Our blog has a brand-new name – THE WORK BUZZ - and a brand new home.

Remember to bookmark our new page, which you can access by clicking HERE.

See you there!

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has released its monthly summary of job data for August 2008.

Among the most notable items in the report:

• Unemployment rose from 5.7% in July to 6.1% in August.
• The report indicates that over the last 12 months, the unemployment rate has risen by 1.4%, with over 2 million people losing their jobs.  
• Manufacturing jobs continued to decline, as well as continued losses in the construction industry and in motor vehicle sales and service.
• The health care and mining industries were some of the areas that added jobs.

You can take a look at the entire report here.

In case you were busy at a barbeque on Labor Day and didn’t have a chance to catch Episode 2 of “America’s Toughest Jobs,” here’s a summary of what happened:

The contestants had to drive an 18-wheel truck through incredibly tough terrain in the Arctic Circle. I thought that the ice road truckers had it rough, but these drivers had to navigate icy slopes on the Dalton Highway – a road with the highest trucker mortality rate of any road in the country.

Several contestants, most notably Eric, Sandy, Michaela and Phil, seemed to be real pros behind the wheel. But the bottom four performers – Chris, Bryce, Rommel and Amy (who we talked about last week) were sent to an elimination round.  

Chris, Bryce and Rommel completed their elimination round driving tasks, but Amy got stuck and never made it to the finish line, so she was sent home. (An interesting PS: The show indicated that Amy had quit her Wall Street gig and is changing careers.)

Check our our new blog, The Work Buzz!!!!!

CareerBuilder.com has released the results of a new survey today about workers and their paychecks. Almost half of the workers we surveyed (47 percent) said they always live paycheck to paycheck.

This is an increase from last year’s survey on this topic, when 43 percent indicated they were just barely making those ends meet. (Undoubtedly, the economic slowdown has had an impact in this area, as well as gas prices.)

Among the statistics we learned in this new survey:

• 42 percent of the employees surveyed said they would need an additional $500 a paycheck to live more comfortably.
• 14 percent said they must work multiple jobs (including part time jobs) to meet their monthly expenses.
• More female workers (54 percent) are living paycheck to paycheck than men (41 percent).
• A quarter of the workers survey set no money aside from their paycheck to establish or grow their savings.

You can take a look at the entire summary here. This summary also contains helpful tips on how to enhance your finanaces.

Check out our latest podcast!

The new CareerCast can be heard by clicking here. (Note: Clicking this link will open the CareerCast in Windows Media Player.)  Our podcast is also available on iTunes!

You can hear discussions and find tips and resources on these topics:

• Dealing with crushes on co-workers
• Salaries for college graduates that are on the rise
• What are you doing when your boss is not looking?
• Avoiding major mistakes during an interview

In case you missed our first podcast, you can listen to it here.

Welcome back to the grind, readers! Hope you had a relaxing weekend (and a safe one, too).

I like my job, and I think the environment where I work is pretty cool.

But I have to admit, I developed a bit of workplace envy after watching this video about the headquarters of Google! The employees at Google get some very cool perks.

Labor Day is Monday, and to celebrate the holiday I thought I would share a few fun facts about the holiday.

• Labor Day originated in New York City. The Central Labor Union banded together to create a holiday for workers.
• The idea caught on, and Congress made it a holiday in 1894. It’s observed in all 50 states.
• For many colleges and some high schools, Labor Day marks the last day of ‘freedom’ before classes resume.
• Labor Day also marks the start of college football season; the first NCAA games are usually played over Labor Day weekend.
• For the last 42 years, entertainer Jerry Lewis has held an annual Labor Day telethon with proceeds benefitting the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
• For many years, it was considered bad fashion etiquette to wear white after Labor Day.

Enjoy the long weekend!

I know most of the news channels have been focused this week on politics. For a change of scenery, you can check out the latest work-related news here!

Urgent: State nursing shortage in Florida

Bridging cultural divides in the workplace

Connecting with hiring managers

Making mistakes at work

The most honest job description ever

Time for the “Office Olympics”

CareerBuilder.com is proud to officially launch CBInstitute today!

CBInstitute is designed to help workers enhance their skill sets and their knowledge. More knowledge equals more marketability when you are searching for a job — or when your annual review is right around the corner!

A recent CareerBuilder.com survey showed that 76 percent of hiring managers believe that the use of online courses is a great tool for employees, as well as a solid investment in their careers.

The courses featured on CBInstitute include these subjects:

• Computer skills
• Business skills
• Management and leadership skills
• Sales training
• Language training
• Licensing and certifications
• Assessments

If you want to check it out for yourself, go to CBInstitute.com. You can view a free demonstration and sign up for an online course.

One really cool class that I would highly recommend is CB101. This is a tutorial that shows you the best way to search for jobs on CareerBuilder.com, and gives you tools and resources to get the best results. You can take a look at this class here.

As a career connoisseur, I was eager to watch “America’s Toughest Jobs,” which started this week on NBC. 

The show is part reality show and part game show. Thirteen contestants were selected to participate. All of them had comfy desk jobs or safe jobs in “real life.”

Episode one has the contestants crab fishing in the Bering Sea.  According to this article, commercial fishing in Alaska is one of the most dangerous jobs around, with an injury rate close to 100 percent.  The contestants had to do a lot of exhausting, strenuous work.  They also have to bite the heads off of raw fish as a good-luck ritual before heading off to work. Talk about extreme sushi!

The episode introduced all 13 contestants, and a few of them grabbed the spotlight. The clear leaders of the challenge were Michaela, a recruiter from Boston, and Sandy, a schoolteacher from Texas. These two women prevailed in a challenge that requires a lot of stamina and upper body strength.

Amy, another contestant from Boston, emerged as a bit of an oddball. She refused to bite the head off of her fish and shared some odd facts with the crew, including the fact that she uses her oven at home to store books! (Sounds like a fire hazard to me!)

I thought Amy would be voted off. But Senta, an administrative assistant from California, was the first to get the boot.

Check our our new blog, The Work Buzz!!!!!

Today, CareerBuilder.com and Robert Half International released the fourth annual Employment Dynamics and Growth Expectations (EDGE) Report. This survey features responses from more than 500 hiring managers and 500 workers on questions related to employment and compensation trends.

Among the key findings of the survey:

• More than half of the employers surveyed said they had a hard time recruiting skilled professionals. Generation Y workers (or “millenials”) were the hardest to bring on board.
• Conversely, more than half the employees surveyed also indicated it was hard to find a job today.
• Nearly two-thirds of the workers who responded indicated they were more likely to attempt to negotiate a better compensation package this year.
• Companies cited a lack of qualified workers and the challenges of high gas costs and commuting costs as a roadblock to recruitment.
• Employers are encouraging experienced workers flexibility to retain their valuable skills (versus losing them at retirement). Companies are offering reduced schedules and consulting roles as enticements to get older workers to stay.
• The time it takes to fill an open position ranges from four to 14 weeks. Searches for senior-level roles can take much longer.
• Six-in-10 companies that were surveyed indicated that at least a quarter of the applicants who contacted them were not qualified.

The report suggests that existing job market trends are continuting; the general job market is currently in a slow period, but there are certain job markets (like engineering and information technology) where there is a lack of qualified workers and fierce competition to find and recruit candidates.

For more details about the EDGE report, you can view a press release with an overview of the report here.

While you are waiting for that first cup of coffee to work its magic, take a look at the latest work-related news.  And try not to fall asleep on your keyboard!

More students entering the workforce while still in college

Unexcused absences from work on the rise 

Coping with workplace rage

Meltdowns at work

Fun in the summer: Social skills at work

NBC has a new reality show with a focus on work. The show is called “America’s Toughest Jobs,” and it debuts on Monday, August 25th. We will chat about the show after the first episode airs, but I thought I’d share this preview with you.

Check our our new blog, The Work Buzz!!!!!

Last week, we talked about how your response to colors is used as an assessment tool for your career. This week, we have the results of the latest CareerBuilder.com survey on astrology and birth order, and how those things may affect your career.

For birth order, the results indicated a few trends. Among them:

• Workers who were the first born in their families were more likely to make $100,000 a year or more, while the youngest born were least likely to fall into this income bracket.
• According to the survey, first born workers were most likely to be drawn to the fields of government, engineering, pharmacy and science.
• Workers who were the middle child were most likely to go into nursing, law enforcement, fire fighting and machine operation (such as factory work).
• And the survey indicated that the last born workers were more apt to be in sales, information technology, art and design.

We also asked workers about their career paths in relation to their astrological sign. What is YOUR sign?

• Aquarius – sales, military, engineering, mechanic, food preparation, facilities management and transportation
• Pisces – social work, personal care, information technology, facilities management and mechanic
• Aries – government, construction, hospitality, information technology, education and transportation
• Taurus – nursing, engineering, attorney, judge, marketing/public relations and higher education
• Gemini – art/design/architecture, nursing and personal care, sales, law enforcement, firefighter and machine operation
• Cancer – government, legal services, advertising, higher education, machine operation, transportation and military
• Leo – government, legal services, art/design/architecture, engineering, entertainment, real estate and education
• Virgo – social work, sales, hospitality, editing/writing and food preparation
• Libra – social work, government, advertising, machine operation, law enforcement, firefighter, sales and education
• Scorpio – legal services, engineering, science, education, construction and skilled trades
• Sagittarius – editing/writing, marketing/public relations, entertainment, hospitality, information technology and military
• Capricorn – art/design/architecture, nursing, science, information technology, sales, farming and food preparation

For the complete summary of our survey, please click here.

Many employers are facing a number of challenges: a shaky economy, rising fuel costs and high health- care costs for their employees. Even if a company is stable enough to weather the economic storm, it may be implementing budget cuts to keep costs down.

One of the ways employers accomplish that is by initiating a hiring freeze. During such times, when an employee leaves the company, someone else in the company absorbs that work in addition to his or her current duties.. That “someone” could be you.

If you have been assigned duties because of consolidation within the company or the departure of a co-worker, you may experience a challenging transition period. Here are some ideas on how to minimize the impact of these changes on you.

Define expectations. Your supervisor or manager may be just as unsettled as you are by the changes. Approach your supervisor and ask for a written recap of what is expected of you in your new or revised role. If you have not performed the specific task before, discuss the training process. Negotiate an adequate training period, if at all possible. Set an anticipated date for when you should be proficient in the task.

Share the joy. If your department is taking on new responsibilities, it may be time for management to analyze all of the tasks your group does. In times of change, leaders tend to rely on a few proven “workhorses” to get things done as requested and on schedule. Your supervisor, however,  should be distributing the work evenly and appropriately. This may require shuffling responsibilities around and additional investment in training, but in the long run the entire group will benefit from a balanced workload.

Be proactive. Work with the leadership of your group to implement cross-training. Companies often fall into the trap of having only one person who is knowledgeable in a particular task. This has the potential to negatively impact everyone if that person leaves your team.  Ask your manager who the designated backup person is for important tasks.

Maintain a list. When changes to your duties happen, it is a good time to pull out your job description – - you know, that dusty document that you and your supervisor usually look at once a year? Make sure that you add any additional tasks and responsibilities to that list. If your job changes significantly because of these new duties, work with your manager at review time to ensure that your salary, job title and career path are in line with your new role.

Embrace change. Most of us are resistant to change, but you may want to look at any new tasks as a learning opportunity. At the very least, the additional knowledge will give you an opportunity to enhance your resume.

Whether you work in an office, a factory or a retail store, working with a group of people means that all of those people are interacting on a daily basis. And many of those workers are easily irritated by on-the-job behavior that is rude, thoughtless or just plain annoying.

But are YOU the source of bad behavior and inappropriate etiquette at your office? Here is a list of offenses you may not even be aware you are committing.

Coming to work

• You may be in a big rush to get to work, but speeding in the company parking lot or garage is never a good idea. Neither is pulling your car too close to another car. Causing a dent or scratch on a freshly-waxed car will definitely get your co-workers angry.  
• You may not mind being in a cramped elevator, but your co-workers might. Be sure not to violate the personal space of your fellow passengers. And make sure you have any umbrellas fully closed before getting on.

 At your desk 

• You may not even notice that you are doing it, but try to be aware of any tendency you have to make repetitive noises. Chewing (and popping) gum, tapping your fingers and feet, and clicking your pen can all be incredibly irritating to fellow cube dwellers.  
• Be sure to limit both the volume and length of any personal calls you make at your workstation. Co-workers understand that you need to maintain contact with family and friends. But lengthy conversations that are punctuated with loud laughter or angry chat may leave them feeling like you are slacking on the clock.  
• If you do see someone eating at their desk, that means they are in all likelihood on break or at lunch. This is NOT the time to launch into a lengthy work-related discussion.  
• Be careful about eating at your desk. It may be unavoidable from time to time, but you should be reluctant to eat any aromatic food that may make your co-workers uncomfortable. Worse yet, it may make them hungry!  
• And speaking of strong aromas, be sure to go easy on any scented product that may irritate co-workers. Cologne, perfume, body spray and even some soaps and shower gels can all give off a lingering smell. You might trigger a headache or asthma attack in a scent-sensitive worker.

In the restroom 

• The restroom is not a library; try not to monopolize available space by reading the paper cover to cover.  
• Although your boss may appreciate your ability to multitask, your co-workers will be irritated if you use your cell phone or PDA while using the facilities. No one wants to hear your private cell phone call or listen to you click away at the keyboard of your Crackberry.  

 In the break room

• If you use the last of an item in the break room, be sure to refill it or let the appropriate person know. Otherwise, you get about as warm of a reception from your office mates as you do when you leave one swig of milk in the carton at home.  
• If you use a shared refrigerator, make sure you mark your food with your initials and date. And no matter how hungry you are, never, EVER eat food that a co-worker has brought in – - at least not without asking first!

