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December 1998

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Japanese trading company to cut 25 percent of its workforce (Wednesday, 12/30/98)
Nihon Keizai reports today that Nissho Iwai Corporation will cut 1,000 jobs by March of 2002. In the United States, the Los Angeles Times has announced an additional 100 job cuts. The paper has cut 14 percent of its workforce since last month.

Grim prospects for new Asian grads, but hot prospects in the U.S. (Wednesday, 12/30/98)
The class of 1999 faces a tough job market. Mary Jordan reports from Seoul for the Washington Post. Meanwhile, a new report from the National Association of Colleges and Employers finds a strong job market in the U.S. next year. Here's that story from Andrea Ahles of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Paper comments on evasions of mental health coverage (Wednesday, 12/30/98)
Today's Minneapolis Star Tribune says too many insurers are dancing around the provisions of the Mental Health Parity Act of 1996.

Welfare work requirement being met in most cases (Wednesday, 12/30/98)
Robert Pear reports that most states are meeting the federal work requirement for welfare recipients. Also in the New York Times today, David Sanger writes that Russia missed a $362 million debt payment Tuesday.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Child Health Research Project (Wednesday, 12/30/98)
Among the defining attributes of a worldwide have vs. have not gap is a high rate of child morbidity and mortality in underdeveloped countries. The Child Health Research Project from The Johns Hopkins University aims to produce benefits for many of the world's children.

German economy expected to weaken before it strengthens (Tuesday, 12/29/98)
The head of the Ifo Institute has told the Hamburger Abendblatt that he expects economic growth in Germany to dip in 1999. Alan Friedman of the International Herald Tribune says that many of Europe's business leaders fear that left-leaning politicians may be hoping for contradictory things: competitiveness and job creation. Things look considerably better for the strong U.S. economy. United States Secretary of the Treasury Robert Rubin expects strong growth and low inflation next year. Just to America's north, prospects are less strong for Canada during 1999. Gord McIntosh reports from Ottawa. Also, Don Thomas of the Edmonton Journal says that the head of the Alberta Federation of Labour feels that workers in Alberta aren't getting their share of the nation's income.

The new economy's impact on American politics (Tuesday, 12/29/98)
Politics in the United States has been changed forever by a fundamentally new economy, according to Washington Post columnist James Glassman. Regular viewers of PBS programs will recognize Mr. Glassman as the host of "TechnoPolitics" as well. Also in the Post today, an opinion about how the idea of reforming Social Security for free is an illusion. The costs will come later, according to this commentary.

The best places to work (Tuesday, 12/29/98)
Here are Fortune's new top 100 employers.

Y2K bug exterminated at SSA (Tuesday, 12/29/98)
Given the new economy's dependence on computers and the sluggish rate at which many organizations have been addressing the Y2K problem, there may very well be serious disruptions when New Years Day 2000 rolls around. Some are even forecasting a severe global recession as a consequence of what should have been one of the most preventable crisis in modern history. However, President Clinton reports that all is well at the Social Security Administration, which has been working on the Y2K problem for many years and now has everything under control.

Good report on Minnesota HMOs (Tuesday, 12/29/98)
Managed care has been in the news a lot lately, and some of the stories have been horror stories. However, Glenn Howatt of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that Minnesota's HMOs have been getting better at a number of things, but in news that isn't news, it is safe to say that there is room for improvement.

Economics hasn't become part of most people's basic education quite yet (Tuesday, 12/29/98)
Some years ago, a poll found that about 1 of 7 American adults couldn't locate the United States on a world map, while another found that, 450 years after Copernicus, about half of American adults indicated that they believed that the sun revolves around the earth or that they didn't know. However, it may be that the majority of Americans know more about geography and astronomy than economics. Mike Meyers tells about a new survey conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis and its grim findings.

AT&T doing better than expected on its job cuts (Tuesday, 12/29/98)
AT&T set out to cut 18,000 jobs, and it's a year ahead of schedule.

Welfare-to work works on Wall Street (Tuesday, 12/29/98)
Laura Meckler reports that Salomon Smith Barney is breaking new ground in the training of former welfare recipients for work in the brokerage industry.

The entertainment industry is a major employer (Tuesday, 12/29/98)
The entertainment industry is one of California's largest employers and one of America's major exporters. Here are more details from the Glendale News-Press.

Do you think about the people who made the products you buy? (Tuesday, 12/29/98)
Sandra Livingston of the Cleveland Plain Dealer writes about consumers who try not to leave their social conscience at home when they go shopping.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: World Trade Organization (Tuesday, 12/29/98)
The World Trade Organization supersedes GATT and is an organization of more than 130 countries that concerns itself with the rules governing trade among nations.

Pay gap may finally close in Australia (Monday, 12/28/98)
Australia has had an equal pay law for 30 years, but the pay of working women has continued to lag. That may change now because of a New South Wales case, as reported by the Australian News Network.

Strike at Arc de Triomphe yesterday (Monday, 12/28/98)
Workers at Paris' Arc de Triomphe were on strike yesterday, which shut down the popular tourist attraction.

German unions asked to reduce wage demands (Monday, 12/28/98)
Germany's economics minister and Bundesbank's president are asking unions to moderate their wage demands, saying that this will be necessary in order to reduce German unemployment. Sueddeutsche-Zeitung and other major papers have the story today.

Japanese builder must cut jobs (Monday, 12/28/98)
General contractor Fujita Corporation will cut 1,200 jobs by a year from next March as a condition of loan forgiveness, according to Nihon Keizai. Jobs are being cut in the United States too, for example at SPX Corporation in Michigan and Cooper Industries in Texas.

A year-end view from Japan's Economic Planning Agency (Monday, 12/28/98)
Japan's current problems can be traced to inaction during previous years, according to a new Japanese government report. Here's the story from Tokyo as written by Shigeyoshi Kimbura.

Newspaper's Board of Economists looks at the year ahead (Monday, 12/28/98)
Some major economists see a good 1999, but with some slowing. Also in the Minneapolis Star Tribune today, James Baillie has some comments about the pro bono work that lawyers do and why non-lawyers should donate some of their time too.

Belarus fur industry hit by economic troubles (Monday, 12/28/98)
Marina Babkina writes from Churilovichi, Belarus about the impact of the economic crisis in the former Soviet republics on fur producers.

What Clinton may be able to learn from France (Monday, 12/28/98)
Steve Hanke writes in Forbes and offers a case against raising the minimum wage in the U.S..

Why some temps want to be temps (Monday, 12/28/98)
A report from the National Association of Part-Time and Temporary Employees says that, while most temporary workers would prefer full-time jobs, many are temps because they want to be, and this San Jose Mercury News story explains why.

If you're good at counting, here's a job for you (Monday, 12/28/98)
The U.S. Census Bureau is hiring for the big year 2000 count. Here's the story from Myung Oak Kim of the Philadelphia Daily News.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: MoneyTalks with Michael Campbell (Monday, 12/28/98)
Canadian finance expert and broadcast personality Michael Campbell offers information and advice on the web too. Here's MoneyTalks with Michael Campbell.

Judge orders flight attendants to begin feeling better (Sunday, 12/27/98)
A federal judge has ordered an end to the "sickout" that resulted in the cancellation of many TWA flights, and the airline's operations are returning to normal.

Labor activist gets 10 years (Sunday, 12/27/98)
The Chinese government continues to express its morbid fear of ideas and the free flow of information in heavy-handed ways. Labor activist Zhang Shanguang has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Prospects for the global economy in 1999 (Sunday, 12/27/98)
Knut Engelmann writes that the world's financial system is still in sorry shape. Financial leaders have been searching for new ideas to apply to what appear to be new conditions. Don't expect any major breakthroughs next year, he says.

How an inadequate infrastructure is inhibiting Latin America's hi-tech progress (Sunday, 12/27/98)
CNN's Jeffery Zbar says that it isn't a shortage of people with hi-tech skills that is Latin America's principal problem in making it more a part of the global information economy.

Women still struggle to make gains in architecture (Sunday, 12/27/98)
Lisa Marie Dirks reports that American women have made more progress in law and medicine than in architecture. Also in the New York Times today, Michelle Cottle advises a correspondent on what to do about a bad career move.

What to expect from Europe's long-awaited single currency (Sunday, 12/27/98)
Anne Swardson writes in today's Washington Post that, while the Romans tried European monetary union, eleven late-20th century European states seem ready to actually make it happen. Edmund Andrews of the New York Times examines the likely consequences for the price of consumer items across Europe.

Why students are able to cheat more efficiently than ever before (Sunday, 12/27/98)
The Washington Post editorializes on Boston University's unsuccesful suit against Internet term paper mills. The paper also has some editorial thoughts on military pensions today. In a related story, Carey Goldberg writes in today's New York Times about the outward flow of military officers to the hot civilian economy.

Russia's problems certainly not just a slump in the biz cycle, writer says (Sunday, 12/27/98)
Serge Schmemann says that Russia has never had an economic boom, because it still has a precapitalist economy. Much of the country seems to be undergoing a process of deindustrialization too, which is leading some to think of the old Soviet period as the "good old days." Michael Wines writes that Belarus' president has been fantasizing about how this tiny former Soviet republic can lead the way backwards.

Brokers find that they can work nearly anywhere (Sunday, 12/27/98)
Joel Kotkin reports on why Wall Street may become more of an abstract idea than a place.

