Influence of the number of queens on nestmate recognition and attractiveness of queens to workers in the Argentine ant, Iridomyrmex humilis (Mayr)

To investigate the influence of the number of queens per colony on nestmate recognition in Iridomyrmex humilis, comparative assays were performed to study the attraction of workers to queens. These assays demonstrated that a phenomenon of recognition is superimposed on the attraction of workers to queens. Workers could discriminate non-nestmate queens from their nestmate queen to which they were significantly more attracted. This discrimination is probably based on the learning by workers of queen and colony odour. The level of attraction of workers to non-nestmate queens was similar in monogynous and polygynous colonies, whereas the level of attraction of workers to nestmate queens was significantly lower in polygynous colonies. This difference in the level of attraction of workers to nestmate queens almost certainly resulted from a lower efficiency in nestmate recognition in polygynous colonies. It is hypothesized that the mixture of several pheromonal sources produced by less related individuals in polygynous colonies may result in a less distinct colony odour than in monogynous colonies. The results are discussed with regard to some implications of polygyny and particularly to the loss of intercolonial aggression in I. humilis as well as in other polygynous ant species

Evaluation of the State Highway System and Road Use Tax Fund (RUTF), 2003

This report was prepared by a committee of city, county and state representatives. The committee met throughout 2002 with the purpose of reviewing and making recommendations to improve the efficiency and operation of Iowa's road and street system. This report is referenced in SF 451 and in Code Section 306.8A.

Do Financial Incentives Affect Firms' Demand For Disabled Workers?

A number of OECD countries aim to encourage work integration of disabled persons using quota policies. For instance, Austrian firms must provide at least one job to a disabled worker per 25 nondisabled workers and are subject to a tax if they do not. This "threshold design" provides causal estimates of the noncompliance tax on disabled employment if firms do not manipulate nondisabled employment; a lower and upper bound on the causal effect can be constructed if they do. Results indicate that firms with 25 nondisabled workers employ about 0.04 (or 12%) more disabled workers than without the tax; firms do manipulate employment of nondisabled workers but the lower bound on the employment effect of the quota remains positive; employment effects are stronger in low-wage firms than in high-wage firms; and firms subject to the quota of two disabled workers or more hire 0.08 more disabled workers per additional quota job. Moreover, increasing the noncompliance tax increases excess disabled employment, whereas paying a bonus to overcomplying firms slightly dampens the employment effects of the tax.

Sickness presenteeism in Spanish-born and immigrant workers in Spain

Background: Previous studies have shown that immigrant workers face relatively worse working and employment conditions, as well as lower rates of sickness absence than native-born workers. This study aims to assess rates of sickness presenteeism in a sample of Spanish-born and foreign-born workers according to different characteristics. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted amongst a convenience sample of workers (Spanish-born and foreign-born), living in four Spanish cities: Barcelona, Huelva, Madrid and Valencia (2008-2009). Sickness presenteeism information was collected through two items in the questionnaire ("Have you had health problems in the last year?" and "Have you ever had to miss work for any health problem?") and was defined as worker who had a health problem (answered yes, first item) and had not missed work (answered no, second item). For the analysis, the sample of 2,059 workers (1,617 foreign-born) who answered yes to health problems was included. After descriptives, logistic regressions were used to establish the association between origin country and sickness presenteeism (adjusted odds ratios aOR; 95% confidence interval 95%CI). Analyses were stratified per time spent in Spain among foreign-born workers. Results: All of the results refer to the comparison between foreign-born and Spanish-born workers as a whole, and in some categories relating to personal and occupational conditions. Foreign-born workers were more likely to report sickness presenteeism compared with their Spanish-born counterparts, especially those living in Spain for under 2 years [Prevalence: 42% in Spanish-born and 56.3% in Foreign-born; aOR 1.77 95%CI 1.24-2.53]. In case of foreign-born workers (with time in Spain < 2 years), men [aOR 2.31 95%CI 1.40-3.80], those with university studies [aOR 3.01 95%CI 1.04-8.69], temporary contracts [aOR 2.26 95%CI 1.29-3.98] and salaries between 751-1,200€ per month [aOR 1.74 95% CI 1.04-2.92] were more likely to report sickness presenteeism. Also, recent immigrants with good self-perceived health and good mental health were more likely to report presenteeism than Spanish-born workers with the same good health indicators. Conclusions: Immigrant workers report more sickness presenteeism than their Spanish-born counterparts. These results could be related to precarious work and employment conditions of immigrants. Immigrant workers should benefit from the same standards of social security, and of health and safety in the workplace that are enjoyed by Spanish workers.