If you have any additional pet peeves, we would love to hear what they are. And be sure to fess up if YOU were the one that committed any of these sins!

Or rather, COULD you live with your co-workers? This Wall Street Journal article talks about employees of Japanese corporations who are doing just that.

The rent is incredibly cheap; roughly $185 a month gets you a private bedroom. But workers must share a communal bathroom and eat in a cafeteria. The dorms are available to young, single employees, and are segregated by gender.

The companies say they are providing dorms for several reasons.

• The inexpensive rent appeals to younger workers. Companies are actively looking to hire and retain younger workers.
• Living together improved communication and a sense of worker unity.
• Many Japanese students lived at home while attending college, so they missed the experience of “campus” life. Living in the dorms helps them prepare for living on their own.

Could you live “Big Brother” style with your co-workers? We would love to hear what you think!

Compressed workweeks, especially four-day workweeks, have been around for some time now. But it looks like we have an emerging trend of compressed workweeks being adopted by schools and educational facilities.

A roundup of articles on this trend:

• Four-day workweek gets an A+ at college
• Louisiana school studies four-day week
• Board eyes compressed school schedule
• Four-day school weeks

The articles cite cost as the biggest reason for schools to adopt or consider this idea. By eliminating one day of school (and auxiliary operations like school buses), school districts and colleges can realize an enormous cost savings. And with school district budgets under close scrutiny, it makes sense that school boards would consider this idea.

As with any company, there are pros and cons for workers. Although many employees may enjoy the extra day of flexibility, some may have issues with finding child care or elder care. And while many companies allow an option to have a compressed work schedule, many of these institutions are implementing this policy across the board.

Do you think your school district or higher institution of learning should run on a compressed, four-day week? Let us know.

Many of us have heard the saying “do what you love and you will never work a day in your life.”  And some of the most rewarding jobs out there are the ones where you combine your passions, hobbies and interests with your career path. Here are some ideas on how to make that happen. 

Sports

If you love the game but did not become a pro athlete in your preferred sport, there are several ways you can be more than just an armchair quarterback! These are just a few potential sports-centered careers.

• Sports fans with a dual interest in medicine can focus your studies on sports medicine.
• Someone who is organized and has a mind for statistics and figures may be able to work in media. You might be able to become a reporter in traditional media or for a Web site that needs statistics and game-related content.
• If you have a major sports team near you, you might be able to work for them in an administrative capacity. Teams need administrative staff as well as marketing assistants who can help manage promotional items and advertising.
• If you are a sports aficionado with a mind for business or management skills, you could become involved with the management team of a sports franchise or represent a player as a business agent.

Music

Even if your singing skills would get you thrown out of an “American Idol” audition, there are still a number of jobs available for music fans, as well as singers and musicians.

• As in sports, marketing and public relations jobs are often available for a particular artist or the project they are working on.
• Music fans can work as part of the crew in music venues, or can become a “roadie” for a band on tour.
• Workers with management skills or a mechanical background can become part of the facilities management team at a music venue.
• If you have artistic skills, you could become a graphic designer and focus on creating cover art for an album or posters and promotional material for a tour.

Acting

Although New York and Los Angeles remain central hubs for film and television, many shows and feature films are being made across the country. There are also professional theaters across the country; these theaters hire actors for many of their productions. Even if you are not working as an actor, there are several other options.

• Workers with experience in hospitality can provide food and lodging for actors and crew.
• Many films and television shows need actors to work as “extras.” Actors can supplement their full-time income with extra work and use the gig as an opportunity to networking with other actors, directors and producers.
• If you have experience in event management, law, politics or marketing, you can become part of the local office or bureau that works to attract productions to your region. These groups work with local officials to coordinate access to filming locations, and will also work to create the financial agreement that would bring the production to town.

Other passions 

• If you have an interest in philanthropy or social change, consider working in an administrative role at a non-profit organization.
• Avid readers should consider working as a researcher or research writer, librarian or even a book reviewer.
• News junkies can pursue their interest by working in media. Although traditional media is changing, there are still jobs for anchors and reporters as well as researchers. You can also work as a blogger. And political news junkies can work as media researchers in political campaigns.
• If you love to write, and are on a corporate career path, consider finding a position that allows you to do a lot of research and writing. Positions as an administrative assistant, legal assistant or marketing may fit this category. These jobs may include opportunities to write correspondence, summarize research, and craft written procedures for your department or for your company.
• If you have a soft spot for animals, there are many options to merge that passion with your career. You can work for a veterinarian or be a staff member at an animal rescue shelter. You could also work at a zoo or as a pet groomer.

We have a few tools that will help you research these jobs. In addition to CareerBuilder.com, you can go to CBSalary.com for an estimate on what you will earn. Check our CBInstitute.com for information about enhancing your current skills. Or if you need training for a new field, take a look at DegreeDriven.com, which can help you decide on a college or university.

This week, a documentary about Helen Thomas is premiering on HBO. You may not instantly recognize her name, but if you have seen a presidential press conference in the last 50 years, you know exactly who she is. She has become renowned for her coverage of Washington politics, and has served as a role model for countless other journalists.

Thomas is just one of a number of women who have broken through the glass ceilings of their industries or reshaped the way we think about women working in those fields.  Here are some other trailblazers:

Katharine Graham: Graham was the publisher of the Washington Post and her autobiography “Personal History” is not only her story, but a fascinating snapshot of how women and their professional roles changed in her lifetime. Graham was initially relegated to the sideline of the Post, a newspaper owned by her family. But after the death of her husband, Graham ascended to power and made history with the paper and its coverage of the Pentagon Papers and Watergate.

Mary Wells: “Mad Men” may be just a television show about advertising in the 1960s, but Wells lived it. She was one of the first women in the industry to rise to a leadership role. She founded Wells Rich Greene, the ad agency that was responsible for some memorable campaigns and catchphrases like “Friends don’t let friends drive drunk” and “plop plop fizz fizz.”

Shirley Chisholm: Hillary Clinton may have run a hard-fought campaign for president earlier this year, but she was not the first woman to run for that office. Chisholm ran for president in 1972 and was the first African-American woman to do so. She was also the first African-American woman elected to Congress. Chisholm served seven terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Meg Whitman: Until recently, Whitman was the CEO of eBay, and one of the management leaders who came to prominence in the field of Internet commerce. Whitman was part of a 1990s wave of women in corporate management who were named CEOs of their companies. During her tenure at eBay the company enjoyed growth and stability.

Lucille Ball: We all know and love Lucy as a classic comedienne, but Ball was also a shrewd businesswoman. She formed Desilu Productions with then-husband Desi Arnaz and the company was a trailblazer in television production. While starring on her own TV show in the 1960s, Ball was also president and CEO of Desilu – - a notable feat considering that few women are in leadership roles at film studios today.

Oprah Winfrey:  Like Lucille Ball, Winfrey is a popular entertainer who also leads an enormously successful business empire. Winfrey is the president of Harpo Productions, which oversees the development and production of TV shows and films. In addition to her talk show, Winfrey and her company publish a monthly magazine. She was the co-founder of the Oxygen cable network and has published several books.

These are just a few examples of women who have redefined leadership roles in their fields. We would love to hear who you would like to see included on this list!

And you may want to check out our recent survey that discusses how female workers responded to questions about gender in the office.

Today, CareerBuilder.com is rolling out yet another fun tool to help you shape your career. Our resource center, CareerPath.com, has a new resource tool that assesses your personality based on your color choices and provides a summary of what careers are most compatible.

This online test uses the patented Dewey Color System to formulate suggestions based on your choices from 3,375 color combinations. Here are some color combination examples from the Dewey Color System:

• Yellow, green and white: The Designer. You create products, services or solutions to fit the enviornment of others. Among possible career choices: Real estate, interior design, travel planning, or any job where you can help shape and create surroundings for others.
• Blue, green, and brown: The Dream Maker.  You have a hands-on, supportive perspective and often guide others through times of crisis. Possible careers for you might include corporate trainer, physical therapist, forest ranger, or medical professional.
• Red, orange, and black: The Evaluator. This personality type is great at analyzing their surroundings, as well as systems and approaches to productivity at work. If you are an evaluator, you can often improve your job as well as improve the procedures and processes there. Ideal jobs might include operational support, banking, computer repair, or child care.

You might initially be wary of how effective this is, but assessing color preference and recognition is rooted in psychology. I took this test, and was very surprised at how accurate it was. (For those who are curious, it suggested I was a creative person, the Creator, with a secondary strength as an Organizer.)

To find out more about the test, click here. You can also find more information about the Dewey Color System here.

I think probably every employee handbook probably has guidelines for being clean and hygenic when you at work. And a recent shower or bath would certainly qualify as good grooming.

But I believe those guidelines are not suggesting that you bathe AT work. However, this restaurant employee in Ohio seems to be a big confused on this point!

Many of us have been glued to our TV watching the 2008 Summer Olympics.

It has been thrilling to see the events, and many workers agree: Twelve percent of the workers we talked to in a recent survey indicated they would be watching some of the Olympics while they were at work.

The intense media spotlight on Michael Phelps and the U.S. mens swim team is reflected in the fact that over a third of our survey participants said they would be tuning in to watch swimming events. The list of most anticipated events:

• Swimming (37 percent)
• Baseball and softball (29 percent)
• Gymnastics (26 percent)
• Track and field (23 percent)
• Volleyball (23 percent)
• Cycling (20 percent
• Basketball (19 percent)
• Soccer (19 percent)

Younger workers are definitely more dedicated fans of Summer Olympics action. Sixteen percent of workers aged 18-24 are watching, versus 13 percent of workers 25-34, 11 percent of workers 35-44, 11 percent of workers 45-54, and 9 percent of workers over 55.

We also asked workers what Summer Olympic sport most resembled their current job, and they said:

• Volleyball: A team sport (20 percent)
• Hurdles: Lots of obstacles in the way (14 percent)
• Marathon: Slow and steady (13 percent)
• Wrestling: In a holding pattern (11 percent)
• Weightlifting: Bearing all the weight (8 percent)
• Synchronized swimming: You and your co-workers are all on the same page (7 percent)

For the complete story, click here.

What have you been waiting to see? What has been the most thrilling moment so far? And have you watched any of the Games at work?  Tell us…we promise not to say a word to your boss!)

Here are some of the more interesting work-related news stories we saw over the weekend.

A different approach to a medical career

Internal social networks at work

The debate on paid sick leave

Number of teaching jobs on the rise

Drinking before work: Never a good idea

A while back we talked about extreme commutes, with long travel times covering long distances.

But what about the average commute? Forbes.com assembled a list of the 10 cities with the best commute times and the cities with the 10 worst commutes.

The best:

1. Buffalo, NY
2. Salt Lake City, UT
3. Milwaukee, WI
4. Oklahoma City, OK
5. Pittsburgh, PA
6. Cleveland, OH
7. Hartford, CT
8. Kansas City, MO
9. Cincinnati, OH
10. Richmond, VA

And the worst:

1. Atlanta, GA
2. Detroit, MI
3. Miami, FL
4. Orlando, FL
5. Dallas, TX
6. Tampa, FL
7. Washington, DC
8. Houston, TX
9. Los Angeles, CA
10. San Francisco, CA

According to the survey, the cities with the best commute times overall were cities that had some advantages in terms of population and geography. The cities with the worst times often had antiquated roads that caused bottlenecks of traffic. Many of the “worst” cities also have experienced massive growth. As a result, demand has exceeded the capacity of the existing roads and transit systems.

CareerBuilder.com released a new survey today, and the results may surprise you.  One-third of female workers in our survey said that they were paid less than their mail counterparts who had the same experience and qualifications.

Comparing salaries was one measurement.  There was eye-opening data about salaries in the following categories:

• 19 percent of men said they earned $75,000 or more annually, versus 7 percent of women.
• 40 percent of men indicated they made more than $50,000 annually, while 21 percent of women were in that salary bracket.
• 47 percent of women said that they made $35,000 or less yearly, versus 28 percent of men.

For a complete summary of the survey results, click here.

TVGuide is releasing its annual summary of what actors and public figures on television make.

We use CBSalary.com as a salary range reference. But I think these salaries are far above and beyond any standard salary range!

Oprah Winfrey was at the top of the list, with an annual salary last year of $385 million. Simon Cowell from “American Idol” was next at $50 million, and late night talk show host David Letterman made $32 million.

You can see the overview of the TVGuide survey here.

Do you have to get away? We are definitely at peak season for vacations. Many of us who are still stuck at our cubicles or workstations have probably noticed the empty seats around us!

If you have yet to plan your getaway, here is a roundup of resources and information that might help mudge you out the door and onto the beach!

Quit working on vacation!

What candidate would YOU take a vacation with?

Does unlimited vacation work?

Proposing a paid vacation law

Competing with co-workers for vacation time

One of my favorite TV shows right now is “Mad Men.”  The show is set in a Madison Avenue ad agency in the early 1960s. In addition to the great writing and acting, the show does a wonderful job of capturing the details of that era.

This article talks about the differences in workplace etiquette from that era to today. As the article says, “It is a different world than we know now — thanks to civil rights and employment laws passed later in the 1960s and in the ’70s — but one that really existed.”

Among the differences, then and now:

• The characters are shown drinking alcohol and smoking at the office. Smoking in public places is illegal in many areas. Drinking may be frowned upon at work and restricted by company rules, but it is not illegal.  
• A character is depicted asking a job applicant if she is married. Inquiring about age and marital status in an interview is also illegal.
• Aspects of “Mad Men” depict the friction between men vs. women in the workplace at that time, and underscores the enormous differences for women in the workplace compared to now. The male characters are shown making inappropriate remarks to the “girls.” A central story on “Mad Men” shows a female copywriter contending with the challenges of breaking into the old boys club.

