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<b style="color: blue">Human Resource Associates</b>
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<h2>HR - On The Job</h2>
<h3>Nine Ways to Make This A Great Day At Work</h3>
<p>While visiting a client recently an employee told me his job was beginning to go sour. He thought the company needed to be making some changes. I asked “Are the conditions on your job really that bad?” His response was “Oh no, conditions are great, free food, employee gym, people spending as much as 20 percent of their time on their own projects and a work environment that encourages play and creative thinking.” “That doesn’t sound like a problem to me” I said. “What could be wrong with that?” He said, “Nobody wants to go home and it’s cutting into my leisure time”. I thought, “Some people just won’t be happy”.</p>
<p>Actually, we’ve all had bad days when it was just more comfortable being miserable. And other days when we roll with the punches and won’t let anyone rain on our parade. Author and HR professional Suzan M. Heathfield says that whether you have a good or a bad day is really up to you. You get to choose. She gives us these nine rules to make every day a good day at work.</p>
<ol>
<li><b>Choose to make it a good day.</b> Happiness is largely a choice. It’s a mental adjustment, or maybe an attitude adjustment. But you are the only one in control of how you feel. Others may give you a bad or a good time, but how you deal with it is up to you.</li>
<li><b>Take charge of your own development.</b> That means both your professional and personal development. When you hear yourself complaining “My boss is not developing my career”. You might ask yourself “Who is the person most interested in my development?” “Who has the most to gain?” The answer of course, is you.</li>
<li><b>Do something you love every day.</b> You may not love your job and you may not believe you can find something there to love. But you can. Most people do their jobs using the skills and aptitudes they have. What is it that you do well and enjoy doing? What skill do you have that you like using most? Find some way to do your job with the skills, talents, aptitudes and energy you have.</li>
<li><b>Take responsibility for knowing what’s going on at work.</b> People complain that they don’t receive enough information and information about what is happening with their company, their department projects or their coworkers. They have become like ships that pass in the night. They wait for the boss to fill them up with knowledge and that knowledge rarely comes. Why? Because the boss is busy doing her job and she doesn’t know what you don’t know. Seek out the information you need to work effectively. Develop an information network and use it. Ask your boss for a weekly get-together to do a quick review of what and how things are going. You are in charge of the information you receive.</li>
<li><b>Ask for feedback regularly.</b> “My boss never gives me any feedback, so I never know how I’m doing”. Have you ever said that? Face it, you know exactly how you’re doing. If you know you’re doing well, you may just want it to be acknowledged. If you know you’re not doing the job, think about what you should or shouldn’t be doing that causing your bad performance. Then discuss this with your boss and ask for feedback. Feedback about how well or poorly you are doing and some guidance on how to progress has got to be one of the most valuable advantages you can have in your life. Don’t wait for it to fall from heaven. Go get it.</li>
<li><b>Make only the commitments you can keep.</b> One of the real stresses in life is failing to keep commitments. When you begin to realize that you’re spending more time making excuses and dodging the person you’re committed to, the stress only worsens. Create a system of measuring and organizing your work so that you know what you can and cannot take on. Be realistic. Don’t volunteer if you’re just not going to get the job done. Don’t wallow in the swamp of un-kept promises. Under-promise and over-deliver.</li>
<li><b>Avoid getting dragged down into the negative swamp.</b> If you’re choosing to be happy at work, avoid negative conversation, malicious gossip and unhappy people as much as you can. If you let them, negative people can have a profound effect on your job and that can carry over into your personal life. Don’t let them. It’s an old saying (from the 70s) “Non Legitimum Carborendum”. Don’t let the B******ds wear you down! </li>
<li><b>Practice professional courage.</b> Most people don’t like conflict. You’re not trained to participate in meaningful, problem-solving conflict. So you likely think of conflict as scary, harmful, aggressive and just down-right mean. It can be. But done well, with professionalism, a meaningful purpose and in non-angry manner can help everyone get things resolved and advanced. It takes a little courage, especially if this is new to you. Why let a little professional courage keep you from achieving your goals and dreams.</li>
<li><b>Make Friends.</b> In their book “First Break All The Rules: What the World’s Greatest Managers Do Differently: Authors Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman list several important questions for developing managers to ask themselves. One of the questions was; “Do you have a best friend at work?” Liking and enjoying your coworkers can be a sign of how happy you are in your job. Take time to get to know them. These are the people you have chosen to work with. They can provide mutual support, advice, feedback and a caring ear.</li>
<p class="quote">“It’s not your aptitude, but your attitude, that determines your altitude”<br />
– Zig Ziglar</p>
</ol>
<hr />
<p align="center"><b><i>Have an employment question?</i></b></p>
<p align="center">Send it to <a href="mailto:[email protected]?subject=From HR On The Job">[email protected]</a>.</p>
<p align="center">Please include Company Name and Association in your e-mail. Company identification will be kept confidential.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Hitchhiking on the Information Highway</h2>
