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<img border="0" src="../graphics/hronthejob.jpg" width="504" height="54"></p>
<h2 class="MsoTitle" align="center"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">10
RULES </font></span></h2>
<h2 class="MsoTitle" align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt">FOR
KILLING EMPLOYEE MOTIVATION</span></font></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Employee
morale can make or break a company. When morale kicks in, even if its
only for a short time, productivity improves, clients get a better job, complaints
and mistakes diminish and work doesn�t seem to be as hard to accomplish.</font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Employee
oriented and profitable companies earnestly try to improve employee motivation.
Many will look to HR to create employee involvement in activities and to recognize
achievements. But too many of us overlook that important first step.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Just
as the physicians Hippocratic Oath states �First Do No Harm�, we also need to
start from there. Our �HR Motivation Oath� should be �First Kill No Motivation�.
</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">With
a little tongue-in-cheek approach, lets take a look at the 10 best rules for
killing motivation in your company.</font></p>
<blockquote>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">1. Keep your
employees in the dark. Don�t give them the information they need to
do their job. </font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">2. Don�t show
them how their work fits into the overall company picture.</font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">3. Never tell
them their performance goals more than once a year, and make sure that it�s
<u>after </u> their performance review.</font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">4. If an employee
has a good idea that can improve efficiency or save money, be sure to claim
it as your own before it goes upstairs.</font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">5. Yell at people
a lot. If possible, make sure that other employees hear it. Remember
�Criticize in Public, Praise in Private�.</font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">6. Be suspicious
of employee motives. If they seem cheerful see what they�ve been up
to.</font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">7. Check everything
they do, preferably in front of them. If you can�t find anything wrong
make a few new rules. </font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">8. Make it a
point to let them know often that you know their job better than they do.
Don�t let them take pride in what they do.</font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">9. Be sarcastic
about things in general. Belittle what progress you see. Let employees
know that there�s someone at the gate just waiting for their job.</font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">10. Squelch
any sign of creativity or innovation. Make sure that no one feels that
they are different or unique. Everyone should act the same.</font></p>
</blockquote>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Do
all of these things well and you may find yourself noticed in the newspapers.
Look in the �Dilbert� section.</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
<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: February 2005</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="67">
<tr>
<td width="100%" height="370"> <span style="text-decoration: none"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"></font></span>
<h3 class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Aren�t
You Retired Yet?</font></span></b></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">In
a recent survey of over 7,000 workers. Employees gave surprising answers
to the question �At what age are you planning to retire? The most
popular answer was �Never�.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">The
results of the survey:</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">At
what age are you planning to retire?</font></p>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Never
34%</font></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Between
61 and 65 20%</font></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Between
51 and 60 16%</font></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Between
66 and 75 16%</font></li>
</ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">The
most pessimistic group (those who said 51 to 60) said that they are uninspired
by their jobs because:</font></p>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Senior
management is not committed to improving employee skills</font></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">They
were dissatisfied with their managers</font></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<div align="center">
<center>
<table border="1" cellpadding="2" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" width="50%" id="AutoNumber7">
<tr>
<td width="100%">
<h4 class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">�Only
those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one
can go�</font></h4>
<h4 class="MsoNormal" align="left"> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">
T.S. Elliot</i></font> </h4>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</center>
</div>
<![if !mso]><![endif]>
<h3 class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Just
How Stressed Are You?</font></span></b></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">American
business owners say that they are more stressed out than ever. But
how do they compare to business owners in other countries? The Grant
Thornton International Business Owners Survey set out to find that answer
by talking to over 6,000 business owners in 24 different countries and
ranking the levels of stress in each. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Americans
came in 18<sup>th</sup> of the 24 countries. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">The
Ranking:</font></b></p>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" width="34%" id="AutoNumber10">
<tr>
<td width="42%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
1 Taiwan </font></td>
<td width="58%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">69%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="42%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
2. Hong Kong</font></td>
<td width="58%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">54%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="42%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
3. Mexico</font></td>
<td width="58%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">54%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="42%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
4.Turkey</font></td>
<td width="58%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">54%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="42%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
5. India</font></td>
<td width="58%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">53%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="42%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
6. Philippines </font></td>
<td width="58%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">53%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="42%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
7. Japan </font></td>
<td width="58%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">51%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="42%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
8. Russia </font></td>
<td width="58%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">51%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="42%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
9. South Africa</font></td>
<td width="58%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">50%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="42%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
10 Singapore</font></td>
<td width="58%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">46%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="42%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
11. Ireland </font></td>
<td width="58%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">41%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="42%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
12.Greece</font></td>
<td width="58%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">39%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="42%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
13. Poland </font></td>
<td width="58%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">39%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="42%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
14. Germany </font></td>
<td width="58%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">37%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="42%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
