(ARA) – As the economy continues to struggle, an increasing number of people are faced with the unfortunate prospect of losing their job. The numbers are startling — by February 2009, the U.S. unemployment rate had risen to 8.1 percent and the number of unemployed Americans had increased by 5 million over the last year.

One of the primary concerns facing the recently unemployed is the loss of health benefits. Most U.S. workers receive health benefits through their employers, so they associate health insurance with employment. As unemployment rises, more people must find a way to pay for health insurance on their own.

Unfortunately, most Americans are unfamiliar with the options that they have as individual consumers. A recent survey conducted by Aetna found that the majority of consumers were unaware of an important option — individual health insurance plans. The survey also found that many consumers had significant misperceptions about the cost of coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, also known as COBRA, another insurance alternative which can cover a person for up to 36 months after losing a job.

“Our research found that 69 percent of consumers had never heard of individual health insurance plans or did not know much about them, and 38 percent said they expected to pay the same premiums for COBRA coverage as when they were employed when they could actually pay almost double in many instances,” says Frank McCauley, head of Aetna’s Consumer Business Segment. “With more and more people entering the individual health insurance market, it is essential for people to have a clear understanding of all of the options that are available to them.”

Knowing All of Your Options
According to McCauley, there are a number of different options that people should consider in this situation. This includes becoming a dependent on their spouse’s plan; receiving coverage through an alumni association or club membership; or finding out if they are eligible for free or low-cost state programs. Almost 11 million Americans are actually eligible for these free or low-cost plans, such as Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance Programs (SCHIP), but are not enrolled and remain uninsured.

Another option is COBRA coverage, which allows people to keep the same coverage they had through their employer, even after they lose their job.

While this serves as a good safety net, it can be expensive. Families USA, a consumer health organization, found in January 2009 that the average national premium to cover a family with COBRA eats up almost 84 percent of unemployment benefits.

A temporary solution to the high cost of COBRA came as part of the national economic stimulus package. Under this package, people who were laid off (or lose their jobs) between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009 are eligible for a 65 percent subsidy to help them pay for COBRA coverage. This means they will have to pay 35 percent of the usual cost of COBRA.

However, even with this subsidy, many consumers may be able to find a more affordable individual health insurance plan. Many insurers sell these plans directly to consumers, and McCauley says that Aetna has a wide range of plan designs.

“We have plans that are similar to what a person would receive from their employer, as well as lower-cost options that might be a better fit for their budget,” McCauley adds.

People can go to Aetna’s Web site www.aetnaindividual.com to learn more about these plans, get a quote and even apply online. McCauley adds that consumers can also go to a Web site like www.ehealthinsurance.com to compare plans from different insurers.

To help educate consumers on all of the different health insurance options that are available to them, Aetna also developed information on the Plan for Your Health Web site www.planforyourhealth.com. This free site is a good starting point when searching for health insurance on your own.

Questions to Consider
As you start to search for the right health insurance option for you, McCauley says there are three questions that every consumer should keep in mind:
* How long do you expect to go without insurance? Not having insurance for a few months is very different from not having it for a few years.
* How much coverage do you need? A young man looking for his first job and a mother of two who owns her own business will make very different choices.
* How much do you want to pay? A lower premium (the amount you pay each month) might seem to be the best way to save a few bucks. Just be sure to find out how much more you will have to pay if something happens to you.
Whichever option a person chooses, it is extremely important to find some type of coverage.

“Health insurance is one of the primary ways that people can protect both their health and their financial well-being,” says Tracey Baker, a certified financial planner and co-author of “Navigating Your Health Benefits For Dummies”. “Even during difficult financial times, it is important to try to provide this security for you and your family.”

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Tags: COBRA, Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, health insurance options, insurance, insurance after layoff, Medicaid, SCHIP, State Children’s Health Insurance Programs

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(ARA) – Widespread unemployment has made job security a priority for many families. Amid rising job uncertainty, the automotive industry has a variety of opportunities for those interested in a hands-on, service-oriented career.

“The automotive industry usually makes the news when it comes to manufacturing job loss. This gives the impression that good automotive jobs are few and far between. But that just isn’t the case,” says Brad Smart, transmissions instructor at WyoTech in Long Beach, Calif. “While it’s true that careers in automotive manufacturing are becoming more limited, the future is bright for skilled service technicians.”

