I direct your attention to an article by CNN Money. It discusses the reasons why almost 40% of Americans don't pay Federal Income Tax. The estimate for 2011 is closer to 46%. See: http://money.cnn.com/2012/04/26/pf/taxes/income-tax/index.htm?iid=Lead
I don't mind paying taxes if I knew what they were going for. I want to delegate certain services to others such as protecting my family, coinage/treasury, etc. Also, I never quite understand why, theoretically, my money has to travel all the way up to Washington D.C. and all the way back to my town, "touched" by many employees for federal programs. Wouldn't just be easier and cheaper if there were less people involved, kept the taxes locally in the first place, and let the public or their local representatives decide where their taxes should go?
Value added programs, proper use of funds, and whether programs should be local or federal are for other discussions. The reality is that I have to pay my federal taxes as do other Americans. The feds. then decide what programs will receive funds from the monies they have collected. Well, if that is the process, then we need to come up with a better one because 55-60% of Americans are only paying taxes.
The solutions listed below are not new. They have been suggested for some time now. Each time they are batted down but this economy brings them back to the forefront. Being a simple solution sometimes is a problem in and of itself. A complex process keeps more people employed, requires experts to be sought out after for advice, and keeps people confused thus giving the process a mystifying air about it.
1. Straight amount of income tax for all citizens.
I suggest 10% of the gross amount you earn. The employer sends you the W-2 form demonstrating how much you earned during the past year as they do now. Basically it is the same process, only you move the decimal over one
digit to the left and that is how much you owe the federal government. You pay 10% in check, money order, or by credit card with a copy of the form. End of story.
2. There is no federal tax form or deadline.
There is a federal tax on everything you purchase instead. This theory is based on the idea that the wealthy buy more than the poor. Illegals make purchases while here in this country. Even those committing crimes have to eat. Everyone would then contribute to the government programs they use, from the U.S. Post Office to the Military to Utilities.
Both are better than the system we have in place now. They are easy to understand, easy to apply, and are efficient methods. And as a sidebar: it takes Congress out of the tax code creation business, their previous work evidenced by a tax code that is huge. Anything to get Congress to act more efficiently and effectively works for me.
Panoramic View
Monday, April 30, 2012
Friday, April 27, 2012
Random Facts Friday: April 27, 2012
Well, did April showers come your way? Are you ready to spend time after work planting?
Here are some random thoughts for the last full working week of April:
1. Radishes are the fastest growing vegetable, able to be harvested within 21 days of sowing seeds.
2. "Pampers" the disposable diaper was patented in 1965.
3. White is the most popular exterior paint color for cars, taking 23% of the market share.
4. The Giant Tortoise is the longest living vertebrate in the world. Most live over 100 years old. One who lived in captivity lived to 152 years old.
5. Recipe: My mother made "City Chicken" when I was growing up. She made her with veal, though some made theirs with pork. It was considered a cost saving meal because of the price of chicken. I just liked it because of the taste and thought it I was very grown up by the way it was served with a skewer. The skewer is supposed to help the meat resemble a chicken leg. There are many variations of the recipe. Here is one you may like:
City Chicken
1 pound veal, cut in 1 inch cubes
seasoned flour (salt, pepper and what you like)
1 c. milk
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Push meat through on wooden skewers. Dip the skewers in the egg, then the flour to coat. Saute until browned.
Put skewers in a baking pan, and add milk. Cover in foil, and bake about 1 hour.
Here are some random thoughts for the last full working week of April:
1. Radishes are the fastest growing vegetable, able to be harvested within 21 days of sowing seeds.
2. "Pampers" the disposable diaper was patented in 1965.
3. White is the most popular exterior paint color for cars, taking 23% of the market share.
4. The Giant Tortoise is the longest living vertebrate in the world. Most live over 100 years old. One who lived in captivity lived to 152 years old.
5. Recipe: My mother made "City Chicken" when I was growing up. She made her with veal, though some made theirs with pork. It was considered a cost saving meal because of the price of chicken. I just liked it because of the taste and thought it I was very grown up by the way it was served with a skewer. The skewer is supposed to help the meat resemble a chicken leg. There are many variations of the recipe. Here is one you may like:
City Chicken
1 pound veal, cut in 1 inch cubes
seasoned flour (salt, pepper and what you like)
1 c. milk
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Push meat through on wooden skewers. Dip the skewers in the egg, then the flour to coat. Saute until browned.
Put skewers in a baking pan, and add milk. Cover in foil, and bake about 1 hour.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Working Wednesday: Department of Homeland Security Morale Low
The employees' morale at the Department of Homeland Security was recently surveyed and it ranked 31 out of 33 large federal agencies. A congressional hearing was called to find out what were the problems and what type of solutions would be suggested. No employees were asked to testify, only the top Human Resources officer, representing management. That position, the top H.R. manager, has changed 8 times in less than 9 years.
