Q. I was hired four years ago as a desktop technician for a Fortune 500 company. Since then I have skyrocketed up in the company, and I have been getting spot bonuses (of $1,200) and salary increases of about 9 percent a year.However, since I was hired as a desktop tech and was given a competitive salary for that field, I've since become a major software/Web developer for the company. For the past two years I have been doing client/server development, but for the salary of a highly paid desktop tech, which is much lower.My manager just walked into my office and told me I was now classified as ... view article details

Which Jobs Are on the Rise? As the last chapter of 2013 is written, we once again turn our sights on what’s to come in the new year. And as it turns out, 2014 has a lot to offer in the way of new job growth.We looked into our own Salary.com crystal ball and then referenced sources like the US Bureau of Labor Statistics to determine which fields are slated to enjoy the most growth over the next few years. So if you’re currently unemployed and searching for a job, or if you’re unsatisfied and hoping to change careers, the first thing you need to do is see if your job is on this list.8. ... view article details

Welcome to the World of Sleep Disorders Not everybody is cut out for the 9-to-5 workaday world.Mounting evidence demonstrates half a million Americans have biological reasons for needing to work alternative shifts. In this fourth story (read Part I, Part II, and Part III here) about delayed sleep phase syndrome (also DSPS, or delayed sleep), you’ll meet Julie Peggar, an ethnographer who suffers from this type of circadian rhythm disorder. Peggar, the president and chief storyteller at Gaze Ethnographic Consulting, Inc., shares insights from her world as a highly functional night owl w... view article details

How to Hire Good Employees: Save Time During the Hiring Process by Spotting Red Flags Early Today's job market is very tough; there are many more job hunters than available jobs. The good news for businesses is that it's a buyer's market. But at the same time, it can be overwhelming to sift through a mountain of resumes flooding your inbox or the resume repository. That's why you need to have an eagle eye for scoping out the best candidates. Here are some things to look for when embarking on your employee selection process: 1. Quality Cover Letter A quality cover letter can tell you a lo... view article details

“Please don’t take this offer” reads the first line of Amazon’s “Pay to Quit” proposition. The rest of the page explains how current Amazon warehouse employees can pocket cold, hard cash if they walk away from their posts and never look back. “Never looking back” is really part of the deal – employees that accept “The Offer” can never work at any Amazon facility or subsidiary again in their lifetime. We’ve all heard of companies offering bonuses to their employees to incentivize certain behaviors (referring employees, staying at the company for amount of years, meeting sales goals, etc.), but... view article details

Create and Hone Your Organizational Culture Based on your Business Personality Just as people have different personality styles, organizations have different styles, too. Organizational culture or style is influenced by many factors -- by the person or people who started it, by its current leaders, and by the surrounding geographic and societal conventions, as well as by the nature of the work it does. But even those employees who like their jobs could end up clashing with your organizational culture. According to the founder of the Center for Values Research, Dr. Charles Hughes, harmon... view article details

The foundation laid now often sets the tone for what the future will hold. This philosophy possesses very significant meaning in education. Selecting a place of higher learning definitely helps chart the course for future career opportunities and success. It may not be that any of the schools are necessarily wrong—it’s really about uncovering that one school that is right for you. A few things to consider: Ask the online-accredited colleges to send brochures and information packets about their programs. Seeing the quality and depth of information sent will help determine the type of education... view article details

If you work with a lot of Gen Xers or older millennials, you’ve probably heard a co-worker pay homage to the 1999 cult classic “Office Space” which continues to provide catharsis for anyone facing workspace woes. But, believe it or not, cubicles weren’t invented as some sort of practical joke. Organizations have tried to adapt their physical workspaces over time to maximize productivity and minimize distractions. And now, with the added foil of remote work opportunities, there’s a balance organizations must seek both in and out of the office. Does the “Open Office” Really Work? According to re... view article details

Are Vegan Workplaces the Way of the Future? Veganism is everywhere these days it seems. From the Impossible Burger, to restaurant chains like By Chloe, to Netflix documentary films like “What the Health” and “Earthlings,” the world can’t get enough of plant-based eating. There has been a 600% increase in people identifying as vegans in the U.S. in the last three years alone and that trend does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon. This is a far cry from decades prior when vegans were thought of as lentil-loving “hippies” – at the very fringe of society. These days, veganism is a popular li... view article details

A hermit thrush spots you hiking outside Waterbury after your visit to the Ben & Jerry’s Factory. He swoops down and lands on the snow-swept path in front of you. “Say human,” he begins in a charming New England accent, “are you an out-of-state remote work employee interested in moving to my beautiful state for money?” Remote Work Jobs in Vermont Thanks to Bill S-0094 recently passed in the state legislature and signed into law by Governor Phil Scott, Vermont is offering up to $10,000 for full-time employees of a business outside the state to move there on or after January 1st, 2019, and work ... view article details