December 22, 2014

When looking to acquire more talent, savvy companies seriously consider both options – hiring a full-time employee or engaging an independent contractor. Many, but certainly not all, companies need some full time staff for a base level of work and to maintain consistency. Moreover, many companies, especially service companies, have workload peaks and valleys. When this is the case, it can be ve...

December 16, 2014

Even people who have never heard of GEICO know that health care costs have been skyrocketing over the last few years. With the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, many companies may see a further increase in their premiums. Although escalating health care expenditures is a worrying issue for both small and large businesses, these rising expenses are more likely to be detrimental to the “h...

January 7, 2014

Many folks who have “regular 9-to-5” office jobs contribute to a company-sponsored retirement savings fund, be it 401K or employee pension (or both), or other financial product or service offered by their company. These are great benefits. So are the healthcare benefits, paid vacation time and sick days offered by many companies. If you’re self-employed, however, these options likely aren�..

December 9, 2013

There is no question that a college degree is an integral piece of the puzzle on the road to finding a good job and rewarding career. For example, high school graduates with no college degree had a 17.9% unemployment rate in 2012, while their counterparts with degrees experienced a 7.7% rate (source). Unfortunately, a college degree is also a very expensive piece of the puzzle! Case in point: The ...

November 15, 2013

These days, terminated employees receiving severance packages happen quite frequently. Sometimes it happens voluntarily, such as during a layoff; other times, it happens after the employee has won a lawsuit against his or her company. It could even be required by state or federal law, or be part of a company’s policy. Severance pay is basically a sum of money given to an employee to help a termi...

October 30, 2013

There are many people who would love to have a job... any job. But even if you have one, there’s no guarantee that you’ll be able to make it without some help. Fast food workers are the perfect example. A recent study by the University of California Berkeley Labor Center and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, indicated that more than half (52%) of the families of fast food workers...