What does it mean to work hard, really? The answer is different for everyone, but you might be curious to learn which states work the most hours per week or spend the least amount of leisure time per day. Using a variety of direct and indirect metrics such as these, the folks at WalletHub published a comprehensive ranking of the fifty U.S. states according to “how hard” their populations work. Here are the top 10 states and their respective total scores based on Wallethub’s methodology: Alaska: 69 North Dakota: 66 Wyoming: 62 South Dakota: 61 Nebr... view article details

Q. I've recently been offered a position in another company making $6,000 more than I earn now. When I gave notice, my current employer came back the next day and matched the prospective employer's offer. I called the prospective employer and said, 'My current employer offered me more money to stay. Would you consider upping the pay a little to get me?' Now, I've already accepted the prospective employer's first offer. Did I do the right thing?A. The trick with counteroffers is that nagging sensation that if they could afford to pay you more, why didn't they?But even if you're satisfied with y... view article details

Compensation SurveysPaying people fairly is good for business. Underpay, and employees will eventually look for a better offer. Overpay, and the payroll budget and profitability will suffer. That's why companies use market data to research the value of their jobs. But what is 'market data' anyway?To determine the prevailing rate for a job, companies can 'benchmark' jobs against compensation surveys that are detailed and specific to the companies' industries and regions. A good compensation survey uses standard, proven methods of data gathering and statistical analysis to determine how much com... view article details

Salespeople are a company's ambassadors to the world. They actively promote the company and its products and services. They are the front line between the company and its customers, and are typically the driving force of revenues - top-line company growth. These employees have a direct impact on how the marketplace perceives their employer and its products.The way salespeople conduct themselves is often a reflection of the company's sales compensation program; and how well the company does is often a reflection of the effectiveness of its commission program. A well designed sales compensation ... view article details

Forty years ago, economists predicted that the U.S. workforce was heading into a crisis of leisure - that people would soon have so much free time they wouldn't know what to do with it. As the impact of technology made more and more human labor redundant, it was widely assumed that a four-hour workday, or a three-day week, or even a six-month year would eventually be the norm. Those forecasts couldn't have been more wrong. The amount of time Americans spend at work has increased relentlessly over the last two or three decades. Harvard economist Juliet B. Schor, in her book The Overworked Ameri... view article details

On the hunt for a new job? We know job searching can be a stressful process and tricky to navigate. Lucky for you, we’ve compiled summaries of five articles that offer helpful advice: 1) Tips for Salary Negotiation  Some negotiation can go a long way to get you the salary you want and deserve. When negotiating a salary, it's important to know the market pay for a similar job in the same geographical region, industry, and company size to get a better idea of whether the offered salary amount is reasonable. Sometimes employers can’t meet your salary request, so think about negotiating for more b... view article details

Summer is on its way out. School is starting and fall is looming. But at least you got a nice relaxing vacation before your life kicks back into high gear.Wait, what's that you say? You didn't get a vacation? Too much work to be done? You're not alone.Depending on how you look at the numbers, Americans are some of the world's most industrious and dedicated workers, or we are profoundly overworked, our stress-fried brains in desperate need of some time away from the cubicle. Or maybe it's both.There's no doubt that American workers put in their hours: 1,741 per year, on average, according to th... view article details

Creative Approaches to Layoffs  It's the classic layoff problem. Relief from bottom-line pressure on the one hand; and low morale, bad publicity, and the loss of talented employees on the other. In the face of an economic downturn they believe to be temporary, companies need to be resourceful in looking for alternatives to the traditional layoff. In the past, some large employers forced to layoff workers have pulled together some very creative approaches to this dubious issue. Consulting powerhouse Accenture announced a voluntary sabbatical program known as 'Flexleave.' Offered to about 1,400 ... view article details

We all have our guilty pleasures, and one that continually draws me in from my DVR is “House Hunters International” on HGTV. Each episode, viewers watch as the subject of the show gives up their life at home and travels thousands of miles to an international destination in order to buy or rent a new home or apartment. Those of us playing at home are sucked in through a game show angle, trying to predict which of the three choices will be the winner.This show makes me very angry for several reasons.They never seem to choose the “right” house.When the agent says it’s “a little over your budget.”... view article details

It Starts with the CEO Chief executive officers (CEOs) get paid lots of money for being the top employees in the company. Why do they get paid so much? Like athletes and actors, CEOs provide a level of talent that is required to produce the desired product - in this case, a strongly performing company. The skills and responsibilities that come with the job of CEO are extreme and the number of people who can fill these roles is limited. That is why the market has determined that people with these skills are worth a lot of money to their companies. Only about 20 percent of a CEO's pay is base... view article details