Employer-Paid

No end appears in sight for a stalemate that's held hostage extended unemployment benefits for North Carolina's long-term jobless for nearly a month, state legislative leaders said Tuesday.

Not content to target only public-sector unions, Republican lawmakers in more than one-quarter of the states this year launched their most ambitious attempt in about generation to break up union shops in factories, offices and other private-sector workplaces.

While the job market at times still looks pretty lousy, a new survey has some upbeat findings, as well as some not-so-rosy results. Many laid-off employees have been hired back, less are taking pay cuts, yet women and older workers are having trouble finding work.

General Motors Co., responding to demand for more fuel-efficient transmissions, plans to add up to 400 workers and invest $260 million at a factory in Toledo, Ohio, a move that is part of a larger investment at plants in eight states.

More than half of primary care physicians in Massachusetts are no longer accepting new patients, and more patients than ever are facing lengthy wait times to see both primary care and specialty doctors, according to a new report.

An increase in last month’s CBIZ Small Business Employment Index (SBEI) may be sign of more positive hiring trends for small employers.

As employers gird for tough times, they must adapt benefits programs to better withstand the downturn.

Health benefits company Aetna announced Monday it has launched a new website to help consumers, brokers and employers understand the health reform law.