Remember "patients' rights?" (Sunday, 12/27/98)
Nationally syndicated columnist Jane Bryant Quinn tells how Washington has been distracted by the Clinton debacle. Managed care accountability isn't the top thing on the minds of federal politicians at the moment, but quite a lot is happening at the state level, she says.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: The HMO Page (Sunday, 12/27/98)
If you would like to better understand the case against HMOs, The HMO Page might be able to help you, because it surely has a point of view. It comes from a group that calls itself "Physicians Who Care."

TWA "sickout" strands passengers (Saturday, 12/26/98)
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that a labor conflict resulted in the cancellation of more than 90 Christmas flights.

What came apart begins to come back together (Saturday, 12/26/98)
Not so long ago, Russia and Belarus were two of fifteen Soviet Republics, but, when the old Soviet Union underwent "smithereening," all went their separate ways as independent states. However, Svetlana Kovalyova reports from Moscow that a tentative step is being taken to rejoin Belarus with Russia. Is it the beginning of a larger trend? Or, will Russia itself disintegrate, as some observers have forecast? Greg Myre reports from Yukhno-Sakhalinska, Russia on the very grim economic situation faced by Russians in remote areas who are out of sight, out of mind, without help, mostly on their own, and less and less connected to the Russian government.

More on Japan's worsening economic situation (Saturday, 12/26/98)
International observers weren't optimistic that Japan's strategy for getting its economy out of its worst post-war recession would work adequately, and Todd Zaun of the Washington Post reports on the latest bad news released by the Japanese government. Nihon Keizai reports from Tokyo that the government will cut 3,564 government jobs by April 1 of 1999, and Asahi Shimbun's Tatsuro Hoshima reports on the depth of permanent change that may be occurring in the way Japan does things. For instance, lifetime employment soon may be found only in the history books. Also, Japanese companies under pressure are replacing more and more permanent employees with less expensive temps, a trend characteristic of the new economy in other regions as well.

The difference a month can make (Saturday, 12/26/98)
Choose the month of your retirement carefully, suggests columnist Kathy Kristof. Also in today's St. Paul Pioneer Press, advice on how to provide basic financial education to your children, and a look at how the euro will change things for European travelers. Also, George Beran reports that a growing number of entrepreneurs are starting businesses on their credit cards, despite astronomical interest rates, and nationally syndicated Chicago Tribune columnist tells why a "balance day" might be good for employees, their families, and employers as well.

Global economy hits single parents (Saturday, 12/26/98)
Mike Robinson reports in the Arizona Republic that trouble can spread fast in the new global economy, and doesn't respect nationally boundaries. Here's how a single mother and her family in Iowa have been affected by events in Russia.

Labor activist on trial in China (Saturday, 12/26/98)
It doesn't take nearly so much to be regarded as a criminal in China as in most other places. Here's an example from Christiaan Virant who writes from Beijing.

Firefighters and PTSD (Saturday, 12/26/98)
Post-traumatic stress disorder was first identified as a genuine clinical syndrome because of the experience of some Vietnam War veterans. However, persons who have been crime victims or victims of civilian disasters, among other things, can also develop the disorder. Now, a study reported in the current edition of the American Journal of Psychiatry finds that firefighters are prone to it.

A stimulus plan in Taiwan (Saturday, 12/26/98)
Taiwan has managed to avert the more severe aspects of Asia's economic storm, but the Taiwanese government thinks that a stimulus package is necessary. However, as the Washington Post reports, it's controversial, because some believe that it addresses only short-term issues. While Taiwan has done relatively well during a time of great economic hardship across Asia, on the other hand of the economic (and political) "wellness" scale has been Indonesia. Seth Mydans of the New York Times reports that things there are still very precarious.

Holding the line on Medicare costs gets more difficult (Saturday, 12/26/98)
Congress is under pressure from all directions in the health care industry to boost Medicare payments. Meanwhile, employers have been finding ways to get around the "mental health parity" provision of a 1996 law.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Business Owners Toolkit (Saturday, 12/26/98)
CCH Incorporated has been a source of information to business and tax advisors for decades. If you're engaged in small business, you may want to "bookmark" their Business Owners Toolkit and refer to it often.

Russian parliament supports the new budget (Friday, 12/25/98)
Russian Prime Minister Primakov has succeeded in gaining initial approval for his country's crisis budget. Many experts outside Russia aren't optimistic that it will perform as intended, however.

Record unemployment in Japan (Friday, 12/25/98)
The unemployment rate in Japan hit 4.4 percent in November, the highest level since the country began gathering data through the use of current methods in 1953. Sandra Sugawara writes from Wakayama, Japan about how that city's situation can help explain why the Japanese economy's condition continues to worsen despite the government's stimulus attempts. Excess capacity is a major part of the problem, she says.

...But, in the U.S., the unemployment picture gets even better (Friday, 12/25/98)
The United States Department of Labor released data yesterday showing that first-time jobless claims declined to their lowest level last week in nearly a year and a half. Edward Wyatt writes in today's New York Times that economists are seeing signs that the American economy will continue expanding for a while.

HMO comparisons may be possible soon (Friday, 12/25/98)
The U.S. government may release its findings on HMOs in January, according to Phil Galewitz. A large amount of data has been gathered, but there are continuing concerns about its reliability.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: CareerLab (Friday, 12/25/98)
CareerLab is one of the larger career-related sites on the web, containing more than 650 pages of information, according to its developers.

Duma likely to vote on budget today (Thursday, 12/24/98)
The Duma is the lower house of the Russian parliament and is expected to vote today on the austerity budget for 1999. Prime Minister Primakov says he will resign if the parliament doesn't approve the budget.

Personal incomes up in the U.S. (Thursday, 12/24/98)
Personal incomes rose an average of 0.5 percent in November in the United States.

Tech support is paying well (Thursday, 12/24/98)
Peter Behr reports that computer technical support people have been getting nice raises in the Washington, D. C. region.

CEO's wife alleges harassment (Thursday, 12/24/98)
Neal St. Anthony reports on complicated relationships and the complicated case involving the wife of Innovex Inc.'s Chief Executive Officer.

Union leaders want change in trade law (Thursday, 12/24/98)
The London Times reports that union leaders in the United Kingdom want to meet with the new trade and industry secretary, Stephen Byers, to ask for a change in trade union law. The unions feel that a planned law provides insufficient protections and denies unions a voice in competitiveness policy.

Work time is getting more flexible, according to columnist (Thursday, 12/24/98)
Nationally-syndicated Chicago Tribune columnist Carol Kleiman reports that the accounting profession may be leading the way toward more flexible work hours.

Why you might want to swear off application forms (Thursday, 12/24/98)
Columnist Amy Lindgren says maybe you should vow never to touch another demoralizing application form. Remember that it really an interview you're after, she says. Also, the Kansas City Star's Diane Stafford advises not to slacken your job search pace during the holiday season.

Big job cuts at Isuzu (Thursday, 12/24/98)
The big Japanese truck manufacturer expects to cut 4,000 jobs by March 2001.

Images of the new world (Thursday, 12/24/98)
Jet travel, relatively inexpensive global telephone service, and the Internet are making geography largely irrelevant in many areas of life. Local and even national identities are likely to erode as a consequence. Alessandra Stanley of the New York Times tells about "Euro citizens." "Global citizens" will also increase in number.

Things are better for laid off Boeing workers (Thursday, 12/24/98)
Joe Brockert reports in the Detroit News that the Seattle area's vibrant hi-tech sector has made it easier for many workers displaced from Boeing this time.

Illinois commission finds women still at a disadvantage (Thursday, 12/24/98)
Della de LaFuente of the Chicago Sun-Times reports on findings from the Commission on the Status of Women in Illinois.

The newest free agents (Thursday, 12/24/98)
A lot of free agents in the new economy aren't ballplayers. Here's a look at Free Agents: People and Organizations Creating a New Working Community, the new book by Susan Gould, Kerry Weiner, and Barbara Levin.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Center for the Study of Philanthropy (Thursday, 12/24/98)
During a season of giving, you may be interested in knowing more about giving on both a large and small scale. The Center for the Study of Philanthropy, located in the Graduate School of the City University of New York in midtown Manhattan, has been in operation for twelve years and provides "an ongoing national forum for research, discussion and public education on philanthropic trends." The university's immediate neighborhood contains some of the world's more generous givers, incidentally.

Third-quarter growth strong in U.S. economy (Wednesday, 12/23/98)
The United States Department of Commerce has announced that the American economy grew at an annual rate of 3.7 percent during the July-September period.

Clinton wants more help for the homeless (Wednesday, 12/23/98)
President Clinton will announce today that he wants a 15 percent boost in help for the homeless in the U.S. He will also be hearing more from people who aren't yet homeless and don't want to be, according to CNN: displaced steel workers.

There will be no New Years Underground strike (Wednesday, 12/23/98)
London's Financial Times reports that a Judge has ordered the Rail, Maritime and Transport union to call off a planned strike on the London Underground that was scheduled for the New Year holiday period, saying that the strike would be unlawful. The union has 7,000 members.

Is your CEO worth 116 times what you are? (Wednesday, 12/23/98)
Paul Davies of the Philadelphia Daily News reports that the gap between the pay of front-line workers and top executives has been widening.

