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<h2 align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">DEALING
WITH A STRESSFUL WORKPLACE? </font></h2>
<h3 class="MsoTitle"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">8</font></span><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">
AREAS TO EXAMINE</font></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Stress
has a bad reputation. But not all stress is bad. Stress that causes you
to think sharper, be more productive and to �reach beyond your grasp� can be
very positive. But too much stress, or the wrong kind, can also be a killer.
It can kill motivation, quality and people. At work, stress needs to be
an issue of concern. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Not
all workplace stress is caused by the workplace. Many people create their
own frantic pace as part of their lifestyle. They may over schedule their
life; use poor time management and bring a lot of personal and social problems
into work everyday. The causes for these problems are neither found, nor
can they be solved in the workplace.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Having
recognized that, it�s still fair to say that most workplace stress <i>is</i>
caused by the workplace. The way things get done at work; the environment
and the atmosphere are how we define �Corporate Culture�. There are ways
to make your �Corporate Culture� less stressful. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Here
are 8 areas to examine for stress in your �Corporate Culture�: </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">1.
Communication Style.</font></b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
Take a look at how you communicate now. Is it done formally, in writing,
at scheduled meetings? Or is word-of-mouth the way it happen? For
general information, do you e-mail everyone or send out a printed memo or just
pass it along to those you pass in the hall? Are all problems examined
in a �whose to blame� mode? Find out from each other how you want to communicate.
Everyone may need to make compromises in order to find the style that works
best for your group. But also remember, communicate often and communicate
to everyone. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">2.
Hierarchy</font></b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">.
How defined is your �chain of command�. Does everyone rigidly stick to
the hierarchy? How formal do you want the process of getting work done
to be? Can an informal process do it better? Some companies need
a firm structure to manage the complexities of a growing, dynamic company.
Some companies are not so large or complex. For them teamwork is the best
process. Which do you need? Which does your group want? </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>3.
Teamwork.</b> Are projects and information shared freely, or are you expected
to work entirely on your own? Do you have group brainstorming sessions
(formal or informal) or are ideas saved for a one-on-one with the boss?
Are coworkers pleased or offended when someone offers suggestions about their
work? Does your company need individual loners who take personal charge
in getting things done, or teamwork players who share the load and support each
other? What works best for your company, your employees?</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>4.
Leadership.</b> What is the role of the boss? Does s/he do the thinking,
solve the problems and delegate the functions? Or does each individual
produce the results with the resources s/he has or can generate? Does
management lead or support? Do they guide, coach or micromanage?
Does the person in charge have the respect and trust of the group? Should
there be buffers between the executives and the crew that gets things done or
should the top folks and the crew folks be communicating face-to-face?
In some companies, the best leader is one who stays in the background and draws
the best from everyone to the surface. They let the leaders emerge from
the group. In other companies, the best leader may be the one out in front
leading the team in his/her direction. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">What
kind of leadership do you need or want? What kind works best for you?</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>5.
Appearance.</b> Is there a dress code? Is it a formal written policy?
If standards of dress are too casual or even unkempt, self-respect can deteriorate.
The way people dress when they meet is still a sign of respect to each other.
Of course overdress can make the workplace too stuffy and uncomfortable.
Individuality may be a virtue, but the more one does to separate themselves
from the group, the more they will be separated from the group. Set the
standard that works for your company. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>6.
Your Workspace.</b> Prisons are cold, hard colorless places where drabness,
silence and regimentation is the standard. They are intimidating environments
that discourage interaction, creativity and teamwork, because that�s the way
prisons want prisoners to feel. Is your workplace colorful, open and alive?
Do employees feel free to call out to someone in another group, to go beyond
the defined boundaries of their work and extend themselves into every area where
they are needed or where they feel they need to be? </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Do
walls and cubicles work best for your group? Would the newer �open office�
or �virtual office� concepts work? Ask employees for their feelings and
suggestions. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>7.
Office Relationships.</b> Do these people like each other? Have
they had a chance to do anything together except work? Do they know about
a coworker�s mother�s hip surgery? Do they go out together? Are
there any company off-job events or activities for the group? Some employees
want to be left alone to do their work. Others really want to be part
of a larger family. Create a culture that provides those activities and
that interaction for those that want it and still allows a loner to be so.
</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>8.
The Pace.</b> Many successful companies have workplaces that are hectic,
stressed and fast paced. Most of us would rather be at the beach or a
party. But all human endeavors require focus, involvement and intensity.
Few companies can survive if everyone in their workplace were focused on comfort,
fun and going home. Employees can live with and thrive on stress.
But it cannot be constant. It cannot be a non-stop train of panic and
worry. An Olympic long distance runner doesn�t win by going full speed
all the way. Winners are those who can pace their effort. A stressful,
frantic, pace may be part of the job, but don�t let it be a continuous river
of activities. Manage this problem and see that there is a break between
the rushes.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </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
<a href="mailto:[email protected]?subject=From HR On The Job">
[email protected]</a></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: October 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>
<p> </p>
<table border="0" width="100%" height="376">
<tr>
<td width="100%" height="370">
<h3 class="MsoTitle"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Military
Time Counts On FMLA</font></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">For
companies that provide Family and Medical Leave (FMLA) to their employees
(those that have 50 employees), the regulations require that the employee
must have one year of service and have worked 1,250 hours during that
time in order to claim FMLA leave rights. </font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Many
employees who are serving in the National Guard or Reserves, are sometimes
performing military service during that time and do not have the 1,250
hours of work in. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">The
U.S. Department Of Labor recently ruled that the hours spent in that military
service must be combined with the actual hours worked to arrive at a total.