A representative from SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) also spoke in front of the sub-committee. SHRM suggested strong leadership which would include developing/training good managers, getting employees involved, and establishing a clear vision.
Small businesses, these lessons apply to you not just large employers.
1. Do you manage by one-on-one conversations with employees or just by discussion with those that report directly to you?
2. Do you have high turn over? If yes, DON'T RATIONALIZE. Be honest and figure it out. Others have and are telling their friends and neighbors and.....
3. Does everyone know why they come to work? What contribution they make? Why it is important?
The last time they heard and/or given a demonstration of "thank you" for that contribution?
4. I had a mentor once who said, "You always train your replacement." What in-house training do you have going on to keep your managers sharp, their assistants (replacements) in training, and employees engaged in groups to improve their contributions as it pertains to the overall mission of the company?
5. When was the last time you reviewed your vision statement, mission statement, business plan? Before the financial crash? During? Been awhile? Have you gotten leaner, more efficient, expanded to new markets? Did you then revise the vision/mission statements to reflect that? If so, did you share those changes with your employees? How has that affected your strategy? Did you share that too? If not, how are they supposed to be effective?
A small business really relies on the feeling of a team environment. Find those you really trust, give them responsibility, let them include others, and set aside some time on the clock for this group to work solutions out. With morale high, production will be high and results will right where you need them to be.
A representative from SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) also spoke in front of the sub-committee. SHRM suggested strong leadership which would include developing/training good managers, getting employees involved, and establishing a clear vision.
Small businesses, these lessons apply to you not just large employers.
1. Do you manage by one-on-one conversations with employees or just by discussion with those that report directly to you?
2. Do you have high turn over? If yes, DON'T RATIONALIZE. Be honest and figure it out. Others have and are telling their friends and neighbors and.....
3. Does everyone know why they come to work? What contribution they make? Why it is important?
The last time they heard and/or given a demonstration of "thank you" for that contribution?
4. I had a mentor once who said, "You always train your replacement." What in-house training do you have going on to keep your managers sharp, their assistants (replacements) in training, and employees engaged in groups to improve their contributions as it pertains to the overall mission of the company?
5. When was the last time you reviewed your vision statement, mission statement, business plan? Before the financial crash? During? Been awhile? Have you gotten leaner, more efficient, expanded to new markets? Did you then revise the vision/mission statements to reflect that? If so, did you share those changes with your employees? How has that affected your strategy? Did you share that too? If not, how are they supposed to be effective?
A small business really relies on the feeling of a team environment. Find those you really trust, give them responsibility, let them include others, and set aside some time on the clock for this group to work solutions out. With morale high, production will be high and results will right where you need them to be.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Alone in the Car: Do It Yourself
Those who read this blog on a consistent basis know I talk about the panoramic view because it is so important for small business to see beyond their company. Owners, bless their hearts, have to spend much time keeping the doors open that they can't take time finding out about resources, trends, research, etc. etc. Hence, my purpose for this blog.
Usually I mention a fact and work up to the panoramic view, but this time let's start with the panoramic view and work our way to the details.
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) has issued the following news release April 12th:
The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, through the Department of Commerce, announced today that total February exports of $181.2 billion and imports of $227.2 billion resulted in a goods and services deficit of $46.0 billion, down from $52.5 billion in January, revised. February exports were $0.2 billion more than January exports of $180.9 billion. February imports were $6.3 billion less than January imports of $233.4 billion.
The full text of the release on BEA's Web site can be found at www.bea.gov/newsreleases/
If you look at the numbers, there is some good news. I would like to point out that we still have a trade deficit.
Nothing will change that until we decide to make a change ourselves. It isn't due to another country, it us up to ourselves to make that change. Hence: DIY or another words Do It Yourselves.
I used to teach a budgeting class to those receiving public assistance. I guess a case could be made that we all are receiving some form of assistance since we go about our daily life knowing that our government is trillions of dollars in debt. Some of us are not very happy about it, some of us vote for a new U.S. Representative or Senator thinking they will make things happen, or some of us vote for a new President for the same reason. After all we are suppose to have a form of government where representatives vote since we can't be there ourselves. But what it really boils down to is that each one of us has to do something in order for a significant shift to occur.
Back to the budgeting class. The first thing the manual (thanks to the Ohio State University Extension) mentioned was for class members to think of their parents or grandparents. What do they remember (especially as children) their previous generations doing? Class members always came up with a list. What could they do now or revise slightly from that list? How did they live as children and what could they do without? What are their real priorities?
You may have an export/import imbalance in your home or office. You could apply these principles mentioned above, even as an experiment, to see how it will affect your bottom line. I have successfully Done It Myself at home and have saved money. I am less dependent on others. And that makes my "little country" feel better.