<h3>Hitchhiking on the Unemployment Highway</h3>
<h4>Part 1: The Battle of the Unemployed Sexes</h4>
<p>During the first three years of the economic downturn the majority of job losses were among men. That's because the first jobs hit in most recessions are in industries like construction, manufacturing and transportation which are considered primarily male occupations. Many economists dubbed this event the “Mancession”. And as some new jobs began popping up more men were hired back than women. However, that hire-back process is now leveling out as an equal number of women were rehired during the last quarter as men.</p>
<p>Sometime during 2012 women will become the average American worker as their numbers will surpass men in the labor force. Among the reasons for this phenomenon:</p>
<ul>
<li>Even as more men enter female dominated occupations such as education, social services and government, far more women are entering male dominated occupations such as those mentioned above.</li>
<li>Women now make up 52% of all managerial and professional jobs (compared to 26% in 1980), 60% of all accountants, 32% of all physicians and 31% of all lawyers.</li>
<li>Fewer men are graduating from college as their drop out numbers soar, while women earned 60% of all bachelor's and master's degrees. Moreover, 48% of all medical school grads and 47% of all law school grads are female.</li>
</ul>
<p class="quote">
“I didn't get the memo, but did I get the message.”<br />
– Anon
</p>
<h4>Part 2: Unemployment As Calculated By Government Accountants</h4>
<p>The current unemployment rate is 8.5%. The unemployment rate is a pretty simple matter. The government needs two numbers:</p>
<ol>
<li>The number of people in the workforce</li>
<li>The number of people who are unemployed</li>
</ol>
<p>They then divide the number of unemployed people by the number of people in the workforce. That gives them the percentage or rate of unemployment.</p>
<p>But these are not the accountants or bookkeepers you use in your business. No, these are government accountants working under the standards set up by government economists so get your boots on.</p>
<p><i>The number of people in the workforce</i> – To be logical they will not count those in the military, prisons or institutions. And they will take out those under 16 years of age and those who are in school. But when summer vacations start students over 16 will then be counted as part of the labor force. Oh and also during the holidays, but not at spring break. Are you following all this? Also, the numbers of people who have used up all their unemployment benefits are no longer counted as part of the workforce. That lowers the number of people who have to be employed. If we counted all the people who were in the workforce at the start of the recession our unemployment rate would be 11.5%.</p>
<p class="quote">
“He sees the stars but he still doesn't see the light.”<br />
– Country Western Song
</p>
<h4>Part 3: 2012 Employment Forecasts</h4>
<p>In December the economy added 120,000 new jobs. But 315,000 people dropped out of the workforce. It's estimated that over half of the added jobs will be cut back in January as the number of retail and delivery workers are let go.</p>
<p><i>The Kiplinger Letter</i> (forecasts for management) is forecasting that only half of the jobs lost since 2008 will be restored in 2012 producing an unemployment rate of 8.4%. The primary industry that will provide those jobs is health care, followed by restaurant and bar workers, IT specialists, accountants, engineers and temporary workers.</p>
<p>The U.S. has 65 million fewer jobs than it did in 2007. At the current rate of growth it will take until 2016 to get back to that level of employment.</p>
<p>Many states are tightening up the eligibility requirements for unemployment benefits as well as reducing the number of weeks you can draw those benefits. Isn't that a little hard hearted? Well the money is running out. Here are some of the reasons:</p>
<ul>
<li>The federal government gave stimulus funds to the states so that they could provide better and longer benefits for the unemployed. In many areas benefits were over $500 per week for 99 weeks. That's almost two years and can be over $52,000! But it came with conditions. One condition was that when the government funds ran out after one year, the states must continue to provide the same benefits from state funds. The stimulus money has been used up. And those states that took it are now paying the bills and their running out of money.</li>
<li>Reports from around the country indicate that people are refusing work until their benefits run out. They apply for jobs because they are required to do so, but they don't show up for them. Using up all those 99 weeks of benefits is draining the funds.</li>
<li>In previous recessions (1980s and late 1990s) it was primarily younger workers who were unemployed while older workers were well entrenched in their jobs. Those younger workers were not yet eligible for unemployment benefits so the funds were somewhat less needed. In addition unemployment benefits in most states back then maxed out at about $250 per week for 26 weeks. In this recession many more young people are in school and it's the older workers who are being laid off in large numbers. And they are eligible for benefits and because of their higher earnings are eligible for the higher benefits.</li>
</ul>
<p class="quote">
“When there is no penalty for failure, failure will proliferate.”<br />
– George Will
</p>
<h3>The U.S. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Wants You To Be Union</h3>
<h4>Union Promotional Poster Stopped Again</h4>
<p>In early 2011 the NLRB ruled that every employer in the country must display a new job-site poster advocating the benefits of union membership. The 11” X 17” poster advises employees who to call if they want to join or start a union, how to bring charges against your employer, how to bring in the NLRB to assist you and who to call if your employer resist any of these actions.</p>