Former NFL quarterback Brett Favre has been all over the news lately. Favre is no stranger to the spotlight; his retirement this past received significant media attention.

Now people are talking about Favre and his change of heart about his career path. Many people were surprised when his team (the Green Bay Packers) did not welcome him back with open arms. This story continues to be filled with twists and turns, and it is unclear whether Favre will get his wish and play pro football again this season.

Many of us have probably made the same kind of decision about moving on from a job. And at one time or another, we have also probably experienced the same kind of regret about leaving. The question is: once you leave, can you go home again?

Here are some things you may want to consider before you think about returning to a previous employer.

• Take off the rose-colored glasses. If you miss your old job, think about the reasons why you are feeling nostalgic. With time and distance, we may only remember the good things about a job, and overlook the reasons why we left in the first place. Take some time to really think about what your day was like. Better yet, go back for a visit. You are more likely to view your old workplace in an objective way.
• Ponder your career path. Think about your career, and where you would like to be in five years. Does your old job get you closer to that destination? If you dislike your current job, returning to your old workplace simply out of comfort is a bad idea. Make sure any return to a previous employer fits in with your overall career path.

In some cases, returning to an old job may be the right step. But doing so may take some considerable planning, as well as some explanation on your part.

The company will want you to answer two questions: Why did you leave? And why should we take you back? If the door to returning to an old job appears to be open, be prepared to answer those questions.

You should also be ready to present your former employer with a plan of action. You should outline the positive impact your return would have on the company. Management will want to know that your return is a long-term investment, not a stopgap measure until you get another job. Developing and sharing a long range plan would show them your commitment.

This may also be a good opportunity to make adjustments in your role with the company. If boredom was part of the reason you initially left, be frank about that in your discussion with them. Let them know you need new challenges or a change of pace.

If there were personality conflicts, you should also be honest and blunt about those as well. Those kinds of issues are unlikely to have gone away in your absence, but some companies may be flexible enough to accommodate changes you may need to make the second time around more successful.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released its monthly summary of job data for July 2008.

Among the most notable items in the report:

• Unemployment rose from 5.5% in June to 5.7% in July.
• There were 51,000 fewer jobs in July. Total job loss for 2008 so far is 463,000. That is an average of 66,000 jobs lost per month.
• The most notable losses were in construction, manufacturing and employment services. The drop for employment services indicates far fewer companies are using temporary help.
• The report also mentioned that teenagers and young adults who usually take on part-time jobs during the summer have had challenges in finding a job this year.

You can see the entire press release here.

For most of my career, summer is a season where I am always envious of the dress code for my female co-workers. While men in the office might have one day a week to wear jeans, most dress codes give women the option of wearing skirts or skorts every day.

But the New York Times has a profile about an emerging trend at the office: Men wearing shorts. Check out the article and the associated photos for more details.

Office dress codes continue to evolve and change in interesting ways and are definitely no longer “one size fits all.”  This Financial Post article makes the argument that dress codes are part of the larger branding and “personality” of a company.

Creating your resume can often involve some creative writing for the author. Numerous job seekers have lied on a resume. “Lied” is such an ugly word; I prefer “embellished” myself! Many of us look at it as putting a positive spin on a job. Why say “trash collector” when “waste management technician” sounds so much better?

According to a new CareerBuilder.com survey, job title is just one of the lies employers found on a resume.

The complete list of the most common lies told:

• About job duties and responsibilities: 38 percent
• About skill set: 18 percent
• About dates of employment on previous jobs: 12 percent
• About academic degrees: 10 percent
• About previous companies worked for: 7 percent
• About job title: 5 percent

The survey found the most embellishment and lies in the hospitality industry, with transportation/utilities and information technology close behind.

When we surveyed hiring managers, they shared with us some very outrageous claims that applicants had made.

Applicants claimed, among other things: 

• That they were a member of the Kennedy family
• Claimed to attend a school that did not exist
• Claimed membership in Mensa
• Submitted a resume which featured a photo of the subject of the resume. The photo was of someone else
• Claimed to be a CEO of a company (they were an hourly employee)
• Said that they had worked for the hiring manager before when they had not
• Cited military experience that dated back to before he was born
• Included samples of work that they had not done. The work had actually been done by the interviewer
• Claimed to be Hispanic when he was 100 percent Caucasian
• Claimed to have been a professional baseball player

For more details about the survey, and a list of tips on how to make your resume stand out, click here.

You can also check out the CareerBuilder.com resume resource site, CBResume.

I have to apologize for not having any awesome information to share with you today. But our office is in mourning.

Why? Because Scrabulous is no more.

Our favorite networking site, BrightFuse, now allows you to create a group on the site and invite other users to join.

To create a group, log into your BrightFuse account. When you are logged in, go to “My Home” and click on the “Create your own group” link on the left. You can invite any BrightFuse member to join your group!

Not a BrightFuse member yet? Check it out. BrightFuse is a great companion site to CareerBuilder.com.

We spend most of our time talking about ideas and trends to help you LAND a job. But once you land that job, there is always a transition involved. And one part of that transition is closing the door on your old gig.

Many employers ask departing part-time and full-time workers to participate in an exit interview.  Exit interviews are done in a number of ways and in a number of formats.

• In most cases, a member of the HR team at the company will conduct or moderate the interview. This allows workers to talk candidly about managers, supervisors and co-workers.
• The interview may take place face-to-face. The moderator may also have the departing employee complete a survey on paper or in an online format.
• Exit interviews are generally held prior to the last day of work for the departing employee. Many employees, however, experience significant distractions, emotional upheaval and a lot of stress during their last week at work. As a result, some companies are administering their exit interviews a few weeks or months after the termination date. The idea is that the former employee will be more likely to give clear, constructive feedback.

Exit interviews can be a somewhat mysterious concept for many workers, especially if you have never been involved in one. Here are some things to remember when you are asked to participate in one.

Put it in writing.  If you have feedback that you think your company would benefit from hearing, put it into words and put it on paper before the interview.  Though good companies encourage feedback and discussion, you may feel uncomfortable or nervous speaking about your ideas. Give the interviewer a detailed outline of your feedback or your ideas.  Clearly communicating your constructive criticism or ideas for the future makes it far likelier for the company to implement those ideas.

Stick to the important points. Many people make the same mistake when they are invited to an exit interview: They view the interview as an invitation to rant about everything that they ever disliked at work. Talking about challenges to job performance or a lack of communication with your manager is valued feedback. But writing a four-page essay about the fact that the company did not give you free parking or that your co-worker chews gum too loudly? Not so much. Those comments are unlikely to have any impact. Try not to let any conflicts with co-workers or little irritants overwhelm the big picture.

Know where it goes. It may be YOUR exit interview, but make sure you ask the HR staff who will see your comments. Generally, comments are shared with your direct supervisors or managers. But depending on the company, your comments may go all the way to the top. Your comments or ideas should be tailored accordingly. Make sure any issues or concerns are clearly understood without burning any bridges.  

Have no fear. There are times when people leave a job because they absolutely have to for their happiness or sanity. The work environment has become incredibly toxic, or conflict with a manager or co-worker becomes too much to bear.

You should not be afraid to tell your soon-to-be-former company if their practices or procedures played a part in your departure. As much as we believe the people in charge know it all, upper management is not always aware of conflicts or issues. And they ARE concerned about what happens; they want employees to be productive and content in their jobs. It is also far more expensive for a company to train a new employee than to retain an existing one, so companies appreciate frank discussion about what might be causing turnover.

NOTE: Check our our new blog, The Work Buzz!!!!!

It all starts off innocently enough.

There you are, surfing the Web, and you come across a Web site like MySpace. Or maybe a friend invites you to be a part of Facebook. You click that button, enter your e-mail address, and — presto  –  you are in the network!

But one is never enough. You get another e-mail from another friend. How can you say no to them? You click yes, sign up and then you start sliding down a slippery slope. You show all the danger signs of social networking overdose!

In the last five years, social networking sites have filled the Web. From the early days of very general sites like MySpace and Facebook, the concept of networking sites has evolved. Among the categories of networking sites that exist today:

• Professional networking sites. These sites, like LinkedIn or ZoomInfo, generally list information about your career or highlight your professional accomplishments. 
• Blogging sites that link you to a network of your friends. Some sites, like LiveJournal, are standard blogs with networking features. Other sites, like Plaxo and Twitter, focus on the networking elements and their unique features. (The “twist” of Twitter is its limit on blog entries of 140 words or less.) 
• Sites aimed at particular demographics. The networking site Vois has been described as “Facebook for an older crowd,” while ThomasNet is a site specifically aimed at engineers and BlackPlanet is a site aimed at African American users.

With such a flurry of activity and new sites popping up every day, what should you do? Clearly, you cannot subscribe to every social networking site on the Web. Even the most energetic, social person cannot spend every moment checking for new messages and new contacts. But how do you recover from your online OD?

Think about your goals. What experience do you want to take away from these sites? Is social networking primarily a social vehicle to keep in touch with friends? Are you focusing on expanding your list of professional contacts? Do you want to do both? Have an idea of what you want to gain from your interactions.

Evaluate. Take a look at the sites you are a member of. Pay close attention to the number of contacts or ”friends” you have on a site. Regardless of whether your focus is a social or professional one, it is important to make sure the time you spend there is effective. If you are a member of a site where you only have a friend or two, or have limited connections there, it may be time to consider eliminating your membership there.

Make it fun.  BrightFuse, a partner site to CareerBuilder.com, is a professional networking site that hosts your online profile.  While some of the professional networking sites can be very nondescript, BrightFuse incorporates some of the more fun, interactive elements of other sites and presents them in a fresh way.  It also has a platform for users to post projects they are working on, which encourages feedback and collaboration.

The cure for networking overdose is simple: Dial it down a notch (or two)!  Streamline the list of sites you visit.  Although sites like Facebook can be useful for professional networking, most users want to keep their personal and professional networking efforts separate. So choose one or two sites for personal contacts, and a couple of sites for professional networking.

And if you get an e-mail from a well meaning friend inviting you to a new site, take a look at the site first and see how useful its features are before leaping in head first. You may also want to check with that friend or contact and see if they might be a member of a site you already belong to.

We were sad to learn that Randy Pausch died this morning. We just profiled his inspirational book, “The Last Lecture”, and its lessons on time management in our blog Wednesday.

Professor Pausch and his family and friends are in our thoughts.

We have all heard of the phrase “good cop, bad cop.”  How about “good worker, bad worker?”

Our news roundup today is shining a special spotlight on the good eggs as well as the bad seeds of the workforce.

First, the good news:

The amazing volunteer

A city celebrates its workforce 

Keeping the movies safe

And now, the bad:

Fourth worker charged with fraud in same case

Kickbacks are bad (and illegal)

New on the menu: A knuckle sandwich

Many news outlets have been talking about the federal minimum wage increase. The federal minimum wage goes  up to $6.55 an hour, effective today. (Many individual states have set their own minimum wages; about 20 states currently have state-mandated minimum wages that are higher than the federal wage.) This will have an impact on many part-time and hourly full-time workers.

This is the second in a series of three annual increases put into effect with legislation passed last year. Prior to the first increase last year, the minimum wage had stayed at $5.15 an hour for ten years. Next year will see the third and final increase, to $7.25 an hour.

Of course, as we mentioned in a recent post, these gains have been impacted by the rise in gas prices. One of our recent surveys found that many people were cutting out extras and sacrificing on some things to be able to afford the price of gas. Hopefully, the wage increase will help offset those costs for minimum wage workers.

A quick follow up to our discussion a few weeks back about happy hours:

Advertising Age had an article this week spotlighting a new trend – ad agencies with in-house bars having their own “happy hours.” 

Meanwhile, Britian appears to be considering banning happy hour altogether! How will anyone ever learn gossip about co-workers without one?

Here on the job seeker blog, we do a lot of talking. A. Lot. Of. Talking. We do it in an effort to give our readers all the tools, information and resources that we can so they can be total rock stars, whether they are on a job interview or on the clock.

But even the best talkers have to stop and listen once in a while. And we do a lot of reading here, too. I thought it would be cool if we shared some of those books from time to time.

I just read the book “The Last Lecture” by Randy Pausch. (The book was transcribed by Jeffrey Zaslow, a columnist for the Wall Street Journal.) Pausch is a professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

Professor Pausch was in the national media spotlight earlier this year because of his “last lecture.”  Many colleges and universities have adapted a “Last Lecture Series” in which professors are invited to give hypothetical final lectures. For Randy Pausch, the finality of his lecture was unfortunately not a hypothetical matter. Pausch is terminally ill with has pancreatic cancer, and his cancer is resisting treatment.

Instead of retreating from the world, Professor Pausch shared his incredibly optimism and gratitude with his students. That “last lecture,” which Pausch says is ultimately for his children, was captured on video and shown around the world. (It can be seen at www.thelastlecture.com.)  And now, the lecture is in book form.