Iowa Workers’ Compensation Manual, July 1, 2004 - June 30, 2005

This booklet has been prepared by the Division of Workers’ Compensation to provide information and guidelines in handling Iowa workers’ compensation claims. For more detailed information, reference should be made to Iowa Code chapters 85 through 87, 17A and chapter 876 of the Iowa Administrative Code.

Iowa Workers’ Compensation Manual, July 1, 2002 - June 30, 2003

This booklet has been prepared by the Division of Workers’ Compensation to provide information and guidelines in handling Iowa workers’ compensation claims. For more detailed informaton, reference should be made to Iowa Code chapters 85 through 87, 17A and chapter 876 of the Iowa Administrative Code.

Iowa Workers’ Compensation Manual, July 1, 2003 - June 30, 2004

This booklet has been prepared by the Division of Workers’ Compensation to provide information and guidelines in handling Iowa workers’ compensation claims. For more detailed informaton, reference should be made to Iowa Code chapters 85 through 87, 17A and chapter 876 of the Iowa Administrative Code.

Iowa Workers’ Compensation Manual, July 1, 1999 - June 30, 2000

This booklet has been prepared by the Division of Workers’ Compensation to provide information and guidelines in handling Iowa workers’ compensation claims. For more detailed informaton, reference should be made to Iowa Code chapters 85 through 87, 17A and chapter 876 of the Iowa Administrative Code.

Guide to Workers’ Compensation, 2005

This guide contains valuable information in an understandable format relating to the rights and duties of those covered by Iowa’s workers’ compensation law. This publication is intended to be used as a compilation of general information for commonly asked questions. Opinions oconclusions expressed or implied in this guide should not be considered to be a final determination of this office. You may copy and distribute the guide to others.

Questions and Answers About Workers’ Compensation Law For Injured Workers, July 1, 2004 – June 30, 2005

This brochure answers questions injured workers commonly ask about workers’ compensation. You may check Iowa Code chapters 85 through 87 and 17A, as well as Iowa Administrative Code chapter 876, for detailed information. References to Iowa Code sections and Iowa Administrative Rules appear in parentheses.

Questions and Answers About Workers’ Compensation Law For Injured Workers, July 1, 2001 – June 30, 2002

This brochure answers questions injured workers commonly ask about workers’ compensation. You may check Iowa Code chapters 85 through 87 and 17A, as well as Iowa Administrative Code chapter 876, for detailed information. References to Iowa Code sections and Iowa Administrative Rules appear in parentheses.

Questions and Answers About Workers’ Compensation Law For Injured Workers, July 1, 2002 – June 30, 2003

This brochure answers questions injured workers commonly ask about workers’ compensation. You may check Iowa Code chapters 85 through 87 and 17A, as well as Iowa Administrative Code chapter 876, for detailed information. References to Iowa Code sections and Iowa Administrative Rules appear in parentheses.

Final Report, Secondary Road Fund Distribution Advisory Committee, 2002-2005

This report presents the findings and recommendations of the Secondary Road Fund Distribution Advisory Committee (SRFDAC) established by SF 2192 of the 2002 Iowa Acts.

Division of Workers' Compensation Regulatory Plan for State Fiscal Year, 2005

This plan is intended to implement Governor Vilsack’s Executive Order Number 9, V, signed September 14, 1999. This plan provides the Division of Workers’ Compensation anticipated regulatory actions for potential rule making activity for State Fiscal Year 2005, which began July 1, 2004, and thereafter.

Economic Impact of Closures on Displaced Workers, May 2002

Iowa Workforce Development research conducted in 2001 on Iowa workers displaced by layoffs indicated that post-layoff wages remained at or above pre-layoff levels. During the layoff quarters selected for analysis – first, second, and third quarters of 1998 – there were twenty-one layoff events, none of which were closures. The research at that time did not discriminate between closures or permanent layoffs for which no recall was expected and those layoff events expected to recall workers. The post/pre ratios1 of the affected workers in manufacturing were at or above 100%, while remaining slightly below the universe pre/post ratios for the same time period.