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<h2 align="left"><strong>
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#00976C">On The
Job<br>
</font></strong>
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<h2 class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center"><b> <span style="font-size: 16.0pt"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">IS
THE BOSS NOT �BOSSY� ENOUGH?</font></span></b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">If
we had to identify the most sweeping change in employee relations over the past
15 years, it would have to be the focus on �Employee Empowerment�, the concerns
for the welfare of, and good relationship with, the employee. Good management
has come to mean flexibility, sensitivity and individual freedom. Companies
have changed the way they manage in order to more address employee concerns.
</font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">This
kind of management is a winner. We know it works. We know employees respond
well to this and are almost always more productive under this kind of management.
The results reported by so many employers can't all be wrong. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">But
as employers and managers adapted their companies and operations to focus more
on employee concerns, many seem to have lost their focus on the basics.
Where formerly the concentration was first on the customer or sales or productivity
or the quality of the deliverables, some employers have misinterpreted the true
message of �Employee Empowerment� and have made it the <i>primary</i> focus
of the company.</font></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
The true message was always meant to focus on the actual goals of the company
and to do those things you went into business to do. And that �Employee
Empowerment� was the most effective and responsible way to accomplish those
goals.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Business
& Legal Reports (BLR), the global business publisher, recently published
the results of an 18-month study by the firm of Rainmaker Thinking that brought
to light this problem, which they referred to as �Undermanagement�. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">The
results of the study showed that employees said that they were <u>not</u> getting
the <b>5 basic management activities</b> that they wanted:</font></p>
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>1.<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7.0pt; font-family: Times New Roman">
</span>Clear statements of performance requirements and standard operating procedures
that relate to the tasks and responsibilities.</b></font></h4>
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>
2.<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7.0pt; font-family: Times New Roman">
</span>Clear statements of boundaries, measurable goals and concrete deadlines
for which they will be
held accountable.</b></font></h4>
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>
3.<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7.0pt; font-family: Times New Roman">
</span>Accurate monitoring, evaluation and documentation of work performance.</b></font></h4>
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>
4.<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7.0pt; font-family: Times New Roman">
</span>Clear and timely feedback on work performance with guidance for improvement.</b></font></h4>
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>
5.<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7.0pt; font-family: Times New Roman">
</span>Fair distribution of rewards and consequences based on merit.</b></font></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<h3 class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><u>According
to the report:</u></font></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7.0pt; font-family: Times New Roman">
</span></span>99% of managers fail to provide these 5 management basics to each employee
each day.
</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7.0pt; font-family: Times New Roman">
</span></span>90% fail to do so once a week</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7.0pt; font-family: Times New Roman">
</span></span>75% fail to do so once a month</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7.0pt; font-family: Times New Roman">
</span></span>35% fail to so once a year.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7.0pt; font-family: Times New Roman">
</span></span>The report also showed that if a manger failed to do one of these,
he/she likely did not do any of them. They also found that most managers
do not know who is overworked or under-worked. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt"> </span></font></p>
<h3 class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><u>The
report identified several reasons for this �Undermanagement�. </u></font></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">1.<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7.0pt; font-family: Times New Roman">
</span>Managers/supervisors say they don�t have the time and resources to spend
on this, partially due to the paper work and administrative load they carry.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">2.<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7.0pt; font-family: Times New Roman">
</span>Managers want to be seen as �nice guys�. They refuse to accept
the authority and influence they have been given. They call it �empowering�
their employees but it�s really just neglect and bad or weak management.
</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">3.<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7.0pt; font-family: Times New Roman">
</span>Most managers aren�t trained enough in management basics and good supervision
techniques. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">4.<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7.0pt; font-family: Times New Roman">
</span>Most managers are afraid to discuss employee�s performance and provide
coaching or criticism for fear employees will argue, get angry and take revenge
in complaints or lawsuits. Most managers don�t like confrontation.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">5.<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7.0pt; font-family: Times New Roman">
</span>Most �Under-managers� tend to hire and promote other �Under-managers�.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">The
President of the firm that is conducting the ongoing study added this to the
report; �I used to think that good management was about warmth and flexibility,
getting shoulder massages and being allowed to bring your dog to work.
