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- Report warns of a jump in unemployment from "fiscal cliff"
The U.S. jobless rate could be pushed above 10% if President Barack Obama and Congress fail to reach a compromise to avert the "fiscal cliff," Fitch warns, although the ratings agency said it's optimistic that lawmakers can avoid such a scenario. Meanwhile, with or without a deal, some of the biggest U.S. companies say they're scaling back capital-expenditure plans in the biggest such pullback since the recession. Reuters
(11/19),  The Wall Street Journal
(11/19)      
- How to stop the flow of bad hires into your company
If you've made a few bad hires, learn from them and start doing a better job investigating prospects' skills and work habits, Eric Holtzclaw writes. For example, try giving a job candidate a problem to work on "to get insight into how he will approach a task once on board," Holtzclaw writes. Inc. online (free registration)
(11/19)
- Why job roles shouldn't be set in stone
Companies can make more efficient use of their talent if they continuously assess which roles in the company have become irrelevant, and if they are willing to shift employees to different departments depending on talent needs, Amy Friedman writes. "The better an organization gets at mobilizing its talent so that it flows to the open and most appropriate roles, the more fluid the workforce becomes," she writes. TalentMgt.com
(11/19)
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- Auto-enrolled 401(k)s aren't without problems
While automatically enrolling workers in 401(k) plans might seem like a good idea, many workers don't increase their contribution levels past the minimum and don't qualify for a company match, Karen Blumenthal writes. Even auto-escalation features can produce savings levels that fall short of a match or of recommended savings rates, Blumenthal writes. Experts say employees should aim to save at least 10% of their pay and check to be sure their automatic investments aren't too costly. The Wall Street Journal
(11/16)
- Does your company need a wheel of fortune?
To keep his workers happy and engaged, Conductor CEO Seth Besmertnik holds regular meetings where workers are invited to spin a "Wheel of Fortune"-style wheel. The wheel can order workers to put on an impromptu talent show, take a day off, wear a crown around the office all day -- or have Besmertnik himself make an enraged face at them. "It lightens up the dialogue. As the company gets bigger, it helps everyone get to know people from other departments a little bit more," Besmertnik explains. The New York Times (tiered subscription model)
(11/17)
| Regulatory & Legal Update |
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- Measure would allow health insurance exemption for religious beliefs
A person could get an exemption from the Affordable Care Act if they were to file an affidavit with the Internal Revenue Service under a proposed bipartisan bill in the House. Under the measure, a person could claim that he or she doesn't have insurance for religious reasons, but would lose that exemption and face a penalty if they later took advantage of the health care law. The Hill/Floor Action Blog
(11/19)
- Try these opening lines while networking
Approaching a small group at a conference and asking "What am I interrupting?" is a great way to join a conversation without being awkward, David Spark writes. A straightforward "Can I join you?" also works, he writes, while noting that one of the worst things you can do is ask "How can I help you?" right away. "It's bogus. Avoid it and avoid the person who asked the question way too early," Spark writes. SparkMinute.com
(11/16)
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- Researchers: Midlife crisis isn't limited to humans
Humans aren't the only ones that encounter a midlife slump, according to primate research that recognized an overall drop in well-being among apes entering middle age. The researchers from the University of Edinburgh and the University of Warwick studied 508 great apes in facilities in five countries and found they follow a similar trajectory as humans, characterized by a happy youth, an unhappy middle age and a post-crisis rebound as they enter the twilight of their lives. TG Daily
(11/20)
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