Usually I mention a fact and work up to the panoramic view, but this time let's start with the panoramic view and work our way to the details.
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) has issued the following news release April 12th:
The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, through the Department of Commerce, announced today that total February exports of $181.2 billion and imports of $227.2 billion resulted in a goods and services deficit of $46.0 billion, down from $52.5 billion in January, revised. February exports were $0.2 billion more than January exports of $180.9 billion. February imports were $6.3 billion less than January imports of $233.4 billion.
The full text of the release on BEA's Web site can be found at www.bea.gov/newsreleases/
If you look at the numbers, there is some good news. I would like to point out that we still have a trade deficit.
Nothing will change that until we decide to make a change ourselves. It isn't due to another country, it us up to ourselves to make that change. Hence: DIY or another words Do It Yourselves.
I used to teach a budgeting class to those receiving public assistance. I guess a case could be made that we all are receiving some form of assistance since we go about our daily life knowing that our government is trillions of dollars in debt. Some of us are not very happy about it, some of us vote for a new U.S. Representative or Senator thinking they will make things happen, or some of us vote for a new President for the same reason. After all we are suppose to have a form of government where representatives vote since we can't be there ourselves. But what it really boils down to is that each one of us has to do something in order for a significant shift to occur.
Back to the budgeting class. The first thing the manual (thanks to the Ohio State University Extension) mentioned was for class members to think of their parents or grandparents. What do they remember (especially as children) their previous generations doing? Class members always came up with a list. What could they do now or revise slightly from that list? How did they live as children and what could they do without? What are their real priorities?
You may have an export/import imbalance in your home or office. You could apply these principles mentioned above, even as an experiment, to see how it will affect your bottom line. I have successfully Done It Myself at home and have saved money. I am less dependent on others. And that makes my "little country" feel better.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Random Facts Friday: April 20, 2012
We had friends over last night for dinner. Just a relaxing way to end the busy week.
Good conversation, good food. If you ever have one of "those" pauses and don't know what to say,
don't forget our random facts. They could come in handy!
1.Omega 3 fish oil, taken daily, can help decrease anxiety by as much as 20%.
2. Singing can help reduce your blood pressure. Just sing your favorites in the shower!
3. The first stained glass window depends upon the definition. If you are thinking of individual pieces, then the first one could be traced back to 306 B.C. as a form of glass mosaic. If you are thinking of painting on glass, then the beginnings would be closer to the late 11th century.
4. Everyone can hula hoop: for exercise, fun, and family activity. Want to set some records? You may want to look at the ones on-line: http://www.recordholders.org/en/list/hulahoop.html
5. Recipe. Whole Wheat pasta gives you double the amount of fiber of regular pasta. I love making pasta salads in warm weather. I will cut up fresh mozzarella, pepperoni, cherry tomatoes, green onions, green peppers, add these to the cooked pasta like Rigatoni, and toss with a vinaigrette, catalina, or Italian dressing. I let it sit for several hours in the refrigerator and with several sides, makes a great dinner!
Good conversation, good food. If you ever have one of "those" pauses and don't know what to say,
don't forget our random facts. They could come in handy!
1.Omega 3 fish oil, taken daily, can help decrease anxiety by as much as 20%.
2. Singing can help reduce your blood pressure. Just sing your favorites in the shower!
3. The first stained glass window depends upon the definition. If you are thinking of individual pieces, then the first one could be traced back to 306 B.C. as a form of glass mosaic. If you are thinking of painting on glass, then the beginnings would be closer to the late 11th century.
4. Everyone can hula hoop: for exercise, fun, and family activity. Want to set some records? You may want to look at the ones on-line: http://www.recordholders.org/en/list/hulahoop.html
5. Recipe. Whole Wheat pasta gives you double the amount of fiber of regular pasta. I love making pasta salads in warm weather. I will cut up fresh mozzarella, pepperoni, cherry tomatoes, green onions, green peppers, add these to the cooked pasta like Rigatoni, and toss with a vinaigrette, catalina, or Italian dressing. I let it sit for several hours in the refrigerator and with several sides, makes a great dinner!
Working Wednesday: Lunch Breaks
There was a time when people worked mainly at or from home and eating lunch was not a problem. You truly had a "cottage" industry or you lived on a farm. Perhaps you were a member of a skilled trade and took a lunch knapsack to work.
Then came the Industrial Revolution. Everyone moved away from their food sources to the big cities. Our Western Culture "advanced" and many found employment behind or beside a machine. "Human" Resources really depended upon individual company owners.
