Patagonia, the popular outdoor retailer, is providing its employees paid time off on November 6th so they are able to vote in the 2018 U.S. midterm elections. Following the same initiative for the 2016 presidential election, the company will close all its stores nationwide, its support center in Nevada, and its headquarters in California to give personnel uninterrupted time to travel to the polls. According to a 2014 Pew Research Center study, 35% of eligible voters said they were not able to vote in that year’s elections due to scheduling conflicts with work or school. In her own, candid word... view article details

Dear Annette,I am having some issues with a coworker who thinks I am there to do her job. How do I tactfully tell her I have a job of my own to complete, and don't have time for hers?Thanks,Nice GuyDear Nice Guy,This is an issue about People. And I don’t mean just people, I mean People.As I go about my daily routines - salons, color consulting, wardrobe, appointments for my dog Dickie - I travel with several hand-picked People. I have People to handle my schedule, People to introduce me to men, even People to write my columns for me. I trust my People and I pay them well. So I expect them to g... view article details

Q: 'My husband was offered a job in Florida. They flew me and him out there for a weekend and interviewed my husband. They offered him the job but their relocation of $5,000 was too low. We would be relocating ourselves, three kids and dog from Seattle, Washington. My husband asked for $8,000 and also itemized what we were using that amount for. First, last, security deposit on a house, ship one car and travel costs to drive while towing our third car and belongings. He was happy with the annual salary as cost of living is cheaper in Florida. My question is were we reasonable to counter their ... view article details

Few things are as challenging as looking for work. Making smart decisions involves a host of variables that may be quite contradictory. Figuring out where you want to work next involves balancing location (where you work), occupation (what you do), compensation (what you make), and availability (what jobs are open). The earliest stages of the job hunt are a lot like a game of MadLibs™. For starters, fill in the following blanks in this simple CareerMadLib: I want to be a(n)  (name of occupation)   working in  (name of location)   making   (annual salary) . Think About What Means the Most to ... view article details

Although the electronic age has made it much easier to learn at a distance, the roots of today's distance learning courses are more than 100 years old. Some date distance learning back to 1889, when it was used as a way to provide learning opportunities for teachers who were unable to attend Montreal's McGill University during the cold winter months to study for their degree.Of course, technology has cranked distance learning up to new levels of complexity never dreamed of by chilly McGill students. While originally entirely paper-based, distance learning evolved to include radio broadcasts, s... view article details

Working in the airline industry can take you places. Even from an elevation of only 110 feet -- the official above sea level height of the city of Everett – which is the site of The Boeing Company’s commercial airplane plant on Washington state's northernmost coast. The career path of Bridget Beckmyer-Johnson provides clear evidence of the 'sky’s the limit' type of opportunities available to the dedicated employee. Her passion for people and learning has transported her from an entry-level position as an airplane “sealer” all the way to management during her 15-year tenure at the plant.Between... view article details

Interview Basics  Despite the etiquette, formality, and inevitable fear factor, job interviews can actually be enjoyable as well as extremely informative. In an interview, where you and the prospective employer begin a mutual relationship based on observation and communication, you have just as much power as the interviewer. So forget the high stakes and have fun.The focus for both sides should be on the immediate benefits you can add to and get from the company. Use examples; emphasize thought processes rather than results; and turn negatives into positives.Research, research, researchBe read... view article details

Not Using Company Medical Benefits? Negotiate Other Perks Instead When it comes to the topic of negotiation, most people's main focus is on salary. As David Lee Roth reportedly once said, "Money can't buy you happiness, but it can buy you a yacht big enough to pull up right alongside it." However, an increasingly important factor in an overall compensation package is health benefits. According to a 2007 study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, since 2001 premiums for family coverage have increased 78%, while wages have risen 19% and inflation has risen 17%. In 2010 the OECD ranked the US #1 in t... view article details

Epidemic Outbreak – Will I Lose My Job or Get a Decrease in Salary? Over the past decade, the economy has continued to develop, and employment growth has been strong. The unemployment rate in the United States was close to a record-breaking low before the outbreak of the pneumonia. The Washington Post conducted an interview with more than 20 businesses and their workers, in which many Americans express how they have lost their jobs this week due to the new coronavirus pandemic. The pneumonia is hitting the U.S economy and bringing many industries to a standstill, wh... view article details

A few years ago, the Internal Revenue Service challenged the tax deductions a college professor took for losses he reported in his business as a book author.'They came in and said, 'OK, prove to us it's a business,'' recalled Joseph Newpol, a certified public accountant and tax attorney who advised the professor on how to deal with the IRS's scrutiny.'We showed them the history of his book writing activity and demonstrated that he didn't have income for several years,' recalled Newpol, who is also a professor in the tax and personal financial planning department at Bentley College in Waltham, ... view article details