Turkish fabric producer rehires workers (Wednesday, 12/23/98)
Kordsa Kord Bezi Sanayi ve Ticaret AS is Turkey's largest producer of fabrics for the automotive industry. Last week, the company decided to fire 24 of its 666 workers in order to cuts costs, and this led to a protest by dozens of other workers. Then, the company fired 145 of the protesters and stopped production. Hurriyet reports today that the fired protesters have been rehired and production will resume tomorrow.

Persons filing for unemployment benefits shouldn't worry about Y2K, officials say (Wednesday, 12/23/98)
Government officials claim that the jobless benefits program will not be affected by the year 2000 computer bug.

Military pensions and Social Security (Wednesday, 12/23/98)
Judith Havemann of the Washington Post ponders what efforts to fix military pensions can tell us about the difficulties inherent in providing long-term financial viability to the Social Security system. Meanwhile, Dean Baker claims that those who want to privatize Social Security are misrepresenting the facts, so far as likely relative returns are concerned.

One good reason for the world to worry about Russia's economy (Wednesday, 12/23/98)
Bill Richardson reports that the Russian economic crisis could easily result in Russian nuclear materials and technology falling into the wrong hands. Incidentally, Russia isn't the only part of the old Soviet Union with economic woes. For instance, there have been massive governmental resignations in Kyrgyzstan because of its economy, while, at the same time, Kyrgyzstan has become the first of the 15 former Soviet republics to join the World Trade Organization.

Wanna buy something, or would you like a job instead? (Wednesday, 12/23/98)
Given the shortage of retail clerks this holiday season, customers might find themselves invited to move to the other side of the counter.

Making the workplace safe for the scent-sensitive (Wednesday, 12/23/98)
Some people are allergic to chemicals commonly found in perfumes. Jon Tevlin of the Minneapolis Star Tribune tells what the Chemical Injury Resource Association is trying to do about it.

How Hurricane Mitch blew away jobs (Wednesday, 12/23/98)
The huge hurricane has had a devastating effect on banana plantations and the people who used to work on them. Julie Watson reports from La Limia, Honduras.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Women's Business Center (Wednesday, 12/23/98)
Women entrepreneurs will find advice and information of use in starting and running their businesses at the Women's Business Center, a service of the Small Business Administration.

President may be impeached (Tuesday, 12/22/98)
He already has been, you say? Not President Yeltsin, but it could happen. Among the other things on his mind surely is the Russian economy, which the International Monetary Fund says is in for another bad year. Other officials say they'll move ahead quickly on the Russian budget. Meanwhile, the IMF expects global economic growth to be slower than originally thought during 1999.

Making the military more competitive (Tuesday, 12/22/98)
A hot civilian job market is making it harder for the American military to attract and hold the people it needs. President Clinton intends to push the new Congress for higher military pay and retirement benefits. He also wants to help American hog producers who are struggling with the lowest prices in decades, and are in danger of going out of business. And, as June Preston reports, former President Jimmy Carter favors government help, given the increasingly desperate situation faced by hog farmers in his state of Georgia.

Recruiters try to find new ways to be nice to graduating seniors (Tuesday, 12/22/98)
The Washington Post's Kirstin Downey Grimsley tells about the vigorous competition going on among recruiters to attract June's new graduates.

Big farm equipment maker to cut jobs (Tuesday, 12/22/98)
The serious slump now being experienced by American farmers is affecting industries that serve them. Case Corporation is the second-largest farm equipment manufacturer in the United States, and it is experiencing a major downturn. The company expects to cut nearly 20 percent of its jobs.

Are things different for Canada's low-skilled workers? (Tuesday, 12/22/98)
A new federal report asserts that conditions are different in Canada, compared to the U.S., and calls for the abolition of training programs plus a cut in the minimum wage. Eric Beauchesne of the Ottawa Citizen tells about what are likely to be controversial conclusions.

Unions break off talks with Dutch banks (Tuesday, 12/22/98)
Financieele Dagblad reports that unions representing banking employees in the Netherlands have broken off contract talks. They consider proposed wage increases offered by the banks to be too low, according to the paper.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: VICA Online (Tuesday, 12/22/98)
VICA is Vocational Industrial Clubs of America. It serves a quarter million secondary and post-secondary students each year through the help of a great many educators and partnerships with other organizations. Here's more from VICA Online.

Japan's fiscal 1999 budget (Monday, 12/21/98)
Edwina Gibbs reports that Japan's new budget is a record, but so is the nation's issuance of bonds. Overall, it will mean more stimulus to the troubled and sluggish Japanese economy, which may or may not be sufficient to get things going, but surely more debt as well.

Professor Gore to teach reinvention (Monday, 12/21/98)
Apparently, Vice President Al Gore isn't totally preoccupied with his boss' impeachment and the possibility that he could become president before long, suggesting that he might rival Clinton on his ability to "compartmentalize." The Vice President is announcing an international conference on "reinventing government" in order to improve efficiency and increase economic competitiveness. The conference will be held in Washington, D.C. in January, while most of the Americans in town are likely to be thinking about the latest Speaker of the House, Clinton's trial in the Senate and his State of the Union address, which should be a particularly interesting occasion. Incidentally, with all the difficulties with Speakers of the House, we support Tony Bennett. Instead of a speaker, maybe it's time for a singer. The newest Speaker used to be a wrestling coach, and Minnesota's new governor used to be a wrestler. What on earth is going on?

It's time to examine the IMF, writer says (Monday, 12/21/98)
Administration officials said a checkup of the International Monetary Fund could await a lull in the international financial storm. That time is now, writes Judy Shelton in the Washington Post. Who's been benefiting from the global economic crisis? The Duluth-Superior port is one. Here's that story from today's Minneapolis Star Tribune.

How to leave more to your heirs than to the IRS (Monday, 12/21/98)
Ruth Simon has some advice in today's Wall Street Journal on how to pass on your assets when you pass on yourself, and also save on taxes. Also in the Journal today, Maureen Kline writes about Italy's new PM and his plans for taking on Italian unemployment. .

Chinese trainees allege that their Japanese employers swindled them (Monday, 12/21/98)
Chinese vocational trainees are suing for back wages. Here's the story from Tokyo's Asahi Shimbun.

With new rules of the game, a coach may be needed (Monday, 12/21/98)
The typical American workplace has changed a lot, particularly in large companies. With changed circumstances, it may be harder to find your way around, and it may also be harder for your employer to get the most and best out of the organization. An article in Long Island's Newsday suggests that employers hire career coaches for their employees. Along similar lines, the Boston Globe's Diane Lewis says that mentors are critically important to the success of minority professionals in the new work world. Among other things, she reports on what Columbia University Professor Ann Bartels has to say.

Big European electronics manufacturer to cut jobs (Monday, 12/21/98)
Thomson-CSF plans to cut 4,000 jobs next year, according to Paris' Les Echos. Also in France, La Tribune reports that a survey of French executives indicates that slower growth is expected. A majority of the executives polled says they won't be hiring. Across the channel, the London Times reports that a Manpower survey forecasts the worst employment prospects in five years. Meanwhile, London's Daily Telegraph says that UK service industry salaries are increasing faster than those in the manufacturing sector.

It's easy to exaggerate how forgiving the new economy has gotten, when it comes to job hopping (Monday, 12/21/98)
Nationally syndicated Chicago Tribune columnist Carol Klieman says that frequent job changes can still be a red flag to employers.

Shopping for jobs during the holidays (Monday, 12/21/98)
It can be a good time to find the job you want, according to consultants. Columnist Amy Joyce has more.

The downside of downsizing (Monday, 12/21/98)
Davan Maharaj of the Los Angeles Times says that downsizing may not perform as advertised. An explanation comes to you via the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Deaths among San Francisco's homeless on the increase (Monday, 12/21/98)
The past year has been the worst since 1985 for the number of homeless in San Francisco who have died.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Ministry of Economic Affairs, Republic of China (Monday, 12/21/98)
For nearly a year and a half, there has been a lot of bad economic news coming out of Asia. However, conspicuously absent from this bad news has been the Republic of China on the island of Taiwan, only 90 miles from the Chinese mainland. The island country's Ministry of Economic Affairs may be able to provide some insight into why one of the world's newer major league industrial economies has managed to remain, not only an island geographically, but also economically.

Nice consolidation window of opportunity for students (Sunday, 12/20/98)
Albert Crenshaw of the Washington Post reports that you may have a six-week opportunity to consolidate your student debt burden at a lower rate of interest.

Why boomers aren't necessarily stingy givers (Sunday, 12/20/98)
Nationally syndicated columnist Jane Bryant Quinn comes to the defense of the huge boomer generation. They may be more charitable than critics think.

Fun and games at work (Sunday, 12/20/98)
Amy Joyce tells how an increasing number of companies are trying to change their workplace culture, thinking that all work and no play is bad for business. Meanwhile, Michelle Cottle of the New York Times responds to a correspondent who feels overworked and underpaid.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Executive PayWatch (Sunday, 12/20/98)
The AFL-CIO would like you to know about the pay of top executives. They're not exactly dispassionate on the subject, but you may find Executive PayWatch interesting and revealing, nonetheless.

Details on the FedEx agreement (Saturday, 12/19/98)
Woody Baird reports that Federal Express pilots will get the same pay the company originally offered, but more flexible work schedules.