Now I believe that the best managers are pretty demanding with employees, setting
high standards, checking in often to ensure they�re being met, and offering
plenty of guidance and coaching where it�s needed.�</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Being
the �Boss� includes providing those 5 basic management activities. If
you�re not, maybe you�re not being �Bossy� enough. </font></p>
<hr>
<h2 style="margin-left:.75in" align="center">
<font face="Verdana" color="#008000">Have an employment question?</font></h2>
<h3 style="margin-left:.75in" align="center"><font face="Verdana">Send it to:
<font color="#000080">[email protected]</font></font></h3>
<p style="margin-left:.75in" align="center"><b><font face="Verdana" size="2">
Please include Company Name and Association in your e-mail. Company
identification will be kept confidential.</font></b></p>
<hr>
<h2 align="left"><b><u><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hitchhiking on the Information
Highway</font></u></b></h2>
<p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><font
size="4" color="#FF0000">Dateline: November 2004</font></b></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">Note. Although we attempt to provide the HRU update on the first
of each month, we are normally delayed awaiting the release of several
monthly government statistical reports. We will hereafter update the information
as each report becomes available without waiting for all of them to be
released.</font></i></p>
<div align="center">
<center>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" width="75%" id="AutoNumber10">
<tr>
<td width="100%"> <span style="text-decoration: none"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
<h4 class="MsoNormal">�Ask not for tasks equal to your powers,
ask for powers that are equal to your tasks�</h4>
</font></span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
<i><b>
President G.W.Bush</b></i></font></p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</center>
</div>
<h3><u><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The New COBRA
Regulations</font></u></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">There
is much confusion about the new COBRA regulations that are effective as
of November 26, 2004. The most common problem is that most companies
do not see any difference between the new rules and what they have been
doing all these years. The big question has been, �How has the law
changed?�</font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">The
fact is that the law has <u>not</u> changed. But the regulations
telling you how they want you to comply with the law has just been created.
Confusing? Here�s the picture.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">COBRA
is the law. All <u>laws</u> are passed by Congress. In effect,
the law tells you what you have to do, or what the end result must be.
</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Regulations
are written and enforced by agencies like the Dept Of Labor. Regulations
tell us how to carry out the law and how the law will be interpreted and
enforced. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">The
COBRA law was passed in 1985 by Congress, but the regulations have only
just been written in 2004 and become effective on November 26 2004.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">An
upcoming Personnel Notebook will cover this in more detail, but for now
here are the highlights:</font></p>
<h4 class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><u>One
Change</u></font></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">The
General Notice and the Election Notice must now include wording that explains
COBRA in greater detail, where to get complete information, how notice
for a �qualifying event� will be sent, how long coverage will last and
that individuals may be qualified for an extension of an additional 18
months if they experience a �second qualifying event�.</font></p>
<h4 class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Two
New Notices</font></h4>
<blockquote>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">1.
You must now provide a notice to employees (and covered dependents)
if you find that they are not eligible for coverage when they apply
for it. This �Unavailability Of Coverage� form is now required</font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">2.
You must also provide a notice to them if you are terminating their
coverage for any reason. This notice is called �Notice of Early
Termination�</font></p>
</blockquote>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">The
Department Of Labor now provides a model example of these notices.</font></p>
<div align="center">
<center>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" width="75%" id="AutoNumber7">
<tr>
<td width="100%">
<h4 class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">�All
bureaucracies have a tendency to migrate away from vigilance
and worry�</font></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
<i><b>
NASA after the Columbia disaster</b></i></font></p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</center>
</div>
<h3><u><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">President Bush
Signs The American Jobs Creation Act</font></u></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">The
new act is designed to create American jobs by reducing taxes for manufacturing
that is done in the United States as opposed to foreign countries.
