December 30, 2003

Our so-called Boom
Posted by at 12:25 PM

NYT's Columnist Paul Krugman today on why the economic recovery appears to be an exclusive party that most people weren't invited too.

Why aren't workers sharing in the so-called boom? Start with jobs.

--------

...

Cyber-blackmail targets office workers
Posted by Jason Butler at 10:38 AM

CNN has picked up a Reuters story about loathsome individuals blackmailing office workers, threatening to unleash viruses and such if not paid off.

"They prey on the nice secretary who wouldn't do anything wrong. When she gets one of these e-mails she thinks 'Oh, my goodness what am I going to do?' So she puts it on her credit card and transfers the funds to the (suspect's online bank) account and hopes it goes away," a British detective specializing in cyber-crime told Reuters.

--------

...

The white-collar blues
Posted by Jason Butler at 10:37 AM

Bob Herbert, in his New York Times op-ed column, tells us that we as a nation need to focus on job loss.

But that's exactly what we're not thinking about. Government policy at the moment is focused primarily on what's best for the corporations. From that perspective, job destruction and wage compression are good things — as long as they don't get too much high-profile attention.

Or, is offshoring good for us?

In a related relentless drumbeat, AOL is taking jobs to India.
--------

...

The curse of information pollution
Posted by Jason Butler at 10:36 AM

Well-known usability guru Jakob Neilsen takes aim at how information pollution destroys worker productivity.

Some things do need realtime attention, but even a one-minute interruption can easily cost a knowledge worker 10 to 15 minutes of lost productivity due to the time needed to reestablish mental context and reenter the flow state.

--------

...

What good's a union if the bosses run it?
Posted by Jason Butler at 10:35 AM

Unions in China are trying to organize, but their efforts are thwarted by the authorities.

China's socialist laws theoretically protect workers even as the country embraces capitalist ways. But the police crush efforts to set up independent unions as threats to the Communist Party. Many workers say the sole legal state-run union is a charade, a feckless bureaucracy that has only the pretense of representing the proletariat.

--------

...

Best of CareerJournal
Posted by Jason Butler at 10:34 AM

If you get a chance, hit CareerJournal today. They are doing their "Best of 2003" section. All sorts of good stuff.
--------

...

Blowing this clambake
Posted by at 10:05 AM

OK, you've been here weathering this up-down-up-down-up-down New England economy these past few years. The job offers are nil to non-existent, your nest egg is anemic, the duct-tape on your car has begun making it resemble an armored vehicle, and your roommate (okay, your mom) is beginning to wonder if you'll ever start chipping in on the food and rent.

If you've decided it's high time to get the heck out of dodge, Money magazine has just released its annual "where to relocate" report on the Best Places to Live 2003.
--------

...

 

December 29, 2003

Ending on an up note
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 6:29 PM

You gotta end on a positive note, right? Glass half full and all that? Seriously, it really does look as though numerous signs are pointing to a strong economy in 2004, with the usual tempering statement about the job outlook:

For the U.S. economy, 2004 could turn out to be a banner year. Forecasters believe things are falling into place to produce the strongest economic growth in two decades. Consumer spending will be bolstered by tax refund checks early in the year. Businesses are finally beginning to invest in new plants and equipment and rehiring some laid off workers, though improvements in the unemployment rate are expected to be modest.

"The economy is off and running, and 2004 should be a very good year," said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Economy.com.

I look forward to blogging you again in 2004. To a Happier Employment New Year, everybody!

--------

...

 

December 26, 2003

Some positive employment news for the end of the year
Posted by at 11:02 AM

The Boston Globe reported yesterday that "Jobless claims dip to early '01 level." Positive news not just for national unemployment numbers but also for the Boston area:

In Greater Boston, the job outlook could be turning positive, too. The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce reported yesterday that its index measuring employment in the region's key sectors rose, albeit slightly, for the second consecutive month. Moreover, the chamber said, the region's critical technology industry added 800 jobs in November on top of 200 in October -- the first back-to-back monthly gains for the hard-hit sector since the beginning of 2001.