The Department of Labor reports that service careers in the automotive industry are expected to grow at around 16 percent through 2016. The DOL estimates that approximately 110,000 new positions will be added between 2006 and 2016, with even larger demand resulting from the large number of service technicians who plan to retire.

The right training will be essential, however, and prospects are best for those who have completed a technical degree. “The automotive industry is becoming increasingly sophisticated and technological, so proper training is important. There will be high demand for those with the right training,” says Smart.

Joe Bojorquez, automotive instructor at WyoTech in Long Beach, Calif., explains why automotive service jobs continue to be in demand. “Because consumers are keeping their cars longer, demand for vehicle service and repair are on the rise,” says Bojorquez. A recent report from JD Power and Associates found that in 2008, consumers are keeping their vehicles for 71 months on average, up from 67 months in 2007, mostly for economic reasons.

“While manufacturing jobs are currently in transition — service jobs never are. That’s why a job in automotive service will be a secure career option over the next few decades,” says Bojorquez. He also explains that the service department is the largest department of any car dealership and its staff must manage both the technical problems of the car, as well as administrative and customer relations duties. With baby boomers expected to retire in record numbers, demand for employees in the service sector is expected to remain high.

Moreover, Bojorquez explains that the industry offers jobs that appeal to a wide range of interests, and options for advancement abound for those with the right training. “Jobs in automotive service range from hands-on service technicians to management positions. There are also opportunities for individuals to specialize in a specific area such as lubrication, detailing or customer service.”

One promising area of specialization for automotive service workers is in diesel engine repair and service. The Department of Labor reports that diesel engine technicians held approximately 275,000 jobs in 2006 and are expected to grow at a rate of approximately 11 percent through 2016. Usage of diesel engine vehicles is rising steadily, as more trucks and buses are used to ship freight across the country. And experts predict that the rising use of diesel engines in buses, trucks and increasingly, passenger vehicles, will fuel new jobs in the field.

Chad Enyeart, diesel/advanced diesel department coordinator at WyoTech’s Laramie, Wyo., campus explains that diesel engines have a lot of advantages over gasoline engines. “Diesel engines are more durable and economic than gasoline engines. And as diesel engines continue to improve their environmental standards, they will be used more frequently,” says Enyeart.

Another area that offers a whole new line of work in automotive sales and service is the huge growth of alternative fuel vehicles. Faced with incredible pressure to reduce dependence on gas and reduce emissions, most car producers are now on a fast track to offer electric cars and hybrids. Large car manufacturers including Ford, Toyota and GM either already have electric cars in stock, or plan to add them in the next two years.

“Alternative fuel vehicles open up a whole new area of automotive jobs. For those graduates who have had the proper training in hybrid engine maintenance, electric cars can offer great career opportunities and long-term job security,” says Enyeart.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Tags: auto service technicians, automotive industry, automotive jobs, service technicians

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Career expert: work awaits the well-rested who leverage technology, self promotion

(ARA) – Job No. 1 for the American worker? Better sleep.

With so many Americans unemployed — 5.3 million joined the jobless rolls since 2008 — there’s increased urgency to stand out from the competition, says Tempur-Pedic wellness adviser John M. McKee, founder and chief executive officer of the international coaching practice BusinessSuccessCoach.net.

McKee, a 30-year veteran of corporate boardrooms and executive suites and an expert in career development and success, says those trying to combat the longer work days and added stress of the economic downturn need to first focus on getting better sleep at night.

More than 90 percent of Americans have experienced a problem at work because of a poor night’s sleep, according to Tempur-Pedic’s 2009 Wellness Survey. One in four admit to shirking duties on the job for the same reason, either calling in sick or napping during work hours.

“Unfortunately many people in the workforce today are failing to recognize the important connection between their level of sleep and their professional performance,” says McKee, who has partnered with Tempur-Pedic to help his clients become more successful on the job by becoming better sleepers. “Ultimately, less will get done the more you stay up at night.”

A good night’s sleep begins with a supportive and comfortable mattress, like those offered by Tempur-Pedic. For optimal performance, and the best night’s sleep, The Better Sleep Council recommends consumers assess the wear and tear on their mattress after five to seven years of use and create a worry-free bedroom environment. A dark, quiet room without work-related materials and distractions like a TV or computer is critical for sound, quality sleep.

