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<h2 class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">BAD
BOSS QUIZ</font></b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Although
a timid boss can prove to be unproductive, most complaints about bad bosses
say they are too abrasive. An Illinois study on employee turnover showed
that forty percent of all turnover is directly related to bad bosses.
</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">So
how do you know if you�re a bad boss? One author, Laura Crashaw prepared
a self test on bad bosses, based on her years of experience helping employers
improve their retention of good employees. You can score your own
test and consider the recommendations at the end.</font></p>
<h3 class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Bad
Boss Quiz (self test)</span></b></font></h3>
<p class="ListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 0in"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">1.Have
you ever been asked to:</font></p>
<blockquote>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"> </font>a.<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span>Improve your communications skills</font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">b. <span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span>Control your temper</font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">c</font><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">.
</span>Learn to get along with others</font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">d</font><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">.
</span>Not to get so �worked up�</font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">e. Not be so
hard on coworkers</font></p>
</blockquote>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">2.Have
you been passed over for a promotion and can�t get anyone to give you a specific
reason?</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">3.Have
you ever been passed over for a promotion because of your people management
skills?</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">4.Do
you find yourself in intense and unresolved confrontations with:</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
a. Supervisors</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
b. Peers</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
c. Subordinates</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
d. Human resource staff or office administrators</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">5.Have
complaints been brought against you for inappropriate conduct, such as:</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
a. Harassment</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
b. Discrimination</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
c. hostile treatment</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">6.
Do you have a nickname that refers to tough behavior such as (�Axe-Man�, �Terminator�,
Doctor Death� or tough animals (such as �Pit Bull�, Wildebeest�, �T- Rex�)?</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">7.
Do people avoid you at work?</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">8.
Do employees attempt to transfer out of your group or avoid transferring in?</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">9.
Do you have enemies at work?</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">10.Do
you frequently find yourself intensely frustrated by co-workers or staff?</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">11.Do
you generally feel that you are smarter than your coworkers?</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">12.Do
people seem to choose their words very carefully so as not to offend you?</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">13.have
you received low performance evaluations for team building, participative management
or other so called �soft skills�? </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">14.Do
you dislike co-workers who are less competent than you are?</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">15.If
so, do you openly refer to them as:</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
a. Lazy</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
b. Stupid</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
c. Incompetent</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
d. A bunch of idiots</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
e. Any other pejorative descriptions</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">17.Do
you engage in any of the following behaviors at work?</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
a. Publicly criticizing others</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
b. Hostile humor or teasing others</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
c. Shouting</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
d. Profanity </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
e. Making threats</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
f. Publicly humiliating others</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
g. Temper outbursts</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
h. Physical intimidation (such as throwing objects or slamming doors)</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
i. Ignoring others or giving the silent treatment</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
j. Name calling</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
k. Making condescending statements</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
l. Non-verbal expressions of disdain (such as rolling your eyes,
snorting, snickering etc.)</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Scoring</span></b></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>If you answered yes to <i>any</i> of the following questions,
there is a possibility that you are perceived as being too abrasive. 2-3-7-9-10-11-12-13-14.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>If you answered yes to <i>any</i> of the remaining questions,
<i> you are behaving abrasively</i>. 1-4-5-6-8-15-16-17. These questions
refer to unacceptable behavior or extreme co-worker reactions to your abrasive
behavior. Or, being a bad boss.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Recommendations;</span></b></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>Get
as much feedback as you can, as soon as you can.</b> Make it easy (in
other words, not threatening) for others to give you feedback. Tell them
you are concerned that you may be coming across in ways that you do not intend,
and reassure them that you will be grateful for their frank input. Listen
calmly, take notes, ask questions for clarification and above all <i>do not
attempt to defend yourself</i>. The goal is to collect data on how you
are perceived. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>Apologize</b>.
�I see now that when I interrupt, it may give the impression that I think my
thoughts are the most valuable. I don�t mean to give that impression and
I�m sorry that it came out that way.�</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>Ask
for further feedback.</b> �If you see me doing that again, will you let
me know? I�d really appreciate it.�</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>Thank
coworkers for having the courage to open up and reassure them that they are
helping, not harming you</b>. �Thanks again for speaking frankly.
