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

Research shows that humor works wonders for your health by relieving both physical and emotional stress and connecting you to others.Because of this, appropriate office humor is one of the best ways to relieve on-the-job tension, boost morale, and promote teamwork.But not all humor is created equal. Used inappropriately, humor can also alienate co-workers and create a hostile environment, which, in turn, can contribute to excess stress.How do you know when you've crossed the line? This article explores seven dos and seven don’ts of workplace humor. Don't alienate When the honey-haired... view article details

Dear Heather:I read your 'Death in the Workplace' column and found it to be helpful. But the person who was sick/dying wasn't in the workplace. It was a spouse of a co-worker. Right? How do you deal with a death IN the workplace?Thanks, 'Rachel'-----------------------------------------------Dear Rachel,While job promotions, moves, and career changes can shift the balance of personalities and politics in an office place, death leaves a sudden and often unexpected vacuum. With a co-worker's ascent up the career ladder, there is at least the promise of 'lunch' and a continued connection on Linked... view article details

Dear Annette,One of my teammates is a slacker. I'm tired of carrying his weight. What can I say or do?AtlasDear Atlas,I'll never forget the time Dickie had to fire his pedicurist for inattention and neglect. We were being recognized on International Women's Day in the thrice-named, fictitious Eastern European country where I was born. As we processed down the aisle of the newly repatriated 11th-century cathedral where the ceremony took place, Dickie went 'clickie-clickie' all the way to the altar, paw-nails reverberating for seven seconds. It was as if Pravda's Cold War typing pool were taking... view article details

There are seven common reasons why networking fails in the professional arena.The most common among them is the fact that 1) people are unsure of how to start a conversation, let alone what to say or the appropriate questions to ask. This can often be unnerving, making people 2) uncomfortable, particularly with people they have just met. Naturally, there is a 3) fear of rejection that accompanies networking, but networking can also be difficult due to 4) people's busy schedules, which causes them not to respond, understand the request or care enough to engage in a networking conversation. This... view article details

Choose Your Investments Wisely When a couple decides to have children, the sacrifices start early. Perhaps they look around their cramped city apartment and think about the spontaneous days when they’d hop on the back of a motorcycle and speed off to wine country for the weekend.Suddenly, the conversation turns to selling off the Honda CB77 Super Hawk for a Honda Odyssey EX-L with third row seating, and researching suburban towns where you get the most room for your money.A smart couple putting a premium on education continually weighs the cost of an investment versus the potential pa... view article details

Getting a raise. Climbing the corporate ladder. Receiving a better title. Taking on more responsibility. Advancing your career. These are the accomplishments most people in the workforce strive to attain. Countless resources exist to guide you every step of the way, from entry-level newbie through middle management and all the way up to the executive offices. How much heartbreak and anger has been exercised lamenting when things don’t go as planned? Why can’t I earn more money?I can’t believe I got passed over for that promotion!My boss is so incompetent, I could do so much better!So if you ar... view article details

What's Your Career Personality Type? We all know good, qualified people who just couldn’t succeed at a certain company. Why not? Many times it's because they just weren’t the right cultural fit.This fit -- which has less to do with your qualifications and skills and more to do with your personality type -- is vital to employers and hiring managers. You can have all the skills in the world, but if you're not going to mesh with the team or the company, they won't do you much good. These types, also known as archetypes, have been around since the beginning of storytelling. Everyone from ... view article details

10 jobs for people with little to no experience If you are just graduating from university or changing career tracks, you may have difficulty in finding a job. Most companies prefer hiring experienced staff instead of beginners. Don’t worry. It is possible to find a job even without any experience. Here are 10 options to help you to get a start. You may find that many of them are quite interesting and beneficial for your career prospects. Administrative/Office Jobs 1. Sales Representative If you are confident in your social and communication skills... view article details

Real-life Leaders, Their Shortcomings, and How They Overcame Them "A business owner has to realize that, as the saying goes, 'A skunk stinks from the head down,' and a business does too," writes Bill McBean in his book The Facts of Business Life. That’s why, McBean posits, behind every great leader is a successful business. But just because you’re sitting in the leader’s chair doesn’t mean you excel at managing and motivating a team. Plenty of highly-placed executives lack essential people skills, or worse, rule with a bully’s iron fist -- it’s their way or the highway, a la TV bosses Donald T... view article details