McKee adds that in today’s economic environment there are a few additional ways workers can help themselves in the areas of self-promotion and digital technology.

“It’s not always the hardest working person who gets the promotion. Successful professionals understand it’s necessary to be visible in the workplace and keep the ‘powers that be’ appraised of their achievements,” McKee says.

First, employees and job seekers should fine tune their “elevator speech,” a short and sweet personal introduction for chance encounters with a boss or a new business contact. Second, they can also be looking for easy ways to share success with their bosses.

Third, today’s worker needs to understand how to make the best use of modern technology for their individual gain. There are now more ways than ever to keep up with colleagues and friends and develop a personal brand. Web sites like LinkedIn — which currently has more than 37 million members — allow for professional and interest-based networking and provide a springboard for job searches and professional introductions.

“But remember, no networking site will be beneficial to your present or future job if you don’t keep it up-to-date with your most current interests and accomplishments,” McKee says.

For more success tactics and tips, visit www.businesssuccesscoach.net, or to learn more about the Tempur-Pedic sleep experience from satisfied owners, visit www.tempurpedic.com/owners.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Tags: napping during work, sleep

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(ARA) – First, the bad news: there is a growing shortage of veterinarians, particularly in the fields of public health and food safety. The good news: as a result, young veterinarians can get expensive school loans comped.

It’s long been acknowledged that there is a shortage of food animal veterinarians in rural areas. Now, a new report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office shows that there are also shortages of veterinarians who are employed by the federal government. The Food Safety and Inspection Services, which is responsible for inspecting all meats we eat or export, has a 15 percent shortage. A GAO report says “a lack of veterinarians has impaired the agency’s ability to meet its food safety responsibilities.” Furthermore, the Agricultural Research Service, which conducts research on diseases such as avian influenza, has a 12 percent veterinary shortage.

“The shortage of food safety and public health veterinarians has become a national crisis and it’s really put food safety in America in jeopardy,” explains Dr. James Cook, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association. “The good news is that many states, the federal government, and even the AVMA have begun college-loan repayment programs to entice young veterinarians into this field. So if you’re interested in working with farm animals or in public health, this could be a very good time to go to veterinary school.”

The federal government has $4.8 million available in funding for its school loan repayment program, called the National Veterinary Medical Services Act, also known as NVMSA, which should start offering loan repayments this fall.

“The grants will be spread over a number of years,” explains Dr. Mark Lutschaunig, head of the Washington, DC offices of the AVMA. “The finer points of NVMSA haven’t been determined yet, but it is our hope that veterinarians could earn as much as $25,000 a year for the first two years and then $35,000 for the third and fourth years if they agree to serve an underserved area like rural food supply veterinary medicine.”

Dr. Jennifer McKee, a young veterinarian working on farms around Hendersonville, N.C., says that she’s witnessed the shortage firsthand. In her area some farmers have had to kill livestock that may have been saved because of the scarcity of veterinarians.

“I’ve had to drive up to two hours one way to serve a client because of the shortage,” she explains. She believes that NVMSA is needed and plans on applying when it starts.

“It’s what I love to do, to work with large animals, but my veterinary school loans are over $140,000,” McKee says. “This would really help support me while I continue to work in an area that I love.”

Many states, including Ohio, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Washington, Wyoming and Kansas, have created state school loan repayment incentives for young veterinarians, and more are being passed by state legislatures every year.

Garrett Stewart, a second year veterinary student at Kansas State University veterinary school, is currently enrolled in Kansas’ incentive program, which offers students $20,000 a year for each year they practice in an area of need in the state

Stewart said the program should help fight a serious “brain drain” in Kansas. Last year, only 13 KSU veterinary school graduates out of a class of 118 stayed in Kansas.

“There is a pretty good chance that I would have left Kansas without the help I received from this program,” says Stewart, who grew up on a ranch in Washington, Kan. “This will help me to stay in Kansas and work with large animal medicine, which is what I love.”

There are also generous, privately funded incentive programs that are being developed for veterinary students. The AVMA and its charitable arm, the American Veterinary Medical Foundation, are currently developing an ambitious plan to offer their own veterinary school loan repayment program offering $20,000 to $30,000 a year over four years to young veterinarians willing to practice in rural areas.