So now in 2012 we are once again talking about lunch breaks. Some articles to consider reading are:
1. California Supreme Court's ruling about employees not having to take a lunch break: http://blog.al.com/wire/2012/04/court_managers_dont_have_to_en.html
2. More workers having to work through their lunch break: http://www.usatoday.com/money/workplace/story/2012-04-15/lunch-at-work/54167808/1
For small business owners, here are some ideas to ponder about:
1. Most doctors/health care professionals recommend eating more than twice a day (breakfast/dinner).
2. How dependent are you for your team to stay fresh (brain) and active(physical)? Follow-up: Do your jobs require much repetition of either and how quickly?
3. Is high turnover part of your business plan?
Solutions
Assuming you still want to give your employees lunch breaks off the clock, with them not electing to work through them, here are some suggestions. Of course, an employee committee would be helpful:
1. have a physical work out space, basketball hoop, ping ball table, card table (for card games, non-gambling type such as Bridge, Hearts, Euchre).
2. Reading area with large comfortable chairs, e-books loan check out, computer bank and earphones for music.
3. create a lunch room with a global environment. Sometimes it looks like a forest, desert, mountains, seasons of the year, outside a Ski lodge, etc. You can do this easily enough now with internet projections on walls.
All of these could be sized up or down depending upon your size of company.
Another idea not related to lunch breaks but if everyone is working harder and harder, is to give each employee a budget to decorate their working space. This would include paint, lighting, framed art, etc. depending of course on company guidelines, fire codes, etc. If you have a factory setting or open space, then I would suggest having a committee and using one of the ideas above for common use areas.
Don't assume that you can give your employees so much work they will opt to bypass their lunch each day. They worked through (and are still working through) the Great Recession just like you and know the score. Get a committee going, invest in your people resource, and you will see the ROI very soon.
Then came the Industrial Revolution. Everyone moved away from their food sources to the big cities. Our Western Culture "advanced" and many found employment behind or beside a machine. "Human" Resources really depended upon individual company owners.
So now in 2012 we are once again talking about lunch breaks. Some articles to consider reading are:
1. California Supreme Court's ruling about employees not having to take a lunch break: http://blog.al.com/wire/2012/04/court_managers_dont_have_to_en.html
2. More workers having to work through their lunch break: http://www.usatoday.com/money/workplace/story/2012-04-15/lunch-at-work/54167808/1
For small business owners, here are some ideas to ponder about:
1. Most doctors/health care professionals recommend eating more than twice a day (breakfast/dinner).
2. How dependent are you for your team to stay fresh (brain) and active(physical)? Follow-up: Do your jobs require much repetition of either and how quickly?
3. Is high turnover part of your business plan?
Solutions
Assuming you still want to give your employees lunch breaks off the clock, with them not electing to work through them, here are some suggestions. Of course, an employee committee would be helpful:
1. have a physical work out space, basketball hoop, ping ball table, card table (for card games, non-gambling type such as Bridge, Hearts, Euchre).
2. Reading area with large comfortable chairs, e-books loan check out, computer bank and earphones for music.
3. create a lunch room with a global environment. Sometimes it looks like a forest, desert, mountains, seasons of the year, outside a Ski lodge, etc. You can do this easily enough now with internet projections on walls.
All of these could be sized up or down depending upon your size of company.
Another idea not related to lunch breaks but if everyone is working harder and harder, is to give each employee a budget to decorate their working space. This would include paint, lighting, framed art, etc. depending of course on company guidelines, fire codes, etc. If you have a factory setting or open space, then I would suggest having a committee and using one of the ideas above for common use areas.
Don't assume that you can give your employees so much work they will opt to bypass their lunch each day. They worked through (and are still working through) the Great Recession just like you and know the score. Get a committee going, invest in your people resource, and you will see the ROI very soon.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Alone in the Car: China's Cities and Provinces Raise Minimum Wages
The national government of China is concerned about spreading the wealth around. It wants to make sure working class folks and those in all regions, not just large metro areas, receive good wages. Therefore, they have set out to increase minimum wage by at least 13% for each of the next several years. Several cities or provinces have done more than that this year announcing a 22% increase in their minimum wage.
Remember what I have said before about statistics. These increases mean for example, Shanghai's minimum wage will now be $230 a month. They have a population of 23 million people or Beijing's minimum wage will now be $199.53 a month for their city of 19.6 million people. This at a time when the country is looking to add jobs because the global downturn and loss of jobs hit China too. Some clothing manufacturers have moved to Viet Nam because it is too expensive to have factories in China with the new wages. Sound familiar?
Treat others as you would like to be treated. Employees should put in a good, solid workday. Employers should pay decent wages. I really don't understand why those elements are so hard. Even China's policy is changing. This is truly a global market, a global human resource question, and a global work environment.
People usually make it complex. People are encouraged to be aggressive, to be selfish, boastful, and they (in my opinion) turn out to be somewhat boorish. Rather, if they keep it together by having a positive attitude, share with others, and develop a multi-faceted personality, people will see that doors will open and opportunities will come their way.
