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February 1998

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Yeltsin follows through (Saturday, 2/28/98)
Russian President Yeltsin has clearly indicated that he has been dissatisfied with several members of his cabinet, holding some of them largely responsible for Russia's persistent economic troubles. Now, he's followed through by firing three of them.

More experts think it's time to cut interest rates (Saturday, 2/28/98)
For months, many have wondered when the Federal Reserve would get sufficiently nervous about possible future inflation and raise interest rates. Now, as Pierre Belec of Reuters reports, an increasing number of experts think the opposite should be done. Also from Reuters today, Laurence McQuillan writes the United States has decided to be very direct in its warnings to Indonesia about following through on the IMF's requirements in exchange for $40 billion in assistance. Former Vice-President Walter Mondale is given the task of looking Indonesia's President Suharto directly in the eye and delivering the blunt news that the U.S. will oppose the next IMF payment unless Indonesia shapes up. A major part of the problem seems to be that Suharto has been listening to the wrong economist, according to many experts. Steve Hanke of Johns Hopkins University has been telling the Indonesian president what he wants to hear and has been encouraging magical thinking, they say. Incidentally, ASEAN officials have been meeting in Jakarta and promoting the use of local currencies for trade within the region. Also, J.P. Morgan, which has been laying off people in other areas, is also cutting staff in Asia because of the financial crisis there.

Pan Am's bankruptcy grounds a lot of workers (Saturday, 2/28/98)
Another 1,200 employees will be laid off as flights are canceled at Pan Am. The company hopes to be able to reorganize and be back in the air before long.

Gingrich on the expected surplus (Saturday, 2/28/98)
The Speaker of the House of Representatives reports that Congressional analysts generally agree with the Administration that a budget surplus is straight ahead, although there is still uncertainty about how large it will be. A very strong American economy has been responsible for wiping out the federal deficit several years ahead of schedule. However, despite the economy's strength, bankruptcies have been running at record levels. Also in the Washington Post today, Anthony Faiola reports on how a drastic restructuring of the Brazilian economy is spreading fear in that country. Anne Swardson tells about three countries that have qualified for the euro, and the New York Times' Edmund Andrews writes that the economic news across Europe is getting more positive which is making genuine economic integration of the sub-continent more likely.

More on math, science, and the quality of the American workforce (Saturday, 2/28/98)
The Washington Post thinks the latest bad news about the ranking of America's students on the math and science tests bodes poorly for the country's future in a hi-tech economy. You will remember that we pointed that out Thursday. Could it have to do with a long American tradition of hostility toward science when it reaches conclusions that are inconsistent with tradition?

Women shatter glass ceiling? (Saturday, 2/28/98)
Here's another breakthrough for women in the workplace, but it's a fairly specialized job and is unlikely to affect more than a handful over the next several hundred years. We're talking about the British monarchy and changes in the line of succession.

Strong job growth in the Texas "metroplex" (Saturday, 2/28/98)
The Fort Worth Star Telegram reports on the flourishing economy of the huge Dallas-Fort Worth region.

Keeping talent in the community (Saturday, 2/28/98)
Pam Belluck of the New York Times tells what Nebraska is doing to keep its talented young people from moving elsewhere.

Another opinion on one proposed solution to the tech worker shortage (Saturday, 2/28/98)
Jeff Moad of PC Week thinks that tech industry leaders may be barking up the wrong tree. Also from the technical press, here's the latest on career testing, including on-line versions.

Liberal arts grads to make more (Saturday, 2/28/98)
People with college degrees in something other than hot technical fields can expect higher incomes too in an economy that is struggling to find workers. Here's the story from Fortune magazine.

Yeltsin blames his own cabinet for Russia's economic troubles (Friday, 2/27/98)
Russia's president threatened to fire some top officials but didn't actually do so. He's becoming increasingly frustrated with Russia's troubled economy. Also, he is encouraging Russian citizens to start small businesses, thinking that future Russian prosperity depends on the building of a large Russian middle-class.

One factory may change a whole nation's economy (Friday, 2/27/98)
The factory is from Intel, and the country is Costa Rica. Here's the story from today's Nando Times. Meanwhile, one of Intel's closest business allies, while doing exceptionally well overall, is cutting back on Microsoft Network, and about 40 jobs will be sliced as well. In other layoff news, 800 jobs are set to go at GTECH.

Today's news from Asia (Friday, 2/27/98)
Former Vice-President Walter Mondale will be trying to convince Indonesia's President Suharto that his country needs to follow through on its commitments to the International Monetary Fund in order to fix the Indonesian economy. President Suharto is seen by many as a greater part of the problem than of the solution. He's dominated the political life of his country for a generation, and, as Raju Gopalakrishnan reports, he's set to begin yet another five-year term. Elsewhere in Asia, South Korea is finalizing a big debt roll-over deal and is also attempting to reassure its creditors that things are under control now. Tokyo's Asahi Shimbun reports that Japan's unemployment picture isn't looking good, and the unemployment of males has hit record levels. Paul Sherer writes in today's Wall Street Journal about how Buddhism is a comfort to many Thais who are trying to cope with their country's economic crisis and the pain it's causing large numbers of people. Finally, here are some thoughts about the "new face" taken on by Asia in recent months and what it means for the region's future.

More on the continuing dispute at Caterpillar (Friday, 2/27/98)
After six years of labor strife at the company, it appeared that a new contract was about to happen, but the UAW membership turned it down. There are strong feelings on all sides. For one thing, the union claims that 160 UAW members were fired illegally.

Quick termination at J. P. Morgan in London (Friday, 2/27/98)
London's Daily Telegraph reports that J. P. Morgan & Company, a U.S. investment bank, has fired 100 employees in the London office effective immediately. Morale in the office has slumped, according to the report, and a spokesman for the company calls the incident "regrettable." The first some workers knew about the loss of their jobs was when they were unable to log on to their computers, according to the London paper.

Entrepreneurial profs in the UK (Friday, 2/27/98)
The new edition of Newsweek reports on the dons at Britain's ancient universities who are becoming self-made millionaires.

Increased minimum wage opposed in Israel (Friday, 2/27/98)
David Harris writes in today's Jeruselum Post that one top government official is urging the Histadrut to prevent an increase in Israel's minimum wage this year for the "good of the economy."

State employees in Lebanon may not get a raise after all (Friday, 2/27/98)
The Lebanese government is saying that they need to find a source of revenue to support a planned salary increase for state employees. If that source can't be found, the raise may be withdrawn, according to Ad-Diyar. Meanwhile, workers in Germany's public sector have staged some brief walkouts before the resumption of wage talks next week. They want an average 4.5 percent pay increase. They also want the maximum work week reduced from 40 hours to 30 hours, reports Die Welt. Germany has been suffering record levels of unemployment, and some in that country as well as in neighboring France believe that a reduction in the work week would help create jobs. Many miles away, China is in the process of reducing the number of jobs in its vast bureaucracy. David Lague writes from Beijing for Australia's Sydney Morning Herald that tens of thousands of Chinese public servants are likely to lose their jobs. China is also throwing huge numbers of people out of work as it scales back or privatizes unprofitable state-run companies.

Tobacco's share of health care costs in Minnesota (Friday, 2/27/98)
According to the state of Minnesota, health care costs would have been a lot less in recent years if it weren't for tobacco use, because there would have been a lot less illness. The state is demanding reimbursement from the tobacco companies. From 1978 to 1996, the companies' share comes to about 7 percent of the state's health costs, they say, and this amounts to $1.31 billion. It's not expected that the companies will simply send a check without resistance.

On the relative popularity of letters of the alphabet (Friday, 2/27/98)
The Christian Science Monitor thinks the U.S. should keep the INS, while Business Week is in favor of the IMF. Awhile back, a number of people in Congress and elsewhere were suggesting that the IRS should go, but that isn't going to happen, at least for quite a while. However, from now on, citizen panels will be keeping an eye on the big tax-collection agency.

You may get a tax break if you stay home with your children (Friday, 2/27/98)
Linda Feldmann writes about a move in Congress to encourage one parent to stay home, and the encouragement may come in the form of a tax reduction. We reported yesterday on a similar movement in Norway. Meanwhile, Ron Scherer reports that the American military is becoming increasingly aware of the impact of its personnel deployment policies on military families.

Help wanted ads increase (Friday, 2/27/98)
More employers advertised for workers during the month of January. The Conference Board forecasts that national unemployment in the U.S. could descend all the way to 4 percent by the end of the year. Economic growth continues in the United States, but it was a bit slower during the final months of 1997 than originally thought. It's expected to slow further later this year, but few are seeing any basis for alarm. The U.S. still has the strongest economy in the world by far, and it's the strongest American economy in a generation.