--------

...

The top dog, the head honcho, el numero uno
Posted by at 11:01 AM

Unless you've been lucky enough to have gone from the womb to the executive suite, ensconced in the world of personal secretaries and gold-plated washroom keys, you've probably pondered at least once how the CEO of your company (past or present) seemed to have it so easy -- The brand new Mercedes-Benz, big glass offices, the mansion in Dover, chalet in Lucerne, and condos in Myrtle Beach, Boca Raton and beyond.

What's often an oversight is an understanding that like most any one, it probably took that person a special brand of grit, toil, brains and determination to get where they are. And particularly in today's market the job of CEO is more challenging than ever.

--------

...

 

December 23, 2003

Globe Santa
Posted by Jason Butler at 1:50 PM

The Globe Santa collects donations from readers like you and employees like me to purchase toys for underpriviledged children. The families write letters, and our elves brighten their day.

If you are lucky enough to be employed this holiday season, could you please consider making a donation? 100% of all donations pay for the costs of the gifts, packaging materials, and shipping.

Thank you, and Merry Christmas!

--------

...

Monster Blog
Posted by Jason Butler at 10:49 AM

Our friends in Maynard have started The Monster Blog. Welcome to the blog-o-sphere! The more the merrier....
--------

...

Yankee arrogance knows no bounds
Posted by Jason Butler at 9:46 AM

If the Commonwealth wants to keep jobs, we'd best get over our superiority complex.

Of the cocky local mind-set, [Biogen Idec CEO James] Mullen says, "They're just naive if they think North Carolina doesn't have the labor and resources we need. They need to travel a little."

--------

...

 

December 22, 2003

Santa lays off elves in Arctic
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 5:11 PM

You know it's a cold cruel job market out there when Santa lays off his elves. To 100 or so workers in Finland, this is no joke:

HELSINKI, Finland - Santa's workshop may not be the joyous place it was in years past for the tens of thousands of tourists expected to visit northern Finland this winter. Facing a blizzard of debt, Saint Nick laid off many of the elves who work at the SantaPark attraction near the Arctic Circle.

"I feel really dejected, because being an elf is part of my identity," said Milja Vilmila, who was told her job as an elf helping Santa no longer existed. "Something will definitely be missing this Christmas."

--------

...

 

December 19, 2003

Branson in Boston?
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 10:50 AM

Today's Boston Globe reports that Boston is on the short list to be the US HQ for a new low-cost Virgin Atlantic airline, which would provide a very nice boost to the local travel industry and job scene:

Virgin Atlantic Airways said yesterday that Boston has made its list of finalists for a headquarters for a new low-cost carrier, after city and state officials spent months wooing the company with gifts such as live lobsters wearing luggage tags.

The airline, tentatively called Virgin USA, would bring about 1,400 jobs to the city, as many as the Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis AG has pledged to bring to Cambridge over the next five years. In addition to the lobsters, city and state officials are offering Virgin some more useful perks: lowered leases in the city-owned Marine Industrial Park, a $3,000 tax credit for every employee who lives in the area, and $1.5 million for employee training.

Best to be prepared, so update that hospitality resume now.
--------

...

 

December 18, 2003

Now, Christmas carols against job-loss
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 2:01 PM

'Tis the season to be. . . protesting job loss? So says this report from Britain:

Christmas carols are on the anvil in the United Kingdom to protest against jobs that are being shifted to India and other low-wage nations.
- - - - -
BBC News reported that members of the Amicus union of workers plan to stage a carol service before the London office of insurance giant Aviva, which plans to shift about 2,500 jobs from the UK to India.
- - - - -
"Amended versions of carols will be sung to highlight the loss of jobs," the report added.

--------

...

 

December 17, 2003

Gov't says US tech firms recovering
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 1:31 PM

Some welcome news - especially for the Boston area - from the US Department of Commerce:

The U.S. technology industry is showing healthy growth for the first time since parts of the Internet sector collapsed two years ago, but jobs and wages still are down, the Bush administration says in a new report on the digital economy.