Philadelphia city worker opens fire (Saturday, 12/19/98)
Two are dead, another is wounded, after a city worker in Philadelphia opened fire with a pair of handguns. He also shot himself, but has survived.

Big layoffs at Ford in Brazil (Saturday, 12/19/98)
Ford Motor Company plans to lay off more than a third of its workers in its Brazilian production facility. Also, Rebecca Rolwing of the Arizona Republic reports that Motorola will cut 1,200 jobs in Phoenix. Finally, General DataComm will cut 200 jobs in Connecticut.

On the implications of the Labor Department suit against Time Warner (Saturday, 12/19/98)
Here's Thomas Klein and Rebecca Bond's article in Cal Law on the legal risks of putting employees in the wrong categories in order to save money.

Preparing students for the new work world (Saturday, 12/19/98)
An Australian high school principal tells why vocational training should begin early. Here's the story from the Australian News Network.

Minneapolis living wage policy gets a revamp (Saturday, 12/19/98)
Some claim that Minneapolis' living wage policy hasn't created a single living wage job in almost two years, so, as Kevin Diaz reports, the City Council has adopted a proposal that is intended to broaden and tighten it up, and make it work as intended. Also in Minneapolis, what to do about the shortage of nursing home staff? Today's Minneapolis Star Tribune has some editorial thoughts on the subject.

Sticking with volunteer work (Saturday, 12/19/98)
Columnist Amy Gage tells what volunteerism experts think can be done to help volunteers maintain momentum and follow through on initial enthusiasm.

A get rich slowly scheme (Saturday, 12/19/98)
Actually, it's a realistic plan, and it can work, but it's hard to carry out, writes the Wall Street Journal's Jonathan Clements. Basically, it's a matter of spending less than you earn, which may not seem like rocket science.

The importance of self-management in career success (Saturday, 12/19/98)
A correspondent wonders what makes the successful people so successful at work, and the San Jose Mercury News answers.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Entrepreneur's HomeOffice Online (Saturday, 12/19/98)
Here's an online magazine for people who work at home or want to, and it's from Entrepreneur magazine. It's Entrepreneur's HomeOffice Online.

An agreement apparently reached at FedEx (Friday, 12/18/98)
It appears that Federal Express and its 3,300 union pilots have reached a tentative contract agreement.

Record unemployment in Hong Kong (Friday, 12/18/98)
Here's that story from the International Herald Tribune, which is headquartered in Paris, but distributed around the world.

Trash collectors strike in Lebanon (Friday, 12/18/98)
Mohammed Zaatari reports for Beirut's The Daily Star.

"Alliance for Growth" wobbles in Sweden (Friday, 12/18/98)
Dagens Industri reports that LO, Sweden's umbrella labor organization, has broken off talks with SAF, the Swedish employers association, only a month after forming the "Alliance for Growth." Also in Sweden, FinansTidningen reports that Ericsson AB expects a tough year next year and this may mean cutting 10,000 jobs. Ericsson is the world's third-largest mobile telephone manufacturer.

Workers in Germany's public sector demand 5.5 percent wage increase (Friday, 12/18/98)
Two unions representing 3.2 million public sector employees in Germany are asking the highest wage increase in years. They want 5.5 percent, according to Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

Ag Secretary says U.S. farmers will need more (Friday, 12/18/98)
More assistance will be needed to keep American farmers in business, according to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman. Meanwhile, at least one U.S. Senator worries about the future of small family farms.

Postal union head concerned about executive bonuses (Friday, 12/18/98)
William Burrus as another reason to be discontented with the U.S. Postal Service's proposed contract. Meanwhile, winter bonuses are being cut in Japan.

Poverty in Silicon Valley (Friday, 12/18/98)
Not everyone in the world's leading hi-tech corridor is riding high. Here's a report from the New York Times on poverty in California's Silicon Valley.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Bloomberg Website (Friday, 12/18/98)
Bloomberg is a self-made billionaire who has become an industry, an empire, maybe. There are the dedicated Bloomberg terminals that the professionals use to access financial information through the Bloomberg subscription services, plus all the Bloomberg media offerings, including a major television presence and a major on-line news service. In fact, Bloomberg even has his own TV studios in New York City. It's where Charlie Rose does his PBS show, in fact. And, if you would like access to a ton of financial information, neatly organized, you can easily take a look at the Bloomberg Website.

Contract agreement in Swiss chemical industry (Thursday, 12/17/98)
Unions representing chemical workers have reached agreement with a Swiss employers federation. The new contact protects jobs in exchange for greater work hour flexibility, according to Neue Zuercher Zeitung.

A couple of happy stats in the U.S. (Thursday, 12/17/98)
Imports were at a record in October, but, according to United States Department of Commerce data, the trade gap diminished anyway because of greater farm exports. Also, the U.S. Department of Labor reports significantly fewer people making first-time jobless claims last week.

Danish wages during the 1990s (Thursday, 12/17/98)
Sweden's Berlingske Tidende reports that Denmark is expected to lead its largest European trading partners in wage increases for the decade, which are expected to finish at about 19%.

The debate over a proposed penalty for contractors in D.C. (Thursday, 12/17/98)
Rudolph Pyatt has some thoughts about a debate on a proposal that would affect contractors doing business in the District of Columbia and its relation to the District's need for jobs. Also, here are some editorial thoughts about the big increase in federal aid to higher education and who's likely to end up with the money.

Honeywell and 3M move ahead on planned job reductions (Thursday, 12/17/98)
Gregory Patterson reports the latest on Honeywell's cost-cutting plans, including the elimination of 1,000 jobs. The New York Times' David Barboza writes about the earnings decline at 3M. Far more jobs are scheduled to be cut at 3M than at Honeywell, but, like those at Honeywell, the cuts have already been announced. Both Honeywell and 3M are Minnesota-based global companies.

How can small biz compete for workers with major biz? (Thursday, 12/17/98)
Benefits are mostly a big business advantage, but, frequently, more flexibility can be offered by small business, according to columnist Amy Gage. Also in the Washington Post, Peter McKay writes about how retailers are struggling to find the help they need.

Learning how to serve the wealthy and the very, very wealthy (Thursday, 12/17/98)
Camilla Warrick tells what it's like to be a servant nowadays, and also about how Professional Domestic Institute can help interested persons prepare so that they can do everything just right and please the very rich. Her story comes to you today via the Detroit News.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: World POPClock (Thursday, 12/17/98)
Well, okay, how many people are actually included in the new world economy? If you would like to see the best estimate of the number of human beings as of this very minute (on this planet, at least), check the World POPClock from the U.S. Census Bureau. Of course, to a significant extent, the term "global information economy" remains euphemistic. Not everyone is participating. Under current conditions, a large proportion of the world's population will never make a telephone call, let along use a computer.

Greece hit by strikes (Wednesday, 12/16/98)
The Greek government's austerity program has resulted in angry strikes that have largely paralyzed the country.

Citigroup to cut more jobs than expected (Wednesday, 12/16/98)
Citicorp and Travelers Group merged and produced Citigroup, and the merger was expected to cost jobs. However, the new company indicates now that it will cut 10,400 jobs, rather than the 8,000 indicated earlier. Also, Polaroid plans another 700 job cuts, and the Los Angeles Times will cut another 500 jobs as well. London's Financial Times reports that British Aerospace Plc intends to close a factory near Glasgow, Scotland and that this will result in the loss of 283 jobs. Britain's largest independent oil-exploration company, Enterprise Oil Plc, which already has cut 10 percent of its workforce, expects to cut more jobs as a consequence of an operational restructuring. Finally, Switzerland's Tages-Anzeiger reports that the Swiss health insurer Visana expects to cut jobs as a result of losing 260,000 of its 910,000 policyholders. The loss occurred as a result of the company's raising its premiums by nearly 25 percent. Visana also has withdrawn service from some parts of Switzerland.

Turkish government to step in to regulate job cuts (Wednesday, 12/16/98)
Turkey's Financial Forum reports that, as the economy slows, the country's labor minister intends to form a committee representing government, labor, and employers to regulate job cuts by industry.

ASEAN summit ends (Wednesday, 12/16/98)
Participants in the Association of South East Asian Nations summit held in Hanoi adjourn with considerable discord, but agree on need to work to work together to restore the region's economies.

Maintenance workers at famous ice cream company win right to decide about unionization (Wednesday, 12/16/98)
The National Labor Relations Board has told workers at Ben & Jerry's that they can hold an election to decide whether or not to unionize.

Retired Cisco Systems executive to help women entrepreneurs (Wednesday, 12/16/98)
Catherine Muther has established a foundation, and here's why.

D.C.'s mayor-elect looks to Indianapolis for direction (Wednesday, 12/16/98)
Indianapolis has privatized quite a lot of city services and claims savings while also enjoying an increase in the quality of work. The new mayor of Washington, D.C. is interested, and today's Washington Post asks "Which workers work best?"

Severe shortage of manufacturing workers in Chicago region (Wednesday, 12/16/98)
Sallie Gaines of the Chicago Tribune tells how Chicago-area manufacturers are attempting to cope with the shortage of people to make things.

