Be an Ant, Not a Grasshopper*  Most people know they should invest for the future, but at least half would like to do better. In a Salary.com poll about investments in the company retirement plan, 44 percent of respondents said they contribute, but could do better; 13 percent know they should invest, but have other priorities; and 41 percent said they contribute the maximum. Just 3 percent reported not having a retirement plan. If you're gainfully employed and reasonably satisfied with your career, there are few good excuses for not taking advantage of this benefit. If you've got access to a c... view article details

If you enjoy working with children, why not make a career out of it? Working with children enables people to make a difference while enjoying flexible work options.Approximately 35 percent of child care workers are self-employed and work from home. Others can work in child care centers, and they can also work in the children’s home as well. Child care workers range from babysitters to preschool teachers.In addition to supervising activities for children to promote learning and socialization, child care workers work to make sure children stay physically healthy, too. They are responsible for se... view article details

Not sure how much to contribute to your retirement plan every month? That's easy: Put in as much as you possibly can without leaving yourself stuck. Investment limitsEvery year the IRS puts a limit on how much pretax income you can contribute to your retirement plan. For the year 2005 the maximum is $14,000. This is quite a nice equalizer that prevents bigwig executives from feathering their nests much more than the mail clerk. If you want to contribute more, you can, but it'll have to come from income you've already paid tax on. Though once in there, the extra money can earn tax deferred unti... view article details

The stock market is thriving and the rest of the economy is slowly strengthening. But despite this good news, the number of workers planning to delay retirement is soaring, according to a new report by The Conference Board, a business research organization based in New York City.In 2012, 62 percent of survey respondents aged 45 to 60 said that the recent recession has made them consider postponing retirement, up significantly from 42 percent in 2010.Job losses, pay cuts, and significant declines in home values were among the major factors driving these planned delays, the report concludes. Wor... view article details

Be an Ant, Not a Grasshopper  How to Invest in a 401(k) or Other Retirement Plan   How to Roll Over Your Retirement Accounts       How to Roll Over Your Retirement Accounts  What happens to your retirement accounts if you change jobs? First of all, it's your money and no one can take it from you. Initially your best option is to do nothing and leave your 401(k) or other retirement money where it is. Then, after you've made more concrete plans, you can act accordingly.If you find another job with a company 401(k), just roll the money over into the new plan. But be careful how you do this. Make ... view article details

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that health care is expected to generate more new jobs than any other industry over the next several years. As Baby Boomers age there will be a need for more home health care services, residential care facilities and nurses to staff them. Medical group practices and integrated health systems are predicted to become larger and more complex, resulting in an increased need for office and administrative support workers. High job turnover, additional anticipated retirements in the industry and the slowing number of foreign healthcare workers being allowed to e... view article details

In honor of Pride Month, we’ve compiled five articles on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGTBQ) workplace issues to help workers and HR professionals navigate this topic in their own organizations. Subjects include how LGTBQ millennials view their financial situations versus their straight peers, transgender inclusion in the workplace, legalities surrounding LGTBQ/gender identity in the workplace, how inclusive LGTBQ policies can positively impact a company’s bottom line, and which employers in the U.K. have been recognized for their pro-diversity programs. 1) LGBT... view article details

Amazon recently announced an ambitious plan to offer on-site health care to its employees. The tech giant will open a pilot clinic in its Seattle headquarters later this year and begin expanding the services to more employees in 2019. Like other companies, Amazon wants to address the rising costs of emergency room visits, which are the most frequently used type of outpatient service. In January, Amazon announced a joint venture with Berkshire Hathaway and J.P. Morgan Chase to work towards cheaper, higher quality health care. The CEO of the venture – Dr. Atul Gawande – is specifically focused ... view article details

The Income Gap & Why We Should Care Two weeks ago, we looked at some numbers that suggested the gap between rich and poor in the United States is growing. Last week, we considered some possible reasons for this growing inequality.This week, we answer perhaps the most important question: So what? The numbers suggest the real income of the poor is holding steady; it is the soaring income of those at the top that is widening the gap. Why then should that one number -- the difference between the top and the bottom -- be of concern?According to several analyses, income inequality can cause... view article details

With the Labor Department reporting that the number of people receiving unemployment benefits is the highest it has been in seven years, is there such a thing as a “recession-proof” job? Probably not, but there are some careers that may survive the current economic crisis better than others. The key is to focus on work that continues even when most people do not have extra discretionary money to spend. So what are some in-demand jobs in a slow economy?Accountant Now more than ever, companies are paying attention to the bottom line. They need good “bean counters”, whether they are fres... view article details