Employees versus independent contractors. Sometimes it's difficult to know what camp you fall into as a worker. But when you consider health benefits, compensation and tax purposes, knowing the differences between the two is an absolute necessity. But what exactly are the differences between employee status and being an independent contractor? Our salary expert, Jack Chapman, has your answers.Question: When am I considered an employee and when am I an independent contractor?Answer: You’re an independent contractor when you have services you sell to a company. The biggest difference concerns wh... view article details

The flu has arrived, delivering its gifts of body aches, fevers, and nausea earlier and more generously than usual. As of the first week in January, 47 states were reporting widespread incidence of flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. New York state and the city of Boston, which has recorded 10 times as many cases of flu this year as at this point last season, have both declared public health emergencies in the face of the epidemic. States in the southeast and Midwest have reported particularly high flu activity.For employees, a bout of the flu means making an impo... view article details

What are the Most Stressful Jobs in America? “My job is SO stressful!” Most people think they have the most stressful job – that’s only natural. And without a doubt, almost every job has unique brands of stress. But let’s face it, there are some jobs that are just way more taxing than others. What are the most stressful jobs? We did a bunch of research on stressful occupations and there are tons of opinions. Many publications publish annual lists on the topic, and some even reach out to experts who examine factors such as hours, working conditions, and consequences of mistakes. We examined... view article details

Why Give a Hoot About Night Owls? Society stigmatizes people who are different -- not just the well-recognized differences like skin color, religious beliefs, and sexual orientation. The stigmas are also against people of a quieter nature, heavy people (especially women!), short people (especially men!), and older people. Now a different group is emerging from the shadows: night owls. You might think it’s nobody’s business when you go to bed. However, if you’re trying to hold down -- or look for -- a 9-to-5 job and you can’t get to sleep each night until the wee hours, you're probably... view article details

Earning a higher education degree is a big investment. With all that money (and time) on the line, students may want to confirm that the entry level jobs they’re setting themselves up for tend to yield a good return on investment (ROI). Using Salary.com data, we found 10 jobs that have median level I salaries over $60,000. These jobs promise even bigger pay outs as employees climb the ranks. Read on to see if one of these jobs may be right for you to pursue: 1) Electrical Engineer I What you’ll earn to start: $68,171 What you’ll do: Assist with the design, development, and testing of electric... view article details

Everyone wants a raise. Everyone thinks they deserve a raise. But no one wants to ask for a raise. One can hardly blame people for being hesitant – asking for more money is no easy task. Essentially you’re asking your boss if he/she thinks you’re worth investing more money in, and no one wants to deal with feelings of rejection of worthlessness should the answer be no. But the fact remains, even some who deserve a raise don’t get it. And why is that? Because too many people don’t ask themselves if it’s the right time to ask for a raise. Here are six signs it is a good time to ask for a raise... view article details

Careers in Demand for the Future What will help wanted ads look like in two, five, ten years from now? And why should you care? As the world evolves, so do job trends and job descriptions. It’s important to structure your career so that your job will still be in demand in several years. This article explores seven professions, both emerging and long-standing, that offer the best careers for the future. Career #1: Healthcare According to recent Labor Department data, an aging population will put healthcare workers such as doctors, nurses, physical therapists, home health aids, and pharmacists... view article details

"Soft" Skills & Emotional Intelligence Will Help Get You Hired & Promoted Skills: Hard vs Soft As your career progresses one of your goals is to ensure that your "hard" skills -- tangible, teachable skills and abilities that allow you to perform your job -- are up to snuff. But in your effort to hone your hard skills, don't ignore your "soft" skills. Soft skills, sometimes called "people skills" or "emotional intelligence," are less tangible qualities that determine how you manage your own behavior, as well as interact with and get along with others. While soft skills are more difficult to ... view article details

Employers Should Embrace the Allure of Summer, Not Fight It While possibly more noticeable in four season cities, summer longings can defy geographical zones to the same extent that Congress generally seems to flout basic math. Although the era of school holidays ended long before the student loan payments ever did, nostalgia reigns when the weather warms in early June. There’s a mental countdown to the long-gone summer breaks of our youth. And come August, the realization that Fall is but a few weekends away can heighten awareness of missed and fleeting opportunities to enjoy valuable outdo... view article details

In light of recent news that there are more job openings than unemployed workers, is now the time to find a new job? The U.S. recently hit a record number of job openings in August, 7,136,000 to be precise, according to data released by the Labor Department. It’s hard to know if it’s the right time to make the switch. Leaving a job is a bit like a rocky breakup. Maybe your current organization has a lot of positive qualities: it stuck by you during some difficult personal times, it financed you, it brought you to a few cool events, and/or it helped you grow. But, those qualities may not be eno... view article details