“We are seeing a serious shortage in the number of new graduates going into food animal practice, particularly into rural areas. This program is intended to identify up to 50 new graduates a year and make it more economically feasible for them to go into rural agricultural practice,” explains Dr. Ron DeHaven, chief executive officer of the AVMA. “It is an exciting program, and we have been overwhelmed by the positive response we’ve received from our corporate sponsors.”

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Tags: American Veterinary Medical Association, National Veterinary Medical Services Act, NVMSA, public health, veterinarians, veterinary medicine, veterinary school, working with farm animals

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(ARA) – If you’ve got a hobby, or even just a vision, it doesn’t take much to turn your dream into an online business that can provide extra income or even a backup plan in the event of a job loss.

In fact, LegalZoom.com, the nation’s leading online legal document and filing service, saw a 19 percent jump in customers forming limited liability companies (LLCs) in the fourth quarter of 2008 (compared to the year before), even while the economy as a whole shrank 3.8 percent. Celebrities are even joining the trend.

When Kim Kardashian, one of the most stylish celebrities in Hollywood, started ShoeDazzle.com, she turned to LegalZoom.com to help her take her passion for fashion and turn it into a thriving online business.

According to Kardashian, some of the most important steps to turning your own passion into starting your business include:

* Find your passion first.
Needless to say, passion is not the only thing you need to be successful in starting a business. You will also need lots of motivation and patience. But passion is essential as it will help you stay focused and keep moving without giving up easily.

* Make sure there is a demand for the business.
Do research to determine the demand for products or services from comparable businesses. You will find it helpful to see how quickly related businesses have been able to grow.

* Learn from others.
Check with similar companies and speak to other professionals who have experience in the industry. Most entrepreneurs are open to sharing their experiences and advice with those who won’t directly compete with them. This is a crucial initial step in determining your own likelihood of success.

“LegalZoom.com makes it easy and affordable for entrepreneurs like Kim to start a business,” says Brian Liu, co-founder and chairman of LegalZoom. “Whether it’s forming a corporation, LLC, or even filing a DBA, LegalZoom.com offers entrepreneurs the best online resource for learning about different business structures and then starting the business online.”

For more information and to find the necessary legal forms to start your business, visit LegalZoom.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Tags: LLCs, online business

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(ARA) – Cardiac arrest, accidents and injuries will strike millions of American workers this year, according to government statistics. When one of your co-workers collapses in the cubicle next to you, will you know what to do to help? Does someone in your office know CPR or how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED)?

No matter how large or small your company, the employees, managers and owners can all benefit from having a pro-active workplace safety plan in place, with employees trained in critical life-saving skills. Your ability to quickly respond to an emergency may immediately save a co-worker’s life in case of serious accident or illness, and help prevent less serious problems from developing into something worse.

The American Heart Association recommends every workplace have a safety plan that includes three elements — plan, practice and prevent:

Plan — Create a safety plan for workplace illness or injury and identify employees who will act as first responders in case of emergency. The plan helps ensure everyone will know what to do if an emergency occurs.

Practice — The proper response to an emergency also requires practice. Your response team should routinely practice together, especially if you have emergency response equipment like AEDs on hand. Practice will help make everyone comfortable with the equipment, work together as a team and be as prepared as possible.

Prevent — By responding to injuries quickly and effectively, you can help prevent them from developing into more serious conditions. Some injuries or illnesses that start out as minor problems can quickly develop into life-threatening situations if not treated immediately.

Remember to have a plan for taking care of the emotional well-being of employees who act as first responders, regardless of the outcome. Carolyn Trokan, a member of the employee emergency team at Trans-International LLC in Menomonee Falls, Wisc., remembers the emotional turmoil she experienced after helping revive a co-worker who suffered cardiac arrest on the job.

“I did a lot of crying for a month after,” Trokan says. “I felt extreme gratitude for being able to make a difference — and very humbled.” It’s common for rescuers to experience troubled sleep, flashbacks to the event, and a host of confused emotions. Adrenaline and its effects can last for several days after a rescue.

The training Trokan and her co-workers received in an American Heart Association-administered course helped them save a life. The association is a resource for companies that want to create a safety plan in their own workplaces, and the organization’s training addresses the stress rescuers may feel after an incident. The AED Implementation Guide is just one tool offered by the American Heart Association to help direct companies in establishing a workplace safety program.

