September 29, 2007

Bloomberg (the company) accused of sex bias
Posted by Diane Danielson at 9:19 AM

From the International Herald Tribune:

NEW YORK: The U.S. government is suing Bloomberg, the financial services and media giant, saying the company engaged in a pattern of discrimination against women after they became pregnant and took maternity leave.

In the suit, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleges that female employees at Bloomberg were demoted and that their pay was cut after they disclosed that they were pregnant. In some cases, managers questioned the women's ability to carry out their work because of family responsibilities, according to the suit, which was filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court in Manhattan.

Click here to read full story.

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September 28, 2007

The new rules of relationships for women: Don't outearn men, and do all the housework
Posted by Diane Danielson at 9:49 PM

I've been a bit out of the loop lately dealing with some issues, so in doing my catch-up of relevant stories, I found the following stories from the New York Times both interesting when read separately, but a bit disturbing when read together as they paint a grim picture of what "dating/marriage means for working women."

The first article focused on the trials and tribulations of dating men when you outearn them.  I'm actually used to hearing this from my Gen X and Boomer colleagues, but following up on studies where 20-something women are outearning their male peers in major cities like New York, it's clear that it's affecting the younger set now.

FOR Whitney Hess, a 25-year-old software designer in Manhattan, the tension that ultimately ended her recent relationships was all right there, in the digits on her pay stub.

The awkwardness started with nights out. She would want to try the latest downtown bistro, but her boyfriends, who worked in creative jobs that paid less than hers, preferred diners.

They would say, “Wow, you’re so sophisticated,” she recalled. A first look at her apartment, a smartly appointed studio in a full-service building in TriBeCa, would only reinforce the impression. “They wouldn’t want me to see their apartments,” she said, because they lived in cramped surroundings in distant quadrants of Brooklyn or the Bronx.

One of them, she said, finally just came out and said it. “Look,” Ms. Hess recalled him saying, “it makes me really uncomfortable that you make more money than me. I’m going to put that out on the table and try to get over it.”

But he never got over it, she said.

Then this week, the New York Times ran an article about the potential happiness gap between women and men when it comes to time use. 

Not surprisingly, men and women often gave similar answers about what they liked to do (hanging out with friends) and didn’t like (paying bills). But there were also a number of activities that produced very different reactions from the two sexes — and one of them really stands out: Men apparently enjoy being with their parents, while women find time with their mom and dad to be slightly less pleasant than doing laundry.

Alan Krueger, a Princeton economist working with four psychologists on the time-use research team, figures that there is a simple explanation for the difference. For a woman, time with her parents often resembles work, whether it’s helping them pay bills or plan a family gathering. “For men, it tends to be sitting on the sofa and watching football with their dad,” said Mr. Krueger, who, when not crunching data, enjoys watching the New York Giants with his father.

This intriguing — if unsettling — finding is part of a larger story: there appears to be a growing happiness gap between men and women.

Now, I definitely feel that it's hard to run male/female studies without looking at subgroups.  And, particularly, it seems to me that this happiness gap might be true for married couples, but not so true for singles.

Mr. Krueger, analyzing time-use studies over the last four decades, has found an even starker pattern. Since the 1960s, men have gradually cut back on activities they find unpleasant. They now work less and relax more.

Over the same span, women have replaced housework with paid work — and, as a result, are spending almost as much time doing things they don’t enjoy as in the past. Forty years ago, a typical woman spent about 23 hours a week in an activity considered unpleasant, or 40 more minutes than a typical man. Today, with men working less, the gap is 90 minutes.

These trends are reminiscent of the idea of “the second shift,” the name of a 1989 book by the sociologist Arlie Hochschild, arguing that modern women effectively had to hold down two jobs. The first shift was at the office, and the second at home.

But researchers who have looked at time-use data say the second-shift theory misses an important detail. Women are not actually working more than they were 30 or 40 years ago. They are instead doing different kinds of work. They’re spending more time on paid work and less on cleaning and cooking.

Now, I can't really discuss the happiness factor of married women.  Being a single mom, I adopt the "slummy mummy" attitude and feel no guilt in not meeting the standards my married peers may ascribe to.  But, despite the fact that we may do less housework than our mothers, many women still attempt to do housework in the same manner as our mothers did (albeit after a 40+ week at the office and participating in constant one-on-one interaction with children; neither of which was required by many of our mothers).  At the same time, the traditional "men's housework," i.e.  washing the car, caring for the yard, painting the house, are all outsourced (even grilling is done by the flick of a button now).

So, what's the message here?  Men don't like women who outearn them; yet, are happier when married because they get to offload housework.  Not sure what to think of that except it's going to be a rocky road for gender relations until everyone starts to adjust to changing gender roles. 

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September 27, 2007

Just another day at the office
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 1:26 PM

What's your total output each workday?