Competition for tech expertise heats up worldwide (Thursday, 2/26/98)
The United States isn't the only country that is experiencing a shortage of workers with hi-tech skills, but it may have an advantage in the competition for available talent. The U.S. isn't growing enough of its own--e.g., fewer computer science graduates are being produced than ten years ago--so there is growing pressure to recruit more from other areas of the world. America's top technology companies want the government to allow more technically-trained personnel to enter the country. Patricia Wilson of Reuters reports on testimony given to Congress yesterday. Here's the story from William Branigin of the Washington Post as well.

There is growing competition within the U.S. too. For instance, Minnesota's High Technology Council is working on plans to try to attract tech workers from California. Those who respond may need something they've never had before: winter coats. Incidentally, many are puzzled about why there seems to be so much apathy on the part of many university students when it comes to hi-tech careers, given the super-hot career opportunities that await anyone with the necessary skills. For one thing, the "nerd" or "geek" image isn't considered cool at the moment, and it's hard to overcome stereotypes, however inaccurate. Also, though, recent data suggest that another reason may be that, by the time many people reach the colleges, their math and science skills have deteriorated to such an extent that they can't handle the technical courses. Something odds seems to happen to American kids between the fourth grade and the eighth grade, according to studies that compare American students with those around the world. Here's more on that from today's Christian Science Monitor.

Major ruling on credit unions (Thursday, 2/26/98)
The American Supreme Court has decided that credit unions have to stick to their traditional memberships, meaning that they cannot invade the terrain traditionally occupied by banks. Credit union representatives see the ruling as possibly preventing a major portion of the American workforce from joining credit unions.

Biz economists see Asian crises affecting U.S. (Thursday, 2/26/98)
The financial crisis that has spread over much of Asia during the past six months will slow growth in the United States this year, according to a survey of business economists.

Philip Morris workers will get retirement offer (Thursday, 2/26/98)
The big cigarette company will offer retirement incentives to 1,900 employees.

The relationship between occupation and health (Thursday, 2/26/98)
There may be certain advantages associated with being able to work in managerial and professional occupations, which may not strike you as the biggest news flash of the century. Nonetheless, yet another study shows a higher incidence of depression and other health problems among people in blue collar occupations in the United States. Part of the problem is that persons in these occupations have experienced dramatic declines in security and buying power over the past couple of decades. A feature of the American economy's restructuring in recent years has been the near evaporation of the sorts of high-quality blue collar jobs that helped raise the overall American standard of living during the earlier decades of this century.

Why women start their own businesses (Thursday, 2/26/98)
Entrepreneurs may have similar motivations, whatever their sex. However, Harriet Johnson Brackey of the Miami Herald reports on a new study from Catalyst on why women are starting their own businesses in record numbers, and also on what it takes. On the other end of the spectrum, perhaps, Doug Mellgren writes that Norway may begin paying mothers to stay home. A principal reason: a serious shortage of child-care services. Not everybody likes the idea, he reports.

And computers are supposed to be smart (Thursday, 2/26/98)
As additional evidence that computers have the genuine intelligence of a sheep tick, many of the big ones can't tell the difference between the 20th century and the 21st. Of course, it's because a lot of very smart (?) computer scientists apparently weren't able to predict that the year 2000 would come along soon, and so, didn't bother to tell the computers how to distinguish one century from another. So what? Julie Moffett of Radio Free Europe reports that experts are predicting major worldwide economic dislocations because of what should have been history's most preventable global crisis. It's an information economy now, remember? The revolutionary new world economy depends on computers only about a half-century after the first ones appeared on the planet. Remember the expert who predicted that about 13 computers should be about all the entire world would ever need?

Still sunny, but watch for clouds, Greenspan says (Wednesday, 2/25/98)
Alan Greenspan, head of the American Federal Reserve, gave testimony to Congress yesterday, and his report was generally sunny. However, storm clouds are on the horizon, he said, so it's important not to become complacent. The "Asian flu" could wash ashore and throw things out of balance, he warned. Incidentally, the U.S. has reached another milestone. A larger proportion of Americans are now working than at any time in American history. Here are some thoughts about that from David Francis of the Christian Science Monitor.

Teachers strike in Lebanon (Wednesday, 2/25/98)
An-Nahar reports that teachers in Lebanon have begun a two-day strike. They want higher end-of-service payments. Their union wants retirement pay to be based on a teacher's final salary, and they want Parliament to pass a law to this effect.

It's finally official: Kim becomes president (Wednesday, 2/25/98)
The man who seems to have been running South Korea for weeks, for all practical purposes, has finally been sworn in. Incidentally, the Washington Post's Mary Jordan reports on how the South Koreans have cut back. For instance, 20 cents per hour to run a television set may be too much, she says. Meanwhile, Hong Kong's growing financial problems have precipitated violence at the stock exchange.

Labor agreement at Continental (Wednesday, 2/25/98)
Pilots at Continental Airlines have reached a tentative agreement with the company. In other labor news, striking sugar workers are voting on a new proposal today, and the major Detroit newspapers have reached agreement with several unions. You may recall the Detroit newspaper strike that went on for more than a year. In the latest Teamsters news, the investigation of James Hoffa appears to be nearing completion, and a rule change is proposed that would give reformers an opportunity to field a new slate of candidates in the re-do of the Teamsters presidential election. Finally, in Germany, a "super-union" is in preparation as a big merger brews. Today's Wall Street Journal has that story, as does the BBC News. Finally, members of the Kenyan tea growers union are not all of one mind on a strike in that country. Here's the news from Nairobi.

Will jobs cost too much in the 21st century? (Wednesday, 2/25/98)
Peter Ford takes a dim view of "the constitution for a single global economy," as some are calling the Multilateral Agreement on Investment. Here's how it looks through his squinting eyes.

It almost certainly will not be a cliff-hanger (Wednesday, 2/25/98)
David Newsom writes that, despite everything, Indonesia's President Suharto is sure to be re-elected, and he explains why. Incidentally, a team of IMF economists has just disembarked in Jakarta, while U.S. President Clinton is asking Walter Mondale to go twist Suharto's arm. Mondale is a former U.S. Senator, Vice-President, Presidential candidate, and American ambassador.

Some bad news for the U.S. in a hi-tech economy (Wednesday, 2/25/98)
While still booming, the American economy suffers a tremendous shortage of technically trained people. That shortage is likely to get far worse if the latest news about the math and science skills of American high school seniors is any indication.

Former IBM workers sue, claiming exposure to carcinogens on the job (Wednesday, 2/25/98)
Several cancer victims and their families are suing IBM. They were exposed to toxic chemicals while manufacturing diskettes, they say.

Nike stubs its toe; expects to lay off workers (Wednesday, 2/25/98)
Things haven't been quite so good as usual in the athletic shoe business, so Nike will give workers their walking papers.

Malaysia will end preferences policy (Wednesday, 2/25/98)
A policy that has been in effect for a quarter century is one of the casualties of economic reform, and Joseph Kahn expects that it will be controversial. For a long time, Malays have been given priority over overseas Chinese in the Malaysian workplace, but things will be different from now on, according to government officials. As part of its efforts to cope with new economic realities and deal with deficits, nearby Thailand is raising taxes.

Guess who's also going to have a balanced budget (Wednesday, 2/25/98)
Not to be outdone by its huge neighbor to the south, Canada expects to have its first balanced budget in nearly 30 years. Also in the New York Times today, good news for many colleges and universities. Endowments have been expanding rapidly with the expansion of the stock market.

British business anticipates new minimum wage (Wednesday, 2/25/98)
BBC News reports that many businesses in the UK have been raising their lowest wages in advance of the new national minimum wage. In part, it's been necessary in order to recruit needed workers, according to the report.

What now at Caterpillar? (Tuesday, 2/24/98)
Brad Dorfman of Reuters reports that the company is deciding what to do next after a contract proposal was rejected by the UAW's membership. Christopher Wills writes in the Fort Worth Star Telegram about the implications of the UAW's failure to deliver ratification on the deal. Speaking of the UAW, workers at Saturn Corporation have voted to hold a referendum on whether to keep their special contract or move to the master contract between General Motors and the United Auto Workers.

Greenspan to talk to Congress today (Tuesday, 2/24/98)
A cheery report on the American economy is expected when Fed head Alan Greenspan provides testimony in Congress today.

The price of a Wall Street career (Tuesday, 2/24/98)
For women, sometimes the price can be too high, reports Alexandra Marks this morning. Also in the Christian Science Monitor today, Shelley Donald Coolidge reports on what employers are having to offer in order to attract the workers they need. The latest thing: pet care.