It really helped. It opened my eyes.�</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Get
help if you are unable to change your abrasive behavior. Ask your employer
to refer you to a specialist who works with abrasive individuals. If that�s
not a viable option, seek help on your own. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Being
a Bad Boss, particularly in today�s litigious environment, is a life changing
issue. And the changes can be for good or for bad. </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: April 2008</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="3030">
<tr valign="top">
<td width="100%" height="2976">
<blockquote>
<div align="center">
<div align="left">
<h2 class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"> <b><span style="font-size:18.0pt"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Why
Does My Health Care Cost Keep Increasing </font></span></b></h2>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt">While
Eggs Are Still Only a Dollar a Dozen?</span></b></font></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Someone
actually figured this one out 25 years ago, but maybe we weren�t
listening. The gold standard in health care studies is the
Rand Health Insurance Experiment. Conducted in 1983 at a cost
of $50 million (approximately $300 million in today�s money) the
study sought to compare health care costs where there were fundamental
differences in the cost to the individual. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">The
basic differences between the plans studied were that:</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Some plans required the patient to pay a share of
the actual cost of medical services received</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Others only required the patient to pay a higher share
of the premiums paid </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>And still other plans required the individuals to
pay no part of the either the medical costs or the premiums. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">The
results were predictable.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>Where
patients were required to pay a share of the medical costs</b>,
they became consumers/ shoppers and began to examine more closely
the medical procedures and the costs to themselves. They started
to analyze their bills and to complain where they saw mistakes or
over-charges. They began to seek more information and
other doctors. Where they did not understand the medical documents
or the billing information they demanded clear plain-English translations.
The quality of their medical care was not only as good as but in
many cases considered superior to all those in the study.
This group actually saw a lowering of medical care costs and of
the premiums. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>The
second group was not directly affected by higher health care costs</b>,
but only by the premiums. They had little if any confrontation
with their doctors on any of these issues. But when the premiums
were raised (for those whose health insurance coverage was provided
through their jobs) they did complain to their employers about the
increased costs of premiums. This group had much higher health
care costs than did those above. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>The
third group was not required to pay any part of the medical costs</b>
and the employer paid the entire premium. This group was not
aware of the increasing medical costs and had no idea of what the
employer was paying in premiums. This group experienced the
highest medical care cost as well as continuous increases.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">What
does this have to do with dollar-a-dozen eggs? Consumer/shoppers
will change grocery stores based on what they have to pay for bread,
milk and eggs. Back in the 1980s when this study was carried
out, there were nation-wide boycotts against grocery chains that
raised their prices too high on these items (the boycotts also included
toilet paper). Grocery stores today, having often seen the
result of their price sensitive customers, often sell these items
at below costs just to attract shoppers. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">One
of the major conclusions drawn by the researchers was that both
patients and doctors are responsive to costs when it�s their costs.
If you�re getting it for free, who cares what it costs?</font></p>
<p>
</div>
<table border="4" width="50%" id="table17" cellpadding="2" height="102" bordercolor="#000000">
<tr>
<td valign="top" height="78">
<div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border-top:solid white 1.0pt;
border-left:none;border-bottom:solid white 1.0pt;border-right:none;padding:
10.0pt 0in 10.0pt 0in">
<h3 class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; border: medium none; padding: 0in">
<i><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">�<b>We
have found the enemy </b></font></i></h3>
<h3 class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; border: medium none; padding: 0in">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><i>and
he is us.�</i></b></font></h3>
<h3 class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; border: medium none; padding: 0in">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><i>Pogo</i></b></font></h3>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<h1 align="center" style="text-align:center"> </h1>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b> <span style="font-size:18.0pt"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Paid
Sick Leave Has a Price</font></span></b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">While
we�re on the subject of free stuff let�s take a look at the next big
one coming around the corner; paid sick leave. Two cities have
now passed a mandated paid sick leave, San Francisco and Washington
D.C. San Francisco�s is already in full effect while D.C.'s
is awaiting the final go-ahead from the city council. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>San
Francisco:</b></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Applies to every business in the city</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Applies to both full time and part time employees</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Employee gets one (1) hour of paid sick leave for every
30 hours worked</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>For companies with less than ten (10) employees, each
employee may accumulate up to 40 hours of paid time </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>For companies with ten (10) or more employees, each
employee may accumulate up to 72 hours of paid time</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Sick
leave also includes care for a child, parent, sibling, grandparent,
grandchild, spouse or domestic partner. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>Washington
D.C.:</b></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Applies to every business in the city</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Applies to both full time and part time employees</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Includes �Safe� pay; for victims of stalking or domestic