How Hawaii might find an important niche in the new info economy (Wednesday, 12/16/98)
Hi-tech is making geography increasingly irrelevant, and that might be important for a state that is relatively isolated from the U.S. mainland. Richard Borreca of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin writes that hi-tech leaders are telling politicians how Hawaii's citizens can prepare to provide key on-line services, and, of course, that can mean jobs, jobs, jobs. Hawaii has been largely left out of the overall U.S. economic boom in recent years.

Handling tough interview questions (Wednesday, 12/16/98)
Here's some advice from Computer Currents on how to respond when you're asked questions you'd rather not answer, but would like to get the job anyway.

Why driverless tractors are controversial in California (Wednesday, 12/16/98)
The Monterey County Herald's Betsy Lordan says that field work is about as dangerous as any work you can do, and some think that driverless tractors are a particular hazard.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: HotJobs (Wednesday, 12/16/98)
If you would like to work for a Fortune 500 company, HotJobs may be able to help with its job listings. Also, this site distinguishes itself from the many others with a similar mission in that it not only offers advice on how to maintain your privacy while searching for a new position, but also offers you an opportunity to determine which companies will see your resume if you post it on HotJobs.

How are things in South Korea? (Tuesday, 12/15/98)
Better, thank you. In fact, South Korea has begun to pay back those big bailout loans. The country went from the devastation of the Korean War to being a struggling third-world country to being the 11th economy in the world to an economic collapse last year, all in about 45 years. However, as the latest news indicates, it would be a mistake to underestimate the discipline and resourcefulness of the Korean people. Expect South Korea to regain its status as one of the world's strongest and most successful industrial economies.

ASEAN summit begins in Vietnam (Tuesday, 12/15/98)
The summit follows a meeting of foreign ministers and finance ministers last week. Dean Yates reports that the region's economic difficulties are most on their minds. Japan, which has its own problems, including the deepest recession since World War II, intends to help out with $30 billion. The Japanese prime minister is scheduled to arrive in Hanoi to join in the talks. Among the reasons that Japan is concerned is that Japanese industry depends on exports to Southeast Asia.

Supreme Court ruling affects at-will workers (Tuesday, 12/15/98)
If you're fired in order to keep you from testifying against your employer, you can sue, says the American Supreme Court. Here's the story from the Washington Post and USA Today.

Deportations waaay up (Tuesday, 12/15/98)
A change in the American immigration law has greatly increased the number of deportations. Mirta Ojito reports that 300,000 immigrants have been sent elsewhere during the past two years.

Airline agents may unionize (Tuesday, 12/15/98)
The Communications Workers of America has been trying to unionize 15,000 airport and reservations agents at American Airlines. The third try is underway, in fact. The results of the most recent vote are scheduled to be announced today.

Dutch firm to cut jobs (Tuesday, 12/15/98)
Amsterdam's Volkskrant reports that Stork NV intends to cut 200 jobs from its Engineering and Contractors division. Presently, the union employs 1,200 people. The cuts are in response to a decline in business from clients who are suffering from a drop in oil prices.

Pew commission wants more diversity in healthcare (Tuesday, 12/15/98)
The American healthcare workforce should be far more diverse, according to a report from the Pew Health Professions Commission.

How to please unions and stockholders, for awhile (Tuesday, 12/15/98)
Sweden's Dagens Nyheter reports on research conducted by Professor Nils Evander of the University of Uppsala. It seems that Swedish companies are announcing big job cuts, but, then, laying off fewer people than forecast. The practice seems to enable some companies to avoid negotiations with unions while also boosting their shares for a time.

How to improve the work lives of teens (Tuesday, 12/15/98)
American teenagers have been working too much and under the wrong conditions, according to many experts. A new report from the National Research Council contains suggestions for improving things for teen workers. Also, James Duffy of the Detroit Free Press reports on the high rate of injury and death on the job, according to data from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Another worker shortage (Tuesday, 12/15/98)
Silicon Valley isn't the only place with shortages of qualified workers. Your local nursing home may be suffering from the same problem.

Big job cuts at RJR Nabisco (Tuesday, 12/15/98)
Another 3,900 jobs are set to go up in smoke across RJR Nabisco's worldwide operations. The Fort Worth Star Telegram reports that thousands of jobs may also be cut at Citigroup.

World Council of Churches calls for debt write-off (Tuesday, 12/15/98)
Gustav Niebuhr of the New York Times reports that the Council has officially come out in favor of forgiving the debts of impoverished nations.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Institute for Research on Poverty (Tuesday, 12/15/98)
The United States certainly isn't the exclusive world center of poverty, but the gap between haves and have nots is greater in the U.S., on average, than in other industrial countries. Moreover, most popular explanations for why so many people are poor don't hold up on close examination. The Institute for Research on Poverty at the University of Wisconsin, Madison conducts research on the causes and consequences of poverty and social inequality in the United States. You can start with their list of frequently asked questions.

Coal miners strike in Australia (Monday, 12/14/98)
Michael Byrnes of Reuters reports that 20,000 coal miners began their strike at midnight in response to news that a drop in prices had been secretly negotiated with Japan. Also from Australia today, David Eccles of the Australian News Network reports that Employee Ombudsman Gary Collis has launched an attack against South Australian employers because of their use of temps, rather than hiring permanent staff.

What's the Mideast solution? (Monday, 12/14/98)
U.S. Commerce Secretary William Daley says that economics is the key. He has urged Israel to provide Palestinians with more economic opportunities. President Clinton's legendary ability to "compartmentalize" may be tested at the moment. He's in the Middle East on what is regarded as a very important trip while the impeachment process moves ahead back home in Washington.

Where were the new jobs this year? (Monday, 12/14/98)
An analysis of job growth in the United States during 1998 is fairly simple. Just think "technology." Peter Behr has details from today's Washington Post. Meanwhile, Rob Ellis of the San Francisco Business Times offers some guidance on finding the jobs of the future. Incidentally, if you're fluent in any ancient languages, particularly Cobol, you might still be able to have your choice of a great many job offers because of the frantic effort going on to deal with the Y2K problem with only slightly more than a year to go before what could be a meltdown in several key areas of the economy. Long Island's Newsday has a special report on Y2K today that includes many relevant articles.

Now that Medicare is becoming a jungle... (Monday, 12/14/98)
The Washington Post's Amy Goldstein reports that many people are seeking help and advice in finding their way through the morass now that many HMOs are bailing out. Also of interest to America's elderly, Alice Munnell says it's time to separate Social Security from the unified budget, and nationally syndicated Boston Globe columnist Ellen Goodman tells how Social Security reform could turn out to be a disaster for older women, and maybe for the rest of us as well.

Dutch union would accept 40-hour work week, if... (Monday, 12/14/98)
The new head of CNV, which is the second-largest union in the Netherlands, says that an increase in the number of hours worked per week would be acceptable under certain conditions. Job creation is the key, says CNV Chairman Doekle Terpstra. Amsterdam's Trouw has the story.

Employees to buy Egyptian spinning companies (Monday, 12/14/98)
El Alam El Yom reports that the Egyptian government intends to sell its profitable spinning and weaving companies to their employees next year. Unprofitable companies won't be sold until they're made profitable, according to Atef Obeid, Minister of Public Enterprises.

Nobel laureate concerned about European Central Bank (Monday, 12/14/98)
Nobel Prize winning economist Amartya Sen thinks that the European Central Bank should focus on Europe's unemployment problem when setting monetary policy. Stockholm's FinansTidningen has the story today.

German companies seek ways to avoid suits because of Nazi-era slavery (Monday, 12/14/98)
Edmund Andrews and Barry Meier of the New York Times report on the scramble to avoid a flood of class-action suits.

An opinion about the "living wage" issue (Monday, 12/14/98)
A writer in the Philadelphia Inquirer is not enthusiastic about a proposed "living wage" law. He thinks a sound, growing economy will do better.

The struggle over wage tiers (Monday, 12/14/98)
Employers are trying to cut labor costs, and unions are trying to save jobs. The Akron Beacon Journal tells about the struggle over multiple tiers.

New pension fund trustees in South Africa (Monday, 12/14/98)
South Africa's Financial Mail reports on a shift of attitude that puts pension funds in the hands of employees. Also, here's an update on how efforts to create a regional African common market are coming. Finally, the Financial Mail presents a special section on personal finance and investment.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Graduate School Rankings (Monday, 12/14/98)
Here are the latest Graduate School Rankings from U.S News.

Big bank nationalized in Japan (Sunday, 12/13/98)
It may be that Asia can't recover unless Japan fixes its economy, and that Japan can't fix its economy without fixing its banking system. Miki Shimogori reports from Tokyo that Nippon Credit Bank has been declared insolvent and has been taken over by the Japanese government. Is it the first of many?

Second aid installment released for farmers (Sunday, 12/13/98)
President Clinton has freed up $2.4 billion to help American farmers survive their current crisis, and used his weekly radio address to call attention to the situation faced by farmers and why the country can't allow them to fail. American hog farmers are among those in deep trouble, and the fact that hog prices are at their lowest since 1941 explains it.

Oil prices are low too, and Iran is feeling the pressure (Sunday, 12/13/98)
Douglas Jehl of the New York Times tells about one formerly oil-rich nation that isn't so rich anymore. Other economies, not recently featured on the front page, are also struggling. For instance, things have taken a bad turn in Belarus, and CNN reports from Marrakesh that Morocco's King Hassan has said that his country's private and public sectors need to work together to reduce unemployment. Finally, US News reports on the hard times faced by many miners as China restructures and makes heavier use of mechanization in the mines.