"Unintentional discrimination" at a Florida restaurant (Tuesday, 2/24/98)
They thought they'd be the last company on earth to be charged with discrimination by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. At first they laughed, but the EEOC is serious. Michael Fletcher has this unusual story in today's Washington Post. Also in the Post, columnist James Glassman tells why he opposes another increase in the minimum wage.

Why many employers wish Cupid would mind his own damn business (Tuesday, 2/24/98)
It isn't just at the White House that office romances don't turn out too well. They can have broad implications in the workplace, and Steve Berg reports that employers are struggling with the problem. Also in the Minneapolis Star Tribune today, unemployment in Minnesota set another record in January at 2.7 percent, far below the national average, which is also running at historically low levels. Where will employers find the workers they want to hire?

Job cuts at J.P. Morgan and elsewhere (Tuesday, 2/24/98)
J.P. Morgan & Company intends to cut about 700 jobs, and also has merger on its mind. Out in Silicon Valley, Sybase will fire 600 people in order to cut costs, and a major Australian bank will cut 1,700 jobs across the country. Finally, in today's New York Times, Stephanie Strom writes that investors and economists would like to see sweeping layoffs in South Korea in order to help that country's economy rebuild itself. However, she says that's not the way it's going to be, and many are beginning to worry about South Korea's recovery.

Australia's private health system is a big success, right? As a matter of fact, no (Tuesday, 2/24/98)
Michael Millett and Tom Allard report that the Australian prime minister is acknowledging that the private health system has been a disappointment so far. Membership still lags behind the government's expectations.

More Palestinians in Israeli workforce, according to plan (Tuesday, 2/24/98)
Israel's Labor and Social Affairs Ministry has a plan for reducing the number of foreign workers and increasing the number of Palestinians in Israel's economy. Here's the story from the Jeruselum Post.

Why Taiwan hasn't caught the Asian flu (Tuesday, 2/24/98)
One Asian nation that has been conspicuously absent from the daily horror stories from that region over the past six months is Taiwan. It's not that this island nation has remained totally unaffected by that has been happening all around, but don't expect major trouble with Taiwan's economy. Here's why from Edward Gargan of the New York Times. Also from the Times today, news about a new kind of temp worker. Hint: s/he wears a law suit to court. Along those lines, the San Francisco Chronicle advises a correspondent who wonders about part-time job opportunities for professionals on the West coast.

Rejection at Caterpillar (Monday, 2/23/98)
Labor strife will continue at least a little bit longer at Caterpillar, it seems. After six years, many had hoped that a new six-year contract would be ratified by the union membership, but they've turned it down. Union leaders had supported the deal. Also from Reuters this morning, G7+1 (i.e., the rich industrial nations plus Russia) has endorsed a seven-point plan to create jobs in many of the member nations, while, in the U.S., the big struggle is to find sufficient numbers of workers. Here's more on the problems so many employers are having right now. Also, a Manpower, Inc. survey indicates that the American job market will heat up even more this spring. Today's Wall Street Journal has that story, as does the Nando Times.

The year of the job jumper (Monday, 2/23/98)
With the strongest job market in a very long time, Shelley Donald Coolidge says many people will change jobs this year, but she says many people will be well-advised to look before they leap. Also, changing jobs isn't the only way to better one's career, she says. Vivian Marinto writes in the Akron Beacon Journal that it's a good idea to examine what a job change may mean for your taxes too.

General strike approaches in Denmark (Monday, 2/23/98)
According to Politiken, wage talks broke down yesterday between the Confederation of Danish Industries and the Central Organization of Industrial Employees. Some expect a strike to begin on March 2.

Adventures in taxation (Monday, 2/23/98)
The IRS rules certainly haven't been simplified, James Tyson says. Expect frustration on or around April 15 this year, even if you end up saving some money. Tax preparation software can help, according to Laurent Belsie, who also advises that it may be time to consider electronic filing, which seems to have come of age.

U.S. inflation may dip even lower, and Asian imports may be the reason (Monday, 2/23/98)
Usually, inflation is one of the principal worries in the U.S. economy, but it's almost dropped of the scope, and may go even lower, according to David Francis. Also from the Christian Science Monitor today, Asian markets, including those in Indonesia, seem to have acquired some resiliency despite everything.

More on computer scanning, or should that be moron computer scanning? (Monday, 2/23/98)
The Washington Post's Steven Ginsberg writes about how key words and artificial intelligence may determine whether your resume gets you past the front gate. Also in the Post today, if you think the U.S. healthcare system has problems, take a look at Cuba.

Learning negotiation skills (Monday, 2/23/98)
Frank Acuff wrote the book on negotiating, and Long Island's Newsday tells about it. Look at "Survival Guide" in the newspaper's business section. We can't take you directly there, unfortunately.

Biz attempts to curb the World Wide Waste of time (Monday, 2/23/98)
Too much recreational surfing on the web at work is costing employers a lot, or, at least, many think it is. We might like to see systematic research data on that, however. Nonetheless, Jon Tevlin writes about "cyberloafers" today. Also in the Minneapolis Star Tribune this morning, many doctors no longer want to be doctors and here's what they're doing to get out. For most, it's because of managed care. However, for many female doctors, it may be something else. Can you believe sexual harassment?

Ken and Barbie adjust to the new economy (Monday, 2/23/98)
The Boston Globe's Diane Lewis tells how downsizing has changed things for some famous folks.

Two strikes that apparently won't happen (Monday, 2/23/98)
One in South Korea has been called off by a union. Another in Australia has been blocked by a court.

More hi-tech immigrants may be allowed (Monday, 2/23/98)
The shortage of technical workers in the U.S. is getting more serious, so more immigrants with the needed skills may be allowed into the country.

No legal right to a bathroom break, lawyer says (Monday, 2/23/98)
Stephen Franklin reports for the Kansas City Star.

Labor's new opportunity in Asia (Monday, 2/23/98)
Walter Russell Mead writes in today's Los Angeles Times about why Asia will need smart, strong unions from now on. Incidentally, columnist Molly Ivins thinks the U.S. has been scattering ill will which could grow to a bumper crop in Asia.

Time to make greater use of an important resource (Monday, 2/23/98)
Sue Paulson writes in CityBusiness about why persons with disabilities are an underused resource and why it's time to change that.

Time to concentrate on jobs (Sunday, 2/22/98)
The world's richest industrial economies belong to an exclusive club that usually is referred to as G7, but sometimes as G8. Actually, the eighth is Russia, which is allowed to sit in, not because it is all that successful yet, but because it may become an important economic force. Mostly, though, it's because nearly everyone is frightened of what might happen to the rest of the world if the Russian bear is isolated too much. At any rate, Lyndsay Griffiths reports that the rich guys have shifted their attention from Asia's problems to the persistent problem of job creation in some of their own locales. A May jobs summit is schedule in Birmingham.

Clinton takes aim at health gap (Sunday, 2/22/98)
You can make a fairly accurate prediction of a person's health history and future by knowing his/her racial or ethnic category in the United States, and President Clinton thinks this is a situation that needs changing. He wants to eliminate the disparities by 2010, and thinks that $400 million will be needed in order to do it. He described his plans in his weekly radio speech yesterday.

The portability of 401(k)s (Sunday, 2/22/98)
The Washington Post's Albert Crenshaw says you CAN take it with you...when you change jobs, that is. However, Kathy Kristof of the Los Angeles Times has a horror story for you about people who have lost their retirement savings.

The problem with the mental health "parity" law (Sunday, 2/22/98)
Nationally syndicated columnist Jane Bryant Quinn says that the new law intending to restore workers with psychiatric illness to first-class citizenship probably won't have that result. In fact, things may get worse. Also in the Washington Post today, Steven Ginsberg reports on what the U.S. Coast Guard is doing to help "trailing spouses" when a member of the service is transferred.

Is your job title good for a laugh? (Sunday, 2/22/98)
The new economy contains many new work roles, as well as a few new and strange job titles. Here's Mark Leibovich's report. Also in Newsday, Carrie Mason-Draffen has bad news for a person who tried to un-quit and wants unemployment benefits.

Guess what's reading your resume (Sunday, 2/22/98)
Forget the big sales pitch. The computer that reads your resume probably won't be impressed, according to Bob Fernandez of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Meanwhile, Patricia Kitchen says that, if you think an actual human being will be reading your resume, here are some ways to entertain and also insure that you will not get the job.

California physicians may organize (Sunday, 2/22/98)
The "managed care" evolution is changing the work conditions of American physicians. Most never thought they'd ever be thinking about become union members, but many are changing their minds. Here's what's happening in California. Also from the New York Times today, Ingrid Eisenstadter tells about people who are preparing for retirement at an early age, at a VERY early age. Finally, Noelle Knox writes that many employers are finding it harder to attract drug-free job applicants in a tight labor market.