<p>The poster was to be placed on job-sites by November 14, 2011. But business and political opponents fought the rule and it was postponed to January 31, 2012. Further resistance has now rescheduled it for April 30, 2012.</p>
<p class="quote">
“My grandmother is a very tough person. She's buried three husbands. Two of them were only napping.”<br/ >
– Rita Rudner
</p>
<h3>Minimum Wage Going Up In Nine States</h3>
<p>The Federal minimum wage laws set a minimum hourly pay rate for all workers. That rate is currently $7.25 per hour. With very few exceptions (apprentices, family members etc) No worker may be paid less than this amount. However, individual states have the right to set a higher wage rate if they choose. Altogether eighteen states have minimum wage rates that are higher than the federal rate. This year nine of those states are raising their rates even higher:</p>
<table>
<tr><td>Arizona</td><td>$7.65</td></tr>
<tr><td>Colorado</td><td>$7.64</td></tr>
<tr><td>Florida</td><td>$7.67</td></tr>
<tr><td>Nevada</td><td>To be determined by July 1</td></tr>
<tr><td>Ohio</td><td>$7.70</td></tr>
<tr><td>Oregon</td><td>$8.80</td></tr>
<tr><td>Vermont</td><td>$8.46</td></tr>
<tr><td>Washington</td><td>$9.04</td></tr>
</table>
<p>Although few will disagree with a raise in the minimum wage many business people claim that thousands of jobs are lost or not filled whenever the minimum wage rate is increased. Small businesses that have low skilled jobs also have a very limited budget for such work. As the cost of that labor increases many companies have no choice but to cut the staff size to meet that budget.</p>
<p class="quote">
“There is no inherent criminal class… save Congress.”<br />
– Mark Twain
</p>
<hr />
<p style="text-align: center"><sub>© William J. Cook</sub></p>
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<span class="heading">Labor Stats</span>
<hr />
<b>Federal Minimum Wage</b>
<hr />
<p align="center">
<b>$7.25</b>/hour<br />
</p>
<hr />
<b>Average Income</b>
<hr />
<table>
<tr><td /><td class="u">January 2012</td><td class="u">January 2011<td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">Hourly</td><td class="b">$19.62</td><td class="b">$19.33</td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">Weekly</td><td class="b">$663.16</td><td class="b">$645.62</td></tr>
</table>
<hr />
<b>Federal Povery Level</b>
<hr />
<table>
<tr><td class="i">one person</td><td class="b">$10,956</td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">family of four</td><td class="b">$21,954</td></tr>
</table>
<hr />
<b>IRS Mileage Allowance</b>
<hr />
<p>July 1, 2011 through December 31, 2012</p>
<table>
<tr><td class="i">business</td><td><b>55.5</b> cents/mile</td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">medical or moving</td><td class="b">23.5</b></td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">charitable</td><td class="b">14.0</td></tr>
</table>
<hr />
<b>Postage</b>
<hr />
<table>
<tr><td class="i">1 oz</td><td><b>44</b> cents</td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">postcard</td><td class="b">29</td></tr>
</table>
<hr />
<b>Population</b>
<hr />
<table>
<tr><td class="i">world</td><td class="b">7 billion</td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">U.S.</td><td class="b">312.5 million</td></tr>
</table>
<p align="center">
<i>one birth every </i><b>8</b><i> seconds;</i><br />
<i>one death every </i><b>11</b><i> seconds;</i><br />
<i>one new immigrant every </i><b>45</b><i> seconds;</i><br />
<i>net gain of one person every </i><b>15</b><i> seconds.</i>
</p>
<hr />
<b>U.S. Civilian Workforce</b>
<hr />
<table>
<tr><td /><td class="u">January 2012</td><td class="u">January 2011</td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">Total</td><td class="b">154,395,000</td><td class="b">153,250,000</td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">Employed</td><td class="b">141,637,000</td><td class="b">139,330,000</td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">Unemployed</td><td class="b">12,758,000</td><td class="b">13,919,000</td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">Want A Job</td><td class="b">6,319,000</td><td class="b">6,412,000</td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">Unemployment Rate</td><td class="b">8.3%</td><td class="b">9.1%</td></tr>
</table>
<br /><hr />
<b>U.S. Workforce Productivity</b><br />
<sub><i>(The amount of goods produced, divided by the number of work hours it took to produce it)</i></sub>
<hr />
<table>
<tr><td class="i">1992</td><td class="b">3.7%</td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">1993</td><td class="b">0.5%</td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">1994</td><td class="b">1.3%</td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">1995</td><td class="b">0.9%</td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">1996</td><td class="b">2.5%</td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">1997</td><td class="b">2.0%</td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">1998</td><td class="b">2.6%</td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">1999</td><td class="b">3.3%</td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">2000</td><td class="b">3.4%</td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">2001</td><td class="b">2.9%</td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">2002</td><td class="b">4.6%</td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">2003</td><td class="b">3.7%</td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">2004</td><td class="b">2.8%</td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">2005</td><td class="b">1.7%</td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">2006</td><td class="b">0.9%</td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">2007</td><td class="b">1.9%</td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">2008</td><td class="b">1.8%</td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">2009</td><td class="b">+5.8%</td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">2010</td><td class="b">+3.6%</td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">2011</td><td class="b">+0.7%</td></tr>
</table>
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