"This isn't another train coming. This really is the light at the end of the tunnel," Phil Bond, undersecretary for technology at the Commerce Department, said Monday. "Technology is firmly on the comeback trail."

--------

...

 

December 16, 2003

The co-worker gift-giving conundrum
Posted by at 10:12 AM

More on the holiday theme, this one from this past Sunday's Globe about the joy and perils of gift swapping at the office.
--------

...

 

December 15, 2003

It's that big holiday party time of the year...
Posted by at 10:45 AM

If you're fortunate enough to be working this holiday season you're either in the boat of either lauding or dreading the annual holiday party. While the event is always good-intentioned, there are some who angst about whether to go, what to wear, how much not to drink or eat, and, of course, wonder if they will be the "whopper" everyone's talking about the next day ("Did you see Dave? Double-fisting by 8 p.m. What a lush." or, "What was up with Jane pulling a Heismann near the shrimp bowl?").

Have no fear. With moderation in mind, some self-control and a little preparation, you too can avoid becoming known as a holiday party pariah. Jen over at Gothamist has a couple of great pointers to Emily Post's tips for avoiding office party pitfalls and the New York Daily News' reminder that your most important job at the office party is ensuring that you still have one the next day.
--------

...

 

December 12, 2003

Jingle bells, "best of" lists
Posted by at 9:47 AM

It's that fabled time of the year where all those "best of" lists start coming out in full-force. Here are some of the job-related ones that may be a help in your research, hunting:

America's Best Hospitals 2003 and Best Colleges 2003 US News

Best Companies to Work For 2003 Fortune (some public content, some behind subscription site)

If you're looking for even further distraction from your job hunting labors, here's the full list covering everything from fashion to fiction, indie albums to inventions (via http://www.fimoculous.com).
--------

...

Fed sees job-market recovery - but it's slow
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 9:30 AM

Want the good news or the bad news first? The good news is that the Federal Reserve has gone on the record that the job market is finally turning around. The bad news? It's going to take its own sweet time:

Federal Reserve policy makers expressed concerns at their October meeting that the battered job market might not fully recover until at least 2005 even if the economic recovery grew stronger, according to minutes released yesterday of the discussion.

...

 

December 11, 2003

'Raising the barn' for jobless
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 9:25 AM

Today's Globe West section carries a story on an innovative approach to job seeking cooked up in the western suburbs:

You could find wine, coffee, pizza, and a good deal of mingling, but this was no ordinary 5 p.m. happy hour. . . . The party was called a "barn-raising event,'' the culminating exercise in a job-networking program called Barn-Raising.Org that Wayland resident Dana Aaron created this year to help the unemployed and underemployed. Barnes and five other inaugural participants are using the program - which is built on principles of collaboration and creativity - to help one another find new ways into the job market or, in Barnes's case, build their own businesses.

--------

...

 

December 10, 2003

Restaurants: Harbinger of jobs?
Posted by at 4:48 PM

The New York Times has a story today suggesting that a four-month stint in restaurant hiring may be an indicator of better days ahead for the sputtering job market.

Since the beginning of August, the restaurant business, which includes everything from McDonald's to corner bars to four-star restaurants, has accounted for 18 percent of the 300,000 jobs created in the nation.

Some economists say that an increase in low-wage jobs, which include most restaurant work, indicates that the job market over all will soon bounce back. During the economic doldrums of the early 1990's, hiring began to increase in the restaurant industry about six months before job creation began taking off.

--------

...

 

December 9, 2003

Tech report: Anemia continues through 2004
Posted by at 10:03 AM

CNN Money Columnist Eric Hellweg is reporting that IT spending should tick up a whopping 1 percent next year. For what it's worth, local firm, Forrester Research, puts the prediction a little higher at 1.7 percent growth.

How I read this is that the sporadic hiring you're seeing pop-up will likely remain just that, along with the smattering of consultancy work that's been out there with us throughout the bust. In other words it's been and will remain a fish or cut bait market, hunt aggressively and be a perfect fit or dig down and sharpen your chops for the real turnaround which will come this way sooner or later. It always does.