The worker shortage in Atlantic City (Sunday, 2/22/98)
The hi-tech industries may be having the hardest time finding sufficient workers, but they're not alone. Even the gambling industry is having its problems, according to Diane Mastrull. Also in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Marjorie Valbrun reports that the new work rules for welfare recipients may be penny-wise and pound-foolish by keeping people out of college.

U.S. pushes Japan to do more and do better (Saturday, 2/21/98)
Knut Engelmann of Reuters reports that, at the G7 meeting in London, the U.S. Treasury Secretary has urged Japan to make a more aggressive effort to stimulate its economy and also play a greater role in bringing stability to the region. Sandra Sugawara of the Washington Post describes the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's latest plans for boosting the Japanese economy, which many, including U.S. officials, regard as inadequate.

Ratification vote at Caterpillar this weekend (Saturday, 2/21/98)
The past six years at Caterpillar have been filled with labor strife. Work at the company during the next six years could be governed by a new contract, if the union membership votes to accept it. We should know by the end of the weekend.

Currency board idea out in Indonesia (Saturday, 2/21/98)
Indonesia has bowed to international pressure and decided not to link its currency to the U.S. dollar. Seth Mydans of the New York Times that the "currency board" idea is out, at least for the moment, and an implied threat from the IMF probably had something to do with it.

Russia still needs IMF (Saturday, 2/21/98)
The Washington Post's David Hoffman tells about the relief expressed in Moscow at the IMF's decision to extend loans to Russia until the year 2000.

Managers who want to be downsized (Saturday, 2/21/98)
Some people at AT&T resent the fact that their jobs are not among the ones to be eliminated. David Kalish offers an explanation.

Want workers to run the company? Check this first (Saturday, 2/21/98)
Barnaby Feder reports on a failure of worker democracy at Harman Automotive. Does this company's experience mean that workers shouldn't participate in company decision making? Depends on how things are set up. For some success stories, check into the experiences many companies have had with the Scanlon Plan. We recommend two books by Carl Frost: 1) The Scanlon Plan for Organization Development: Identity, Participation, and Equity, and 2) Changing Forever: The Well-Kept Secret of America's Leading Companies. Both are from Michigan State University Press.

Training for thousands of Michigan workers (Saturday, 2/21/98))
More than 30,000 workers in southern Michigan will get the training they need to make them more viable in the new economy through a series of federal grants. Here's a Detroit News story about Michigan Governor Engler's announcement. Derrick Henry of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes about the wrenching experience of people who are still losing their jobs despite a hot economy, and outmoded skills that are too general seem to play a role in some cases. However, that's not all there is to it. Work is simply organized differently in the new economy, as compared with the old. Fewer workers are needed for many tasks, which is why worker productivity has been rising, and some roles--e.g., including many in middle management--are becoming obsolete and irrelevant in new-age work organizations.

"Warning strikes" threatened in Germany (Friday, 2/20/98)
German transport workers as well as white-collar government workers want an average 4.5 percent pay increase and a shorter maximum work week in order to create more jobs. Their unions are threatening to hold brief strikes to attract the attention of the right people, according to Handelsblatt today. In the U.S., a strike is underway at two big sugar processing plants in Florida.

Clinton gets specific on "patients' bill of rights" (Friday, 2/20/98)
The U.S. president announces plans today for insuring that federal workers get better treatment from their HMOs. Here's the story from Reuters and the Washington Post. As reported earlier, the President is also preparing to go on the road to promote his plans for fixing the American Social Security system. Here's an editorial on that subject from today's Christian Science Monitor. Also, the President is still trying to find the votes necessary to make a big payment to the International Monetary Fund, but Adam Entous reports that he's falling short in the House of Representatives. Meanwhile, the IMF is preparing to lend Russia more money with easier terms, and Seth Mydans reports that Indonesia's President Suharto has backed down again in his conflict with the IMF. For the moment, at least, he's cooling plans for linking his nation's currency to the American dollar. Meanwhile, there are increasing fears of political chaos in Indonesia. Some wealthy Chinese business people are giving away large amounts of food in an effort to quiet things a bit. Finally, a G7 meeting is about to begin in London, and Indonesia is on the agenda.

Unstable income can be threatening to your health (Friday, 2/20/98)
A study reported in the American Journal of Public Health concludes that one of the principal features of the revolutionary new world economy can be deadly for individuals. Also in the new Business Week, a look at the continuing weaknesses in labor's bargaining power, despite a tight labor market.

Pan Am furloughs 225 workers (Friday, 2/20/98)
Pan American Airways is having plenty of financial trouble, and, in an effort to cut costs, flights are being canceled and employees sent home. Also from Reuters today, a decline in jobless claims, and an increase in the harassment of gays in the military.

Violations of welfare law alleged in Minnesota (Friday, 2/20/98)
Jean Hopfensperger writes in today's Minneapolis Star Tribune that welfare activists are charging that Minnesota countries haven't been telling welfare recipients about their eligibility for education and training as required by law.

How Y2K glitch may affect the American economy (Friday, 2/20/98)
Many of the big computers that are used to conduct the nation's business still can't tell the difference between the 20th century and the 21st, and Business Week estimates what this will mean for economic growth in the United States. A principal part of the problem is that there is a growing shortage of people with hi-tech skills throughout the economy, so most large corporate and governmental organizations are having difficulty finding enough people to fix the "year 2000 problem," and time is growing short. It's estimated that as many as 300,000 technical jobs remain unfilled, and this number may more than quadruple during the next ten years. Incidentally, if you have a newer PC, you probably don't have to worry about the so-called "millennium bug," and, if you have an older PC, there should be a fairly easy fix. If you have a Macintosh, you don't have any problem at all. It's mostly the big computers using programs written in COBOL years ago that concern people.

China's need for a new economic model (Friday, 2/20/98)
Seth Faison of the New York Times says that China is still trying to secure its place in the new economy with an Asian model that is obsolete.

Coporations worry about their employees when it comes to security (Friday, 2/20/98)
Employees are seen as the greatest threat to corporate security, according to a new survey reported in Business Wire.

Harassment suit hasn't improved the situation in a major fire department, according to official (Friday, 2/20/98)
The Kansas City Fire Department has a problem with sexual harassment, and it's gotten worse instead of better, according to this story from the Kansas City Star.

Another reason a lot of people are going to be hungry (Thursday, 2/19/98)
As everyone except those who've been locked in the basement for six months knows, the financial problems of several Asian nations are resulting in a wave of layoffs, and, in Indonesia, at least, growing hunger. However, expect food emergencies this year in dozens of countries because of El Nino as well. Here's Jude Webber's story from Reuters this morning. Speaking of hunger, a big-time American entertainer wants to help the starving children in North Korea. President Clinton wants to help children too, but in the United States. Here's more on how he plans to extend health care coverage for U.S. kids. Finally, Reuters is reporting that a new study in the New England Journal of Medicine tells how importance insurance coverage is in determining whether children get the health care they need.

Layoffs at Teva Pharmaceutical (Thursday, 2/19/98)
Teva Pharmaceutical is Israel's largest drug company. Sales have been down, so about 80 workers will be laid off, according to Israeli newspapers today.

Women entrepreneurs in Russia (Thursday, 2/19/98)
More new businesses are being started in the U.S. by women than by men now. That's probably not yet the case in Russia, but, as Judith Matloff of the Christian Science Monitor reports, there are a lot of new women entrepreneurs just the same. Still, it's very much a man's world, she says. Finally in the Monitor today, Murray Weidenbaum writes about the reasons for worrying about the retirement of America's baby boomers.

Americans still don't save much (Thursday, 2/19/98)
Savings rates have been higher in most other industrial countries than in the U.S. for a long time. So, you might expect that Americans will save more when they have more, right? John Berry reports that the booming economy hasn't made much difference along those lines.

The latest on Indonesia (Thursday, 2/19/98)
The IMF and Indonesia seem to be waiting to see who will blink first, and it's a dangerous game, according to the New York Times' Peter Passell. President Suharto has been indicating that he plans to establish a currency board that would link his country's currency to the U.S. dollar, and, in the process, probably not live up to the requirements of the IMF bailout. Paul Blustein of the Washington Post reports that the International Monetary Fund is prepared to offer the Indonesian president a compromise. Here's the Post's view of the peril faced by the fourth largest country in the world. One of the things that makes people throughout the region nervous about Indonesia is that the economic problems seem to be destabilizing the country's politics, an instability that could spread, and there are no institutional mechanisms in place that would provide for an orderly transition of power in the event that President Suharto, for whatever reason, were to leave office. Seth Mydans tells why one possible heir worries investors.