Small businesses play a major factor in employment, hiring more people than other levels of companies. By setting a precedence of fair play, including salary, small business owners set the standard for all business sectors to follow. It teaches those entry level employees what is expected and what is the result simply by doing what is right. This lesson, once learned, will influence them throughout their career. Thank you small business owners who take the time to mentor these folks right, right from the beginning.
Remember what I have said before about statistics. These increases mean for example, Shanghai's minimum wage will now be $230 a month. They have a population of 23 million people or Beijing's minimum wage will now be $199.53 a month for their city of 19.6 million people. This at a time when the country is looking to add jobs because the global downturn and loss of jobs hit China too. Some clothing manufacturers have moved to Viet Nam because it is too expensive to have factories in China with the new wages. Sound familiar?
Treat others as you would like to be treated. Employees should put in a good, solid workday. Employers should pay decent wages. I really don't understand why those elements are so hard. Even China's policy is changing. This is truly a global market, a global human resource question, and a global work environment.
People usually make it complex. People are encouraged to be aggressive, to be selfish, boastful, and they (in my opinion) turn out to be somewhat boorish. Rather, if they keep it together by having a positive attitude, share with others, and develop a multi-faceted personality, people will see that doors will open and opportunities will come their way.
Small businesses play a major factor in employment, hiring more people than other levels of companies. By setting a precedence of fair play, including salary, small business owners set the standard for all business sectors to follow. It teaches those entry level employees what is expected and what is the result simply by doing what is right. This lesson, once learned, will influence them throughout their career. Thank you small business owners who take the time to mentor these folks right, right from the beginning.
Friday, April 13, 2012
Random Facts Friday: April 13, 2012
Friday the 13th! Can we get any luckier?
Hope your work week has been a good one and now it is time to give your brain a break.
Try reading these random thoughts that I found out about:
1. There are 77 million Baby Boomers in America.
2. Mourning Doves mate for life. (I have a pair that are nesting already for the 2nd time this season!)
3. 11% of grandparents have a grandchild living with them. 16% provide daycare.
4. A $.50 allowance in 1963 would be equal to $3.67 today. Check out http://www.threejars.com/allowance_calculator.html for other allowance comparisons.
5. Recipe: We know those who are lactose intolerant, and I bet you do too. Also, this time of year I head to the frozen fruit section because the winter fruits are waning and the early summer ones are not yet here. I picked a vegan muffin recipe from Food.com that uses frozen blueberries. Looks easy too!
1/4 c. soy margarine (could use regular)
1/2 c. unsweetened applesauce
1/c tsp. salt
1 c. sugar
2 c. flour
1 TBSP baking powder
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. soy milk
2 c. frozen blueberries
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Line muffin cups with paper liners.
Mix all ingredients together until moistened.
Divide batter evenly and fill cups 3/4 full.
Bake 35 minutes or until tops are firm.
Cool on wire wrack.
Hope your work week has been a good one and now it is time to give your brain a break.
Try reading these random thoughts that I found out about:
1. There are 77 million Baby Boomers in America.
2. Mourning Doves mate for life. (I have a pair that are nesting already for the 2nd time this season!)
3. 11% of grandparents have a grandchild living with them. 16% provide daycare.
4. A $.50 allowance in 1963 would be equal to $3.67 today. Check out http://www.threejars.com/allowance_calculator.html for other allowance comparisons.
5. Recipe: We know those who are lactose intolerant, and I bet you do too. Also, this time of year I head to the frozen fruit section because the winter fruits are waning and the early summer ones are not yet here. I picked a vegan muffin recipe from Food.com that uses frozen blueberries. Looks easy too!
1/4 c. soy margarine (could use regular)
1/2 c. unsweetened applesauce
1/c tsp. salt
1 c. sugar
2 c. flour
1 TBSP baking powder
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. soy milk
2 c. frozen blueberries
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Line muffin cups with paper liners.
Mix all ingredients together until moistened.
Divide batter evenly and fill cups 3/4 full.
Bake 35 minutes or until tops are firm.
Cool on wire wrack.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Working Wednesday: Not Hiring the Unemployed
Sounds like an oxymoron doesn't it? An employer refusing to hire someone who doesn't have a job. Isn't that why a job seeker has come to apply for the company's open positions? Do you not see on the headlines major companies still laying off hundreds/thousands at one time? What if the "hundreds" all live in the same city which has happened more than once since 2008? Many have the same job credentials. Do you really think your city or even your state can absorb all those unemployed at the same time into new jobs? We are still not over the depression. If we were, layoffs would not be large numbers at one time and people could find jobs within the traditional 6 months time period.
Job posting ads are popping up with words to this effect: "applicants must be currently employed" or "applicants must not be unemployed". Some states across this country are considering or have passed legislation to ban companies from discriminating against the unemployed. Each state is writing their law differently, so check your state for what the legislature is concerned about in particular. Most are concerned about marketing the open positions as noted above.