In addition to the incredible story of Professor Pausch and his life and career, I wanted to share some of his advice about how we view our careers, and about our work/life balance. He has some great comments on this, including these ideas on time management:

• No sweating the small stuff. Pausch talks about cautioning his students not to get hung up on irrelevant details. As Pausch says, “Time must be explicitly managed, like money.” 
• Have a plan. In order to have the flexibility and agility many careers require today, Pausch says you have to have a solid plan in place to begin with, so the change is organized change. He says that a plan “helps us break life into small steps.” 
• Evaluate. Pausch urges people to ask themselves, “Are you spending time on the right things?” He talks about a newspaper clipping he had kept where a woman was protesting jackhammers at a local construction site. Her protest was motivated by fear that the jackhammers would harm her unborn baby. The catch? Ironically, the photograph showed the pregnant mother – with a cigarette in hand. His message: Sometimes we spend time and energy on the wrong problem. 
• Be organized. Pausch, who was a highly organized person, shares several funny anecdotes about his wife, who was not nearly as organized. He believes being organized on the front end is better than saying, “I know it was blue and I know I was eating something when I had it.” 
• Free yourself from the phone. Pausch says collectively, we spend a lot of time on the phone and on hold. Rather than being a slave to the phone, use a speakerphone or hands-free phone when possible so your hands are free to do something else. He also recommends keeping calls short and concise, and has a brilliant idea regarding telemarketers: Hang up on them midsentence! 
• Delegate. Many of us are reluctant to delegate work to others, but Pausch encourages it and says it is never too early to groom people for responsibility. In most cases, your co-workers or employees will come through. 
• Disconnect. Our work culture has made it increasingly hard to completely disconnect during a vacation. One of our recent CareerBuilder.com surveys had responses from workers who called into the office or checked their e-mail while they were on vacation. But Pausch says it is vitally important to really, truly get away.

As Pausch reminds us, “Time is all you have. And you may find one day that you have less than you think.”

For more information on Randy Pausch, visit his web page. You may also want to check out the webpages for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (www.pancan.org) and the Lustgarten Foundation (www.lustgarten.org), two organizations involved in research and fundraising for pancreatic cancer.

The New York Times ran an interesting story today that was based on recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

For most of the last half century, since the 1960s, the ranks of women in the workplace continued to increase. (The number of men in the workplace consistently shrank.)

But this decade, the number of women in the workplace also shrank. The article explores several possible reasons why.

Many of us made our way to the movies this weekend to see the eagerly anticipated Batman movie, “The Dark Knight.” (And as we mentioned the other week, we suspect more than a few of you played hooky on Friday to see it!)

You would think that sitting in a nice, air-conditioned theater with a bucket of popcorn and an endless stream of previews would keep me happy. But curiosity got the best of me and made me ask: How are these movie characters faring in their careers? And more importantly, how much money are they making?

I decided to do some research on CBSalary.com and see what I could find out. Here are some characters from recent films, and the salary that those fictional characters might rake in if they were real.

THE DARK KNIGHT: Bruce Wayne, also known as Batman, was the focal point of “The Dark Knight.” In the Batman mythology, Bruce has been described as a billionaire industrialist. The closest real-life figures to Bruce Wayne in terms of compensation and pay might be Bill Gates (net worth: $58 billion), Steve Jobs (net worth: $5.4 billion) or the founders of Google, Sergey Brin and Larry Page (net worth: $18 billion each).  I wonder if any of these guys have a secret life fighting crime?

GET SMART: The remake of “Get Smart” still had Maxwell Smart and Agent 99 working for the fictional spy agency CONTROL. Real-life criminal justice types who pursue a career as a CIA agent make an average of $51,700 annually. Hopefully, that salary allows for an upgrade from the clunky shoephone.

MAMMA MIA!:  In this film version of the stage musical filled with the music of ABBA, Meryl Streep plays the lead role of Donna, a former musician who now owns a hotel on a small Greek island. Managing the hotel is a handful for Donna, but it can be extremely rewarding. According to CBSalary.com, hotel managers make an average of $142,723.

HANCOCK:  John Hancock (played by Will Smith) might not be paid for his superhero duties, but his public relations man, Ray Embrey (played by Jason Bateman) earns his salary by keeping troublemaker Hancock out of trouble. The average salary for a public relations representative is $44,649. But agents like Embrey, who are based in Los Angeles and are handling celebrities, undoubtedly make far more.

KIT KITTREDGE: Though child labor laws would prevent a real-life Kit Kittredge from working at a newspaper, a reporter hired at a newspaper today makes an average of $40,902. Kit wrote on her typewriter about the events she saw from her treehouse. Today, a reporter must write about issues from around the corner or around the world. They also have to learn new technologies, like video, to incorporate into their reporting. Their stories are published in print as well as on the Web.

IRON MAN: Last but not least, we have Tony Stark from “Iron Man.” Engineers like Tony Stark make an average of $42,699 for a starting salary. Engineers with experience and advanced knowledge make an average of $98,300.

Check out CBSalary.com if you are curious about other careers and what those jobs are paid on average. And see you at the movies!

According to this article in the Kansas City Star, the dreaded, misunderstood office cubicle is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

The article reveals some interesting history about the original design of the cubicles. For example, the idea was to have two levels, so that the worker could sit or stand at their desk.

To celebrate the 40th birthday of the cubicle, here are a few that have been decorated by their occupants in fun and unusual ways!

Another Monday is ALMOST over!

Here’s a roundup of what workers are up to across the country and across the world.

The mailman always…wears kilts?

Women and the energy industry

Firefighters rescue construction worker during DC rush hour 

Fired employee tries (and fails) to get revenge on ex-boss

Shrinking opportunities for day laborers

For many of us, working part time was a rite of passage when we first entered the workforce. Students made up a significant portion of the part time work force. Those workers seemed to be most visible to the public when they shopped at retail stores, or visited service-oriented institutions like banks, hair salons or restaurants.

But those jobs and opportunities are just the tip of the iceberg. There are many part-time opportunities for workers of all ages and skill sets. Depending on your experience and expertise, you may even be able to create a part-time career track.

There are several reasons why a traditional adult worker might choose to work part time. Among those reasons:

• Family: In a family where both parents are working, one spouse may decide to scale back his or her hours or change career tracks or industries in order to have more flexibility and more time to spend with their children. Those spouses may also have aging parents to care for and may also appreciate the flexibility of part-time work. 
• Education: In a challenging job market, more people are deciding to return to school to get an advanced degree or enhance their skills. 
• Delaying retirement: Some older workers are enhancing their nest egg or retirement benefits by working part time. 
• Career change: Workers who are dissatisfied with their full-time gig may choose to work part time while they consider what to do next. And unfortunately, some workers are forced to consider a career change and work part time when their job or their company is eliminated.

Many employers also see part-time employees as a valuable asset to their companies. With the economy in slowdown mode, employers are often open to hiring new part-time employees to fill roles. They may also be more willing to discuss allowing existing employees to switch to a part-time career track. Many employers may offer some level of benefits to part-time employees.

Even if your interest in part-time work is temporary or short term, there are ways to get creative in your job search and at work. Here are a few ideas on how to challenge yourself:

• If you are working at a large retail store, think about your education and your prior work experience. If your degree was in, say, art design or marketing, see if your manager will allow you to spend a few hours or your week to contribute to the display and merchandising of the store. In addition to keeping your skills sharp, you will have plenty of chances for networking. 
• If your departure from your last full-time job was out of dissatisfaction or boredom, part-time work can be a great opportunity to “test drive” a new job or new career track. It can also be a great way to gauge what your current skills are, and what you need to learn. 
• If you are juggling a return to school with part-time work, search for opportunities in a field that will reinforce what you are learning in class. There are many options and opportunities in retail far beyond the “front end” processing jobs. You can check out our website WorkInRetail.com to get a fuller picture of all of the opportunities that companies near you have available.

The slowdown in the economy and in the job market has obviously had a direct impact on many people. Some of them have lost their jobs, and some job seekers are finding it far more challenging to land a gig.

But the economic slowdown has also had an effect on workers who are still an active part of the workforce. Downsizing is leading to increased workloads – which is resulting in a rise in stress levels around the workplace. Many workers are feeling completely burned out.

We surveyed more than 7,600 workers across the country and found out how they were being affected. Nearly half of those surveyed (45 percent) said that their workload was heavy or too heavy. And 23 percent indicated they were unhappy with their work/life balance.

So, what can workers do to avoid reaching the burnout zone?  Rosemary Haefner, Vice President of Human Resources at CareerBuilder.com, suggests talking to your boss or supervisor about flexible benefits.  Employees might have an option to take advantage of one or more of these flexible benefits:

• Alternative schedules
• Compressed work weeks
• Telecommuting
• Job sharing
• Summer hours

Haefner suggests that employees develop a business plan, with an outline of your accomplishments and an explanation of how these flexible benefits will enhance your productivity and your performance.

If you get a resounding “no” from the boss, there are still steps you can take to reduce stress and avoid job burnout.

• Manage your timelines at work and at home. “No” is a valid answer, and if you already have competing projects and priorities, you have to delay or decline additional commitments whenever possible.
• Stay organized. Maintain a day-to-day “to do” list. Focus on JUST those tasks on that day.
• Check in with the boss. Talk with your boss as you proceed through your projects. Check in occasionally and make sure that you agree on what projects are taking top priority.
• Keep it in balance. Make sure you are getting plenty of sleep and exercise, and maintain a healthy, balanced diet.
• Take a break. No matter how tight your timeline is, take a break. That break might be a vacation or a long weekend. It might even be a walk around the block.

Has your workload increased? What are you doing to avoid burnout? Tell us all about it.

Black Enterprise, one of the leading resources for African-American professionals, entrepreneurs and companies, has released their annual list of the 40 best companies for diversity.

The full article is in the new issue of Black Enterprise, but you can see a preview of the list here.

Hey CBers,

We would like to talk to people who have made mortifyingly bad, beyond “oops” mistakes at work. If you are one of those people, and you are willing to share your tale of great shame, let us know! We will feature you in a future CareerBuilder.com article.

(And yes, if your Walk of Shame is a long road, we can use a pseudonym to protect your identity.)

I think it was the movie “Office Space” that featured a worker who blamed the foul moods of others on a “case of the Mondays”.  Maybe those workers would have been less grumpy if they just added a little ‘flair‘ to their uniforms?

Hopefully our Monday working news roundup will help cure your Monday blues. Or at least help you to forget about them for a few minutes!

Job market, or jab market?  

Your cubicle: home away from home

No alcohol at work (except for elected officials)

Are workers falling farther behind?

City worker fired for slacking on the job

The job from hell

I hope that roundup helped you shake off your Monday blahs. As for me, I have to see if I can find out who took my red stapler…

Yes, our favorite time of week is here. The time when it is almost OVER!

We noticed that Apple’s launch of the new iPhone is all over the news today. CareerBuilder.com also had iPhone-related news this week, when we launched our iPhone “Jobs” application. Check out our earlier post, which will fill you in on the details. Or, click on this fun tutorial that walks you through the highlights.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

The Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) released a survey today. The survey polled recent retirees and asked them what would have kept them at their companies. The results were interesting. According to their survey, companies have a narrow window of about two years where they can convince workers to delay retirement and continue working. 

Timing is everything; nearly two-thirds of the retirees surveyed (63 percent) said that retention efforts by the company would have been far more effective if communicated before the employee announced his or her retirement. 

Although money is an important factor for anyone nearing retirement age, it is not the sole motivation to keep working.  Here are just a few of the reasons that experienced workers listed as incentives: 

• 48 percent of the retirees polled said that feeling truly needed for their role or for a particular assignment would have been a major incentive. Of those who ranked this reason as one of the top two reasons to stay, 72 percent said it might have prompted them to stay for at least two more years.  
• Another popular incentive was the ability to do contract work or work seasonally. Among the respondents who indicated this was one of the top two incentives, 77 percent said that this would have enticed them to stay on.  
• A number of retirees mentioned the desire to be able to work part-time and, at the same time, start to receive partial or full payments from their defined benefit pensions. Seven-in-ten said that they would have stayed on the job if this was offered to them. Currently, this is not an option under federal law, and would require a change to the law to become available.

 Among the other incentives that retirees expressed support for: 

• A pay increase
• Continuance of health benefits
• Telecommuting or working from home
• Part-time work
• More meaningful job duties
• A guarantee of pension benefits 

Another surprising finding was that, contrary to conventional wisdom, many workers only begin seriously thinking about retirement when they are about to do so. A majority or retirees indicated they thought about or planned retirement within two years of their retirement date. 28 percent indicated they started to contemplate retirement plans 18 to 24 months in advance, while 22 percent thought about it a year beforehand. Another 22 percent developed their retirement plans only six months before the big day.

To see more about the survey, check out this link.

OK, so I may not have a crystal ball on my desk or anything. But I’m going to make a fearless prediction about the future! I predict that next Friday (July 18th) will be a day of mishaps and calamities. There will be an awful lot of employees calling in to work, with “emergencies” that will keep them out of work for a few hours or even the whole day. I suspect many employees will have tales of dead car batteries, flooded basements, sick animals or other similar disasters.

No, I am not a psychic. I just know that next Friday is the day that the new Batman film, “The Dark Knight” is released in theaters. The demand is already so strong that movie theaters across the country have added more than 1,500 late-night show times to their schedules.  

Fandango.com, the film ticketing Web site, has reported a huge spike in ticket sales for the opening day showings. “‘The Dark Knight’ may be responsible for a lot of bleary eyes at work next Friday morning,” says Rick Butler, Fandango’s chief operating officer. “We’re seeing a record number of late-night show times selling out in advance, while theaters are adding new performances every day.”

Fandango’s survey of 3,000 readers revealed some interesting data:

• 37 percent of those surveyed indicated they would be seeing one of the “red eye” late night showings.
• 38 percent indicated they would take time off (either a few hours, or the entire day) from work on Friday to see the film.
• The hype around this movie is, to a certain degree, a guy thing: 60 percent of the respondents who indicated they would see the movie were male; 71 percent were under the age of 35.