An odd advertising strategy (Thursday, 2/19/98)
Some of the commercials telling what's wrong with HMOs may be paid for by HMOs.

Recall at TWA (Thursday, 2/19/98)
Not a recall of products or planes, or anything like that. In this case, TWA is recalling more than a hundred workers it had laid off less than a year ago.

The lowdown on downsizing (Thursday, 2/19/98)
Dorri Jacobs of Career Magazine says that many people who ask about downsizing may be missing the point. We agree. It's not a temporary blip in a familiar economy, but, instead, a whole new work world.

Where the U.S. ranks on maternity leave (Wednesday, 2/18/98)
As we've reported, difficulties obtaining maternity leave are not exclusive to the United States, but the Christian Science Monitor's Marilyn Gardner wonders why the U.S. has dubious membership in an exclusive club. It is one of only six nations lacking a policy mandating maternity leave, she says, according to a new UN report.

Court puts brakes on Labor Department's safety plans (Wednesday, 2/18/98)
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce wanted a delay in the Labor Department's implementation of new workplace safety regulations, and a federal appeals court has given the Chamber its wish.

Clinton calling attention to children's health concerns (Wednesday, 2/18/98)
President Clinton would like to see more children with health coverage in the United States. As part of his campaign, he's visiting a Washington, D. C. hospital today.

American business organizing to oppose new minimum wage increase (Wednesday, 2/18/98)
It may be only coincidental that movements to increase the minimum wage tend to come during election years. Well, maybe it isn't. At any rate, a new effort is in the works, and business is getting ready to oppose it.

Workfare nearly disappears (Wednesday, 2/18/98)
Only three of America's 50 states are currently attempting to meet the community service requirement for welfare recipients, according to US. News.

How many of Israel's 300 hi-tech companies have women CEOs? (Wednesday, 2/18/98)
If you said six, you win the handshake award. Here's more from today's Jeruselum Post.

Afraid of flunking out at Princeton? Relax (Wednesday, 2/18/98)
Randal Archibold writes in today's New York Times about grade inflation at the great New Jersey university where Einstein once peddled his bicycle, sockless, of course. Also in the Times today, Andrew Jacobs reports on the experiences of people who suddenly find themselves homeless in New York City.

Some of the people involved in Medicare fraud are genuine experts (Wednesday, 2/18/98)
Stephen Hedges writes for US News about organized crime and Medicare.

Job searching on the Internet (Wednesday, 2/18/98)
Fortune's Justin Martin says that if you haven't checked out the Internet as a job-search resource for several months, it's time to take another look. It's much more useful now.

Repatriation of foreign workers in Thailand (Wednesday, 2/18/98)
Thailand is among the Asian nations with both a financial crisis and increasing unemployment. Here's news about the repatriation of thousands of illegal workers.

Why Indonesia may be on the wrong track (Wednesday, 2/18/98)
The Christian Science Monitor editorializes on Suharto's plans for linking the rupiah to the U.S. dollar. The newspaper agrees with the American president, the IMF, and many others. It's a bad idea, they say. Incidentally, James Woodford of the Sydney Morning Herald reports that Australian political and military people are becoming increasingly nervous about possible political instability in Indonesia, and a quick glance at your globe will explain why the Australians are concerned. Also, Michael Evans says that people intending to travel to Indonesia are being warned about violence.

Suharto to go ahead with monetary changes (Tuesday, 2/17/98)
The Washington Post's Paul Blustein and Keith Richburg report that the Indonesian and American presidents had another telephone conversation over the weekend. Suharto reportedly told Clinton that the IMF's efforts for rescuing the Indonesian economy aren't working, so he intends to go ahead with dramatic changes in his country's monetary system. While Indonesia, the world's fourth largest nation, is only one of a number of Asian countries that have been experiencing wrenching financial problems during recent months, its situation seems most serious at the moment with widespread layoffs, protests, food riots, and several fatalities.

Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund is warning Hong Kong to "be on guard" against a spread of the Asian crisis, indicating that Hong Kong's own prospects are seriously threatened. Deputy finance ministers from a number of countries are meeting with U.S. Treasury officials in Washington today amid some secrecy. At least one Japanese official seems to be in town and is expected to attend the meeting. Back in Japan, that country's PM has emphasized that his government's top priority during the next year will be to deal with Japan's sluggish and vulnerable economy.

Asian colonies all over again? (Tuesday, 2/17/98)
Many in Asia see Western assistance as amounting to a new colonialism, according to Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times. We should expect that the revolutionary economic changes that have been occurring world wide will drive political changes to some extent, and William Drozdiak of the Washington Post reports that this concerns some persons in Europe too, particualrly when they think about political implications of the euro.

Mexican economy had a very good year (Tuesday, 2/17/98)
The Mexican economy grew at a rapid rate last year, according to Reuters' Caroline Brothers. Also from Reuters today, layoffs at Lam Research, and a Federal Reserve official warns that the "year 2000" computer glitch could threaten the international financial system.

It's okay to soak the rich, economist says (Tuesday, 2/17/98)
A University of Chicago economist says his research indicates that raising taxes on the rich worked without hurting the American economy, writes David Francis. Also in the Christian Science Monitor today, Toni Call says it's time to start saving for college. Laurel Shaper Walters tells about one family that started making tuition payments at about the same time they started raising their children. However, despite its attractions, pre-paying college tuition probably isn't the best approach. Finally, today's Washington Post reports that banks are threatening to get out of the student loan business, and here's why.

Honeywell head surprised by Teamsters' response, he says (Tuesday, 2/17/98)
Honeywell's Michael Bonsignore expected a good response to the company's two-tier plan, but that's not what happened. The strike has ended at Honeywell in the Twin Cities, but by almost the narrowest of margins, suggesting that the union local is still deeply divided. Speaking of the Teamsters, Newsday's Kenneth Crowe reports that the troubled union seems to be getting along fairly well without its president. Its financial condition could be better, though, and Frank Swoboda of the Washington Post says that the union's spending habits got it into its present fix. In labor news from the other side of the earth, Helen Trinca, Anne Davies, and Tim Jamieson report for the Sydney Morning Herald that the head of the Maritime Union of Australia is threatening to shut down the country's waterfront over the Webb Dock dispute.

Some ad agencies like the shortage of workers (Tuesday, 2/17/98)
Beth Berselli reports that some advertising agencies in the Washington, D. C. region are benefitting from a labor shortage that is bedeviling many employers. Also in the Washington Post today, Blaine Harden writes about how hospitals are doing their best to attract the Medicaid maternity business in the competitive new world of managed care. Meanwhile, CNN reports that many women are having difficulty getting maternity leave from their jobs, and it seems to be a worldwide problem, according to an International Labor Organization report. A new bill in the Minnesota legislature would require employers to make it easier for nursing mothers to provide milk for their infants, as research continues to suggest long-term developmental advantages for infants raised on mother's milk.

Israeli unemployment situation improves slightly (Tuesday, 2/17/98)
The Jeruselum Post reports that the number of jobseekers in Israel fell by 0.9 percent last month.

Why the increase in DOs? (Tuesday, 2/17/98)
That's "Doctor of Osteopathy," and despite the growing glut of physicians, DOs are increasing in number at a rapid rate. Here's Abigail Zuger's report from today's New York Times.

How workers comp regs now get people back to work quicker (Tuesday, 2/17/98)
Jennifer Ehrlich writes for CityBusiness about how injured workers are brought back to some job sooner now, although maybe not their regular one. Also, Timothy Sheehan tells about a Hazelden survey that finds many employers still terminate addicted employees rather than attempting to reclaim those human resources through treatment. There are several good reasons why employers shouldn't do that, including the fact that it is illegal. Chemical dependency is covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The feds intend to provide incentives to help move states along the welfare-to-work path (Tuesday, 2/17/98)
The Clinton administration wants to distribute a cool billion dollars in extra funds to states that are doing a particularly good job of moving people off of welfare and into jobs. Speaking of windfalls, here's a story about a poor region that is about to become a rich region. Azerbaijan used to be part of the Soviet Union. Now, it's independent and about to be hit by a financial tidal wave. It expects to receive about $5 billion per year from its oil industry.

Why the news about labor productivity might be the most important news of all (Tuesday, 2/17/98)
The San Francisco Chronicle's Jonathan Marshall explains the link between productivity and a nation's future. Productivity is key to a society's overall standard of living, he says.

If you work for the government, how well are you doing? (Tuesday, 2/17/98)
Many people seem to think that government workers need a raise, but there's not much agreement as to how large it should be or what the criteria should be. Stephen Barr reports that the new head of the Office of Personnel Management is putting together a "think tank" to work on the problem.

