked at Whitley for 9 years, supervising and leading. "I did so much there," Prater said.

GOSHEN - There's new information on the battle to keep Cequent Towing in Goshen. The company wants to close the plant and move its jobs to Mexico. The United Steelworkers Union took the company to court, saying members felt they were entitled to arbitration. A federal judge recently agreed. The union says an arbitrator has been picked, but there is still no date for negotiations to begin. Workers hope it will be before February 21 when Cequent plans to begin the layoffs.

LAPEER, Mich. (AP) - Officials say a retired member of the  Lapeer County sheriff's Department recently hired to help strengthen security at a charter school will keep his job after leaving his gun unattended in a school restroom. According to Chatfield School Director Matt Young, the school reviewed the incident and has decided the unnamed officer "is a good fit for the position. " But Young says the K-8 school about 45 miles northwest of Detroit has revised its security procedures and added additional protocols.