15. Spain </font></td>
<td width="58%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">37%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="42%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
16 France </font></td>
<td width="58%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">36%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="42%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
17 Australia </font></td>
<td width="58%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">34%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="42%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
18. United States</font></td>
<td width="58%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">34%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="42%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
19.United Kingdom</font></td>
<td width="58%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">33%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="42%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
20.New Zealand</font></td>
<td width="58%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">32%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="42%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
21.Italy</font></td>
<td width="58%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">30%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="42%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
22. Canada </font></td>
<td width="58%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">26%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="42%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
23. Netherlands</font></td>
<td width="58%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">25%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="42%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
24.Sweden</font></td>
<td width="58%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">23%</font></td>
</tr>
</table>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<div align="center">
<center>
<table border="1" cellpadding="2" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" width="54%" id="AutoNumber8" height="105">
<tr>
<td width="100%" height="101">
<h4 class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">�If
you don�t go after what you want, you�ll never have it.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>If you don�t ask, the answer is always no.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span> If you don�t step forward, you always will be in the
same place�</font></h4>
<h4 class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="mso-tab-count:6">
</span> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Nora Roberts</i></font><br>
</h4>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</center>
</div>
<![if !mso]><![endif]>
<h3 class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">How
Are Unions Doing?</font></span></b></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">The
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that in 2004, union representation
in the U.S. workforce dropped down to a new low of 12.5% compared to 12.9%
in 2003. Union membership is now at the lowest rate since the BLS
began collecting the data in 1983. The current figure is about 1/3
of what it was in 1950. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">The
only segment of the American labor market wherein union representation
is growing is among government workers. As the local, state and
federal government continues to expand, the increased hiring results in
the increase in new union membership. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Why
are unions in such decline? That question was asked in a recent
poll in Workforce Management magazine. The results showed:</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">35%
Less need for unions because of greater employee-management cooperation.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">16%
Tough tactics by employers to keep unions out.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">15%
Decline of manufacturing jobs and the shift to a service, information
economy.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">11%
Increase in temp jobs, contractor jobs, self employment and shorter time
workers </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
stay on one job makes it harder for unions to organize.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">11%
Unions inability to secure better conditions for their members.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">9%
Problems with union leadership.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">3%
None of the above.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">RecruitMax
the international recruiting group, commented that they believe that the
most pressing problem with unions is that they do not develop the skill
levels of their members. They assume the role of an agent, middleman
or a broker focusing on retaining jobs rather than developing people.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<div align="center">
<center>
<table border="1" cellpadding="2" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" width="47%" id="AutoNumber9">
<tr>
<td width="100%">
<h4 class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">�Never
go to a Doctor whose office plants have died�</font></h4>
<h4 class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="mso-tab-count:2">
</span> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:
normal">Erma Bombeck</i></font> </h4>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</center>
</div>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="text-decoration: none"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
<hr width="75%">
</font></span><p></p>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<span style="text-decoration: none"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
<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>
January 2004</u><br>
$15.26</font>
</td>
<td width="25%" height="50">
<p align="center"><u> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
January</font></u><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><u>
2005<br>
</u>$15.56</font>
</td>
<td width="25%" height="50">
<p align="center"> <span style="text-decoration: none"><u>
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
January</font></u><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><u>
2004</u><br>
</font></span> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
$509.68</font>
</td>
<td width="25%" height="50">
<p align="center"><u> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
January 2005</font></u><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><u><br>
</u>$516.59</font>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
<td width="20%" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
<table border="0" width="99%" height="96">
<tr>
<td width="100%" height="40" colspan="2">
<h3 align="center"><span style="text-decoration: none"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>Federal<br>
Poverty Level:</b></font></span></h3>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="50%" height="48">
<p align="center"><b><u><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">One
(1) Person<br>
</font></u></b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">$8,980</font>
</td>
<td width="50%" height="48">
<p align="center"><u><b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Family
of Four</font></b></u><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><br>
$18,400</font>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<hr noshade color="#000000">
<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> </tr>
</table>
<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">
January 2004</font></u></b></font></td>
<b>
<td width="12%" align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><u><b>
January 2005 </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">145,875,000</font></td>
<td width="12%" align="center"><font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">146,863,000</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">135,447,000</font></td>
<td width="12%" align="center"> <font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">
138,566,000</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">8,428,000</font></td>
<td width="12%" align="center"> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
8,297,000</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 size="-1">5.7</font><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">%</font></p>
</td>
<td width="12%" align="center">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">5.6%</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%"><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>
<h3 align="center"> </h3>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="100%" height="61"> </td>
</tr>
</table>
<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">� 2004 William J. Cook</font></p>
</body>
</html>