Teachers unions want smaller classes in Minnesota (Tuesday, 2/17/98)
Minnesota is one of the states that seems to be in particularly good financial shape at the moment, and there are growing arguments about how available funds should be used. Rob Hotakainen of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that unions representing public school teachers would like to see an additional 8,000 or more like themselves added to bring class size down.

Strike ends at Honeywell (Monday, 2/16/98)
The Teamsters strike against Honeywell in the Twin Cities has ended, and union membership accepted the contract by a margin of only eight votes. In other labor news, there is agreement at Caterpillar to end the six-year dispute there, but a ratification vote hasn't occurred yet. Look for it sometime later this week. In Australia, workers are unsatisfied with a proposed pay increase for those at the lower end of the pay scale. Tom Allard writes from Canberra for the Sydney Morning Herald.

Facing hard times in Korea (Monday, 2/16/98)
Mary Jordan of the Washington Post puts a human face on the statistics arising from South Korea's financial problems.

Republicans: what to do about child care (Monday, 2/16/98)
President Clinton is proposing a big increase in government's involvement in child care, and, for that reason plus others, many Congressional Republicans don't like the idea. However, some fear that their party could end up on the wrong side of a popular issue.

Good news about bad attitudes (Monday, 2/16/98)
Here's news about consultant Harry Chambers' book on improving workplace climate. It's called The Bad Attitude Survival Guide, and it's intended for managers. Also in Long Island's Newsday, James Bernstein tells why many ex-workers from Northrop Grumman Corporation are unhappy about the company chairman's retirement deal. Finally, the Wall Street Journal's Hal Lancaster writes about a Harvard biz professor's study of first-line managers. Many feel unprepared when they are thrust into their first management job.

Growing managed care debate will involve non-traditional adversaries (Monday, 2/16/98)
Peter Kilborn reports on the growing tumult over managed care and consumer rights. It's creating a backlash in many areas and stirring conflicts among people who aren't used to being in conflict with one another. Also in the New York Times today, Adam Bryant tells how President Clinton may be providing leadership in ways that nobody has intended. Corporate leaders are watching the White House closely because of concern with relations between the sexes in the workplace.

The link between downsizing and temp work (Monday, 2/16/98)
The market for temporary workers is getting a boost from downsizing, which isn't really news. Nonetheless, Kortney Stringer of the Detroit News tells how individuals and temp agencies are being affected.

New deal proposed for public sector workers in Germany (Monday, 2/16/98)
Die Welt reports that government employers have proposed a new 1998 wage and employment agreement that would affect 3.2 million workers in Germany's public sector. Employers would like concessions from unions on work hours and pensions in return for a "modest" wage increase, according to the story.

Chinese targeted in Indonesian riots (Sunday, 2/15/98)
Reuters is reporting additional fatalities as Indonesian riots continue. Keith Richburg writes in the Washington Post that bankers in the region have been meeting to find ways to improve the country's financial situation. David Sanger of the New York Times reports that President Clinton has urged President Suharto to stick with the reform plan or risk the $43 billion bailout.

New attitudes about life and work (Sunday, 2/15/98)
It isn't just employee attitudes that are changing. Those of some employers are shifting too. Here's Steven Ginsburg's story about how unusual life experiences may strengthen your resume in the new work world, as well as his views about how rigid plans have given way to flexibility in building careers.

Did you hear the one about the President and your estate? (Sunday, 2/15/98)
President Clinton's budget contains many things, not all of which have been visible on the surface. For instance, the Washington Post's Albert Crenshaw reports via Newsday this morning that, if the President has his way, you may be leaving a much larger share of your assets to the government when you go. Also in Newsday, Barbara Kitchen reports that, despite the horror stories about office romances that don't work out, many lead to marriage, and more and more people are finding mates at work instead of in school now. Speaking of marriage, if you're putting it off for tax reasons, here's news about a growing movement to eliminate the so-called "marraige penalty."

Korea gets set for a fight over jobs (Sunday, 2/15/98)
The new president of South Korea agrees with many experts that a large number of layoffs will be necessary in order to restore that country's economy to health. However, many labor leaders are vowing a "life and death struggle" to keep people employed. Also from the Nando Times today, Mitsubishi is moving to eliminate sexual harassment at its troubled Illinois plant, but EEOC officials don't seem impressed.

Many improperly denied home health services (Sunday, 2/15/98)
Medicare has been denying many elderly people home health coverage, and Robert Pear reports that most who insist on review of their cases have coverage reinstated. Also in the New York Times today, Lisa Napoli tells how employers are trying to make the work environment more comfortable when workers don't agree on how they want it to be.

Rioting spreads in Indonesia (Saturday, 2/14/98)
At least one fatality has occurred during the worst day of rioting since the beginning of the Indonesian economic crisis. Louise Williams writes from Jakarta that no one is hiring, no matter how much people want to work, and Business Week this time editorializes that President Suharto's plan for a currency board won't solve the problem. Actually, it isn't Suharto's idea; he's been persuaded by Johns Hopkins economics professor Steve Hanke, as the Washington Post's Paul Blustein reports. The IMF opposes that idea too, according to the New York Times' Richard Stevenson, although the Nando Times says that experts are looking for novel solutions.

Australia's Sydney Morning Herald has several articles on the Asian situation, including this one by David Lague, who writes from Beijing that political stability throughout the entire region could be threatened by the "rising tide of joblessness." China itself is bracing for the impact of a tremendous displacement of workers from unprofitable state-run enterprises, he says. Margaret Harris writes about job losses in Hong Kong, and Craig Skehan writes from Bangkok that, while the worst of the currency crisis appears to be over, increased unemployment is expected throughout Southeast Asia. Finally, Russell Skelton says that "lifetime employment" will be one of the casualties as South Korea adjusts to the realities of the new world economy.

UPS to appeal (Saturday, 2/14/98)
United Parcel Service says it will appeal the $81 million damage award in an harassment suit.

Job cuts at GE (Saturday, 2/14/98)
General Electric intends to cut 460 jobs in Connecticut. Also, Seagate is cutting jobs in Malaysia.

Contract a long time coming, but UAW not satisfied with the result (Saturday, 2/14/98)
After six years of trying, it appears that a settlement has been reached in the dispute between Caterpillar and the United Auto Workers. However, UAW officials aren't particularly happy about it. In other labor news, Jon Tevlin of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that Honeywell has made another officer to the Teamsters in the Twin Cities in an effort to end the strike there. Apparently, the company has abandoned its two-tier medical plan.

Signs of improvement in France and Germany's employment situations (Saturday, 2/14/98)
Both France and Germany have been suffering record unemployment recently, and, during the past several days, nationwide protests have been occurring in Germany on a scale not seen since the early 1930s, a period that most Europeans remember with a shudder. However, the new edition of Business Week sees some reason for hopefulness. However, other developments in Germany could stop the euro dead in its tracks, according to this report. Also in Business Week this time, some thoughts about the likely costs of a hot U.S. job market in the near future, Clinton's proposed spending increases for more workplace regulation, and how Ernst & Young is trying to "rethink work" in order to hold on to top female employees. Finally, here are some thoughts about the evidence that we're really in a new economy.

Finally, agreement at Caterpillar (Friday, 2/13/98)
It appears that the six-year labor dispute between Caterpillar and the UAW is at an end. A tentative agreement has been reached. Also from Reuters today, President Clinton presents his proposal for increasing the minimum wage with Democratic support, job cuts at the "Beanie Babies" company, and an IMF official warns against rigid currency controls in Indonesia. Speaking of the International Monetary Fund, several key figures from both major American political parties as well as others are getting together to urge Congress to provide $18 billion to refresh the IMF's bank account. Alan Greenspan is among those who think it's a good idea. Many people aren't happy about the IMF's way of doing things, but, as Michael Bloomberg said on Charlie Rose's TV show last night, the time to reorganize the fire department is not when the community's on fire. For the moment, of much higher priority is fixing the Asian mess before a major economic crisis turns into a major political crisis throughout the region.

Big award in harassment case (Friday, 2/13/98)
A former UPS manager is awarded $80.7 million in her sexual discrimination and harassment suit against the company. Also in the Minneapolis Star Tribune today, a new vote is scheduled for Sunday in the Teamsters strike at Honeywell. In South Korea, a militant union has called off plans for a strike that has not had broad public support.

Immigrant "sex predators" arrested (Friday, 2/13/98)
Seventeen men have been arrested in Florida and face deportation.

Pilots oppose airlines' alliance (Friday, 2/13/98)
Continental Airlines pilots seem to believe that the planned alliance between Continental and Northwest Airlines will lead to merger, and they oppose it. A hundred Continental pilots are picketing in the Twin Cities.