EU summit closes with commitment to jobs (Sunday, 12/13/98)
Top leaders in the European Union renewed their commitment to bringing unemployment levels down as they closed their summit in Vienna yesterday.

Buffett calls for safety net for workers (Sunday, 12/13/98)
Big-time investor Warren Buffett thinks government has a legitimate role in breaking the fall of those who are displaced from their jobs because of free trade.

Why the boys may need help (Sunday, 12/13/98)
Most of the educational and work-related stories about the sexes have to do with the disadvantages still suffered by women. However, who's got it better may depend on which criteria you choose to pay attention to. For starters, women live longer, but that's not the whole of it. Tamar Lewin of the New York Times follows up on recent stories about the growing numbers of women at colleges and universities and tells why boys may need special help all along.

America's largest exporter, but for how much longer? (Sunday, 12/13/98)
Laurence Zuckerman reports from Seattle on the rocky times that Boeing is going through. The company plans to cut 48,000 jobs by the year after next.

Whoops--things are slumping a bit in Silicon Valley (Sunday, 12/13/98)
Jonathan Rabinovitz of the San Jose Mercury News says that the world's top hi-tech corridor will have produced a good deal fewer new jobs this year than last.

More school in mid-life (Sunday, 12/13/98)
Wendy's founder and CEO, Dave Thomas, dropped out of high school early and just kept working until he had become one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the United States. However, a few years ago, he took time out to study for his high school equivalency certificate, and passed the test with flying colors. "You can't do anything anymore without a high school education," he said. Columnist Amy Gage of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports on people who are following Dave's lead back to school in mid-life. Graduate school is very popular among many of these folks, she says.

Why many retirees aren't fully retired (Sunday, 12/13/98)
As so many people have known for a long time, work isn't just about making a living. The Washington Post's Stan Hinden reports that many American seniors are attracted to part-time jobs, and it's not just a matter of earning extra income.

Racism in the professional ranks? (Sunday, 12/13/98)
Columnist Kirstin Downey Grimsley responds to a correspondent's concerns about what seems to be wrong with the salary schedule at a big consulting firm.

Boulders still strewn across the paths some must to take to the CEO's office (Sunday, 12/13/98)
Women have been making progress in the executive ranks, but, like the top job in Washington, the top jobs in corporations haven't opened up to women, for the most part. Amy Joyce tells about the results of a new survey from Catalyst.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Career Guru (Sunday, 12/13/98)
Need some advice? Consult the Netscape Netcenter Career Guru, who loves to answer questions about careers.

ASEAN vows boldness (Saturday, 12/12/98)
Foreign and economic ministers from members of the Association of South East Asian Nations have been meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam. On Saturday, they vowed "bold measures" for dealing with the economic crisis that has spread over much of Asia during the past year and a half. However, they have provided few details. The ASEAN summit will follow next week

Negative mobility in Australia (Saturday, 12/12/98)
Malcolm Brown of the Sydney Morning Herald tells about an Australian National University study that finds that Australia's young are making less than their parents did at the same age. Jobs are harder to find as well.

Older workers sought for holiday employment (Saturday, 12/12/98)
Many businesses are having difficulty finding sufficient staff for the holiday period. Robin Wallace reports that many are turning to the elderly who want to work. On the other hand, if you happen to be searching for permanent employment during the holiday season, you may be particularly stressed out. Columnist Amy Lindgren advises that you relax a bit and try to enjoy the season. Take a little time out from your search. You may be just as far ahead in the long-run.

Why many American elderly are becoming alarmed (Saturday, 12/12/98)
Columnist Kathy Kristof reports that an increasing number of HMOs are withdrawing from the Medicare system, and this is affecting a large number of older people.

Presently exempted workers fear inclusion in the Social Security system (Saturday, 12/12/98)
Not all American workers are in the Social Security system. In fact, millions of local and state government employees have their own retirement systems and don't look forward to mandatory participation in Social Security. Here's that story from the Philadelphia Inquirer.

South Koreans who have benefited from their country's economic collapse (Saturday, 12/12/98)
While the rapid shrinkage of South Korea's economy has forced many persons back into poverty, those who had savings before things started to go wrong have benefited. Some have become wealthy, in fact, according to Michael Zielenziger.

Changing image of "job hoppers" (Saturday, 12/12/98)
Noted nationally syndicated Chicago Tribune columnist Carol Kleiman writes that frequent job changes still cause suspicion among many employers, but information technology workers seem to be viewed differently. In fact, frequent job changes may become an increasingly characteristic attribute of the new economy overall.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: The Internet Job Source (Saturday, 12/12/98)
There are many web sites intending to help you find just the right job to fit you. Here's another. The Internet Job Source offers access to America's major employers in both private and public sectors.

EU leaders meet to plan strategies for promoting job growth (Friday, 12/11/98)
The European common currency will begin its launch in a few weeks, and leaders of the European Union are meeting in Vienna to discuss a variety of issues of common interest. At the top of the agenda is the need for more jobs throughout the region. Unemployment in several countries remains at record highs. One of these is France, but, according to Les Echos, the construction industry is expected to create between 8,000 and 10,000 new jobs next year. Unemployed persons demonstrated in Marseilles and Paris yesterday, but fewer people participated than organizers had expected, according to reports. Also, the rail strike in France appears to be reaching its conclusion, as most conductors agree to go back to work.

More on the big cuts planned at Ericsson (Friday, 12/11/98)
Ericsson makes cellular telephones, but they haven't been selling enough of them, so the company will reorganize. This will mean the loss of as many as 10,000 jobs. Here's a New York Times report via the San Jose Mercury News, as well as an additional report from USA Today.

Support for families in the U.S. found lacking (Friday, 12/11/98)
The YMCA is not greatly impressed with how well families are supported in the United States. Here's news about their latest report, "Nation's Report Card: Assessing Risks to the American Family."

Some details on the Russian austerity budget (Friday, 12/11/98)
Sharon LaFraniere of the Washington Post reports from Moscow on the budget that Russia has officially adopted. Many observers aren't satisfied that it will do the job.

Now's the time to fix Social Security, Gergen says (Friday, 12/11/98)
David Gergen has been a journalist for many years, and is now a senior editor at US News. He's also worked in both Republican and Democratic administrations. Here's his editorial on Social Security reform, in which he says that right now may be the best chance in a generation to fix the system for the long-term. Today's Washington Post also has some thoughts about the risks involved. It's a bit difficult for top Washington politicos to think about this issue this week, but, sooner or later, the current Constitutional crisis will be resolved, and we can be sure that Social Security will be on a lot of minds after the first of the year. President Clinton, who, despite everything, is likely to remain in office for the remainder of his term, has indicated an interest in offering an investment option as part of a modified Social Security system. Incidentally, we have it from a source that may or may not be unimpeachable that he did not lie under oath, but it remains to be seen whether Clinton will be led away in handcuffs immediately after the new president is sworn in on January 20, 2001. If a former president goes to jail, do Secret Service officers have to be locked up with him?

A billion people who will not be able to read as we begin the 21st century (Friday, 12/11/98)
Stephen Rosenfeld has some thoughts about the new education report from UNICEF, an agency of the United Nations.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: SmartCalc (Friday, 12/11/98)
If you're engaged in nearly any aspect of financial planning, some of the calculators available from USA Today are likely to come in handy. SmartCalc offers a lot--more than a hundred, according to the big national newspaper.

Budget finally approved in Russia (Thursday, 12/10/98)
However, observers wonder if the crisis budget now officially adopted will be part of the solution or part of the problem next year .

Investment option gaining ground (Thursday, 12/10/98)
The Washington Post's George Hager and Amy Goldstein report that both Republicans and Democrats are finding the idea of an investment option for Social Security increasingly attractive, and Donna Smith says this includes one Democrat at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Meanwhile, the Clinton administration wants to change some of the rules governing the delivery of health care services, and many businesses and insurance companies are unhappy. Here's the story from Laura Meckler in the St. Paul Pioneer Press. The U.S. isn't the only country struggling with health care concerns. Inside China Today reports from Beijing that China is scrapping forty years of state-funded health care for urban workers in favor of a national medical insurance plan.

The importance of knowledge in an information economy (Thursday, 12/10/98)
The have vs. have-not gap has been widening, and the education gap seems to be a major reason. On the other hand, women have been making earnings gains. Here's the story from Edward Walsh of the Washington Post.

Labor Department sues day-care companies (Thursday, 12/10/98)
Workers should have been paid overtime for training and staff meetings, the suit says.

Jobless claims up last week (Thursday, 12/10/98)
Here are details from the latest jobless claims data released by the United States Department of Labor. Meanwhile, the American economy continues to grow, but there are significant regional differences. Incidentally, if you're wondering why we haven't had a recession for so long, David Francis may be able to add to your understanding. He explains why booms are lasting longer.

Why employers are going to prison (Thursday, 12/10/98)
No, not to take up residency, but in search of workers. Dan Sewell writes in the Philadelphia Inquirer that not everyone is enthusiastic about the increasing use of inmate workers, because of a concern that they make take jobs from people who are on the other side of the bars.