</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">In
other words, that military time served cannot be used as a detriment or
loss to the employee. It must count towards his/her FMLA eligibility.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<h3><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Lots Of Retaliation
Charges But Few Hold Up</font></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">For
many years, the federal employment regulations have been adding a new
section called �Retaliation� to the laws. This mandates severe penalties
against a company that �Retaliates� against an employee who files a complaint
or a charge against the company. The number of complaints in one
year rose to 19,694. However, after investigating them the EEOC
found that less than 7% of them had any merit.</font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<h3><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">How Not To Fire An
Employee</font></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Lawyers
representing terminated employees love an ugly, embarrassing firing the
way that the personal injury lawyer loves a bad car wreck.</font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Even
when the termination is for good cause or bad performance, a bad firing
can turn a jury against the company and can even be used as evidence of
animosity towards the employee. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Sometimes
poor Managers using bad judgment over react when deciding to terminate
an employee.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><i>Here
are a few actual cases from the files of Attorney Alan L. Rupe:</i></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><u><b>A
Computer Engineer</b></u> took his daughter to work with him on �Take
Your Daughter To Work Day.� He was fired that same day with his
daughter sitting beside him in the HR Manager�s office and was then forcibly
escorted out of the building.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><u><b>A
cattle feed Salesman</b></u>, employed for over 20 years was called late
one snowy January night and instructed to drive to a city 300 miles away
to discuss his sales goals for the coming year. When he arrived
the next day, he was met by the HR Director, who handed him a notice of
termination, which was effective immediately. The HR Director also
took possession of the car. The Salesmen had to call his wife to
drive through the snowstorm to come and pick him up.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><u><b>Upon
arriving at work</b></u> one Monday morning, several bank Managers and
Supervisors (all over 50 years of age) were told to go to the banks large
conference room for a special announcement. After waiting for over
an hour, a security guard appeared with the banks HR Director, who handed
each of the employees a severance agreement and a cardboard box containing
all their personal items and family photographs that had been removed
from their desks. Te employees were then led single-file out of
the building, under guard.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<h3><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Terminator Defeats
California Raise In Minimum Wage</font></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">California,
with one of the nations highest minimum wage rates ($6.75 compared to
the federal $5.15) had intended for some time to increase that rate to
$7.25 on January 1, 2005 and again to $7.25 on January 1, 2006.
</font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed the bill stating that it was time California
stopped driving employers out of the state. He intends to make </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">California
more attractive to business.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt"> </span></font></p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="text-decoration: none"><b><u>
QUOTES OF THE MONTH</u></b></span></font></h2>
<span style="text-decoration: none"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>�Work expands to fill the time available for its
completion.�</i></p>
</font></span>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>C.
Northcote Parkman </b></font> </p>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<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"><i>�Wise
men talk because they have something to say. Fools, because they
have to say something.�</i></font></p>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>Plato</b></font></p>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><i>�Eliminate
the impossible, then if nothing remains, some part of the impossible is
possible.�</i></font></p>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
<b>Sherlock Holmes</b></font></p>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><i>�How
wonderful it is that nobody need to wait a single moment before starting
to improve the world.�</i></font></p>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
<b>Anne Frank</b></font></p>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<span style="text-decoration: none"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
<hr width="75%">
<table border="0" width="33%">
<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="99%">
<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>
September 2003</u><br>
$15.44</font>
</td>
<td width="25%" height="50">
<p align="center"><u><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
September</font></u><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><u>
2004<br>
</u>$15.80</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>September 2003</u><br>
</font></span> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
$520.33</font>
</td>
<td width="25%" height="50">
<p align="center"><u><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
September 2004</font></u><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><u><br>
</u>$520.88</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="99%">
<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="100%" 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="37%" 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="63%" 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="100%" 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="38%" 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="38%" 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="98%">
<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="99%" 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">
September 2003</font></u></b></font></td>
<b>
<td width="12%" align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><u><b>
September 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">146,610,000</font></td>
<td width="12%" align="center"><font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">147,483,000</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">137,644,000</font></td>
<td width="12%" align="center"> <font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">139,480,000</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">8,966,000</font></td>
<td width="12%" align="center"> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
8,003,000</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">6.1%</font></p>
</td>
<td width="12%" align="center">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">5.4%</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<hr noshade color="#000000">
<table border="0" width="98%" 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="100%" 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="100%" 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%"> </td>
<td width="68%"> </td>
</tr>
</table>
</font></span>
<h3 align="center"> </h3>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="100%" height="370"> </td>
</tr>
</table>
<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">� 2004 William J. Cook</font></p>
</body>
</html>