Additional insights from the 2006 Stay at Home/Working Mom study include:Working moms get less sleep.Working Moms reported getting only 6.4 hours of sleep per night, versus 6.7 for the Stay at Home Moms.The study suggests that in a week, the extra 2 hours that the Working Moms devote to their two jobs results in 2 fewer hours of sleep.Working Moms and Stay at Home moms both spend roughly 4 hours per week nurturing the emotional needs of their kids in the “mom job” of psychologist. The big difference appears to be in the “mom job” of day care center teacher, with Stay at Home Moms reporting an ... view article details

Employees in approximately one-third of all companies are eligible for bonuses of some kind. Bonuses are given to employees to serve the following purposes: to create incentives to reduce costs; to pay people for doing a good job; and to encourage employees to think like shareholders.Bonuses reflect your level of responsibility in the organization, making up a larger portion of your total compensation as you take on more responsibility. To ensure accountability and to reward you for your responsibilities, companies tie portions of employees' pay to both individual and company successes. Corpor... view article details

Benefits can significantly increase the value of the compensation package. The costs for providing benefits such as health insurance, retirement , training, vacation and personal days, and other perks could be a significant percentage of each employee's salary.      Beyond Compensation  Compensation is more than just base pay. It is a total package that should address your overall well-being - financial, physical, emotional, even spiritual. As companies compete for talent in tight labor markets, many are rolling out better benefits to attract and retain the best workers. Companies often strive... view article details

Dear Annette,When placing photographs on one's desk, do you recommend a certain number of photographs or an ideal size and type of frame? My goal is to create more of a 'work' atmosphere than a 'home' atmosphere. FramedDear Framed,I have always thought my desk was an ideal place for photographs. Delightful sterling silver frames add a touch of whimsy to my work area and demonstrate once again that there will always be a place for engraving in the modern office. Since I use my computer very little, I like to put photos on my keyboard and monitor as well.It's so handy when friends ask who that f... view article details

Before negotiating an executive salary with a current or new employer, take some time to reflect on where your pay falls given the market data, the opportunities you face, and your current compensation.How little is too little?If you are making too little, assess yourself and your performance as honestly as possible. If you discover that your data is accurate, but you're underpaid - and that there are good reasons why you are underpaid - determine how to remedy it and create a plan with your current employer, or figure out what to do differently in your next post.Perhaps it's that someone else... view article details

Recycled. Upcycled. Eco-friendly. Sustainable. Organic. Everywhere you look signs, labels, and headlines make it clear that the country is going green. But how – if at all – does that translate into jobs?An estimated 3.4 million of U.S. jobs qualified as 'green' in 2011, according to a recent report from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, up nearly 5 percent over 2010. In the private sector, environmentally friendly jobs grew at an even faster rater: more than 7 percent, from 2.3 million to 2.5 million. Employment across all industries and categories, meanwhile, grew by just slightly more... view article details

Dear Annette,I have lunch about once a week with colleagues. It's fun and I like them, but they order higher-priced food than I do and then assume we're splitting the bill. I end up paying for more than I eat. How can I keep going to lunch but get them to pay their fair share? Miss Otis regretsDear Miss Otis,Good food, pleasant company, and the knowledge that you'd otherwise be missing important office gossip are all excellent reasons to dine with colleagues. Whether you have a working meal or a social one, breaking bread together has the potential to nourish a common bond and solidify relatio... view article details

In a study by the American Society for Training and Development, more than 750 U.S organizations provided data about their expenditures on training programs as a percentage of payroll and on a per-employee basis. Here's how they compare by industry on several key factors.Business sector Commitment to learningServices (hotels; professional, business, and personal services; educational, legal, social, and consumer services)High percentage spent on training and a significant increase in the use of new learning technologies, including computer-based training, the Internet, and teleconferencing.IT ... view article details

Who has the time, interest, or confidence to pick and track individual stocks (unless, of course, it's what you do for a living)? For those of us who don't, there are index funds. Every self-help guide on investing champions index funds as the safest gateway into the stock market. As portfolios of securities, indices are designed to match the performance of the market as a whole. They are essentially mutual funds that track the market, allowing even the least savvy investor to benefit from an expanding economy in a hands-off, lower-risk way. Most people have heard of the more famous indices su... view article details

'You need to devise a savings strategy that maxmizes your return. What's the best place for your savings? Knowing about the various options can help you build greater wealth for the future.'   Money Markets and CDs   Personal savings is the base of your financial pyramid. It is the foundation of your family's well-being and it's your starting point to building wealth. Starting a sound savings program isn't difficult, but it takes some thinking, planning, and commitment. Your first savings priority should be to build the money you'll want on hand for immediate and short-term needs. This money c... view article details