Rather than say "all unemployed" are not wanted at your company, take it on a case by case basis. Keep the playing field even by letting everyone apply for the position you advertise. Look at resumes and/or applications as your process dictates. Then call in the best candidates for interviews. If you do pick one that has been unemployed for awhile, be sure to ask what they have been doing in the interim. I know some have taken classes to update or enlarge their skill base, volunteered to keep abreast of their career field, joined network groups, conducted research, etc. You may be surprised they are now better matched to meet your needs. After all, it is all about you and your company. Don't short sight yourself if in the end you get a better employee than what is on paper.
Job posting ads are popping up with words to this effect: "applicants must be currently employed" or "applicants must not be unemployed". Some states across this country are considering or have passed legislation to ban companies from discriminating against the unemployed. Each state is writing their law differently, so check your state for what the legislature is concerned about in particular. Most are concerned about marketing the open positions as noted above.
Rather than say "all unemployed" are not wanted at your company, take it on a case by case basis. Keep the playing field even by letting everyone apply for the position you advertise. Look at resumes and/or applications as your process dictates. Then call in the best candidates for interviews. If you do pick one that has been unemployed for awhile, be sure to ask what they have been doing in the interim. I know some have taken classes to update or enlarge their skill base, volunteered to keep abreast of their career field, joined network groups, conducted research, etc. You may be surprised they are now better matched to meet your needs. After all, it is all about you and your company. Don't short sight yourself if in the end you get a better employee than what is on paper.
Alone in the Car: Gender Gap Health Insurance vs. Obamacare
The United States of America was set up with a representative form of government using 3 branches or divisions for day-to-day management as well as a checks and balances for its citizens. Those branches are in alphabetical order: executive (the President), judicial (U.S. Supreme Court), and legislative (Congress).
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly known as "Obamacare" is 2409 pages long. So far as I can research, the President has not read its entirety and neither has the Supreme Court Justices or all the members of Congress (House and Senate). Something is missing here. I could offer a variety of solutions, but I will let my readers carry on with their thoughts and actions on this matter.
The media, both for and against, has been so "gun-ho" for their side, and remember they are a business and need to make a profit just like any other business, so they go after this topic with great gusto, that they have forgotten something.
This, at least partly, has turned into a religious fight. I use Roman Catholic owned hospitals as an example but clearly they are not the only employers in this matter that have said they will not adopt Obamacare. They have made it clear they will not, not have they ever, cover certain elements in a health insurance policy contract for their female employees. It is against their religion to do so. With Obamacare, they would be forced to carry such health insurance.
What concerns me is that this was never a religious question for most women but a gender gap question.
Many employers would sign health insurance policy contracts with an insurance company that covered male employees but would not cover female employees for similar coverage. The woman would have to pay out-of-pocket but the male employee would have partial or full coverage. This of course is for same job responsibilities/same salary level. Discussions were way past the "water cooler" stage and actually caused employee and/or employer relationship problems or work environment problems. The employer could easily have solved this by making coverage the same for male and female employees.
Using the example of the Roman Catholic hospitals again, certain female procedures are never done there and likewise it is same to say neither are men's. Both genders know this ahead of time, both are treated equally, and both know to go elsewhere for those operations.
Employers, please look at your contracts. When it is time for renewal, be prepared to treat all employees the same, even if this means reducing coverage of one group to create a balanced work environment. It will pay off in the long run.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly known as "Obamacare" is 2409 pages long. So far as I can research, the President has not read its entirety and neither has the Supreme Court Justices or all the members of Congress (House and Senate). Something is missing here. I could offer a variety of solutions, but I will let my readers carry on with their thoughts and actions on this matter.
The media, both for and against, has been so "gun-ho" for their side, and remember they are a business and need to make a profit just like any other business, so they go after this topic with great gusto, that they have forgotten something.
This, at least partly, has turned into a religious fight. I use Roman Catholic owned hospitals as an example but clearly they are not the only employers in this matter that have said they will not adopt Obamacare. They have made it clear they will not, not have they ever, cover certain elements in a health insurance policy contract for their female employees. It is against their religion to do so. With Obamacare, they would be forced to carry such health insurance.
What concerns me is that this was never a religious question for most women but a gender gap question.
Many employers would sign health insurance policy contracts with an insurance company that covered male employees but would not cover female employees for similar coverage. The woman would have to pay out-of-pocket but the male employee would have partial or full coverage. This of course is for same job responsibilities/same salary level. Discussions were way past the "water cooler" stage and actually caused employee and/or employer relationship problems or work environment problems. The employer could easily have solved this by making coverage the same for male and female employees.
Using the example of the Roman Catholic hospitals again, certain female procedures are never done there and likewise it is same to say neither are men's. Both genders know this ahead of time, both are treated equally, and both know to go elsewhere for those operations.