A whole generation of North Korean children may spend their lives impaired (Thursday, 12/10/98)
Elisabeth Rosenthal of the New York Times tells about the results of a new study on nutrition, or the lack of it, in North Korea. Five years of food desperate shortages have had a devastating effect on the countries children.

Higher unemployment rate for teens in Japan (Thursday, 12/10/98)
The overall unemployment rate in Japan is running at about 4.3 percent, but for teens, it's about 10 percent, and this worries a lot of people. Incidentally, if Japan used American or European criteria for measuring unemployment, these numbers would be far higher.

Here are some of today's cuts (Thursday, 12/10/98)
MCI WorldCom plans to cut 3,750 jobs around the world. Merrill Lynch research predicts that EDP-Electricidade de Portugal SA may cut more than 4,000 workers by the year 2001. Portugal's Diario de Noticias has that story today. Also, Sweden's AB Ericsson, the big cellular telephone company, also has cuts in mind, and so does the Los Angeles Times, although on a smaller scale than MCI or EDP-Electricidade.

The Post would like to see your workspace, if it's interesting (Thursday, 12/10/98)
Does your workspace express the true, real you? If so, the Washington Post would like you to share. Here's a look at one manager's office which the Post thinks is, well, cool.

What America thinks (Thursday, 12/10/98)
Today's Wall Street Journal contains a special "American Opinion" section, showing what Americans think about a lot of things, including economic issues. Many articles; all worth reading.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Global Management Program (Thursday, 12/10/98)
A new global economy requires new globally-oriented approaches to management. As a consequence, the Stanford Graduate School of Business offers a Global Management Program.

Glimmers of hope in Japan (Wednesday, 12/9/98)
Things may be getting worse at a slower rate in Japan. George Nishiyama reports from Tokyo that the expectations of business leaders may be hitting bottom with thoughts of a turnaround on more people's minds. Japan's Economic Planning Agency finds some encouraging movement, according to the Japan Times.

ASEAN to promote open economies (Wednesday, 12/9/98)
Officials of the Association of South East Asian Nations say they will not introduce barriers as a response to the economic crisis in Asia. ASEAN favors a greater degree of openness an integration among economies in the region, they say. Andy Soloman reports from Hanoi, Vietnam.

How Asia will affect the American economy next year...maybe (Wednesday, 12/9/98)
Erin Arvedlund of ABC News says that turnover in the U.S. can be partially attributed to economic events in the Asian region. Meanwhile, Omar Gallaga of the Austin American-Statesman says that an abundance of available jobs doesn't necessarily mean that living wages are easy to come by.

AMA wants to see broadened access to healthcare in the U.S. (Wednesday, 12/9/98)
The American Medical Association intends to work with other organizations in order to try to make it happen. Tens of millions of Americans lack health insurance, and, as a consequence, many lack access to healthcare.

How much privacy in the American workplace? (Wednesday, 12/9/98)
Not much, according to this report from Scientific American.

It's illegal to work too long in France (Wednesday, 12/9/98)
Anne Swardson writes about France's law to limit the number of hours people work. Also in the Washington Post today, Bill McAllister reports that a top union official doesn't like the wage settlement reached with the U.S. Postal Service. .

Jobs: more and less (Wednesday, 12/9/98)
Medtronic will add more jobs, while ReliaStar will get rid of about 700 or so.

More on choices facing Russia next year (Wednesday, 12/9/98)
Here's why 1999 will be a difficult year in Russia. The economic choices available to the Russian government aren't thrilling.

Here's good news for new grads (Wednesday, 12/9/98)
A Michigan State University survey finds that employers will be offering higher salaries to new graduates next spring, according to United Press International.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Benefits Link (Wednesday, 12/9/98)
Benefits Link offers a lot of information of interest to employers and employees alike on worker benefits, including retirement planning information for the self-employed.

How the current round of layoffs compares (Tuesday, 12/8/98)
Long Island's Newsday says that planned job cuts will amount to the greatest number in five years, while the Forth Worth Star Telegram says they may be the largest cuts in a decade. Among the most recent examples are planned cuts at Wells Fargo, Amerada Hess, Lear, Liz Claiborne, and Northrop Grumman.

Basic handicap for life in the new world economy (Tuesday, 12/8/98)
Tara FitzGerald writes that UNICEF's new report finds that hundreds of millions of children will lack basic education. Yes, that's HUNDREDS of millions, and, in an information economy, the gap between haves and have nots increasingly will be determined by access to knowledge. Speaking of have-nots, here's a look at how people are trying to cope with poverty in Chile.

Chinese miners survive nearly a month in mine shaft (Tuesday, 12/8/98)
Here's a report from Hong Kong on how six Chinese miners managed to survive for 27 days trapped in a shaft.

More on Hoffa's plans (Tuesday, 12/8/98)
The second president of the Teamsters whose name is James Hoffa wants his union to stop being the problem child of the U.S. labor movement, among other things, and he wants an end to government supervision as well. Here's a Washington Post post-mortem on the Teamsters presidential election.

The latest on Belgium's transportation strikes (Tuesday, 12/8/98)
Rail strikes in France have gotten a lot of press attention, but it's not the only European region in which labor conflicts are causing travelers problems. La Libre Belgique reports that workers at TEC, Wallonia's bus company, have rejected company proposals, making additional strikes more probable.

Clinton proposes legislation to clean up Medicare (Tuesday, 12/8/98)
Officials seem to agree that the Medicare program needs structural fixing in order to handle the burden of an increasingly large elderly population during the years ahead. However, the program has a more immediate problem because of waste, fraud, and abuse of the system. President Clinton has plans for cleaning it up. Meanwhile, the other big governmental fixit project has to do with the Social Security system. It needs structural changes too, according to many authorities. Amy Goldstein and George Hager discuss the various alternatives for allowing the system to participate in the stock market.

The cost of employment legislation to South African Airways (Tuesday, 12/8/98)
South Africa's Business Day reports that South African Airways expects that new employment legislation could result in additional costs of US$15.2 million per year. For instance, requirements having to do with night shifts and overtime could require the airline to take a double crew of cabin attendants on board, they say.

Legal test of use of false applicants (Tuesday, 12/8/98)
Fake job applicants can help uncover discriminative hiring practices, but is it legal? A court will decide.

Chancellor Schroeder calls a lot of heads together (Tuesday, 12/8/98)
The new German chancellor will try to bring about consensus on his country's big unemployment problem. Roger Cohen of the New York Times reports on the first meeting of his "alliance for jobs." So far, the result has been mostly what the road to hell is often paved with.

D.C.-region fed workers get a raise (Tuesday, 12/8/98)
An executive order means a 3.68 percent pay increase for federal workers in the Washington, D.C.-Baltimore area.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Candidate Interviewing Tips (Tuesday, 12/8/98)
Dorigan & Associates offers advice on how to prepare for and present yourself in a job interview. Here are their Candidate Interviewing Tips.

Employment surges in Canada (Monday, 12/7/98)
Analysts are surprised by the good numbers, reports the Ottaway Citizen. Also in Canada, the Toronto Star describes a special retirement plan that provides benefits to young and old at Air Canada.

Hoffa victorious and ready to take charge (Monday, 12/7/98)
Vicky Stamas reports that James Hoffa has claimed victory in his long bid to become president of the Teamsters and lead the long troubled union to greater days. the New York Times' Steven Greenhouse says that one of his biggest challenges will be to overcome his name, because he has the same name as his father who ran the Teamsters years ago, went to prison, and, then, disappeared, possibly becoming part of the Detroit freeway system, according to some observers fairly close to the situation at the time. While James Hoffa senior was a tough product of the mean and dangerous streets, the younger Hoffa is a lawyer.

Rail strike not nearly enough fun, French travelers conclude (Monday, 12/7/98)
People in France who want to get from point A to point B are getting fed up with the railroad strike, which has passed its 10th day.

VW to make first compensation payments (Monday, 12/7/98)
Volkswagen AG expects to make the first payments this month to compensate persons who were forced to work as slaves during the Nazi era in Germany.

Clinton says he will lead bipartisan effort on Social Security (Monday, 12/7/98)
"Bipartisan" may be one of the most over-used and under-realized concepts in Washington, but President Clinton says he wants to see a bipartisan effort to reform the American Social Security system. Richard Stevenson of the New York Times says that reform won't be easy, because the choices will be painful, no matter what.

College getting more necessary, but harder to come by (Monday, 12/7/98)
Access to college may be narrowing, according to this report from today's Washington Post.

Denmark expects smaller economy (Monday, 12/7/98)
According to Borsen, a survey conducted by Greens Analysis Institute finds that Danish executives expect the Danish economy to shrink for the first time in four years. One-third of the companies surveyed expect to lay off employees during the first half of next year.

Why there's less outcry about downsizing (Monday, 12/7/98)
Regular readers of NewWork News are painfully aware that layoffs have been occurring in very large numbers again lately, but the public's screech of pain isn't quite as loud as it was the last time. Louis Uchitelle of the New York Times explains why. The American economy has been creating jobs faster than it has been destroying them, but, of course, this doesn't mean that everything is cool with all the individuals who are affected. A person who has been laid off from a factory job in Tennessee will not be greatly consoled that a company in California is short of software engineers.

Biz and the Internet (Monday, 12/7/98)
Today's Wall Street Journal contains a special section on business and the Internet. Many articles; all worth reading.