If you go to see the movie, enjoy the show. And, uh, sorry if I outed you as a fibber about your reasons for not coming in! Just be sure to go to a different showing than your supervisor or manager does.

As we pointed out in a recent entry on our blog, commuting can be a real challenge. This holds especially true if you are driving; in our most recent survey, 89 percent of those polled said that they drove to work.

But our latest survey also indicates a startling trend: rising fuel costs are impacting workers and making it even more of a challenge to get to and from work. The impact is so significant that nearly half of the drivers in our survey (47 percent) said they had to make sacrifices in other aspects of their lives in order to be able to afford the higher price of gas.

Here are just a few of the cost-cutting measures that were implemented by workers in our survey:

• 35 percent of those who responded said they ate out less.
• 31 percent cut their spending on recreation and entertainment.
• 27 percent implemented cost-cutting measures at the grocery store.
• 24 percent cut their spending budget for clothing.
• 21 percent said that they did not go on a vacation.
• 11 percent indicated they eliminated extras like cable service and magazine subscriptions.
• 9 percent admitted that they did not attend functions where they would have been obligated to bring a gift.
• And 4 percent scaled back on extracurricular activities for their child.

Rosemary Haefner, Vice President of Human Resources at CareerBuilder.com, notes that “today’s workers have had to modify personal budgets, spending choices and commuting habits to manage the adverse effects today’s gas prices have had on their pocketbooks.” 

She offers the following recommendations to commuters to help ease the pain:

(1) Share the pain with your employer. Many companies offer an allowance for commuting costs, or will reimburse employees for costs incurred. This might come in the form of reimbursement for public transportation, or a financial incentive to encourage carpooling.

(2) Join a carpool. Even if your employer does not offer incentives or reimbursements for carpooling, commuters should consider this option. In addition to financial savings, there are also environmental benefits.

(3) Use mass transit. If you are still driving to work, look into public transit options in your area. Many transit systems have weekly or monthly passes that can make the ride incredibly inexpensive. If you are in an area not served by public transportation, take a look at your nearest system and see if there are connecting buses or trains, or park and ride lots where you can take mass transit for at least part of the journey.

(4) Telecommuting: the shortest commute ever. Working from home eliminates the hassle and the costs associated with commuting. More employers are offering telecommuting as an option. Even if telecommuting full time is not an option, employers may be willing to allow flexible work arrangements a few days a week, or allow you to take work home when you need to be there.

(5) Get in better shape.  One of the emerging housing trends is reurbanization, where workers are choosing to live close to where they work. Depending on your commute length, it may be practical to walk or bike to work. In addition to saving money, there are obvious health benefits to putting your best foot (or wheel) forward.

Since these fuel costs affect so many of us, we would really like to hear YOUR comments on this issue. Share with us the effect that the rising fuel costs have had on your budget. Or, if you have a great suggestion about how to cope, we would love to hear that too.

A few weeks back, we told you how you could tap into the CareerBuilder.com network at the touch of a button on your iPhone.

We are proud to announce another way to tap into CareerBuilder.com — we have launched a live podcast!

Now you can take us with you on your commute, or to the gym, and let us keep you informed and in touch with issues and topics important to job seekers.

Our first podcast includes content on these topics:

-  CareerBuilder.com’s Q3 Job Forecast

-  Best Excuses for Calling in Sick from CareerBuilder.com’s 2008 Absenteeism Survey

-  Today’s 20 Fastest-Growing Jobs

-  Cool Jobs That Pay Well

You can hear our podcast by visiting us at  http://podcast.careerbuilder.com  — so check us out!

All right, slackers!

The long weekend is over, and we all have to get back to work.

I thought I’d share a few pieces of notable news with you while you reacclimate to your work environment. 

• Doing two jobs at once gets her fired from both
• Cop goes above and beyond the call of duty by breastfeeding babies
• Railway worker uniforms confused with soccer team uniforms
• ‘Flower lady’ overwhelmed by blooming big box stores
• Tales of a nosy IRS worker

That ought to keep you awake for a while. After all, napping at your desk is a no-no. And drooling on the keyboard? Just wrong.

Happy Monday!

All of the news about our economy and the job market was beginning to depress me a little. So I started to think about what all workers think about: a holiday. With our national observance of Independence Day on July 4, many workers will have a paid holiday tomorrow (Friday).  

Here in the U.S., July 4 is one of 11 federal holidays. (For a complete list of all federal holidays, click here.) On these days, many government offices are closed. Banks and other major institutions are generally closed on these days as well.  

From the perspective of the employee, the best time of year for those widely observed holidays is in the fall. There is a holiday every month from September to December, with two landing in November (Veterans Day and Thanksgiving.) Late winter and spring is the paid holiday “desert”, with several months between the February observance of Presidents Day and Memorial Day, which falls on the last weekend in May.

The holidays that are observed (and paid for) by employers can vary widely depending on the industry and market segment. Many corporations have, for example, given employees the Friday after Thanksgiving off so that workers have a full four-day weekend. Of course, the exact opposite applies to retail workers; the Friday after Thanksgiving is “Black Friday” and can be the busiest and most lucrative day of the year with retailers kicking off the holiday shopping season.

Even if a company has a general policy of providing a paid holiday, some departments are exceptions to the rule and often have to work through those days, particularly if the holiday lands at the end of a quarter, fiscal year or calendar year. The IT crew may still have to monitor systems, while accounting and tax teams may have numbers to crunch that won’t wait for the next workday.

Most companies use the federal holiday calendar as a template, and offer their employees some or all of the designated days. And various companies may include additional holidays that observe local customs, cultural events or religious observances of their owners or employees.

Some companies offer more specific paid holidays that range from the unique to unusual. One company had an executive board made up of hunting aficionados, and the company designated several paid holidays that coincided with the start of hunting season.

Many companies offer paid holiday time that allows for flexibility and underscores the company attitude towards work/life balance. One marketing firm has “patio passes” as part of its paid time offerings. Employees can choose two Fridays during the summer to leave early with no prior notice.

Clearly, holidays are an important part of maintaining employee motivation and morale. However, there are no “national holidays” that are mandated by law. Congress can only create and implement holidays for federal institutions. (Can you name the most recently created holiday?) Most private employers will observe at least some of the days we discussed above. But compared to many European countries, the U.S. does not guarantee workers even a single holiday.

Whether you are at work this weekend or not, have a great Independence Day!

What holidays have you had to work? Does your company observe any unusual holidays? We’d like to know!

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the Commissioner’s Monthly Statement on employment this morning.

As several other sources (including the recent CareerBuilder.com forecast) have indicated, there is a continued weakness in the labor market.

Among the highlights of the report from the Commissioner:

• Payrolls shrank by 62,000 jobs in June. This is the sixth consecutive month of job losses.
• After a sharp rise in May, unemployment is unchanged this month, at 5.5%.
• Among the industries seeing the sharpest decline in jobs: construction, factory work, and temporary employment help.
• The largest increases in jobs created were in the healthcare, food services, and mining industries.
• Earnings growth has slowed considerably. The June growth rate was 0.3%, while the growth rate over the last 12 months was an average of 3.4%.

You can see the press release here. You can also visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics website here.

Here at CareerBuilder.com, we have just released our latest job forecast, and it has a wealth of useful information for companies and job seekers alike. 

The survey showed a continued trend of cautious hiring, and a gradual slowdown in the creation of new jobs. Matt Ferguson, the CEO of CareerBuilder.com, notes that “it’s a slower job market, but we’re not seeing aggressive declines in employment levels reminiscent of 2001.” 

Thirty-four percent of employers have slowed their recruiting efforts this year because of economic uncertainty. Employers are anticipating an upswing in the economy, but are divided on when it will occur.

Hiring trends

Several overall trends emerged from the survey:

• Many employers (29 percent) are retaining staff members they might not normally keep. Employers cited a lack of qualified candidates to replace the less-qualified staff. A surprising thirty-five percent of companies that responded indicated they had open positions that they could not identify viable candidates for. 
• On the flip side, a number of companies (26 percent) are taking advantage of the slower job market to strengthen their teams and replace poorly performing employees with better talent. 
• The passive job seeker contingent is growing, fueled by the economic slowdown and a growing fear of layoffs. Eighty-three percent of passive job seekers surveyed said they would consider a job opportunity if the right fit came along – up from 55 percent in 2006.

Demographics

A look at the survey data by demographic profile reveals some interesting trends. 

• Recruitment and hiring remain strongest in the South and West, while the Northeast and Midwest have seen the most significant rates of slowdown and reduction of staff. 
• IT is the industry with the strongest demand for new staff; 37 percent of IT employers indicated plans to add to their staff this year. A significant number of healthcare, sales and hospitality employers also said that they intended to add full-time, permanent employees.  
• Larger employers were much likelier to add to their staffs. Twenty-eight percent of employers with 51 to 250 employees and 27 percent of employers with more than 250 employees indicated they would add employees.

Compensation was an important component of the survey. As expected, high-demand industries like IT, healthcare and engineering were commanding the highest initial offers and subsequent raises from employees. Twenty-nine percent of employers indicated they did not intend to change compensation levels, and 2 percent said that they would decrease salaries.

In an atmosphere of uncertainty and economic slowdown, a significant number of workers (19 percent) indicated that they were actively looking for a new job. Retail workers were the most likely group, at 24 percent, to be pounding the pavement for new opportunities. Workers in healthcare, sales, and IT also indicated they were actively seeking new jobs.

And the pace of job changes continues to accelerate: Thirty-six percent of the workers surveyed indicated they changed jobs every three to five years. Half of those surveyed said they had worked for five or more employers, while one-in-ten had worked at 10 or more jobs. Patience was a must for job seekers, as 28 percent said it took two months or longer to land their most recent gig, and one-in-ten indicated that it took six months or longer to get a new job.

You can see more details and results of the survey here.

What does the future hold at your company? Tell us in the comments section.

June is almost over, and we’re now truly into the summer season. Late June brings us some of the longest days of the year, with lots of sunshine, increasingly muggy weather, and a syndrome where many workers experience a desire to ditch work and spend the day at the beach! 

Historically, late June is also a time of year where many cities hold Pride festivals to celebrate their lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) people and the cultural diversity of those communities. 

Career opportunities for LGBT people is increasingly a topic of debate, discussion and research. Recently, Harris Interactive published a summary of data compiled from LGBT workers that they surveyed.

• Half of the LGBT employees surveyed said that their sexual orientation was common knowledge.
• Two-thirds of those who had come out at work said it did not appear to impact their performance or career.
• One out of every seven LGBT employees said that they had, at some point, received a lower performance evaluation because of their sexual orientation.  

There are a number of resources for LGBT workers who are looking to find welcoming workplaces, or companies that may offer domestic partner benefits.

• The Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC) releases a report every July that provided a detailed assessment of workplace issues, and lists the best companies for LGBT employees to work for.
• Lambda Legal provides an “Out at Work” toolkit, which approaches the coming out process at work from a legal perspective, and discusses possible issues as well as solutions.
• Many universities have dedicated resources for LGBT students and graduates that include career resources. These resources can connect job seekers to LGBT-friendly companies.

We’d love to hear about your experience with diversity at your workplace.

To many workers, there are few phrases that bring more excitement and anticipation to their workday than the phrase “happy hour”.

Here in our job seeker blog, we have talked before about some of the possible pitfalls of mixing alcohol and work-related functions. Whether you are blowing off steam after work or attending the annual holiday party, you can find great opportunities to bond with your coworkers and managers and become a solid team.

But sometimes, coworkers + large amounts of alcohol = serious trouble. Too many Pink Ladies just might land you a pink slip.  

Get happy

According to a new CareerBuilder.com survey, one in five workers say that they attend happy hour festivities with their co-workers at least once a month. Aside from the obvious benefits of happy hour, workers gave these reasons for getting happy at happy hours:

·         82 percent go to happy hour to bond with co-workers.

·         20 percent use their happy time to capitalize on networking opportunities.

·         15 percent say it’s all about getting the good office gossip.

·         13 percent of workers indicated they felt obligated to go.

·         11 percent of those who responded said they wanted to bond with the boss

Mixed drinks

Our survey indicated a wide range of workers who got happy at happy hour.

·         Men and women were equally likely to go.

·         Workers in the 25-34 age bracket had the highest attendance (29 percent) while those over 55 had the lowest (15 percent).

·         There’s a continental divide in happy hour attendance; workers in the Midwest were most likely to go (at 23 percent), while at 20 percent, workers in the Northeast were least likely to be seen out and about.

·         The industries with the highest rate of attendance at happy hour included professional and business services (35 percent), financial services (34 percent), IT workers (29 percent), the sales team (28 percent) and healthcare workers (24 percent).

Unhappy hours

Despite great intentions, there are some “unhappy hours” where the good times go bad. Our survey revealed a number of incidents and events where a happy hour ended with a stroll down the Walk of Shame.

·         16 percent of those who responded said that they talked negatively or inappropriately about a co-worker or manager.

·         10 percent shared a secret or confidence about a co-worker.

·         8 percent kissed one of their co-workers.

·         8 percent admitted that they drank too much and acted unprofessionally.

·         5 percent breached a confidence or secret about the company.

·         4 percent of workers admitted the scariest confession of all – they sang at karaoke!

Here’s a few ideas on how to make quality time with your coworkers be a buzz and not a buzzkill.

Eat, then drink and be merry.

If you’re heading to happy hour right after work, chances are you’re going to end up drinking on an empty stomach. That makes your body absorb any alcohol much quicker, which can have a big effect on your body and your behavior. To avoid this pitfall, try eating in the afternoon about an hour before the end of your workday.

Slow and steady wins the race.