It also relieves restrictions on business investments that create jobs.</font></span></p>
<div align="center">
<center>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" width="75%" id="AutoNumber8">
<tr>
<td width="100%">
<h4 class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">�I
have never seen a monument to a pessimist�</font></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
<i><b> Paul Harvey</b></i></font></p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</center>
</div>
<h3 class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size: 16.0pt"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">7-11
Awards 7-11 Babies</font></span></u></b></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">After
Erin Kappen of Essexville Michigan gave birth to her 7 pound 11 ounce
baby on October 4, she received a check from 7-11, her employer, for $711.</font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Her
employer owns 90 stores in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio and gives the award
to all employee births that weigh 7 pounds 11 ounces.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Erin,
22, says the check came as a total surprise; she certainly didn�t do it
for the money.</font></p>
<div align="center">
<center>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" width="75%" id="AutoNumber9">
<tr>
<td width="100%">
<h4 class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">�Never
deprive someone of hope. It may be all they have�</font></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
<i><b> H. Jackson Brown</b></i></font></p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</center>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt">
</span></font></p>
<div align="center">
<center>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" width="75%" id="AutoNumber11">
<tr>
<td width="100%">
<h4 class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">�If
you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging�</font></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
<i><b> Will Rogers</b></i></font> </p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</center>
</div>
<span style="text-decoration: none"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
<hr width="75%">
<table border="0" width="45%">
<tr>
<td width="64%" valign="top">
<div style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1; padding-left: 4; padding-right: 4; padding-top: 1; padding-bottom: 1">
<p align="left"><font size="-1"
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Minimum Wage:</b></font></p>
</div>
</td>
<center>
<td width="100%" valign="top"><font size="-1"
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">$5.15/hr.</font></td>
</center>
</tr>
</table>
<table border="0" width="112%">
<tr>
<td width="13%" valign="middle" style="border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>Average
Income:</b></font></td>
<td width="67%" style="border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1">
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" width="100%" id="AutoNumber4" height="76">
<tr>
<td width="100%" height="76">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" width="100%" id="AutoNumber5">
<tr>
<td width="50%" align="center"><b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Hourly</font></b></td>
<td width="50%" align="center"><b><font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Weekly</font></b></td>
</tr>
</table>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" width="100%" id="AutoNumber6" height="50">
<tr>
<td width="25%" height="50">
<p align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><u>
October 2003</u><br>
$15.42</font>
</td>
<td width="25%" height="50">
<p align="center"><u><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
October</font></u><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><u>
2004<br>
</u>$15.84</font>
</td>
<td width="25%" height="50">
<p align="center"> <span style="text-decoration: none"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
<u>October 2003</u><br>
</font></span> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
$519.65</font>
</td>
<td width="25%" height="50">
<p align="center"><u><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
October 2004</font></u><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><u><br>
</u>$535.39</font>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
<td width="20%">
<table border="0" width="99%" height="78">
<tr>
<td width="100%" height="40">
<p align="center"><font size="-1"
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><u>Family of<br>
Four</u></b></font>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="100%" height="30">
<p align="center"><font size="-1"
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">$64,000 (annual)</font>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="13%" bgcolor="#C0C0C0" style="border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>Federal<br>
Poverty Level:</b></font></td>
<td width="67%" bgcolor="#C0C0C0" style="border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1"> </td>
<td width="20%" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
<p align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">$17,650 (annual)</font>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<hr noshade color="#000000">
<table border="0" width="112%">
<tr>
<td width="100%" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1">
<h3><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><b><u>Benefits <br>
</u></b><i>as a Percentage of Payroll</i></font></h3>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<table border="0" width="112%" height="275" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" cellpadding="2">
<tr>
<td width="31%" height="45" valign="top" bordercolor="#000080" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>1997</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="5%" height="45" valign="top" align="left" bordercolor="#000080" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>24.8%</b></font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="31%" height="46" valign="top" bordercolor="#000080" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
<p><font size="-1"><b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">
1998</font></b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="5%" height="46" valign="top" align="left" bordercolor="#000080" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>23.4%</b></font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="31%" height="46" valign="top" bordercolor="#000080" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
<p><font size="-1"><b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">
1999</font></b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="5%" height="46" valign="top" align="left" bordercolor="#000080" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>22.8%</b></font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="31%" height="46" valign="top" bordercolor="#000080" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
<p><font size="-1"><b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">