violence</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Companies with ten (10) or fewer employees must provide
three (3) paid sick days per year.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Companies with 11 to 30 employees:
Five (5) Days</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Companies with 31 to 50 employees:
Six (6) days</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Companies with 51 employees or more:
Seven (7) days</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>The
price is paid by everyone; </b></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">The
National Federation of Independent Businesses, (NFIB) along with other
business leaders are opposing such laws. They point out some
of the problems to be faced.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>Cities:</b></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Businesses planning to expand are notifying city officials
that the expansion will have to open their businesses elsewhere.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Companies are avoiding hiring those extra few employees
that will take them to the next higher level of compliance</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Businesses planning expansion are moving that expansion
outside the city. Almost all federal government growth is now
in Virginia and some in Maryland. </font>
</div>
<p> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>Companies:</b></font></p>
<div align="center">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Absenteeism is already a significant problem in most
industries, particularly in the service industries. This law,
as in the FMLA, does not allow the employer to count those absences
as absences. Combined paid leaves are getting close to an average
of one (1) month in every year. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Higher costs with the current business tax increases
sweeping the country will certainly impede many businesses from expanding,
hiring or even staying in business.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>The cost of unpaid absence is enormous. The cost
of paid absence is much higher.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>Customers:</b></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>The higher costs are passed on to the prices customers
pay. Although in polls customers say they�re willing to pay more,
in realty customers make that decision on price quite often.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Service is impacted when employees are unexpectedly
absent. Lack of adequate service drives customers away.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>Employees:</b></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">American
business people are innovative and industrious. They seldom
sit back and let difficulties roll over them. Business people
will adjust to survive and find a way to prosper. If they are
faced with costs that they cannot successfully pass on, they will
find ways to cut those costs. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Hire fewer employees</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Cut other benefits</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Reduce pay raises in quantity and frequency</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Expand technology to replace workers</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Subcontract parts of the work to smaller outside companies</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Outsource to other companies in other communities, states
and countries. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Whenever
employee costs increase, some employees will get those benefits, but
many jobs are lost forever. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>Your
State?</b></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">There�s
always a few pilot programs that are ventured out to test the waters
for acceptance. In this case San Francisco and Washington D.C.
are out there alone. If it works there, others will follow.
In fact 13 states now have mandatory paid sick leave proposals on
the table:</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Connecticut</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Florida</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Maine</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Maryland</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Massachusetts</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Minnesota</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Missouri</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Montana</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>North Carolina</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Ohio</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Pennsylvania</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Vermont</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Virginia</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">As
Ty Pine the legislative director of NFIB told USA Today, �Paid sick
leave isn�t free. Show me the law that guarantees the business
owner extra revenue to cover the costs�. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"> </p>
<p>
</div>
<span style="mso-ignore: vglayout">
<div align="center">
<table border="4" width="50%" id="table19" height="87" bordercolor="#000000">
<tr>
<td height="109" valign="top">
<div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border-top:solid white 1.0pt;
border-left:none;border-bottom:solid white 1.0pt;border-right:none;padding:
10.0pt 0in 10.0pt 0in">
<h3 class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; border: medium none; padding: 0in">
<i><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">�<b>Yes
there is a free lunch. There�s always a free lunch if
you can leave the bill on the table for someone else to pay�</b></font></i></h3>
<h3 class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; border: medium none; padding: 0in">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><i>Anon</i></b></font></h3>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p> </p>
</div>
</span>
<div align="center">
<h2 class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b> <span style="font-size:18.0pt"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Starting
At the Bottom.</font></span></b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Two
inspiring examples that persistence, enthusiasm and planning can lead
to success by starting at the bottom.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .25in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Chuck Yeager, on his first flight as a passenger, threw
up all over the back seat. He vowed never to go back up again.
Yet later he became the fastest man in the world and the first to
break the sound barrier. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .25in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>A woman once said to the great violinist Fritz Kreisler
after a recital, �I�d give my life to play as beautifully as you�.