Making a million bagels - count 'em, one m-i-l-l-i-o-n bagels! - is all in a day's work at the Bagel Boy factory in Lawrence:

A nickname - Bagel Boy - turned out to be the name of a company that Chuck Bouchrouche cofounded 15 years ago.
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The plant, once occupied by a sneaker- and shirt-box maker, now turns out 1 million bagels a day, which are sold under the private labels of supermarket chains, specialty food chains, and food manufacturers throughout the Northeast, said Bouchrouche, who is also the company's president. He is a native of Lebanon who immigrated to the United States 25 years ago.

Read the full piece about Bouchrouche, fellow president and co-owner John Boghos, and the rise of their baking company.

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September 26, 2007

Everything you always wanted to know about interviewing
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 2:01 PM

We've been tipped off about a new uber-page for information on interviewing called "The Interviewing Cheat Sheet: 100 Resources for Interviewers and Candidates" on HRWorld.com:

There's no doubt that the interviewing process can be stressful, not only for the person applying for the job but for those doing the hiring as well. There are ways, however, to make job interviews a more rewarding and successful experience for both parties.

With a little preparation and research, you can make interviewing a positive experience; read on to find useful articles and resources that will get you on the fast track to interviewing success.

The page provides links, grouped in categories, such as "Types of Interviews" and "Sample Interview Questions," to dozens of other websites.

There's a good deal of breadth and depth to the information, but caveat emptor (translation: buyer beware): there are a lot of sources we can't really vouch for. Many of them are known to habitual web users, and who knows, you may find the occasional diamond in the rough, too.

So if you've got the "I" word on the brain, you may want to check it out.

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Massachusetts Career Day, Thursday, 10/18
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 11:43 AM

This is worth knowing about: Massachusetts Career Day, coming up on Thursday, October 18.

This is an entire day of career activities at the 37 One-Stop Career Centers throughout the state - announced yesterday by Governor Patrick and produced by the Commonwealth Department of Workforce Development:

Patrick Administration officials will be visiting Careers Centers in every region to meet with job seekers and employers. Some employer representatives who will be on hand to meet with job seekers include Atlantic Semiconductor; Boston Medical Center; Partners, Inc.; EMC Corporation; Arbella Insurance; Northwestern Mutual; Sullivan & Cogliano; TD Banknorth; Jury’s Boston Hotel; Whole Foods; US Airways; Onset Computer Corporation; Atlas Box & Crating; South Shore Savings Bank and Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort.

The Career Day announcement comes after economic data that shows an increasing number of job vacancies in Massachusetts during the 4th quarter of 2006, up nearly 25 percent from same period one year ago. Additionally, more employers are looking for employees with an associate’s degree or higher. More than 39,000 jobs have been added over the last year.

“It is clear that there are more jobs available and more employers are in need of finding skilled workers,” said Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Suzanne M. Bump.

“Career Day provides a gateway of opportunity for employers to find the qualified workers they need as they expand their work force in our growing economy,” she added.

So there it is, folks - these employers are looking for you! Here's one example of a local Boston event:

JobNet Career Center
210 South Street - 1st Floor, Boston, MA 02111
Job Fair Info: On-Site Employer Recruitments from 1 - 3 pm

Employers participating: Partners, Inc; Boston Medical Center; Bank of America; Action for Boston Community Development, Inc (ABCD)

The Monster.Com Mascot (the actual monster) will assist job seekers with job search activities in the JobNet Resource Room.

So clear your calendar, get ready, and on October 18 get out there! Here's all the info you need, right here.

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September 24, 2007

Staples goes green
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 1:33 PM

From the Globe's Daily Business Update on Boston.com:

Office-supply retailer Staples Inc. said today that it plans to celebrate a groundbreaking later this month for a new store in Miami that will be constructed in compliance with green building standards.

The store could be the first of its kind for Staples and for the city of Miami if it wins green building certification as planned, Framingham-based Staples said.

According to Staples, the store's builders will follow the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, green building rating system used by the US Green Building Council, Staples said.

While salary, benefits, and the nature of the work typically remain the top job selection criteria, there are signs that choosing an environmentally-conscious employer are of increasing importance to many job seekers.

How important is it for you to work for a green company, ie, one that has environmentally-friendly policies? Examples of this include programs to reduce or eliminate manufacturing waste through materials recycling or promoting pollution-reducing commuting practices. Let us know your thoughts on our message board.

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September 21, 2007

A billion dollars just doesn't go as far as it used to
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 10:31 AM

Don't believe me? Then take if from the editors of Forbes magazine, who publish their annual Forbes 400 list of the richest Americans:

NEW YORK - A billion dollars just doesn't go as far as it used to.

For the first time, it takes more than $1 billion to earn a spot on Forbes magazine's list of the 400 richest Americans. The minimum net worth for inclusion in this year's rankings was $1.3 billion, up $300 million from last year.

The new threshold meant 82 of America's billionaires didn't make the cut.

Read the Associated Press article as seen on Boston.com. Then check out the full Forbes 400 list.