U.S. jobless claims decline last week (Friday, 2/13/98)
Here's news about the latest data from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Who's taxed the most? (Friday, 2/13/98)
According to a report in Borsen, the European Employers Federation UNICE says that Denmark has the highest taxes in the world. On the upside, the country is doing better at job creation than its neighbors. Speaking of taxes, Ann Scott Tyson reports that the American Internal Revenue Service goes after ex-spouses for back taxes if they've signed a joint return. One women has been pursued for 30 years.

Take a deep breath. Here's a story about slavery in Sudan (Friday, 2/13/98)
In some cases, freedom can be bought for $100 per person, according to Karin Davies in today's Christian Science Monitor. That's the good news.

Race still makes a difference if you're trying to get ahead (Friday, 2/13/98)
Here's Newsday's Carrie Mason-Draffen with news about a new report that finds race is still an obstacle to moving up the corporate ladder.

Nationwide protests in Germany (Friday, 2/13/98)
Germany has record unemployment, and now protesters have taken to the streets throughout the country for the first time since the early 1930s. Also from Radio Free Europe today, Tony Weselowsky reports on the situation in Russia where there are many jobless, but also many workers who have been waiting a long time to get paid. Finally, here's Mr. Weselovsky's analysis of the grim Russian labor situation.

Possible air strikes against Iraq could affect Egyptian workers (Thursday, 2/12/98)
A large number of Egyptians are working in countries throughout the region, and the Egyptian government has established a committee to study the likely impact on these persons if the U.S. should launch a military strike against Iraq. El Ahram reports that hundreds of thousands of Egyptian workers returned home before, during, and after the 1991 Gulf war.

Clinton to propose $1.00 increase in minimum wage (Thursday, 2/12/98)
President Clinton would like to see the minimum wage increase by a dollar over the next two years, and is likely to formally unveil his plan today. The President also has plans for strengthening and safeguarding Social Security, but Linda Feldmann says that "Generation X" remains to be convinced. Finally, Lizette Alvarez on how regulation of managed care is moving toward the top of Washington's political agenda. Expect it to move to the front page during the months ahead.

Repeat this: RSIs are real (Thursday, 2/12/98)
During nearly all of the forty to sixty thousand years that homo sapiens sapiens have been on the planet, it's only during the last instant or so, relatively speaking, that people have been called on to make the same motions with their hands hundreds of thousands of times on a routine basis, and the human body doesn't seem very well-equipped for doing that. British researchers now report that data demonstrate that repetitive stress injuries are not imaginary, and they occur because of nerve damage.

More than a third of Lebanese families live in debt (Thursday, 2/12/98)
Lebanon's An-Nahar reports that a Central Bureau of Statistics study indicates that 38.3 percent of Lebanese families aren't making ends meet. Also, Lebanon's unemployment rate stands at about 8.5 percent.

Teamsters nearly broke (Thursday, 2/12/98)
If it has to pay for the re-do of the Teamsters presidential election, the big union may have to lay off staff and cut services, according to today's Washington Post.

Protests hit Indonesian capital; government gets tough (Thursday, 2/12/98)
The Indonesian government has been cracking down on protesters in Jakarta as discontent over the nation's economic problems swells across the country.

New worker employment code proposed in Greece (Thursday, 2/12/98)
Greece's Interior Minister has presented a new employment code to the Prime Minister that intends to improve meritocracy. It would link job changes and transfers to specific qualifications, make the administration more autonomous, and reduce the influence of labor unions and ruling political parties on employment changes.

Domestic loans extended in South Korea (Thursday, 2/12/98)
Borrowers will get an extra two months to gather the cash together to make domestic loan payments, according to the New York Times' Stephanie Strom.

Report expected to show Asian crises' effect on Australian employment (Thursday, 2/12/98)
Sean Aylmer reports for the Sydney Morning Herald that January data are due out today and should show how much Asia's economic problems have been impacting employment in Australia.

Winner of unpopularity contest: the IMF (Thursday, 2/12/98)
Peter Passell of the New York Times says that neither the political left nor the political right likes the International Monetary Fund very much. But what are the alternatives when something like the Asian mess happens?

Representatives of Caterpillar and the UAW get together with mediator again (Thursday, 2/12/98)
The dispute has gone on for six years, and they're trying to end it with the help of a federal mediator.

Big report on the health of working women (Thursday, 2/12/98)
It's the first really comprehensive report on working women and their health, and it comes from the US Department of Health and Human Services.

Full-time work making a comeback in Australia (Thursday, 2/12/98)
Paul Cleary writes about the turnaround in Australian employment. Also in the Sydney Morning Herald, Luis Garcia that efforts to sell a "prestige" university degree may have been a dumb idea, or, at least, there haven't been many takers. In the U.S., one of the most prestigious universities has decided to take a look at its standards. There has been a tremendous increase in the number of high grades at Princeton during recent years, but it doesn't seem to be because students have gotten more competent.

Something that makes poverty harder (Thursday, 2/12/98)
Schizophrenia is widely regarded as the most severe and disabling of the psychiatric illnesses, and it afflicts about one percent of the population worldwide. Adam Gershenson of the New York Times tells about one person who is trying to fight it and poverty too. Incidentally, for those who have access to modern treatment, prospects for successfully managing the disease have increased dramatically over the past few years. As a measure of how things have improved, the average number of consecutive days of hospitalization for schizophrenics in the 1950s was more than 300. Now, it's about 19. In 1998, the difference between having access to treatment and not isn't just a little difference, it's cosmic. Untreated, the disease can be entirely disabling. With treatment, many are able to live essentially normal lives.

Layoffs in the space industry (Thursday, 2/12/98)
More than 500 workers have been laid off at the Kennedy Space Center recently, and they're worried about safety and morale for those who remain. Also, they're not happy about their severance pay.

French work week to be among the shortest in the world (Wednesday, 2/11/98)
The 35-hour work week seems to be the new reality in France. It's part of an effort to get the nation's near-record unemployment under control, but many experts are skeptical. Here's more about France's historic but controversial move from Anne Swardson of the Washington Post. Meanwhile, BBC News reports that unemployment has reached record levels in neighboring Germany too, and protests are expected in 200 (sic) German cities. Peter Ford of the Christian Science Monitor reports that 18 million people across the European Union are without jobs, and he examines the various options for doing something about it. Across the channel, though, unemployment in the UK is at an 18-year low.

Some benefits of America's strong economy (Wednesday, 2/11/98)
The American economy is the strongest in the world and is in better shape than it's been for as long as even some middle-aged people can remember. Among the beneficial consequences, according to the Clinton administration and others, has been an improved situation for the nation's children, a narrowing of the income gap that has separated races and ethnic groups in the U.S., and an increase in stock ownership for American households. Also, the latest news is that productivity has increased at a substantial rate in the U.S. for another year. Dave Skidmore says that it will enable high producers to be paid more without risking inflation, and hi-tech probably has had something to do with producing the nice productivity numbers. Productivity is important because it determines a society's overall standard of living. Economic experts seem to agree that 1997 was a banner year, but also that American economic growth is likely to slow a bit from now on, although no one seems pessimistic about the immediate future. Finally, Lawrence Goodrich of the Christian Science Monitor discusses the growing argument among Congressional Democrats and Republicans about what should be done with the new budget surplus. Generally, the Democrats, led by President Clinton, want to use it to support social programs, while Republicans would like to see it used to pay down the national debt or cut taxes.

Egyptian PM disputes unemployment claim (Wednesday, 2/11/98)
The head of the Tagamuu Party has claimed that Egypt has one of the highest unemployment rates in the world, with 48 percent of the population living below the poverty line. Not exactly so, says Prime Minister Kamal El Ganzouri. He claims that Egyptian unemployment is really about 8 percent, which, by European standards at the moment, isn't all that bad El Ahram has the story today.

Rich nations plan safety net for Asian companies (Wednesday, 2/11/98)
Neither the Asian economies nor the world economy needs for manufacturing companies to start shutting down operations because of the financial crises in several Asian countries. The G7, sometimes referred to as G8, are discussing what can be done to help companies keep on keeping on. Speaking of meetings, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation has conducted a forum on Asia's economics, and William Schulz reports that many want to see human rights issues addressed at the same time. For instance, Colin Woodard writes about the surprise that the head of the World Bank received in Indonesia following plans to offer $600 million in loans to help fight poverty in that country.

Do we need the IMF or don't we? (Wednesday, 2/11/98)
Robert Samuelson says we do. Incidentally, Thailand, where the "Asian flu" started about six months ago, has received some slightly pleasant news from the International Monetary Fund. The IMF has backed off a little on its requirements in exchange for helping that country. Less austerity will be required, they say.