2000</font></b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="5%" height="46" valign="top" align="left" bordercolor="#000080" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>26.1%</b></font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="31%" height="46" valign="top" bordercolor="#000080" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
<p><font size="-1"><b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">
2001</font></b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="5%" height="46" valign="top" align="left" bordercolor="#000080" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>27.1%</b></font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="31%" height="46" valign="top" bordercolor="#000080" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
<p><font size="-1"><b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">
2002</font></b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="5%" height="46" valign="top" align="left" bordercolor="#000080" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>
30.0%</b></font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="31%" height="46" valign="top" bordercolor="#000080" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
<span style="text-decoration: none"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
<b><i> In 2002, employee benefits represented 30% of the total compensation
an employee received.</i></b>
<p><b><i> Those benefits ranked are:</i></b>
</font></span>
<p>
</td>
<td width="5%" height="46" valign="top" align="left" bordercolor="#000080" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="31%" height="46" valign="top" bordercolor="#000080" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
<span style="text-decoration: none"><font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">
Health Care Benefits</font></span></td>
<td width="5%" height="46" valign="top" align="left" bordercolor="#000080" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
<span style="text-decoration: none"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
11.5%</font></span>
<p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="31%" height="46" valign="top" bordercolor="#000080" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
<span style="text-decoration: none"><font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">
Paid Time Off</font></span></td>
<td width="5%" height="46" valign="top" align="left" bordercolor="#000080" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
<span style="text-decoration: none"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
10.4%</font></span>
<p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="31%" height="46" valign="top" bordercolor="#000080" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
<span style="text-decoration: none"><font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">
Retirement Savings Plan</font></span></td>
<td width="5%" height="46" valign="top" align="left" bordercolor="#000080" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
<span style="text-decoration: none"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
8.1%</font></span>
<p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="31%" height="46" valign="top" bordercolor="#000080" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
<span style="text-decoration: none"> <font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Total
Benefits (As a percentage of total compensation)</b></font></span></td>
<td width="5%" height="46" valign="top" align="left" bordercolor="#000080" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
<span style="text-decoration: none"> <font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>
30%</b></font></span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="31%" height="46" valign="top" bordercolor="#000080" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
</td>
<td width="5%" height="46" valign="top" align="left" bordercolor="#000080" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<hr noshade color="#000000">
<b>
<table border="0" width="100%">
<tr>
<td width="47%" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1">
<p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><b>IRS Mileage Allowance :</b></font></p>
</td>
<center>
<td width="53%" style="border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1">
<div align="left"><font size="-1"><b>37.5</b> </font><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">cents per mile<br>
</font></div>
</td>
</center>
</tr>
</table>
<table border="0" width="113%" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
<tr>
<td width="32%" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1">
<p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><b>Postage:</b></font></p>
</td>
<center>
<td width="68%" style="border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1"> </td>
</center>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%" style="border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">1 oz.</font></td>
<td width="68%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">.37</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">Each additional ounce</font></td>
<td width="68%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">.23</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><i>Postcards</i></font></td>
<td width="68%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">.23</font></td>
</tr>
</table>
</b>
<hr noshade color="#000000">
<b>
<p>
<table border="0" width="60%" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tr>
<td width="100%" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><b>Where Uncle Sam got his money in 2003:</b></font></td>
</tr>
</table>
<p align="center">
<img border="0" src="../graphics/2003usrevenue.gif" width="630" height="371"></p>
<hr noshade color="#000000">
<table border="0" width="61%" bgcolor="#C0C0C0" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tr>
<td width="100%" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><b>Where your federal tax dollar went in 2003:</b></font></td>
</tr>
</table>
<p align="center">
<img border="0" src="../graphics/2003usbudget.gif" width="632" height="402"></p>
<hr noshade color="#000000">
<table border="0" width="111%">
<tr>
<td width="34%" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1">
<p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><b><u>Population:</u></b></font></p>
</td>
<center>
<td width="82%" style="border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1"> </td>
</center>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="34%" style="border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><b>World</b></font></td>
<td width="82%">
<p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">6.3 Billion</font>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="34%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><b>U.S.</b></font></td>
<td width="82%">
<p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">292.3 Million</font>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</b>
<hr noshade color="#000000">
<table border="1" width="111%" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
<tr> <b>
<td width="48%" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1">
<p align="left"><b> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">U.S.