How Bill Gates has helped his home town deal with Boeing's ups and downs (Monday, 12/7/98)
Boeing is a huge company and the Seattle area's largest employer. But, since it is huge, when it coughs slightly, the Seattle area can get pneumonia. However, things will be much better this time, as Seattle lays off more people than most companies employ altogether. A major reason is that the Seattle economy has become far more diversified, and a major reason for that is the software industry, and a major reason for that is Microsoft Corporation, and a major reason for that is hometown boy, Bill Gates.

The standard business uniform has become less standard (Monday, 12/7/98)
Casual workplace dress is in, according to a survey conducted by Levi Strauss & Company. Here's the story from Vivian Kelly, writing in today's Minneapolis Star Tribune.

European Commission not satisfied with Italy's jobs plan (Monday, 12/7/98)
La Repubblica reports that the Commission will be critical of Italy's national employment plan at the EU summit at the end of the week in Vienna. Italy needs a more activist approach that can increase the chances of unemployed persons finding jobs, according to persons close to EU officials.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: The Journal of Economic Education (Monday, 12/7/98)
Given the escalating and often prohibitive cost of publishing academic journals, their future may lie with the Internet. Quite a number of scholarly resources are presently available, including many journals. The Journal of Economic Education is essentially what it sounds like, and its web site includes extensive archives at no cost to the web reader.

Leedham concedes; Hoffa will head Teamsters (Sunday, 12/6/98)
The Teamsters will once again have a president named James Hoffa.

Fears of meltdown in Indonesia (Sunday, 12/6/98)
Among the troubled Asian economies, Indonesia's problems have been most severe, and these have translated into political problems as well. Now, leaders are concerned about growing chaos in that country.

American farmers plan more blockades (Sunday, 12/6/98)
Doug Palmer reports that farmers in Minnesota, North Dakota, and Montana are unsatisfied with the pace of talks with Canada over international trade.

Working poor advancing, according to Clinton (Sunday, 12/6/98)
President Clinton cites a report from the Council of Economic Advisers that conditions have improved for America's working poor, and he claims some of the credit for his administration.

Crunch time for Social Security (Sunday, 12/6/98)
Leo Rennert writes that the future of the American Social Security System is about to be determined. Also in the Minneapolis Star Tribune today, Boston Globe writer Steven Wilmsen tells about a law firm that may be the best in the U.S. to work as a lawyer.

An exchange of horror stories (Sunday, 12/6/98)
People who work at child-care centers have quite a lot of their own about parents, according to Amy Gage in the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Teacher wants to become trainer (Sunday, 12/6/98)
Columnist Kirstin Downey Grimsley answers a correspondent who wonders about moving from the public school classroom to corporate training. Other writers ask other columnists for advice, as well. Michelle Cottle of the New York Times advises one on the tough choice between freedom and security on the job, and another wonders about the impact of employment during later years on retirement benefits.

Vanishing college males (Sunday, 12/6/98)
The gender gap is widening on American campuses. In contrast to earlier years, the majority of college students are women now. However, male or female, the job market will be good for next spring's graduates, according to this CNN report.

Russian defense employees protest not being paid (Sunday, 12/6/98)
Many Russian military personnel haven't been paid in a timely fashion, and now about 200 civilian workers are demanding unpaid wages. Russia Today also reports that workers at one company are getting paid, but in wine rather than money. Finally, Michael Wines of the New York Times tells about growing hunger in a deeply troubled Russian economy.

Why this may be the season for job searching (Sunday, 12/6/98)
Amy Joyce writes in today's Washington Post that the holiday season can be a good time to look for a job.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: 20 Leading Occupations of Employed Women (Sunday, 12/6/98)
Here's a summary of 1997 data from the U.S. Department of Labor offering interesting information about occupations that employ a great majority of working women in the United States. 20 Leading Occupations of Employed Women tells about the ratio of women to men in these occupations, what they earn, and more.

Layoffs at Christmas (Saturday, 12/5/98)
Why are so many layoffs being announced with Christmas less than three weeks away? Erin Arvedlund of ABC News explains. Speaking of layoffs, Bank of America has announced that 300 jobs will be cut from its brokerage unit. Meanwhile, 350 workers at Intel in Washington who are on their way out because of an assembly line closing are being offered bonuses to stay for two more months.

Despite layoffs, times are good in the U.S. (Saturday, 12/5/98)
Caren Bohan has more on the lowest unemployment rate in the United States since the 1970s, and Mike Meyers of the Minneapolis Star Tribune says the immediate future depends on American consumers.

Hoffa widens lead, but it isn't over yet (Saturday, 12/5/98)
The ballots are still being counted in the Teamsters presidential election, and James Hoffa is ahead. His rival, Tom Leedham, is expected to pick up more votes in the eastern states, though.

Bad, badder, and baddest: Here's the latest news from Russia (Saturday, 12/5/98)
The Russian ruble has weakened further, and Prime Minster Primakov warns that his country may be facing a "permanent crisis."

Making a good fit between yourself and your job (Saturday, 12/5/98)
Mitchell Schnurman writes in the Philadelphia Inquirer that a tight labor market has made more employers interested in accomodating the special needs of their workers.

Many are part-timers by choice (Saturday, 12/5/98)
Noted nationally syndicated Chicago Tribune columnist Carol Kleiman reports that, while 80 percent of people with part-time jobs would prefer to work full-time, the remaining 20 percent like things the way they are, and here's why.

Social Security meeting at the White House next week (Saturday, 12/5/98)
Republican leaders are urging President Clinton to present a specific plan for reforming the American Social Security system.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: SHOT: Society for the History of Technology (Saturday, 12/5/98)
For forty years, the Society for the History of Technology has supported and encouraged the study of the development of technology and its relations to society and culture, including economics.

Labor unrest spreads in France and Spain (Friday, 12/4/98)
Here's CNN's report on strikes and protests involving various groups across France. Also, the BBC reports on wisespread protests in Spain because of that country's high unemployment. In the United States, a top labor leader indicates that the departure of Newt Gingrich from leadership in the House of Representatives is not making American organized labor unhappy.

Construction deaths in Bombay (Friday, 12/4/98)
A scaffolding collapses in Bombay, India, and eight workers die. In the U.S., officials are still investigating the causes of the fatal construction site accident in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The latest unkind cuts (Friday, 12/4/98)
Johnson & Johnson says it needs more money for research, so they're cutting 4,100 jobs in order to get it. Here's the story from Reuters, the Nando Times, and the New York Times. Alliant Foodservice is also intending to cut jobs in a fairly big way. As much as 10 percent of the company's 12,000-person workforce will go. CNN Financial reports that experts expect job cuts in the U.S. to reach 625,000 this year. There have been more than 64,000 this week, despite a decline in the overall unemployment rate during November
. Many people are still talking about the huge layoffs at Boeing in Seattle, but, because the Puget Sound area's economy is less dependent on the big aerospace company than during earlier years, the region is expected to handle the layoffs quite well.

Productivity still improving in the United States (Friday, 12/4/98)
Despite a lot of layoffs in the U.S. plus a lot of economic troubles in Asia and much of the rest of the world, productivity has continued to increase. It's a good sign that the American economy will continue its near-record expansion a while longer. Also, productivity is important, because, in the long-run, it determines a nation's overall standard of living.

Hoffa leads in the count, but it's too early to call (Friday, 12/4/98)
They're counting the ballots in the Teamsters presidential election. At the moment, James Hoffa leads.

America looks in the mirror (Friday, 12/4/98)
The new edition of the Statistical Abstract is being released by the Census Bureau today. Here are some of the highlights.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it, but, if it is... (Friday, 12/4/98)
And it surely is, according to big-time financier George Soros. He's talking about the international financial system. It's responsible for the widespread economic crises, he says, and is in desperate need of repair.

NAFTA investigation of Washington apple growers (Friday, 12/4/98)
Mexican officials are claiming that Mexican workers in the U.S. apple industry are at risk.

Outgoing Idaho governor supports minimum wage for agricultural workers (Friday, 12/4/98)
Here's the story from Spokane's Spokesman-Review.

IRS would like you to phone it in (Friday, 12/4/98)
Actually, the American Internal Revenue Survey is trying to dig out from under one of the world's biggest piles of paper and is also trying to reduce the size of the pile for the future. They would like to see 80 percent of American taxpayers filing their taxes on-line by 2007.

Today's NewWork News Web Tip: Groundhog Job Shadow Day (Friday, 12/4/98)
February 2, 1999 is the second annual Groundhog Job Shadow Day, when young people all over the United States will be introduced to the world of work. The program hopes to provide interesting and valuable work-related experiences to hundreds of thousands of young people on this special day, which has the enthusiastic support of the U. S. Chamber of Commerce, General Colin Powell, Junior Achievement, and many other individuals and organizations.

More bad numbers for Japan (Thursday, 12/3/98)
The Japanese recession has deepened for the fourth quarter in a row. Much of Asia continues to be a problem, and the World Bank says that the International Monetary Fund and the U.S. have to share part of the blame for what has happened in the region. The Bank's principal economist, Dipak Dasgupta, also has some ideas about what the Asian economies will need for full recovery. Finally, Mark Landler of the New York Times reports on an International Labor Organization study that finds