China still making the rest of Asia nervous (Wednesday, 2/11/98)
A cursory glance at a map can explain why China has been a source of concern for many other Asian countries for a long time, and for a variety of reasons. During recent years, as China's economic power has increased, its neighbors have been keeping an eye on it, even when the Asian mainland colossus seems friendly. Just inhaling can rattle things throughout the region. At the moment, China has pledged to do what it can to keep from aggravating Asia's economic problems, but, as Steven Mufson reports, it may not be enough. Many are nervous anyway.

Koreans prepare to abandon "jobs for life" expectations (Wednesday, 2/11/98)
South Korea has been doing its best to base its economy's operations on sound economic principles and less on corruption, cronyism, wishful thinking, over-extended borrowing, opaque transactions, and a cozy relationship between business and government, to say nothing of the impulse to protect somebody's brother-in-law's business. Another thing that will have to go, according to Michael Baker, is "employment for life." The revolutionary new world economy doesn't permit that kind of security without risking the fundamentals, and South Korea wants to be a viable part of the new economy. Here's Baker's report on how the new labor agreement will change things.

Indonesian economic mess hits its hospitals (Wednesday, 2/11/98)
The Washington Post's Keith Richburg tells how the Indonesian economic crisis has affected hospital operations. Suddenly, many of them can't afford necessary supplies. Seth Mydans of the New York Times describes the great tensions in the air throughout the country, following food riots in several areas. Everybody's on edge.

Discrimination suit settled in Detroit (Wednesday, 2/11/98)
Several class-action lawsuits against Detroit Edison have been settled. The deal provides for an arbitrator to determine the size of the damage award. It will be somewhere between $17.5 million and $65 million. Three-thousand employees will be affected.

Catholic Church critical of proposed Philadelphia ordinances (Wednesday, 2/11/98)
The City of Philadelphia has proposed ordinances that would extend benefits to same-sex partners of municipal employees, and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia doesn't like the idea.

Domenici's right, paper says (Wednesday, 2/11/98)
Today's Minneapolis Star Tribune editorializes in favor of Senator Peter Domenici's insistence that the Clinton administration move to fix Medicare as well as Social Security.

Why so many businesses are understaffed (Wednesday, 2/11/98)
A new survey of executives finds that they think the principal reason has to do with a shortage of skills, not people. Business Wire has the story today.

It isn't just foreign loans that have been troubling South Korea (Tuesday, 2/10/98)
Bankers know how much trouble everybody can get into if insufficient collateral backs up loans. South Korea has had that problem with its foreign loans, and the drop in the value of its currency against other currencies finally brought things crashing down. Suddenly, the won wouldn't buy as many yen as it did previously, for instance, and, when loan payments had to be made in yen, say, there was a very big problem. There has been a lot of domestic borrowing too, and many of those loans have also been insufficiently supported. Here's Stephanie Strom's New York Times report on South Korea's crushing domestic loan crisis that hasn't gotten its share of public attention. Incidentally, in the judgment of many people, including IMF officials and South Korea's new president, major layoffs will have to be part of a plan to get the country back on its economic feet. A deal has been struck, but one labor group doesn't like it and is threatening a nationwide strike if it's not renegotiated. It doesn't appear that the movement has broad support, though.

Indonesian government may take action against crisis (Tuesday, 2/10/98)
Indonesia's President Suharto is talking as though his government is about to make a meaningful response to the economic crisis in his country that has led to rioting in several regions. Among the possibilities: a currency board to stabilize the rupiah, or, at least, to try. With so many people hurting badly because of price rises, layoffs, and so on, many are looking around for scapegoats, and the country's Chinese population feels it may be a convenient target. Indonesian history teaches they may have plenty to fear. Finally, the Christian Science Monitor's Donald Emmerson weighs the options for bringing Indonesia's economy back from the brink. What should be emphasized: austerity or liquidity?

With the big California storms, it's hard to see those other ripples, but... (Tuesday, 2/10/98)
William Claiborne reports that the Asian crisis has been washing up against the American west coast a bit, although, so far, its effects on the overall American economy have been fairly minimal. David Francis of the Christian Science Monitor examines economic reform in regions outside Asia and concludes that many are benefiting.

New Zealand unemployment improves (Tuesday, 2/10/98)
The unemployment situation in New Zealand has improved more than expected, according to vivian Hutchinson's The Jobs Letter. Still, one in fifteen New Zealanders is unemployed, Mr. Hutchinson reports. Also, government plans have been delayed because of the effects of Asia's financial crisis on the New Zealand economy.

McKinney court martial pushes ahead (Tuesday, 2/10/98)
A lot of attention has been given to sexual misconduct in the workplace recently. Opening statements have been underway in the most-watched military case for a long time. On trial is the former top enlisted man in the United States Army.

Clinton steps up his campaign to fix Social Security (Tuesday, 2/10/98)
President Clinton returned to the university from which he received his law degree yesterday and discussed Social Security's problems with the younger generation. Also, Randall Mikkelsen of Reuters reports that the President intends to hold a number of forums on Social Security around the country. It's been widely observed that Clinton performs particularly well in that sort of "talk show" format. Meanwhile, Allan Sloan writes in today's Washington Post that he's skeptical of the President's fix-it plan and doesn't think that it will really fix it. Also in the Post today, Jacob Hacker examines the President's Medicare proposal and decides that it is really very modest indeed.

A new selection tool on the horizon? (Tuesday, 2/10/98)
If you're a heavy drinker, chemical traces remain in the body, even when you're not drinking. A new test may be able to identify people who drink heavily, and employers may be interested. Also from Reuters today, an agreement between the Teamsters and some trucking firms. Incidentally, the Teamsters strike at Honeywell in the Twin Cities continues, and talks broke off again.

Stand back! Financial aid may be getting ready to blow up, or, at least, it's ticking (Tuesday, 2/10/98)
B. Ann Wright discusses the financial aid "time bomb" and what can be done to head off a major mess involving higher education. The big financial aid investments are unsustainable, she says.

Do you really want to live and work in Paris? (Tuesday, 2/10/98)
Career Magazine finds that a lot of Americans seem to think so, but the magazine has asked many members of the Parisian expatriate workforce about their experiences. You may change your mind, they say.

A mistake magnified thousands of times at the INS (Tuesday, 2/10/98)
William Branigin reports that the Immigration and Naturalization Service has allowed thousands of people to become naturalized citizens even though they weren't eligible. Who? Well, some criminals, for example. In response to a lot of pressure, the INS says it's modernizing its system and will be more careful from now on.

Ken finally gets a job (Tuesday, 2/10/98)
The people who make the Barbie and Ken dolls have decided to change Ken's image.

Minority women managers don't like their advancement prospects (Tuesday, 2/10/98)
Here's news about the findings from a recent survey.

Poultry processors not paying enough overtime (Tuesday, 2/10/98)
The U. S. Department of Labor says that 60 percent of the poultry processing plants in the United States have been violating overtime laws. Also in the New York Times today, the Labor Department's data on job growth show improvement for office workers. Also, America Online is raising its rates now that it's eaten Compuserve, and is also cutting a lot of its old rival's workers.

Progress in East Asia (Monday, 2/9/98)
Andrew Walker of BBC News reports that many economists are more optimistic now that Asian financial markets have had a good week and other events suggest that Asian recovery may be underway. However, today's Washington Post says that it's not a time for complacency. There continues to be troubling news, of course. For instance, more food riots are reported in Indonesia, and experts at Lehman Brothers say Japan is getting closer to deflation, but a worldwide depression of the sort that hit during the 1930s is not on the horizon. Incidentally, Joseph Kahn of the New York Times reports that Southeast Asian economic leaders would like to see their respective nations become less dependent on the American dollar and, instead, rely upon local currencies for trade in the region.

Alternative ways to cut costs (Monday, 2/9/98)
Many managers immediately look to layoffs when trying to find a way to cut costs, but they may be missing the boat, says an organizational expert. Shelley Donald Coolidge has that story in today's Christian Science Monitor, and also suggests that despair is not indicated if you're laid off by your profitable company. And, it isn't just jobs that have been cut from American corporations. Loyalty seems to have been laid off too.

G8 worries about Y2K bug (Monday, 2/9/98)
At the next meeting of the eight largest industrial nations, the "year 2000" computer problem will be a hot topic of conversation, according to Britain's Independent. Some estimates are that, left unfixed, the inability of computers to tell the difference between the 20th century and the 21st could provoke a US$410 billion recession.

Big job cuts at Paging Network (Monday, 2/9/98)<