To download a free copy of the guide, or for more information about how the American Heart Association can help you establish a workplace emergency plan, visit www.americanheart.org/workplacesafety or call (877) AHA-4CPR.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Tags: AED, CPR, safety, safety plans, workplace safety

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(ARA) – More and more businesses are becoming aware of the impact that their daily actions have on the environment. They are also discovering that being environmentally friendly can potentially equate to big savings. But how does the smart business owner know where to start?

USA Today Small Business Columnist Steve Strauss has some simple tips to help green your business – just in time for Earth Day. Here are Strauss’ top recommendations that can even benefit your bottom line:

Use energy-efficient lighting.
Simply replace incandescent lights (standard, flood, halogen) or T12 (1 1/2-inch diameter) fluorescent lights with CFs or LEDs to reduce energy use. Strauss has seen how these inexpensive changes can reduce your power bill by up to 20 percent, and the new bulbs can provide better color and less flickering.

Use energy efficient equipment.
Invest in office equipment that is Energy Star-certified to ensure that it meets the Department of Energy’s green standards. A wide range of appliances for the home and office including computers, monitors, refrigerators and dishwashers are certified.

Save paper and space by using two-sided printing.
Use all-in-one devices that offer automatic duplex (two-sided) printing like the Brother MFC-9840. The duplex printing feature can reduce your paper costs, your necessary storage space (by using less paper for the same amount of documents) and may even save some trees. It’s a fast, robust machine that’s also cost-effective and Energy Star-certified. According to the Energy Star program, certain benefits can mean lower energy bills while even prolonging the life of an appliance. Visit EnergyStar.gov for more details.

Install motion sensors and timers.
Conference room and office lighting is often left on even when the room is not in use for hours. According to Entrepreneur Magazine, installing occupancy sensors in a 12,500-square-foot office can save $1,130 annually. Also remember that electronic equipment often continues to use electricity even if they are turned off but remain plugged in. To ensure that your equipment is not using additional electricity when it is turned off, consider plugging the equipment into a power strip with a timer.

Recycle your consumables.
Some retailers offer cash incentives to recycle your print cartridges, so Strauss recommends finding a local retailer that offers this service.

Purchase recycled paper products and materials.
Printing paper, Post-It notes, envelopes, folders, pads of paper are all available in recycled versions, typically for the same price. Some recycled paper prices are now equivalent to conventional paper due to increase in demand, refinement of the papermaking process and the significant reduction in energy and water needed to make recycled paper.

Investigate green power options.
Many local utilities offer customers the opportunity to buy renewable power that comes from wind farms and other sustainable sources, and the new stimulus bill includes a number of tax incentives for alternative energy sources. Talk to your building manager and accountant to see if solar panels or the purchase of power from other renewable sources makes sense for you.

Reuse and recycle as much as possible.
Shipping boxes, scrap paper, folders and other office materials can often be re-purposed. If not, be sure to have bins handy for recycling. If your bins are not clearly differentiated, be sure to label them with a P-Touch labeler so everyone knows the correct bins to use.

Rally the troops.
Create a “Green Team” of employees to come up with other ideas for greening your business. Many employees are passionate about the environment and this gives them an opportunity to activate around a cause they care about while improving your bottom line.

Attract sales leads.
Keep track of your progress and share results with local media. Positive press coverage can help you draw new sales leads and enhance your image among existing customers.

Going green and being energy efficient with your business is a great way to help the environment and potentially affect your bottom line in a meaningful way. For more information about Brother’s printers, all-in-ones and labeling systems, visit www.brother-usa.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Tags: Earth Day, eco-friendly business, green business

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(ARA) – Everyone, businesses and individuals alike, is struggling in today’s economy. When you need extra income or are facing a layoff, taking your talents online can generate big business and even a new career. Whether you already have a Web site or are considering one, it’s important to think about how to attract customers to your business.

Nearly everyone uses search engines to find a product or service, so having your business show up in a Google search is far more important than an advertisement in the phone book. In fact, according to a 2008 eMarketer study, only 2 percent of advertisers believe they receive a worthwhile return on investment with a Yellow Pages placement, compared to more than 50 percent who engage in online marketing and advertising. Small, strategic investments in online marketing can make your business Web site much more visible, and grow your revenues.

Get Found by Search Engines
Search engines scan Web sites for keywords to determine what the site is about, and then rank the sites in order of relevance. To get your Web site listed in these natural (also called organic) listings, many businesses engage in search engine optimization (SEO). SEO incorporates specific key phrases into the content and programming code, so that a search engine is more likely to reward your site with higher rankings. SEO also includes building up a Web site’s popularity by getting links to it from other Web sites.