Employers, please look at your contracts. When it is time for renewal, be prepared to treat all employees the same, even if this means reducing coverage of one group to create a balanced work environment. It will pay off in the long run.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Random Facts Friday: April 6, 2011
April 6th, wow. It is a"full moon" day, Good Friday, Passover, and the anniversary of the Battle of Shiloh (Civil War). Walk lightly, my friends and be grateful for the many blessings we have and the services we can render to others.
Here are some random facts I learned this week:
1. Maybe you will be making traditional foods this weekend. Some will date back generations. Parmigiano Reggiano cheese has documents to show it has been made for almost 1000 years.
2. A mother back in the 1700's in Russia birthed 69 children: 16 pairs of twins, 7 sets of triplets, and 4 sets of quadruplets.
3. Tradition says that large white trumpet looking lilies were found in the Garden of Gethsemane after Christ's death, thus becoming the flower for Easter and the symbol of hope.
4. In Medieval Europe, during Lent no eggs were eaten. Households would use up all their eggs before Lent began, which established the tradition of Pancake Day. Eggs were once again allowed at Easter meals. Some dishes and breads have dyed eggs prominently displayed. The egg was a symbol of new life not just for Christians, but also for the Ancient Egyptians, Persians, and Romans.
5. Recipe: I have dyed eggs using the traditional methods including food dye, Wilton's cake dye, and some natural dyes. This year I found an idea using old silk ties. Here is the website: http://www.ourbestbites.com/2012/03/silk-dyed-eggs-aka-tie-dyed/. Have fun!
Here are some random facts I learned this week:
1. Maybe you will be making traditional foods this weekend. Some will date back generations. Parmigiano Reggiano cheese has documents to show it has been made for almost 1000 years.
2. A mother back in the 1700's in Russia birthed 69 children: 16 pairs of twins, 7 sets of triplets, and 4 sets of quadruplets.
3. Tradition says that large white trumpet looking lilies were found in the Garden of Gethsemane after Christ's death, thus becoming the flower for Easter and the symbol of hope.
4. In Medieval Europe, during Lent no eggs were eaten. Households would use up all their eggs before Lent began, which established the tradition of Pancake Day. Eggs were once again allowed at Easter meals. Some dishes and breads have dyed eggs prominently displayed. The egg was a symbol of new life not just for Christians, but also for the Ancient Egyptians, Persians, and Romans.
5. Recipe: I have dyed eggs using the traditional methods including food dye, Wilton's cake dye, and some natural dyes. This year I found an idea using old silk ties. Here is the website: http://www.ourbestbites.com/2012/03/silk-dyed-eggs-aka-tie-dyed/. Have fun!
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Working Wednesday: CEO Retreats
Does your company hold retreats? You may call them conferences. I think of conferences slightly different than retreats. Retreats are to get away from the office setting, let the creative "juices" flow in a more relaxed and calm setting, and produce a set of thoughts, ideas, and/or goals plan. There may be even general action steps outlined with more specific steps to be determined once others in the company are brought in and propose/contribute exact steps and achievements.
Fortune Magazine in their April 9, 2012 issue has a 1 page article on Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon. He does something that is rather unique - - Jeff takes himself only on a retreat. Nobody else goes with him.
It clears his mind with no one or objects (phones) to disrupt his thoughts. Within 2-3 days, Jeff has several clear ideas he wants to share with his senior team. They may or may not go anywhere. That is why Jeff needs to let others process the retreat ideas and see if they are workable or not.
Small business owners can take this "1 person retreat" and shape it into something that could work not only for a CEO with 56,200 employees, but for their size company too.
Here are some suggestions:
1. Can't take off 2-3 days? Take off what you can. Make it a block of time and make it during office hours.
2. The retreat has to be in a location where it is ultra quiet. No one is around you. No one can contact you. No, it can't be at your home or office. Don't you look at that cell phone to see what or who is going on. You won't be able to give your brain entirely to the creative session if half of it is pulling duty elsewhere. Let the world be.
3. Get a white board. Don't ask me why, but it works the best for getting the ideas to flow from brain to writing. Ok, you can use your cell phone to take a photo of the board before you erase it. But No More Than That.
4. Jeff brings along a computer (I am sure it is a mobile one, but the article did not designate type) and web surfs. What is out there, what is the buzz, what seems to be moving the chess pieces these days, so to speak. This seems to help Jeff formulate ideas and it might help you too.
5. You may have a trusted team at work to share your ideas or perhaps you are too small. Then reach out to others you trust and ask them for their opinion in a casual setting, say over lunch. But before you do, have your proposals organized. Almost like a resolution or proposed amendment: "Where as.... Therefore it is proposed...." Or think of answering these questions: Why do you need to make a change? What is the purpose? How is it going to help your business? What is the value? Long or short term change? How are you going to evaluate it? Cost? Supplies? Employee involvement? These of course are just a few of the questions you need to ask once the creative retreat is over. Don't think of these during the retreat. You want to concentrate on the panoramic view first and then see where it leads, if at all, once you return to work.