Avoid any temptation to drink for an audience. You may have a competitive work environment or team, but assuming that you have to match them drink for drink is a bad idea. If you intend to have more than one drink, be sure to pace yourself. If “happy hour” ends up lasting for several hours, alternate alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic ones.

Location, location, location.

Everyone wants a spot with great food and awesome drinks. You should also look for a place that has room to move around in and areas for games. Old standbys like pool and darts are one option. Many places with the space and resources will also organize games. You can still get your drink on, but engaging your mind and interacting with co-workers makes you less likely to be glued to the barstool.

Set boundaries.

To avoid any uncomfortable moments, set some expectations and boundaries for the experience you and your co-workers want to have. That may mean defining what is on the list of libations (shots are NEVER a good idea). It is probably a good idea for everyone to buy their own drinks, to avoid any hurt feelings if someone forgets to pick up a round (or always avoids doing so). And most importantly, you may want to define a time limit, so that everyone has a clear sense of when playtime is over.

Hopefully, these ideas will lead to some rewarding face time with co-workers – instead of a face plant in front of the boss!

No matter what you do for a living, the one aspect of your job that you share with nearly everyone in the workforce is the commute. The process of getting to and from work is as eagerly anticipated as a root canal, and with good reason. According to a recent study, Americans average 51 minutes each way getting to and from their jobs.

But some workers have taken the traditional commute and turned it on its ear. On one end of the spectrum, some workers have chosen homes that are only a few blocks, miles or subway stops from where they work. On the other end of the spectrum, there are “extreme commuters” who travel over 90 minutes to work each way every day!

Until recently, I had an incredibly short commute. From my front door to the office was about 1000 feet, and my commute was a whopping two minutes. (Maybe three minutes if it was icy – or a Monday morning!) Not everyone’s commute can be quite so speedy, but many workers have chosen to be part of a trend towards urban living. Rather than choosing the traditional “bedroom” community, many people are choosing a home based on its close promixity to their work site.

A recent survey of Coldwell Banker realtors cited rising fuel costs and a desire to cut back on commute time as factors that contributed to this trend. Some workers are also walking or biking to work, combining their commute with their wellness goals. Others are reducing or eliminating their use of a car because of environmental concerns.

On the other end of the spectrum, some employees are taking far longer journeys to and from work. These “extreme commuters” as the Census Bureau calls them, have travel times of more than 90 minutes each way to and from work! One in six American workers fall into the “extreme” category.

Several factors influence a worker’s choice to take the long way. Most people are influenced by the fact that the job, no matter how far away, is a lucrative one with a high salary and great benefits. Some workers may take that high-paying gig, but aren’t willing move from an established home. Those homes may be near family and friends and have tangible benefits, like great schools.

Many commuters will read a book or listen to music during their trip. Whether you’re driving or are on public transportation, here are some suggestions on how to make those long journeys more bearable – and useful.

Open your ears.

If you’d rather forego lugging around a book, go paperless and get audio books. They’re available in several formats. If you have an iPod, you can do far more than listen to music – you can watch your favorite television shows and movies. Even if you’re driving, you can still listen to audio podcasts. 

Work out…your brain.

Commuters can use their travel time to enhance their education or simply make their minds stronger. That time could be used to learn a new language. You can learn about the geography and the history of the route you travel to get to work. If you’re a passenger in a carpool or on public transit, you can engage in brain games on Nintendo DS or complete a crossword puzzle or Sudoku. (We don’t recommend these if you’re the driver!)

Find a buddy.

Though some people aren’t very social during their commute, others might crave interaction with their fellow passengers. If you take the same trip and see some of the same people on a daily basis, create a “buddy system.” You can trade books to read, or maybe swap games or music, so that no one gets bored. Depending on space, you may even be able to play cards or travel versions of popular games.

Relax.

If someone else is doing the driving, try to use some of your travel time to relax. Use the time to practice some modified meditation. One simple relaxation technique (particularly useful on the way home) is to breathe in and out – slowly and deeply – 10 times. If your mind is still racing at the end of the day, take the opportunity to refocus your thoughts.

Have you had an extreme commuting experience? Share it with us!

When your job is bad, it’s bad. So bad that you can’t wait until you get home to start searching for jobs in the safety of your own home. Now, thanks to CareerBuilder.com, you can start looking for jobs in the safety of your cell phone – er, iPhone.

CareerBuilder.com is launching a new iPhone application that enables you to search for a new job from wherever you are. Using the iPhone’s built-in geolocation technology, the CareerBuilder.com application automatically determines the city you are standing in and then allows you to find a job using a simple keyword search.

That’s right – when you’re sitting at your desk and don’t want your boss to know you’re on the hunt for a new gig, hit up your iPhone and get jobs sent straight to you. On vacation in sunny California and have a sudden urge never to go back where you came from? Look in your iPhone and you’ll receive a list of all applicable jobs nearby within moments.

The application comes at a good time. Despite current challenges in the job market, one-in-five workers said they plan to change jobs in the next 12 months, according to a recent CareerBuilder.com survey. Areas such as healthcare, IT, engineering, sales and marketing are still hiring in strong numbers and skilled workers are looking for bigger, better opportunities.

Now remember – you should still take the time to type up your resume and cover letter at home, on a normal size computer screen. But at least with this application, you’ll know what’s out there. You can bookmark your favorite jobs and come back to them when you’re ready to send in a serious application.

For a live tutorial about CareerBuilder.com’s iPhone application, please click here.

Growing up, I spent my days going to kindergarten in the morning. Then Mom would pick me up, make me Spaghettio’s for lunch and I’d spend the afternoon playing with friends or watching “You Can’t Do That on Television” on Nickelodeon (anyone?). Then Mom would cook dinner, Dad would come home from work and that’s just the way things were.

These days, working dads would be willing to trade work for family time if it were financially possible, according to CareerBuilder.com’s annual Working Dads survey. Thirty-seven percent say they would take a pay cut if it meant spending more time at home. Of those fathers, 42 percent say they would take a pay cut of 10 percent or more. Of dads who live in households with more than one income, 37 percent would leave their job if their family could live off of their spouse or significant other’s income.

All work, no play… at least not with the kids.

It’s difficult for any working parent to balance time between the office and family. When parents miss even the occasional dinner, school play, dance recital or baseball game, kids are bound to get upset. Twenty-two percent of working dads say work is negatively impacting their relationship with their children.

Forty-seven percent of father’s admit to spending less than three hours per day with their kids during the work week, while 22 percent said they spend said they spend less than two hours and 6 percent can only spend one hour. More than one-fourth (26 percent) of dad’s surveyed have missed three or more significant events in their child’s life because of work.

Here are some steps you take outside of the office to better balance your work and family life:

1. Stay in touch – Checking in periodically with the family will keep you up-to-date on the goings on at home and school. In some cases, calling home may allow you to adjust your schedule to attend last minute events.

1. Work from one household calendar– Consider putting up one calendar in the house that everyone can access and update. Baseball games, recitals and other activities should be included with business trips and longer company meetings. This will allow the whole family to be organized and reduce the amount of scheduling confusion.

1. Pull out your work only after the sun has gone down – On the nights that you bring work home, limit the amount of email checking or even working until the children have gone to sleep. When you are at home, your focus should be on your children.

1. Schedule time – A great way to make sure you and your children spend quality time together is to schedule activities with them each week. These don’t have to be eight-hour events, but more along the lines of a bike ride, a trip to the playground, or even just to play a game.

1. Invite your family to your office – Look at your schedule and block off some time for your family to stop by and see where you work and meet your co-workers. Some organizations even schedule kid-friendly potlucks with other co-workers and their families.

Here’s a round-up of what’s been going on in the past few weeks:

Employers pull plug on Facebook

Judge jails 46 people after cell phone rings during court session

Worker fired for handing out small freebie

Water worker takes illegal pics of customer

Parking scam results in job loss

I don’t know about you, but when I was offered my first job out of college, I jumped at it. I didn’t think twice about the salary, where in the city it was located or what exactly I would be doing. I didn’t research the company, I didn’t ask enough questions in my interview – basically I did everything that I spend most of my days writing about NOT doing.

You know what happened? I was there for four months and spent every second essentially hating my life before I couldn’t take it anymore and I quit.

As summer rolls in, not only are new graduates looking for work but so are those who might have been laid off during this soft economy. To avoid landing in a dead-end job like I had, here are 12 tips from our experts about what to consider before you say “yes” to a job offer.

1. Ponder reasonable expectations for an entry-level salary.
Research your desired industry and the jobs you’re interested in within that sector. Use Web sites such as cbSalary.com to find the average salary for your desired job, in the location you’re looking for work. Use that knowledge when deciding if a salary offer will be enough for you live on.

2. Consider the entire benefits package.
“A salary offer is only one part of the compensation package,” says Dwayne Keiffer, assistant director of career development at Messiah College in Grantham, Penn. Evaluate the entire benefits package. Does the company provide insurance? Will it contribute to a 401(K) plan? What is the vacation package?

3. Reflect on company quality.
Job content and the quality of the organization you’re going to work for should take a backseat to most other things, says Shawn Graham, author of “Courting Your Career.” After all, you want the job that gives you the most options for your next career move. Compare job content, fit within the job and organization’s culture, opportunities for advancement and compensation before saying “yes.”

4. Job satisfaction is more important than salary.
Consider job satisfaction as well as salary, suggests Rachelle Canter, author of “Make the Right Career Move.” Launch yourself in a direction you want to go by considering the skills you have and enjoy using, skills you want to acquire and rewards that are meaningful to you.

5. Evaluate the employer’s brand.
Does a company place an emphasis on its talent? Does it engage in employee development? What reward incentives does it have in place? Are employees encouraged to participate in company decisions? All of these questions are key indicators of an employer’s brand and how much a company invests in its employees, says Ed Lawler, professor of the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California.

6. Get rid of the “shoulds.”
Don’t listen to what other people tell you that you should want. “Before accepting a job, make sure it’s a job you want and not a job your parents want, your college counselor wants or your friends want,” says Lindsey Pollak, author of “Getting from College to Career.”

7. Find out where former employees of the position are now.
Training and development is the most important thing a first job because it’s the spring board for your career. “Your prospective boss’s record for having his employees promoted to good positions both inside and outside the company is a key indicator of how good that person is at developing his people,” says Lee Miller, managing director of YourCareerDoctors.com.

8. Know what you’re looking for.
“Despite the fact that you’ve invested a lot of time and effort – not to mention money – into getting your degree, far too many of us don’t really know what we want to do after graduation and we’re hoping we’ll just figure it out along the way,” says Elizabeth Freedman, author of “Work 101: Learning the Ropes of the Workplace without Hanging Yourself.”

You don’t need your whole life planned out, but at least have an idea of what you want to do so you don’t waste time and energy applying to jobs you don’t really want.

In today’s day and age, almost everything can be done on the Internet. Paying bills, Christmas shopping, banking, apartment hunting, job searching, even grocery shopping – can all be done at the stroke of a keyboard.

The major downfall to doing things online is that you lose the personal experience. Not that you’re missing out on the undoubtedly “friendly” conversation with your credit card company when you’re paying the bill… but, for example, when you grocery shop online, you can’t feel the produce you order – what if it’s not ripe? When you apartment hunt, unless there are images (and sometimes even then), you don’t know what the place looks like, if it’s dirty or small or in a bad neighborhood. And when you job hunt, of course every company is going to make themselves sound like paradise in their online profile. Low and behold when you get there, seventh heaven is quickly transformed into your worst nightmare.

Until now.

CareerTV takes you inside different companies so you can see what really goes down. Featuring short clips of employers and employees alike, real employers tell you what it’s really like to work for their companies, what a “day in the life” in with the organization is like, and other information you might not find out from reading the job posting. For example, you can find out about work/life balance at Eisner LLP, a CPA and advisery firm.

CareerTV also provides short clips on the in’s and out’s of certain positions and industries. For example, check out what it’s like during the typical workday for a reporter, yoga instructor or food taster. In addition to both of these features, you can also view videos of salary profiles for different jobs and industries, plus videos of professionals sharing interview and resume tips.

To personalize your job hunt and find about more about what really goes into a job you’re interested it, check out CareerTV.

It always seems to be “that time of year,” doesn’t it? Whether it’s the winter holidays, March Madness or even wedding season, everyone refers to it as “that time of year.” And now, here we are again at “that time of year.” Not only is it graduation season for college and high school students, and the point in time when Spring Fever really starts to kick in – it’s also time for May Sweeps!

What do May Sweeps, when our favorite TV shows and series come to a close with nail-biting season finales, have to do with work? Well – a lot, actually.

U.S. workers are talking about television at work more than ever, according to the latest Spherion Workplace Snapshot survey. Forty percent of workers say talking about television at work increases office camaraderie.

American Idol is the most talked about TV show in the workplace for the third year in a row, with 33 percent of workers chatting about the contestants and their song choices. Seventeen percent of workers discuss Idol on company time and 9 percent engage in debates about the contestants with co-workers, according to the survey.

This year’s two most talked about shows were American Idol and Dancing with the Stars. In 2007, workers discussed American Idol and Grey’s Anatomy the most, and in 2006, it was American Idol and Lost.

Here’s how other popular TV shows ranked among watercooler chatter:

• Dancing with the Stars – 15%
• Lost – 13%
• CSI – 10%
• Grey’s Anatomy – 7%
• The Office – 6%
• Law & Order – 6%
• Heroes – 5%
• 24 – 4%
• Big Brother – 4%
• America’s Next Top Model – 2%

When it comes to gender, 36 perent of women named Idol the most discussed TV program and 21 percent named Dancing with the Stars. Among men, 30 percent also rate American Idol as the most talked about show at work, and 15 percent rate Lost as such.