According to a report from iProspect and Jupiter Research, 62 percent of searchers click on a link within the first page of results. Using SEO is a great way to increase your site’s natural search rankings and drive more traffic to your Web site (and more revenue to you).

TIP: For the best results in SEO, start early. If you can incorporate optimization into the structure of your Web site as you build it, you’ll already be ahead of the curve. Consult an SEO expert about ways to get your site maximum exposure on search engines. Although SEO is an ongoing process, getting your site designed with SEO in mind can save a lot of time and effort down the road.

Turn Visitors into Customers
Pay Per Click (PPC) advertising is a cost-effective way to drive traffic through your doors, increase online orders, grow your list of contacts and get visitors to take action on your Web site. PPC is an advertising method in which ads are displayed on a search engine result page like Google or Yahoo!. These advertisements, or sponsored links, appear at the top or on the right side of a search results page. An advertiser only pays for an ad when a visitor clicks on it and is taken to the advertiser’s Web site.

“Unlike traditional advertising, only consumers that are already searching for products and services you offer will see your PPC ads,” says Harry Brooks, director of search marketing for Network Solutions. “This can lead to a friendlier user experience for shoppers, less wasted ad costs for you, and a higher conversion rate for your ad campaigns all around.”

Whether a customer is shopping for the product you create or the consulting service you provide, PPC ads can reach the right customers at the right time — when they are ready to buy. A recent study by Piper Jaffray & Co. found that the average cost per acquisition for search engine advertising was $8.50 versus $20 for advertising in the phone book.

FACT: According to a study by iProspect, when a user encounters a PPC ad and an organic SEO listing on the same search result page, there is:
* a 45 percent increase in orders.
* a 45 percent increase in actions taken on the Web site
* a 43 percent increase in page views
* 39 percent more time spent on the site

Get the Word Out
Online Media Marketing is another way to market and advertise your business online. Through press releases and e-mail campaigns, customers learn about your business and can find your products and services more easily. If you’ve got exciting news about your company — sales are up, you have a new product or you’ve recently appeared at an industry event — an online press release can build your site’s popularity and boost your search engine rankings even more. Targeted e-mail campaigns go the extra mile to reach out to your customers through newsletters and announcements.

On the Internet, it is all about driving customers to your Web site, so the more you distribute information about your business electronically, the better.

TIP: In addition to distributing press releases online, posting releases onto a “news” section of your Web site is a great way to keep your site’s content fresh, which in turn helps with SEO rankings.

For more information and more tips on how to get your Web site noticed, visit http://education.networksolutions.com

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Tags: online, online business, putting a business online

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(ARA) – Gone are the days when women were expected to stay at home to dote on their children and husbands. Today’s women have broken through the glass ceiling and are finding their way to corner offices around the country.

Juggling life both inside and outside the home can be a challenge — that’s why it’s important to strike the proper balance between work and personal lives. Luckily, there are specific strategies that women can implement to strike a healthier balance.

Find Work that Works
With today’s struggling economy and families requiring dual incomes, finding an employer that offers flexibility is often the key to both a successful career and personal life. And finding employers with this approach may be easier than you think. For example, The HON Company, a leading manufacturer of office furniture, understands the importance of family and instills a culture that enables work-life balance. Beyond creating quality office furniture that creates a comfortable, flexible and “home-like” work setting, HON offers its members perks such as flexible spending accounts to help offset the costs of daycare, local YMCA fitness center allowances and family-oriented activities.

“A member committee plans monthly outings and provides opportunities for members to purchase discounted passes for local family events,” says Tim Heth, vice president of member and community relations for HON. “Additionally, members are allotted one hour of paid volunteer time each week to utilize in any way they wish — from local Habitat for Humanity projects to their children’s PTA. Each benefit helps improve employee morale for both our female and male members.”

“Make sure you go to work with someone that has the same philosophy as you do,” says Tammy Vasilatos, owner of Tammy Vasilatos CPA, LLC, a 100 percent female accounting firm in El Paso, Tex. Vasilatos has created a family-friendly work atmosphere by offering flexible work schedules to her employees. She adds, “Don’t give up what you want, because you don’t need to do that anymore. The women before us had to, but we don’t.”