You have worked hard to keep your business doors open through this recession. You know it is not over and you need to keep up and keep going. By stepping out of the office you will give your company a better chance not only to survive but to thrive.
Fortune Magazine in their April 9, 2012 issue has a 1 page article on Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon. He does something that is rather unique - - Jeff takes himself only on a retreat. Nobody else goes with him.
It clears his mind with no one or objects (phones) to disrupt his thoughts. Within 2-3 days, Jeff has several clear ideas he wants to share with his senior team. They may or may not go anywhere. That is why Jeff needs to let others process the retreat ideas and see if they are workable or not.
Small business owners can take this "1 person retreat" and shape it into something that could work not only for a CEO with 56,200 employees, but for their size company too.
Here are some suggestions:
1. Can't take off 2-3 days? Take off what you can. Make it a block of time and make it during office hours.
2. The retreat has to be in a location where it is ultra quiet. No one is around you. No one can contact you. No, it can't be at your home or office. Don't you look at that cell phone to see what or who is going on. You won't be able to give your brain entirely to the creative session if half of it is pulling duty elsewhere. Let the world be.
3. Get a white board. Don't ask me why, but it works the best for getting the ideas to flow from brain to writing. Ok, you can use your cell phone to take a photo of the board before you erase it. But No More Than That.
4. Jeff brings along a computer (I am sure it is a mobile one, but the article did not designate type) and web surfs. What is out there, what is the buzz, what seems to be moving the chess pieces these days, so to speak. This seems to help Jeff formulate ideas and it might help you too.
5. You may have a trusted team at work to share your ideas or perhaps you are too small. Then reach out to others you trust and ask them for their opinion in a casual setting, say over lunch. But before you do, have your proposals organized. Almost like a resolution or proposed amendment: "Where as.... Therefore it is proposed...." Or think of answering these questions: Why do you need to make a change? What is the purpose? How is it going to help your business? What is the value? Long or short term change? How are you going to evaluate it? Cost? Supplies? Employee involvement? These of course are just a few of the questions you need to ask once the creative retreat is over. Don't think of these during the retreat. You want to concentrate on the panoramic view first and then see where it leads, if at all, once you return to work.
You have worked hard to keep your business doors open through this recession. You know it is not over and you need to keep up and keep going. By stepping out of the office you will give your company a better chance not only to survive but to thrive.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Alone in the Car: Student Loan Debt Reaches $1 Trillion
From a panoramic view, the conglomerate of student loans is enormous. Think of how many academic, financial, and governmental institutions are involved in such a gigantic amount as $1 Trillion. Think of how many families are involved, how many generations have contributed their funds to get someone through school, how many hours were used to search for grants, loans, etc. etc.
The amount of money for student loans now exceeds America's credit card debt. Some believe student loans may be the next bubble to burst. I have no idea about that. But I am concerned about how much debt these young people have when starting a new job after graduation.
I think this sets our economy back. This generation will not be able to buy homes, create a savings account of any serious amount, or think of retirement or long term future when they really should because they have a huge burden to carry for a quite some time.
Solutions? Well, this has been discussed before in this blog in terms of businesses contribution. But academia need to step up too. They have got to think outside of the box, quit thinking they are a monopoly, and look for value added, cost cutting measures.
Aside of what I have written before, one of the ways businesses can "encourage" post secondary institutions would be to look at 2 year colleges and other institutions that really concentrate on exactly the skills companies are looking for to fill their needs. Sometimes they can work with a company to design a curriculum to meet the perfect criteria.
We have a free market system. Business owners can use it to meet their workforce needs with educational institutions. You tell them what you want, not the other way around.
The amount of money for student loans now exceeds America's credit card debt. Some believe student loans may be the next bubble to burst. I have no idea about that. But I am concerned about how much debt these young people have when starting a new job after graduation.
I think this sets our economy back. This generation will not be able to buy homes, create a savings account of any serious amount, or think of retirement or long term future when they really should because they have a huge burden to carry for a quite some time.
Solutions? Well, this has been discussed before in this blog in terms of businesses contribution. But academia need to step up too. They have got to think outside of the box, quit thinking they are a monopoly, and look for value added, cost cutting measures.
Aside of what I have written before, one of the ways businesses can "encourage" post secondary institutions would be to look at 2 year colleges and other institutions that really concentrate on exactly the skills companies are looking for to fill their needs. Sometimes they can work with a company to design a curriculum to meet the perfect criteria.
We have a free market system. Business owners can use it to meet their workforce needs with educational institutions. You tell them what you want, not the other way around.
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