21 workplace benefits that are rapidly disappearing
U.S. News & World Report
From July 26, 2011: Traditional pension plans, paid family leave and even the company picnic are all on the decline. Employers have significantly cut many of the benefits they offer to workers over the past five years. Some 77 percent of companies report that benefits offerings have been negatively affected by the slow pace of recovery, according to a Society for Human Resource Management survey of 600 human resources professionals.More

Pension funds strapped, states look at 401ks
The New York Times
From March 1, 2011: Lawmakers and governors in many states, faced with huge shortfalls in employee pension funds, are turning to a strategy that a lot of private companies adopted years ago: moving workers away from guaranteed pension plans and toward 401(k)-type retirement savings plans.More

Get ready to hire Generation Z
American Express Company
From September 27, 2011: Just as companies have adjusted to the demands of Generation Y, a new generation is set to graduate from college: Generation Z. William Strauss and Neil Howe set the standard for generational analysis in their book: "Generations: The History of America's Future 1584 to 2069." The basic premise of the book is that generational traits are cyclical, and therefore predictable. Based on that analysis, here are five ideas for how to prepare your recruiting strategy for Generation Z.More

Change afoot for public pension plan accounting
Pensions & Investments
From July 12, 2011: After years of deliberation and debate, the Governmental Accounting Standards Board has unveiled a draft of what could be game-changing rules for public pension plan accounting. Here are the key draft rules.More

Not letting go: Companies hang on to their baby boomers
Fortune via CNNMoney
From October 25, 2011: Fearful of losing skilled workers, some companies are looking to hold on to baby boomers who are either nearing or have already reached retirement age. Winning strategy or just delaying the inevitable?More

How does a baby get to be obese?
CNN
From June 28, 2011: A 4-year-old lumbered into a Boston pediatric clinic. He walked with a limp. "He was carrying so much weight, he displaced his hips," recalled Dr. Elsie Taveras, co-director of the Obesity Prevention Program at Harvard Medical School. The boy, an extreme example of childhood obesity, carried more than 100 pounds and had a body mass index that was over the 99th percentile for his age group. He is part of a disturbing trend among the youngest Americans.More

20 surprising jobs women are taking over
Forbes
From March 8, 2011: Women may be half of the workforce, but they have largely been concentrated in lower-paying service jobs like teachers, retail workers and administrative assistants. However, they could be moving up.More

Using 'F words' with 4 kinds of difficult office people
American Express Company
From July 12, 2011: There are people in the office who are just difficult. They hurt you or make your work difficult, whether they mean to or not. The hardest part is figuring out what to say to them so you can get what you want without being a jerk. Here are four difficult people and how to use the right "F word" to handle them.More

10 management rules of engagement
CBS News
From February 8, 2011: It's probably a bit unrealistic to expect an organizational change without management buy-in, but the best way to bring about change is to build a culture that's designed to inspire good behavior at all levels in the organization. Here are 10 workplace rules of engagement, which is intended to improve organizational effectiveness while, at the same time, bolstering employee's careers.More

Should government workers get to retire early?
U.S. News & World Report
From March 8, 2011: Many state and local government workers can retire and collect a pension after a few decades of service, regardless of how old they are. Some public sector employees who started working in their 20s and never changed employers are eligible to collect pension benefits for life beginning in their 50s.More