Surprisingly, workers age 65 and older were more likely than any other age group to discuss American Idol more than any other show in the workplace, with 42 percent stating so. Workers age 50 and older (42 percent) rated Dancing with the Stars as most watched.

So, gather round the watercooler tomorrow morning and gabbing about your favorite Idol finalist!

Ok, I lied. I didn’t post first thing yesterday morning, but I AM posting now – second thing Tuesday morning. Don’t hate me because I’m busy.

Anyway, I came across an interesting survey last week, conducted by Manpower, a global employment services company. Manpower surveyed more than 42,000 employers to find out which positions companies were having a hard time filling and why.

Employers say they’re having hard time filling open positions because they’re focusing more on just finding a competent individual to fill the job. In addition to skills that meet the job requirements, companies want someone who has soft skills, work ethic and cultural traits as well.

“Hiring managers recognize the high cost of hiring the wrong individual for their organization so they are taking more time to find the right fit, even for these hard to fill positions,” says Melanie Holmes, vice president for World of Work Solutions for Manpower North America.

What do you need to do as a job seeker in order to fill these in-demand jobs? Make sure your skill set is up to date! Re-skill and up-skill to make sure you’re meeting current workload demands and going above and beyond other candidates. The more extensive and current your skill set, ther more desirable you are as an applicant and the more your company will want to retain you.

Here are some tips on how you can keep your skill set up to par:

Here are the 10 hardest jobs to fill as reported by US employers, according to Manpower:

1. Engineer
   
2. Machinist/Machine operator
3. Skilled trade
4. Technician
5. Sales representative
6. Accounting and finance
7. Mechanic
8. Laborer
9. Information Technology
10. Production operator

Hey there fellow job seekers. I’m sorry I haven’t been around to write a new blog this week; it’s been hectic! I promise I’ll be back first thing Monday morning with some information on the hardest jobs to fill.
In the meantime, lots of working news this week. Enjoy!

Letter carrier catches falling baby

Bank teller pregnant with twins is shot in abodmen

Workers lie about smoking; get suspended

Woman claims Victoria’s Secret stole her secret

Men set tow truck driver on fire

Workers rescued from flooded tunnel

Thank Goodness It’s Friday!

Here’s your fix of the latest working news. Have a great weekend!

California passes bill to require sick leave

TV workers denied breaks

Teller accused of embezzling $1Million

Unemployment department hangs up on jobless workers

Paperless offices?

I Hate My Job Interventions on Oprah

Back in 1950, blue-collar industrial and agricultural jobs were prevalent, with a smattering of secretarial work thrown in for women who worked outside of the home. Unfortunately, faster than you could say “job security,” such jobs as secretaries, steel manufacturers and newspaper printers diminished rapidly – and are still dwindling today.

Thanks to the advent of technology like computers, automated machines, voice recognition systems and cell phones, many jobs that used to be deemed essential to the work force are on the decline. Thankfully, workers who hold these positions will be able to transition their skills to similar occupations with more job growth.

If you’re looking for job security during the next 10 years, here are 10 jobs to eye with caution and their more secure job alternatives. While they’ll have job openings to replace workers who leave the industry, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects they’ll have fewer new jobs over time.

1. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers and weighers
Why it’s evolving: Many companies now use self-monitoring production machines, which alert inspectors to flaws they would normally detect by hand.
Salary:* $27,148
Decline rate: **7 percent
Instead: Try your hand as a different type of inspector: Agricultural, construction and building or transportation inspectors are all growing occupations.

2. Data entry and information processing workers
Why it’s evolving: Personal computers are abundant. People either do their own word processing or contract out their work, rather than hiring full-time staff. Other technologies like bar-code scanners and voice recognition systems reduce the need for data entry keyers.
Salary: $29,430
Decline rate: 7 percent
Instead: Other growing jobs that deliver information in a timely manner include dispatchers and interpreters and translators.

3. File and order clerks
Why it’s evolving: Organizations use automated systems to place orders and most files are now stored digitally and retrieved electronically, thus reducing the need for file and order clerks.
Salary: $32,190 (file clerks) and $28,130 (order clerks)
Decline rate: 41 percent (file) and 24 percent
Instead: Employment for shipping, receiving and traffic clerks is increasing, and they also handle and keep records of materials.

4. Photographic process workers
Why it’s evolving: Since digital cameras have virtually taken over photography, digital camera owners have the ability to download, view, retouch and print pictures on their own computers, reducing the need for workers to do so manually.
Salary: $26,710
Decline rate: 45 percent
Instead: Use your knowledge of photo processing as a photographer or printing machine operator.

5. Telephone operators
Why it’s evolving: Cell phones and 411 call services have reduced the demand for telephone operators, because fewer people use directory assistance, collect calls and pay phones.
Salary: $32,710
Decline rate: 45 percent
Instead: Try another informational job. Hotel, motel and resort desk clerks, and customer service representatives are both growing occupations.

6. Pharmacy aides
Why it’s evolving: Pharmacy technicians will perform many of the duties aides normally do, like answering phones, stocking shelves and operating cash registers. Pharmacy aides will also receive more training, moving up to the technician position.
Salary: $20,950
Decline rate: 11 percent
Instead: Get more training to becoming a pharmacy technician, where employment is increasing by 32 percent.

7. Bindery workers
Why it’s evolving: Computers allow binding to be automated and now, printing companies are binding products in-house, so the need for binding shops is decreasing.
Salary: $27,370
Decline rate: 22 percent
Instead: Unfortunately, many production positions are declining, but printing machine operators are decreasing the least.

8. Radio and television announcers
Why it’s evolving: New technology and advancement of other media sources like satellite radio and syndicated programming mean less need for radio and TV announcers.
Salary: $36,120
Decline rate: 8 percent
Instead: Use your communication skills as a news analyst, reporter, correspondent, interpreter or translator.

9. Floral designers
Why it’s evolving: Many people leave the job because of its low starting pay and limited opportunities for advancement; also, Internet florists take away the demand for designers at independent floral shops.
Salary: $23,040
Decline rate: 9 percent
Instead: Give other creative positions a try. Landscape architects also create designs with plants and flowers. Or, try working in a nursery or greenhouse.

10. Telemarketers
Why it’s evolving: Thanks to the “do not call” registry, the need for these pesky sales people is not as prevalent.
Salary: $16.16/hour
Decline rate: 21 percent
Instead: Other sales or telecommunications positions are steadily growing, like retail sales or data communications analysts.

* Salary information according to the Occupational Employment Statistics by the BLS.
**Decline rates are between 2006 and 2016.

Think about the last time you were late for work. Did you wake up late? Forget your laptop at home? Couldn’t get your kids out the door fast enough? Misplaced the blouse you wanted to wear?

All of these are valid reasons for employees being late to work. In fact, almost all of those things have happened to us all at least once. But, in a new survey by CareerBuilder.com, “Late to Work,” rather than telling the simple truth, 24 percent of workers make up a lie to explain their tardiness.

More than 32 percent of workers blamed traffic as the reason to their tardiness, according to the survey. Falling back asleep was the reason cited by 17 percent, while 7 percent pointed to a long commute as the main reason. Other popular reasons included getting kids ready for school and daycare, forgetting something at home and feeling sick.

Most employers believe their workers when they give a reason for being tardy, but 27 percent say they’re skeptical.

Take a look at the top 10 strangest excusese employees have given for being late (no wonder employers are skeptical!).

• While rowing across the river to work, I got lost in the fog.
• Someone stole all my daffodils.
• I had to go audition for American Idol.
• My ex-husband stole my car so I couldn’t drive to work.
• My route to work was shut down by a Presidential motorcade.
• I wasn’t thinking and accidentally went to my old job.
• I was indicted for securities fraud this morning.
• The line was too long at Starbucks.
• I was trying to get my gun back from the police.
• I didn’t have money for gas because all of the pawn shops were closed.

Be on time to work!

A couple week’s worth…

McDonald’s workers get settlement over harassment suit

8 co-workers win $276 million Jackpot…and plan to keep working

Man had friend shoot him in the shoulder to skip work

Egg McMuffin inventor passes away

Barista donates her kidney to save a customer’s life

Teens face tough market for summer jobs

Have your co-workers ever played a nasty trick on you? Maybe they told you you were fired, wrapped your cube in tin foil, filled your office with balloons, glued your supplies to your desk or put a whoopie cushion on your chair, perhaps? If so, it was probably April Fools’ Day. (If not, you have some MEAN co-workers!)

April Fools’ Day in the office can lead to some crazy pranks in the office. Thirty-two percent of workers say they have either initiated or been on the receiving end of an April Fools’ joke at work, according to a recent CareerBuilder.com survey. Additionally, 71 percent of marketing executives polled by The Creative Group, thought pranks were not appropriate for the workplace.

Here are 10 of the most memorable pranks reported in the CareerBuilder survey:

1. Placed a pair of pants and shoes inside the only toilet stall in a men’s room to make it appear someone was using the stall. It sat there for hours until someone called security to check if the person had died.

2. Sent a fake love note to a co-worker from another co-worker.

3. All the women in office individually spoke to the president, confiding that she is pregnant. By noon, he ‘knew’ that all of his female workers were pregnant and he could not tell anyone because each asked for confidentially.

4. Called electric company, used a co-worker’s name and told them he was moving so the electricity got turned off at the co-worker’s house.

5. Filled the vending soda machine with cans of beer.

6. Rigged the bosses chair to drop suddenly during a staff meeting.

7. Placed a sign on the restroom door that read, “The company ran out of toilet tissue; please use your own resources.”

8. Paged a co-worker over the loud speaker claiming the CEO was looking for him. The worker went into the CEOs office and the CEO didn’t know who he was or why he was there.

9. Shrink-wrapped everything in a co-worker’s cubicle.

10. Put a ‘house for sale’ ad in the newspaper regarding a co-worker’s home.

Be nice to your co-workers next Tuesday!

Here it is, folks. Slow week in the working world…

Happy first day of Spring!

Office co-workers win lottery

Man had friend shoot him so he could miss work

Ahhh, March Madness. Dear, sweet, March Madness. I love March Madness. Not only because my alma mater is a No. 1 seed – or because numerous people have said they’re going all the way this year (and no, I didn’t go to UNC). Sure, those things help; but really, I love March Madness for the sheer excitement of the big dance, from the underdogs who come out on top to filling out brackets with friends and co-workers.

Which brings me to my next point: the infamous office pool. Numerous studies have been released in recent weeks regarding office pools and how they affect worker productivity during this time of year. Here are some of the findings:

• 19 percent of workers have participated in March Madness pools at the office and 24 percent have paid more than $10 to enter. (Source: CareerBuilder.com)
• March Madness 2008 should end up costing U.S. employers more than $1.7 billion. (Source: Challenger, Gray and Christmas)
• Nearly half of all U.S. workers will participate in office pools. (Source: Spherion Inc.)
• Nearly 25 percent pf workers will watch or follow the tourney on their computers at work. (Source: Spherion Inc.)
• 10 percent of all workers have called in sick so they could watch afternoon college basketball during the first round of the NCAA tournament. (Source: Spherion Inc.)
• 24 percent of male workers participate in office pools versus 13 percent of females. (Source: CareerBuilder.com)
• 26 percent of workers in 2008 say they have watched or followed sports events online during work hours. (Source: Bensinger DuPont & Associates)

Have you entered an office tournament pool this year? If so, here are some tips to stay focused at work and still make the most out of your bracket.

1. Use your lunch hour accordingly. Most of the games played on Thursday and Friday are during lunch hours from 11-2pm. Take your lunch hour to watch a game you really want to see, so you don’t waste “working hours” watching your favorite team. You’ll be able to catch all of the other games after work at your leisure.
2. Get your work done early. If you know the afternoon has back-to-back games you’ll want to pay attention to, make it a point to get your meetings, conference calls and important projects done in the mornings. Use the afternoon for things that take less concentration so you can catch a quick bit of the game now and then.
3. Don’t bet too much money. You’re likely to pay more attention to games if you’ve got a lot invested in them – especially your money. Keep your betting to a minimum in the office pool. It will save you time, productivity, money – and face.

Here’s this week’s latest working news to last you through the weekend:

Man accused of stealing winning lottery ticket in office pool

Indian workers claim slave treatment 

60% of workers say they are looking for a better job, with more pay

Firm accused of violating worker’s rights 

Bailiff left woman four nights unattended in courthouse cell

Caregiver saves couple from buring home 

TV reporter punched, dragged 

Stay-at-home moms get a chance to go back to work for new reality TV show 

Top o’ the mornin’ to ya!

In honor of one of my favorite holidays, St. Patrick’s Day, I’ve decided to provide all of you job seekers with something very special – green jobs for all! I know we’ve touched on the topic before, but there’s never too much of a good thing…

Across the US, many companies are exploring ways to “go green.” In other words, employers want to help make the world in which we live – and work – a better place. They are implementing recycling programs, public transportation reimbursements and some are even undergoing eco-friendly makeovers to make their buildings more energy-efficient.

Employers are doing their fair share to clean up their act – what about the employees and job seekers? Fortunately, there is plenty of opportunity for them to work “green jobs,” now and in the future.

The Green Jobs Act is part of the 2007 Energy Bill, which Congress passed and President Bush signed in late 2007. The proposal for ‘green jobs’ will make $125 million a year available across the country to begin training workers for jobs in the clean energy sector.

Aren’t we all? Getting up for work is hard enough for some people – but what about staying awake while you’re there?