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September 20, 2007

State jobless rate falls
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 11:49 AM

Massachusetts' unemployment rate fell below the national rate in August. Unemployment in the state fell from 5.1 percent in July to 4.5 percent in August, while the national rate was at 4.6 percent. The state also gained 2,800 jobs.

There's good news and bad news in this. Unemployment rate down and adding jobs: good. Reason for falling rate: not so good:

The state's August unemployment decline was driven by a nearly 41,000-person drop in the size of the labor force, which is the sum of employed and unemployed workers in the state.

Read the "Daily Business Update" piece.

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September 19, 2007

Relocating: weighing the options
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 4:44 PM

An article on CareerJournal helps you sort out a tough issue - whether to move for a new job or not:

Moving for a job, especially when you're just starting out, can be the springboard that launches your career. But weigh your options carefully. Where you move is just as important for your happiness as the job you move for, many career managers and recruitment professionals say.

Read the full piece.

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September 18, 2007

Jobs hit jackpot
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 11:01 AM

Gov. Patrick's proposal for three casinos in Massachusetts would, according to his report, mean tens of thousands of new jobs in the Commonwealth

Governor Deval Patrick, ending months of private study and public speculation, invited the casino industry to come to Massachusetts yesterday in a watershed proposal that he said will create 20,000 jobs and generate $2 billion in economic activity from three resort-style casinos in various regions of the state.

What do you think about his proposal? Would you like a job in one of the casinos? Let us know your thoughts on our message board.

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September 11, 2007

Remembering 9/11
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 2:52 PM

A year ago today, on the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, I posted an entry that considered changes in the workplace since the events of that infamous day. It includes a link to reflections from local business leaders on the changes we have seen.

I urge you to take a moment at some point today, the sixth anniversary of the attacks, to visit the earlier entry and read the article from the Northeast Human Resources Association.

And take a moment to pause and consider your own reflections, as well. We owe it to those who perished - most of them in the workplace at the time - and to ourselves as we move forward in this changed and challenging world.

See more coverage of today's remembrances on Boston.com

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Relaxed fit
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 2:42 PM

Are Wall Street and inside the DC Beltway the last bastions of the well-dressed?

According to a recent poll, that may be the case:

Watch out power suit. In the office, khakis are beating the pants off you.

Business casual is increasingly the wardrobe of choice among executives, a new survey has found. Almost 80 percent of executives prefer to wear more casual attire at work, and 62 percent said business casual is their standard workplace dress code.

Read the entire piece.

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September 6, 2007

Looking for a new job? You're in the right place
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 10:55 AM

In case you missed it, the Big Help, the Globe and Boston.com's bi-annual supersection and series of related online events, starts today.

Join us at I pm for a live chat with Monster Careers book series co-author and certified career coach Doug Hardy. He'll field your questions on the who, what, when, where, how, and why of job and career transitions. You can go directly to the chat room from here, or via the Boston.com home page. Fire away with those questions - now's your chance.

We've got two more guest chatters next week, including Jeff Taylor, founder of Monster.com and Eons.com, as well as Bill Coleman of Salary.com.

And there's more, including tens of thousands of local job listings - all for you. You can check it all out at The Big Help.

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September 2, 2007

Building on-ramps is a slow process
Posted by Diane Danielson at 10:16 AM

Whether we're talking about a public project or building on-ramps for women (and men) who take time out of the workforce, it's a slooooooooooow process.  Today's Boston Globe looks at one on-ramp program offered by Wharton/UBS to help hasten the process.  Though not boasting great success rates - 41% of the class is still looking for jobs - at least it's a start.

My suggestion -- Hey Hollywood, how about having more of your characters successfully transition back (and not as the "plot" but just as a "matter of fact.").  There was a reason Felicity Huffman's character was so great at the beginning of Desperate Housewives (before it "jumped the shark" and became beyond ridiculous).  Not all women are cut out to, or even want to stay home for more than a few years (if at all) with children/elderly parents (yes the latter pulls just as many women off the career path).  We could relate to Huffman's character ripping into the PTA, hiding in the supermarket from former colleagues, etc.  And, when she went back to work, we rooted for her because she was good at it (after all, in an earlier life, she played a kick-ass producer on one of my all-time favorite shows, Sports Night).  And, while we're at it, how about a few stay at home or non-breadwinner dads who aren't goofs.  Again, NOT as the plot, just as a matter of fact.

Why does TV/Hollywood play a role?  Because for better or worse, viewers start accepting what they see on TV as acceptable in real life.  For example, Geena Davis playing the president.  Even though it was for a single season, it meant to some youngsters that the thought of Hillary as president isn't as outlandish as their parents might think it is.  Likewise, do we seem as surprised these days to to see female cops or women in other positions of power in law enforcement?  No, because despite the fact that in reality these women are rare, they're shown in equal numbers on TV, so we no longer find it unexpected.

Read the full on-ramps article by clicking here.

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