Hellweg points out that we may still see some growth this year, particularly in the segments of Storage and Retail.

...not all is gloomy. In fact, even a 1 percent gain is an improvement over the last three years, when budgets declined. What's more, some areas will see modest growth next year -- most notably storage. In that sector, Dell (DELL: Research, Estimates), EMC (EMC: Research, Estimates), Hewlett-Packard (HPQ: Research, Estimates) and IBM (IBM: Research, Estimates) are expected to gain the most revenue, according to respondents.

--------

...

 

December 8, 2003

Choosing shifts and pay - online
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 5:34 PM

A new web-based approach to determining which nurses work when at hospitals seems to have benefits for both sides:

Registered nurse Julie Hill picks her own hours and pay by bidding on work shifts over the Internet -- a kind of employment eBay that some hospitals are using to ease a growing nursing shortage.
- - - - -
Traditionally, hospitals have trouble filling overnight and weekend slots and rely on traveling nurses or those from temporary agencies to fill the gap. Through bidding, hospitals save labor costs by using fewer outside nurses while letting their own nurses control when they work and how much they earn.

Read the piece from today's Boston Globe.

--------

...

Six degrees
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 5:19 PM

Today's Boston Globe reports on a new type of web site - one that harnesses the power of social networks - taking hold among job seekers:

. .The six-degrees-of-separation software links people through their mutual business or personal connections, allowing them to mine their friends (and their friends' friends) for sales leads, job-hunting tips, friendship, or dates.

The digerati are anointing social networks, of which Friendster is the early leader with more than 4 million registered members, with lofty monikers like "Internet 2.0" and "the people web." If the Internet's first stage, they say, was about publishing what people know, this next stage is about exploiting who people know.

--------

...

 

December 5, 2003

All-purpose 'paid time off' alters the workplace
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 9:32 AM

Today's Globe reports on a new trend among employers regarding time out of the office:

More than two-thirds of US employers in a 2003 survey by the Society for Human Resource Management have paid-time-off banks, nearly double the number in 1999. During the recent economic downturn, employers seized on the plans to crack down on unscheduled absences by employees who call in "sick" to cover for a day off to shop or care for a child.

"Employers are looking at vacation and sick time in the same way they're looking at all expenses. They're trying to minimize costs," said Anne Ritter, senior vice president in the Connecticut office of Aon Workforce Strategies.

- - - - -

But paid-time-off plans have a downside, say some consultants and employees. When employers adopt them, the number of days in each employee's time bank is usually less than the combined total of vacation, sick, and other days in the old plan.

Something to keep an eye on - and ask your employer about, current or prospective.

--------

...

 

December 4, 2003

Fed jobless benefits set to expire
Posted by at 5:49 PM

Temporary unemployment benefits are set to expire at the end of the month, reportedly because the economy is improving. These were the 13 extra weeks of jobless benefits for people who had exhausted their regular, state-paid benefits.

This primer on the jobs report due out tomorrow seems to bolster the assertion that the market continues to mend, but isn't quite yet a boom.
--------

...

 

December 3, 2003

Doing more with less
Posted by at 10:51 AM

The Labor Department is reporting today that worker productivity surged at it's strongest rate since 1983.

The latest report....primarily reflected the ability of businesses to squeeze more out of their existing work force."

Increased productivity, more efficiency, for both the economy and businesses is great. But if you're currently unemployed...

In the longer term, strong productivity growth will help boost standards of living, although in the short run it may prove a hurdle to strong hiring.

--------

...

A working man's man v. business is business
Posted by at 7:16 AM

The Globe's Steve Bailey has a good column today on the ongoing saga of Aaron Feurstein to save his beloved Malden Mills -- and the 1,200 Mass. manufacturing jobs it represents. Tomorrow, Feurstein and investors plan to offer $75 million to regain control of the company from GE, but it's far less than what "the company that brings good things to life" has said they are willing to let it go for, though the difference is "chump change" for GE who made $14 billion in profits last year.