About one-third of 1,000 people surveyed said they had fallen asleep or become very sleey at work in the past month, according to a survey by the National Sleep Foundation. The survey also found that participants averaged six hours and 40 minutes of sleep a night on weeknights, even though they estimated they’d need another 40 minutes of sleep to be at their best.

Workers know they aren’t performing up to par during the work day, but work is what’s keeping them up at night, according to the survey. Another finding is that workdays are getting longer and time spent working from home averages four-and-a-half hours each week.

The average wake-up is at 5:35 a.m. People spend about two hours and 15 minutes at home before heading to work; on average, people go to bed at 10:53 p.m., according to the survey.

No one wants to wake up, go to work, come home, go to sleep and wake up the next day to relive the same pattern, no matter how tired you are. That’s why people are trying to squeeze in more personal time for themselves and their families – at the cost of getting less sleep.

• Blame work. Say, “I’m so exhausted; I was here until midnight last night!” Do not attempt this if your boss works late and you do not.
• Blame medication. Claim that your new allergy medicine has been making you drowsy. Say, “Those antihistamines just knock me out!”
• Blame lunch. Say, “Wow, I guess I should not have eaten that turkey sandwich. Triptophan really makes me sleepy!”

Thank goodness it’s Friday!

Not much seems to be going on in the world of work, but here are a couple of headline’s that caught my eye:

Pilot fired for buzzing Washington airfield

Anchor uses own newscast to unveil run for office

Assistant principal arrested

Mental facility employee investigated for bringing saw to work

It’s no secret that there’s a shortage of qualified workers – you hear it everywhere, from daily news to reports to the blog you’re reading right now. But, given this shortage, 22 percent of employers say they plan to rehire retirees from other companies in 2008, according to a new CareerBuilder.com survey. Fourteen percent of employers plan to provide incentives for older workers to stay with the company longer. What’s even more suprising? Three out of five workers age 50 or older plan to look for work elsewhere after retiring from their current jobs.

To answer this demand, CareerBuilder.com launched PrimeCB.com, a job search site focused on connecting experienced and retired workers with potential employers. Retirees and other experienced workers can search for part-time, full-time and contract positions.

Nearly one-in-three US workers will be over 50 by the year 2012, according to AARP. Many want to postpone retirement but since many will retire as planned, PrimeCB.com wants to make sure they connect retirees who want to continue working with employers who want to keep the value of having experienced, skilled workers at their companies.

Are you an experienced worker not ready to retire? Here are four industries booming with opportunities for mature workers.

• Health Care
• Business-to-Business
• Education
• Services

Delta workers smuggle drugs

Nurses rescue newborn

DVD saves firefighter from bullet

10 nurses face charges after quitting

Happy Friday people!

Here’s the latest in working news to get your weekend started…

GM looks for buyouts

Taxi driver plays Cupid 

Woman named best grocery bagger

Writer’s strike is OVER! 

Waitresses banned from dancing 

Therapist in tragic slaying 

That’s right; thank God it’s Tuesday. The dreaded “Manic Monday” came and went and you’re one day closer to “Hump Day.” But, according to new survey, you aren’t focused on the day of the week; on Tuesday, you’re focused on your work.

Tuesday is the most productive day of the week for employees, according to 57 percent of executives surveyed in a national poll conducted by Accountemps. Monday is the second most popular day, although not close in numbers: Only 12 percent of respondents ranked Monday as productive, compared to 26 percent in a 2002 survey.

The rest of the days ranked like so:

• Wednesday: 11%
• Thursday: 11%
• Friday: 3%
• Don’t know: 6%

Stay productive throughout the week by following these tips from Accountemps:

• Make a plan. Each day, make a to-do list, prioritizing your most important tasks.
• Focus. You’ll be more productive if you work in the same state of mind, as opposed to changing gears frequently. Try to work on similar tasks in the same time frame to keep your attention.
• Limit distractions. Though it’s tempting to read every new e-mail that comes through your inbox at the exact moment it does, it’s best to check your inbox periodically throughout the day.
• Don’t delay. Don’t put off big or unpleasant projects until the last minute. Get them done and out of the way; if possible, break the project into smaller tasks.
• Recharge. Everyone’s alotted breaks during their work day; make sure you’re utilizing yours to help replenish your energy and fight fatigue.

Now get back to work!

Sorry I missed you guys last week – it’s been a busy month already and we’re barely one week in! Oh well, better busy than bored, right?

This week’s latest working news is a mix. Unfortunately, this week was filled with tradgedy, from accidents to crimes. Some of the worker’s in this week’s news were heros; others were victims of terrible crimes.

Here’s some news to carry you through the weekend; hope yours is a good one!

Homemade device injures mail carrier

Construction crew finds human remains

Foreign workers from Alabama plant missing

Firefighters save dogs with mouth-to-mouth

Former ABC News reporter dies in skiing accident

Snow plow driver rescues missing couple

SWAT officers killed in stand-off

Goldman Sachs adds interesting perks

$11/hour mill worker donates millions

Sugar refinery workers killed in blast

Not only is Friday synonymous with freedom, it also rhymes with casual. Well, not literally… but for my company at least, we have “Casual Friday,” when jeans and tennis shoes are acceptable versus our standard business casual code. Other companies, however, are taking casual Friday to new extremes.

Don’t worry, this won’t be yet another post about dressing for the workplace – instead, it’s yet another post about e-mail; but with a twist.

E-mail is singlehandedly taking over the workplace. It’s replacing phone calls, face time and personality – and some professionals aren’t having it. An article by USA Today says some companies are instituting e-mail-free Fridays, in which e-mail isn’t forbidden; but people are encouraged to use the phone or better yet, meet face-to-face with clients and co-workers. The goal is to increase communication and replenish the personal touch that is sometimes lost when you click “send.”

Other organizations are declaring “e-mail bankruptcy.” In other words, employees are deleting or archiving their entire inbox, based on the premise that if a worker hasn’t read the e-mail yet, she probably won’t, and if the e-mail was that important, she’ll hear from her contact again. (Sounds scary if you ask me!)

E-mail overload is caused by the volume of messages sent around the world. Each day, about 39.7 billion person-to-person e-mails, 17.1 billion automated alerts and 40.5 billion pieces of spam (unsolicited commercial e-mail) are sent worldwide, according to researcher IDC.

I actually took an e-mail etiquette course yesterday through my company and learned a few valuable tips I’d like to share:

1. “If you send an effective e-mail, not only will you receive effective e-mail in return, you will receive FEWER e-mails.”
   
2. If you’re sending an e-mail TO someone, he or she is your intended audience and you expect them to do something. If you someone is CC-ed (carbon copy), they are receiving the e-mail as an FYI. The BC (blind copy) function means BE CAREFUL!
3. Use this acronym before you SEND an e-mail:

• Simple
• Effective
• Necessary
• Done

Click here for more articles about e-mail at work.

Happy Friday! Any plans for the weekend, besides continuing the job search?

Here’s some easy reading to start your weekend. Enjoy this week’s latest working news!

Coroner steals gift cards from dead woman

Man rescues co-worker from crocodile – shoots him in the process

Mature workers snag new jobs

Woman sabotages her company because she thought she was being fired

DMV employee charged with selling licenses

It’s that time of year again – no, not almost time for the Super Bowl, Valentine’s Day or even St. Patrick’s Day (though I’m sure we’re looking forward to all of those events).

Fortune magazine has published their annual list of the 100 best companies to work for, citing employers with high job growth, the best benefits and pay and lowest turnover rates.

Here’s a handful of how different companies measured up in this years’ list:

Best companies

1. Google
2. Quicken Loans
3. Wegmans Food Markets
4. Edward Jones
5. Genentech

Best health care benefits

• Qualcomm
• Boston Consulting Group
• Nugget Markets
• Umpqua Banks
• Whole Foods Market

Best work-life balance

1. Edward Jones
2. Recreational Equipment
3. Shared Technologies
4. Johnson Financial Group
5. David Weekley Homes

Best Compensation

1. Bingham McCutchen: Average annual pay, $211,017
2. Arnold & Porter: Average annual pay, $194,575
3. Alston & Bird: Average annual pay, $190,135
4. Shared Technologies: Average annual pay, $187,137
5. Nixon Peabody: Average annual pay, $178,016

Lowest turnover

1. S.C. Johnson & Son: 2% turnover
2. Herman Miller: 3% turnover
3. Alcon Laboratories: 3% turnover
4. Cisco Systems: 4% turnover
5. Southern Ohio Medical Center: 4% turnover

For Fortune’s full list of the 100 best companies, click here.

It’s a couple of weeks into 2008 and you’ve been good about sticking to your resolutions. You’ve been to the gym at least 10 times since January 1; you’ve said something positive everyday and you’ve been able to save $10 every week.

What about your resolution in terms of your career?

Whether you vow to change, establish or retire from your career doesn’t really matter – what’s important is that you at least have some attainable goal for work. Not having one will leave you bored at work – and take it from me, that is NO fun.

So, resolve to achieve success and personal satisfaction when it comes to your job in 2008.

Here are some questions to ask yourself to help evaluate your career satisfaction and success, according to Douglas J. Matthews, president and COO for Right Management, an employment consulting firm.

1. Assess your level of satisfaction. Consider if and how much you enjoy your work, the company culture and your opportunities to grow within your organization, Matthews says. If you’re unhappy, consider changing jobs, industries, job functions or continuing your education.

2. Assess your skills and abilities. Ask yourself if you’re doing what you do best. Evaluate if your skills and talents are in line with your current role, Matthews says. “People whose skills, abilities and interests are at their highest perform at the top of their games, and get the most satisfaction out of the work they do.”

3. Assess your employer’s financial outlook. Consider what the economic future looks like for your employer. Are sales and market shares increasing or decreasing?

4. Assess your career net worth. “Career net worth is the value the market places on your unique abilities and knowledge,” Matthews says. Always building your skills, knowledge and technical expertise keeps you competitive and generates the highest career net worth.

5. Assess your opportunities for 2008. Always manage your contacts effectively. Don’t just maintain your network, make the effort to make new contacts and keep in touch regularly to strengthen your relationships with them.

Most importantly, Matthews advises not making a snap decision based on only one or two factors, like a recent argument with your manager or a disappointing bonus.

“Decisions about whether to change jobs or careers need to be based on a complete picture, and not just one incident, ” he says. “The grass isn’t always greener.”

Happy Friday, ya’ll! Some of this weeks latest working news…

Paramedic doesn’t check vital signs of patient

Police chief fired for stealing beer

Comedian living in Ikea store

$21K an hour for a part-time job?

Ex-Olympian sentenced to six months in jail 

Everyone has a different definition of “fun.” For some, fun is a night out on the town, while others prefer relaxing at home. Fun could be traveling every week or traveling once per year; some people think reading is a good time, while others would rather go see a movie.

No matter what your personal definition of “fun” is, according to a new survey by Ritz Cracker, fun is vital to all aspects of our lives – our relationships, presidential candidates, living location and of course, our jobs.

Eighty-seven percent of people think fun is an important quality when choosing a spouse; an additional 84 percent believe having fun can add years to your life and 79 percent say fun influences where they live.

Here are the findings on how fun relates to the workplace:

• 84 percent of employed people say they have a lot of fun at work
• 77 percent say the ability to have fun at work is an important part of choosing a job
• 42 percent say having fun at work is more important than making good money
• 69 percent of people agree that their boss is fun

For more about fun jobs, read the following:

• 10 Fun Jobs that Pay More Than You Think
• Fun Jobs: Do They Pay?
• 10 Most Fun Jobs

Hey everyone!

Sorry it’s been awhile, I’ve been on vacation for the holidays. Don’t worry, I didn’t go anywhere to be jealous of – just at home with the family in good ol’ Eastern Iowa.

I hope everyone had a great holiday and is enjoying the New Year so far. Workers have already been busy, starting us off this working news:

Fast-food worker returns $185K check

Restaurant bans ‘hearty eater’

Atheist employee files discrimination against Wal-Mart

Barber stabbed for giving “bad” haircut

Restaurant workers split $1 million lottery win

Bank employee embezzles $500K from employer

Power worker finds freezing man

Young women choosing careers over men

Window washer falls 47 stories; survives

Happy Holidays everyone!

Here’s this week’s latest working news… there’s not much going on, but hopefully it’s enough to tide you over!

Man fired for ‘Dilbert’ strip

Employers take accident victims’ cash

Stay away from holiday blues on the job

It’s the week of holiday parties!

No matter who you are, where you work or what you do for a living, somebody in your company dreads the annual holiday party.

Employees feel the company party imposes on their free time during an already busy season, says J.T. O’Donnell, career expert and co-author of the nationally syndicated weekly column, “J.T. and Dale Talk Jobs.” Workers aren’t paid to go; they’d rather see the amount of money being spent on the party divided into bonus checks; and their definition of ‘party’ means letting loose and being themselves with friends – not acting professional to gain the respect of their co-workers.

“[Americans] place more emphasis on our careers as a way to define ourselves personally,” O’Donnell says. “At any corporate-sponsored event, we must keep in mind – even if it is begrudgingly – that we must think about our actions and the impact they can have, both positively and negatively, on our careers.”

Unfortunately, this fact is lost on some employees. According to a recent study, 36 percent of employers reported such behavioral problems as excessive drinking, off-color jokes, sexual advances and fistfights at last year’s company party. Fifteen percent of employees who engaged in inappropriate behavior reported a negative impact on his or her career growth.

When work is bad, life is bad, so don’t take any risks this holiday season. Here are the top 10 offenses to avoid at this year’s company holiday bash.

1. Assuming you aren’t required to go. Unless you’ve got an unbelievably good reason, you need to attend. Not attending speaks volumes about your attitude toward the