“I am more understanding of the importance of work-life balance,” says Michelle Horan, president and owner of Salka Office Furniture, a full-service office dealer in Meridian, Conn. “I am very flexible with hours and time off. I believe that taking care of good employees and customers is what leads to success.”

Set Realistic Time Schedules
While work deadlines are a necessary evil that you must complete, will anything bad happen if the dishes don’t get done or the bed isn’t made every day? No – so don’t sweat the small stuff.

Start each week with a realistic “to-do list” for both your work and home life. Check yourself each day to ensure that you are making progress and that your time allowances are in check. By the end of the work week, if you’ve completed enough tasks each day, your weekend can truly be enjoyed. And don’t sweat it if you didn’t get to the household chores. If you need to, you can hire a professional cleaning or landscaping service.

Leave Work at Work
With cell phones, laptops, PDAs and home offices, it has become blurry when the workday begins and ends. Be sure to separate your personal time from professional time by turning off your connections to the working world and turning on your connections with your family and friends.

Learn to Say No
If you’re a parent, you are probably a pro at saying “no” to your kids, so learn how to respectfully say no to projects that don’t fit within your schedule. Whether it’s taking the lead on a project at work, or coaching a soccer team, it’s okay to say no to projects that will bring you more stress than joy. As long as you are honest with your employers, they will most likely understand.

“Don’t be embarrassed or apologetic that you want to have both a career and a family,” adds Vasilatos. “Employers just want good quality work.” Plus, if you are in over your head, you may not be putting in your best work anyway.

While striking a work-life balance in today’s fast-paced world isn’t an easy task, by following these few guidelines, it is possible. “Now is a wonderful time to be a woman in the workforce,” says Vasilatos. “You really can have it all!”

For more information on The HON Company, visit www.HON.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Tags: Businesswomen, Work-life Balance

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Working from Home? So Are the Germs

Working from home may provide many benefits, but a break from germs may not be one of them. Why? A recent workplace study revealed that desktops in home offices harbor more bacteria than desktops in traditional offices.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2006 American Community Survey, nearly 5.5 million Americans worked at home, accounting for approximately 4 percent of the total workforce. Thanks to recent studies that find home-bound workers to be highly productive, telecommuting rates are ever-increasing, as many employers hire new employees to telecommute right from the start.

In the workplace study conducted by University of Arizona and sponsored by The Clorox Company, researchers sought to compare bacteria levels on common office surfaces in home-office and traditional-office environments. Four times as many bacteria were found on home desktops compared to traditional-office desktops.

“Although telecommuting offers many benefits like increased productivity and morale, workers at home need to practice the same healthy habits as the rest of the workforce,” says Dr. Charles Gerba, a microbiologist from the University of Arizona.

Samples were collected for the study from traditional-offices and home-offices in San Francisco, New York and Tucson. More than 400 surfaces were tested and samples were analyzed at the University of Arizona laboratories. The study shows home-offices are surprising offenders, though many surfaces in traditional-offices still contain high levels of bacteria.

“Surprisingly high germ levels in home offices may be due to the fact that people think their homes are already clean, or that the germs in their home offices are just their own and therefore harmless,” Gerba says. “But, regardless of whose they are, there’s a chance the germs can make you sick.”

Previous studies have investigated bacterial and viral levels in traditional office environments. In 2002, Dr. Gerba found that not only does the average office desk harbor 400 times more bacteria than the average toilet seat, but that cold and flu viruses were also found on office surfaces.

Today’s workforce is spending more time at their desks — the average work week steadies at about 47 hours according to Harris Interactive Poll — and even more people coming into work despite being sick, illness-causing germs can run rampant. This means longer hours spent working, and even eating, at your potentially germ-infected work area.

So how can employees help reduce the spread of illness-causing bacteria and viruses?

One good way to help reduce the spread of surface germs is to regularly clean your personal workspace with an easy-to-use disinfecting wipe like Clorox Disinfecting Wipes. Using just one disinfecting wipe as directed can dramatically reduce the bacteria and viruses that may make you sick.

Safe for use on most hard, non-porous surfaces, Clorox Disinfecting Wipes are pre-moistened and ready to use — just wipe, toss and you’re done. When used as directed, they also kill 99.9 percent of germs including viruses that may cause colds and flu. For more information, visit www.clorox.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Tags: germs, working from home

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