As I have begun hiring for the upcoming seasonal staff, many members who were here during 2006-2008 ask about the Hispanic laborers we used from the H-2B Visa program under the previous superintendent Mark Mixdorf. The program was designed to help businesses that couldn't attract a sufficient labor force from local workers. It allowed us to bring 12 workers from Mexico into Ohio legally as seasonal laborers provided we could show that no local workers were willing to do the job.
With the state of the economy in 2008 along with several changes to the H-2B program, we were no longer able to prove need for outside labor, which forced us to discontinue use of the program. I have had no trouble finding local people or students in need of work to fill the seasonal positions we have available on my staff. We are generally overwhelmed with applications whether I solicit or not.
Four years later, I still get asked about the Hispanic workers and if we could get them back. They did a great job and many members appreciated the hard work these guys did for the club. I have kept in touch with a couple of them over the years, and they still speak fondly of their time here.
Now, the government has overhauled the law again. Wages, worker protections, job posting requirements and quotas have all been changed. With these changes in place, combined with the continued robust unemployment levels, I highly doubt that our little club will ever be in a position to use the program again. A great deal of clubs and other industries rely heavily on these workers to fill a gap in available labor, especially in industries such as resorts and factories. While we have a steady supply of willing laborers, I am very happy to put Americans to work and hopefully help the local economy.
The link below outlines the details in the adjustments to the law:
http://www.dol.gov/whd/immigration/H2BFinalRule/index.htm
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