�Madam�, Kreisler replied, �I have�. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<table border="4" width="50%" id="table20" bordercolor="#000000">
<tr>
<td valign="top">
<div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border-top:solid white 1.0pt;
border-left:none;border-bottom:solid white 1.0pt;border-right:none;padding:
10.0pt 0in 10.0pt 0in">
<h3 class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; border: medium none; padding: 0in">
<b><i><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">�Your
system is perfectly designed to produce the result you are
getting�</font></i></b></h3>
<h3 class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; border: medium none; padding: 0in">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><i>Fredrick
Taylor </i></b></font></h3>
<h3 class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; border: medium none; padding: 0in">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><i>(Thanks
to Todd�s Enviroscapes)</i></font></h3>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</div>
<blockquote>
<hr width="75%">
<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>Federal Minimum Wage:</b></font></p>
</div>
</td>
<center>
<td width="100%" valign="top">
<h3><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">$5.85/hr. </font></h3>
</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"> <u><font size="-1"><b>March</b></font></u><b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><u>
2007</u></font></b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><br>
$17.24</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><font size="-1"><b>March</b></font></u></font></span><b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="text-decoration: none"><u>
200</u></span></font></b><u><font size="-1"><b>8</b></font></u><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><u><br>
</u>$17.86</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><font size="-1"><b>March</b></font></u><b><u>
2007</u></b><br>
</font>
</span> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
$584.44</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><font size="-1"><b>March</b></font></u><b><u>
2008</u></b></font></span><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><u><br>
</u>$603.67</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">$10,400</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>
$21,200</font>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<hr noshade color="#000000">
<hr noshade color="#000000">
</font>
<table border="0" width="100%">
<b></b>
<tr> <b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
<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>
</font></b>
<center>
<b></b>
<td width="63%" style="border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1">
<div align="left"><b> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><u>January
1, 2008, IRS mileage allowance:</u></font></b></div>
<div align="left"> </div>
<div align="left"><b> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
Business Purposes: 50.5 cents per mile<br>
Medical or Moving Purposes: 19 cents per mile<br>
Charitable Purposes: 14 cents per mile</font></b></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="34%" style="border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1"> </td>
</center>
<td width="34%" style="border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>May
12. 2008</b></font></td>
</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="34%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">.41</font></td>
<td width="34%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">.42</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">Each additional ounce</font></td>
<td width="34%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">.17</font></td>
<td width="34%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">2
oz. .27</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><i>Postcards</i></font></td>
<td width="34%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">.26</font></td>
<td width="34%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">.27</font></td>
</tr>
</table>
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
<hr noshade color="#000000">
<b>
<p>
<table border="0" width="38%" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
</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">6.5 Billion</font>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="34%" valign="top"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><b>U.S.</b></font></td>
<td width="82%" valign="top">
<p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">300
Million</font>
<p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><i>One
birth every 8 seconds<br>
One death every 13 seconds<br>
One new immigrant every 30 seconds<br>
Net gain = 1 person every second</i></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">
<span style="text-decoration: none"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
<u><font size="-1"><b>March</b></font></u></font></span><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><u><font size="-1">
2007</font></u></b></font></td>
<b>
<td width="12%" align="center">
<span style="text-decoration: none"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
<u><font size="-1"><b>March</b></font></u></font></span><u><span style="font-weight:700"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
</font></span> </u><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><u>
<b> 2008</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">152,884,000</font></td>
<td width="12%" align="center"><font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">153,784,000</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">146,145,000</font></td>
<td width="12%" align="center"> <font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">
145,969,000</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">6,738,000</font></td>
<td width="12%" align="center"> <font size="-1">7</font><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">,815,000</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="48%"><span style="text-decoration: none"> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">Persons Who Currently Want A Job</font></span></td>
<td width="12%" align="center"> <span style="text-decoration: none">
<font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">4,542,000</font></span></td>
<td width="12%" align="center"> <span style="text-decoration: none">
<font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">4,730,000</font></span></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">4.4</font><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">%</font></p>
</td>
<td width="12%" align="center">
<p><font size="-1">5.1</font><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">%</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<hr noshade color="#000000">
<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"><b>2004</b></font></td>
<td width="68%"><font size="-1">4.0%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%"> <span style="text-decoration: none"> <font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>2005</b></font></span></td>
<td width="68%"> <span style="text-decoration: none"> <font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">2.6%</font></span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%"> <span style="text-decoration: none"> <font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>2006</b></font></span></td>
<td width="68%"> <span style="text-decoration: none"> <font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">3.0%</font></span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%"> <span style="text-decoration: none"> <font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>2007</b></font></span></td>
<td width="68%"> <font size="-1">1.9%</font></td>
</tr>
</table>
</font></span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="100%" height="21"> </td>
</tr>
</table>
<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">� William J. Cook</font></p>
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