Workforce</font></b></p>
</td>
</b>
<center>
<td width="12%" align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><u><font size="-1">
October 2003</font></u></b></font></td>
<b>
<td width="12%" align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><u><b>
October 2004 </b></u></font></td>
</b>
</center>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="48%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">U.S. Civilian Workforce</font></td>
<td width="12%" align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">146,892,000</font></td>
<td width="12%" align="center"><font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">147,850,000</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="48%"><font size="-1">Number Employed</font></td>
<td width="12%" align="center"> <font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">138,095,000</font></td>
<td width="12%" align="center"> <font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">139,778,000</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="48%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">Number Unemployed</font></td>
<td width="12%" align="center"> <font size="-1">8,797,000</font></td>
<td width="12%" align="center"> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
8,072,000</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="48%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">Unemployment Rate</font></td>
<td width="12%" align="center">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">6.0%</font></p>
</td>
<td width="12%" align="center">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">5.5%</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<hr noshade color="#000000">
<table border="0" width="110%" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="96">
<tr>
<td width="25%" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1" height="48">
<p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><b>Absentee Rates (annualized)</b></font></p>
</td>
<center>
<td width="10%" align="center" valign="top" style="border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1" height="48"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><u>1997</u></b></font></td>
<td width="10%" align="center" valign="top" height="48"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><u>1998</u></b></font></td>
<td width="11%" align="center" valign="top" height="48"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><u>1999</u></b></font></td>
<td width="11%" align="center" valign="top" height="48"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><u>2000</u></b></font></td>
<td width="11%" align="center" valign="top" height="48"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><u>2001</u></b></font></td>
<td width="11%" align="center" valign="top" height="48"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><u>2002</u></b></font></td>
<td width="11%" align="center" valign="top" height="48"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><u>3rd Quarter<br>
2003</u></b></font></td>
</center>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="25%" style="border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1" height="48">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Men equal
approximately 1/3 of all absenteeism<br>
Women approximately 2/3</font></td>
<td width="10%" align="center" valign="top" height="48"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">2.0%</font></td>
<td width="10%" align="center" valign="top" height="48"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">2.6%</font></td>
<td width="11%" align="center" valign="top" height="48"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">2.4%</font></td>
<td width="11%" align="center" valign="top" height="48"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">2.9%</font></td>
<td width="11%" align="center" valign="top" height="48">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">2.1%</font></p>
</td>
<td width="11%" align="center" valign="top" height="48">
<p><font size="-1">3.6</font><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">%</font></p>
</td>
<td width="11%" align="center" valign="top" height="48">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">1.9%</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<hr noshade color="#000000">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" width="111%" id="AutoNumber3" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
<tr>
<td width="100%">
<h4><b><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">PRODUCTIVITY
OF THE AMERICAN WORKFORCE</font></b><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br>
(The amount of goods produced, divided by the number of work hours
it took to produce it)</font></h4>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" width="111%" id="AutoNumber2" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
<tr>
<td width="32%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>1992</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="68%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">3.7%</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>1993</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="68%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">0.5%</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>1994</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="68%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">1.3%</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>1995</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="68%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">0.9%</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>1996</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="68%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">2.5%</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>1997</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="68%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">2.0%</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>1998</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="68%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">2.6%</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>1999</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="68%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">2.4%</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>2000</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="68%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">2.9%</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>2001</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="68%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">1.1%</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>2002</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="68%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">4.7%</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>2003</b></font></td>
<td width="68%"><font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">4.5%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%"><font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>1st
Quarter 2004</b></font></td>
<td width="68%"><font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">UP
3.8% Increase</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%"><font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>
2nd Quarter 2004</b></font></td>
<td width="68%"><font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">UP
2.5% Increase</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%"><font size="-1"><b>3r</b></font><font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>d Quarter 2004</b></font></td>
<td width="68%"><font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">UP
1.9% Increase</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%"> </td>
<td width="68%"> </td>
</tr>
</table>
</font></span>
<hr>
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<hr size="1" width="75%">
<hr>
<hr size="1" width="50%">
<h6 align="center"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">� 1998-2004
Human Resource Associates<br>
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<p align="center"> </p>
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