That would cost GE, Malden Mills's largest equity holder, an additional $2.7 million. To repeat: It would cost GE $2.7 million. Last year the company made a profit of $14 billion, meaning it earned $2.7 million every hour and 45 minutes a day last year, or in less time than it takes you to watch a movie at home. It is also less than half the $6.9 million in bonus and salary GE paid its chief executive, Jeffrey Immelt, last year.

GE's response? The Feuerstein-Winn offer is "far too low an amount to be acceptable," a spokesman for GE Corporate Financial Services told me yesterday. This from the company that brings good things to life. Feuerstein wouldn't comment.

--------

...

 

December 2, 2003

Some good news on the job seeker/economic front
Posted by at 1:11 PM

News on the the retail front: Ikea set to build in Stoughton. The Globe is reporting that the new store opening is planned to open in "2005 if all regulatory, traffic concerns are met."

Some good news came in from the wires today: Job cuts plunge 42 percent in November. "The number of job cuts announced by U.S. employers fell 42 percent in a holiday-shortened November after hitting a 12-month high in October."

And more positive news: Manufacturing rebounds as factory orders surge; hiring picks up in Nov. and State pension fund is up 21%: "It's on track to post best year since 1997."

--------

...

Tech workers continue to lose overseas battle
Posted by at 11:09 AM

The NYT's reports that the trend toward IT jobs going to China and India continues unabated. Some ways to keep yourself employable, or else raise your marketability include:

Update your skills. Try taking on a short-term project-oriented contract or two, non-profit or pro-bono work to keep your skills fresh, or else get yourself back into school. "When the dot-com bubble burst it was the end of skyrocketing I.T. salaries," said John Challenger, chief executive of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, an international outplacement consulting firm. "It's important for I.T. workers to make sure their skills are not outdated."

Check your ego at the door. Chances are if you've been out of work for a while, this has already happened by default. Stay confident, but avoid being obnoxious. "Any job can be exported, irrespective of skills," said Marcus Courtney, president of the Washington Alliance of Technology Workers, a union affiliated with the Communications Workers of America. "This goes beyond training and education. Employees shouldn't snow themselves into believing that if they have an advanced certification or an M.B.A., their job can't be sent overseas."

Re-write your resume. Regardless of your experience, three-pagers just aren't necessary. Challenge yourself to write a shorter, tighter format that summarizes and highlights your best qualities, pedigrees, and most importantly, specifies how your past positions correlated directly to revenue growth. "Tech folks that understand what a business needs will survive," says Joseph Stubblebine, the chief executive of JobCircle.com, an online job board geared to technology professionals in the Northeast. "Someone who just writes codes and sits in the corner will not.''

--------

...

 

December 1, 2003

The betrayal of low wage work
Posted by at 12:48 PM

The first 14 pages of Beth Shulman's book The Betrayal of Work: How Low Wage Jobs Fail 30 Million Americans is available for reading online now. Shulman is a lecturer, lawyer and consultant who focuses on the interests of working class and low-wage workers.

I thumbed (scrolled?) the first few pages and it reads pretty smoothly, almost like fiction althought it's anything but that. It's also something of a sobering reminder for anyone who has climbed out of manual labor and service industry jobs to a professional career, just how tough it was coming up, and how those kinds of jobs are still the only options available to so many.
--------

...

The grossly overpaid and underpaid masses
Posted by at 11:46 AM

CBS MarketWatch's Chris Plummer (subscription site, not sure how long these will stay live) takes an interesting look at the grossly underpaid: Dishwashers ($7.25 an hr.), funeral home attendant (19.5k a year), and the grossly overpaid: Orthodontist ($350k a year for a 35 hr. work week), West Coast Longshoreman ($177k for rank-n-file), Skycaps at major airports (70-100k most of it cash).

I know what I'm going to work as in my next life: An Orthdondic Longshoreman. Arrrr, lemme see your teeth there matey...
--------

...