2009 was an action-packed year from the start, with the inauguration of a new president, a controversial healthcare debate, and record unemployment. It's a miracle we survived it at all! But here we are, at the beginning of a new year and a new decade. Human Resources underwent a major transformation this year — from taking a new focus on ...

A recent survey from Adecco Group North America highlights the increased dissatisfaction workers in America have with their employers. According to the survey: 54% of employees plan to look for a new job as soon as the economy turns around. Sentiment is even stronger among younger workers. Of those ages 18-29, 71% say they are likely to look for new ...

In Letterman-like fashion, I am presenting the most horrifying, offensive and incessant co-worker behaviors that infect the office and kill your productivity. 10. Gum chewing. Whether it occurs just at inappropriate times or constantly throughout the day, gum chewing can be a major distraction. The constant “smack, smack, smack” of your boss’ mouth is not only irritating but unprofessional. 9. Smelly ...

Budgeting isn't always easy - but it doesn't have to be impossible. And it's worth it. You'll live with less worry now, and endure less headache later on. Luckily, the Geezeo blog has come up with some basic money management strategies that are as simple as ABC. Follow their guidelines to squash your debt, start saving, and stop wasting money. ...

Introduction It's hard to stay in shape while sitting at a desk all day, but if you're not ready to give in to office worker body stereotypes just yet, we've got your back. One solution: mini-workouts at the office. In order to keep yourself healthier and more trim, consider adding these office-friendly exercises to your daily routine. If you add these ...

The workplace has become the dominant starting point for building a strong financial safety net. According to MetLife's Sixth Annual Employee Benefits Trends Study, released today, more than half of working Americans (52%) are now obtaining the majority of their financial and retirement products through the workplace - up from 46% a year ago. Growing financial concerns among employees are creating ...

Frustrated by unemployment? Job hunting is tricky business. Getting hired is a subtle mix of the right qualifications, enough experience, interview chemistry, and a dash of luck. Assuming you're making all the right moves and avoiding the really obvious job seeker mistakes, there are a few points to consider that could be your ticket out of unemployment. Get out of your ...

There's a lot of talk about the pipeline -- that magical conveyer belt that calls a select few up toward the top of organizations. The pipeline is critically important for women, who in most organizations are notably absent from it. This underrepresentation of eligible females is often cited as the excuse for everything from pay inequity and the shortage of women ...

I'm trying something new -- seven short answers to seven short questions, all in the same post: Company Won't Hire Former Employees of Competitor I applied for a job at a staffing agency and was told the particular company who was hiring wouldn't accept applicants who worked previously for their competitor even though I no longer work for them. Is that ...

Do you always lead with a style that’s most comfortable for you, or can you adapt your natural style to meet the need of a given situation? Here are two ways to classify leadership styles, and 10 different styles: The Situational Leadership model uses a 4 box grid based on the amount of direction and support an employee needs. The four ...

The current trend of outsourcing transactional HR to services centres may be creating a future talent crisis for HR professionals. Back in the 1990’s, when I began my HR career, I started off by looking after flexitime, recruitment administration, childcare vouchers, staff welfare and manpower planning. I knew if I knuckled down and got to know the technical elements of my ...

“Where do you see yourself in five years?” We all know the question. So why are we still stumped when someone asks this granddaddy of a ridiculous interview question in our interview? Here’s why – because most job seekers believe it has no relevance. The reason? No company can (or ever will) guarantee an employee a job for five years. But, ...

In a century where convenience is the standard form of measurement, telecommuting is growing in popularity. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2005, more than 11 million people worked from home — that's about 8 percent of the U.S. population! And what's not to love about telecommuting? When you can work from the comfort of your home, skip commuter ...

A reader writes: Is it really necessary to list computer skills on a resume? Shouldn't basic skills be assumed at this point in history? I'm great with Microsoft Office and I know Macs and a couple of other miscellaneous programs, but I don't know Photoshop or Dreamweaver or HTML or anything specialized. And my most recent position is "Administrative Assistant," so ...

It is one of the first thing people say about composing your resume: make sure you don’t have any spelling mistakes. Or certainly, a spelling mistake means certain doom even if the rest of your resume looks great. And really, not a day goes by when I don’t see a comment on twitter about how somebody spelled something wrong on a ...

Human Resources was all the rage this year – especially in Hollywood. It's no surprise, considering that the economy has inspired many storylines where employees were fired, hired, downsized, promoted, etc, etc. And we all know, HR is where the action's at, right? However, you may have noticed HR cropping up in the most unlikeliest of places… from scripted dramas ...

Getting connected online is practically a requirement these days. It's the latest way to make new friends, stay in touch, and — best of all — network. And with HR departments adding social media recruiting to their repertoire, it's also a great way to get a job! But jumping online isn't as easy as you might think. If you're going ...

Everything was going so well. Your professional handshake was met with a warm smile from the hiring manager. The interview started off with some small talk that segued into some skillfully answered questions. You can already see what your desk is going to look like. Then, as suddenly as a lightning strike, the interview takes a turn for the worse. Whether ...

If you find yourself longing for greener work pastures, don't immediately go looking for the first exit ramp off of your chosen career path. The Balance Team, which specializes in professional- and personal-growth seminars for administrative and executive assistants in Fortune 1000 companies, suggests these 10 tips for staying content at work: 1. Keep Personal Problems Personal:[widget:employee_benefits_what_you_nee_to_know]When you're preoccupied with personal ...

When Erik Moser was laid off from his job in public relations in January 2009, he improvised to keep his finances afloat. He scaled back on eating out. He picked up a few odd jobs, like babysitting for his sister and dog walking for friends. He even got out of the lease on his Chicago apartment and moved back in with ...