Q. After having 12 weeks off under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to care for a newborn baby, I have decided to reduce my work hours from 40 to 30 per week. However, I am a bit uneasy about negotiating for the time.I have worked for this company for three years (I have over a decade of experience). On all of my past reviews I have been given the highest rating. I live in an area with very low unemployment and great demand for skilled employees, which will work in my favor when I negotiate for the time, but I am unsure of how to go about it.Should I begin by writing up a proposal, deta... view article details

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 incorporates several different initiatives designed to jump start the economy. In a recent survey we attempted to gauge how confident our readership is in the effectiveness of these initiatives.Tax Relief ($288 Billion) The largest section of the bill, Tax Relief received a favorable response from our readership. Regardless of party affiliation a clear majority had faith that tax incentives and tax breaks will have a positive impact.Health Care Reform ($147.7 billion) Health Care Reform showed striking - if not ... view article details

This might be the best job search article you read today because it’s simple to implement and so very powerful. I insist that my clients, men and women alike, attend all interviews with a box of 4' x 5' thank you cards and envelopes. Keep them in your car, messenger bag, purse -- no matter where -- keep them handy. You do not have to spend a lot of money to obtain a batch of professional cards from an office supply store or big-box retailer.Job search experts correctly tell you that upon completion of an interview, you should email or handwrite a thank you note to your interviewer. But I find ... view article details

Women earn less than men. Estimates vary, but a recent report by the Institute for Women's Policy Research put women's earnings at about 82 percent of what their male counterparts make. Many theories have been proposed to explain this discrepancy: Women take time off to raise families and thus don't increase earnings as quickly as men. Women tend to choose jobs in lower-paying fields. Sexism leads employers to offer women less money. Women are less aggressive negotiators than men. Now, a new study from the National Bureau of Economic Research in Cambridge, Mass. suggests the last factor may be... view article details

In an economy where employees are often overworked and many businesses are pulling the plug on raises and extra benefits, some companies are shining stars when it comes to offering their employees cool perks. Most organizations say that they value their employees and offer generous benefits packages. But we’ve searched around and found employers that offer much more than standard benefits. Check out our round-up of 14 companies that offer their employees unusual and incredible perks. 1. Google Mountain View, CA-based Google doesn't just offer employees a stimulating environment to work and c... view article details

Getting Respect from Bullies to Bosses Ever feel like the late comedian Rodney Dangerfield -- that no matter what you do at work you just 'can’t get no respect?'From the bully in the cubicle next to you to a boss who seems oblivious to your accomplishments to the people reporting to you who are loathe to make any tough decisions themselves, your day at the office carries more baggage than the annual Thanksgiving dinner at the in-laws. Yet every moment of the day when we are interacting with other human beings, there is an opportunity -- if not a pressing need -- to assert our influenc... view article details

What to Do When You're There to Work, Not Make Friends It's All About Boundaries It might be tempting to hang out at the water cooler half the morning and indulge in the latest gossip, the fun anticipation of the office lottery pool, or friendly sports bets. But these easy friendships with coworkers can begin to spill over into your personal life, and that's when things get dicey. Setting boundaries is a good idea, but where do you begin? Can you set boundaries without hurting someone's feelings? Can you keep your work relationships healthy even while you decline invitations that infringe o... view article details

Finally Getting Some Daylight On April 18, the day before radio stations across the United States would decide whether the newly remixed song "Daylight" would see the light of day, singer/songwriter Mike Errico sent an appeal to his fan base via his Internet newsletter. "This is a big day," Errico wrote, "and competition is tough, as always, with Pearl Jam and Matchbox 20 also looking for spots. Please help us out by calling in to your local station and requesting 'Daylight.' Your call-in vote REALLY counts, believe me. They love to know that they're playing what you want to hear." What fans w... view article details

Halloween, Job Search, and You Halloween is big business. According to an infographic by History.com last year, giant pumpkins have tipped the scales at 1,810 pounds, the average American will consume 24 pounds of candy, and 120 million people will dress up in a costume -- with 11.5% of them also dressing up their pet.It also seems that each year the costumes become more and more elaborate, with some people spending hours and hours on the perfect look. It’s enough to make you wonder what would happen if these people spent as much time thinking about their career as they did applying z... view article details

How was your day at work today?Odds are, it was pretty routine. It doesn’t matter if you’re reading this on a Monday or Tuesday or Friday, chances are that you did mostly the same thing… answered a bunch of emails (that looked like the same emails you answered last week), went to some meetings, talked to your boss about that project, and maybe met with some clients. Routine.The problem with having a hamster-wheel routine, is that you look back in a few months or a few years and find that you’re stuck doing the same exact thing every single day.However, if you ask a mentor or an older professio... view article details