Posts Tagged ‘Economy’

Three Keys To Economic Recovery: Strong Expectations, More Responsibility, Better Policies

Posted by • November 12th, 2010 • 18 Comments

In the Wall Street Journal this week, Kevin Warsh, a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve, sounded off on the current state of the US economy. He writes:

“The current period of subpar growth and high unemployment is real, but it need not persist. We should not lower our expectations. We should improve our policies.”

The view Warsh refers to is one where high unemployment and mounting deficits causes the American people to accept a lesser lifestyle. This is the view many politicians and pundits say is inevitable. I am not ready to agree and was happy to read Warsh’s opinion.

Here’s why…

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Layoff Effect Dampening Already Depressed Summer Travel Planning

Posted by • July 2nd, 2009 • 7 Comments

Today’s Bureau of Labor Statistic job report isn’t as positive as many anticipated, with nearly 470,000 jobs lost in June, up from a slowing in May of 322,000, bringing the unemployment rate to 9.5%.  With today’s news, the total number of job losses in 2009 is up to 3.4 million, out numbering the 3.1 million that were lost in the entirety of 2008.  Clearly these losses are affecting us all – both employed and unemployed, and most of us are making at least some changes in our everyday lives to help counteract the possibility, or reality, of losing all or part of our incomes.

With summer upon us, so is the summer vacation. As one of the largest household expenses this time of year, this is one area in which many people are cutting back according to a survey commissioned by the career website Glassdoor.com and conducted by Harris Interactive®.

More than half of U.S. adults (52%) say they are modifying their summer travel plans in certain ways compared to last year. While nearly three-quarters (74%) say they traveled last summer only 60% say they plan to travel this summer. Of those who do plan to travel, nearly half (49%) are planning ...

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Navigating a Layoff: Tips for Negotiating Your Separation Agreement and Getting the Most from Severance (Employers Listen too!)

Posted by • February 16th, 2009 • 20 Comments

January layoff numbers are the worst we’ve seen in decades, which means many affected likely have not been through anything  like this before. If you are faced with imminent unemployment, it can be scary and confusing, but there are a few things you can do now as you have conversations with your employer that may make the transition to re-employment easier for you.  In today’s economy, it’s important to understand that you are likely to be out of work longer than you might think so whatever you can to do to try to secure some continuity and extend benefits to make the transition easier will be beneficial.  Now is also the time to think about “Re” everything; Refinance, renegotiate your lease, redo your spending budget, reduce your debt, recailibrate your expectations to make it through until your next job starts.

The pervasive job-losses, deepening recession and credit crunch we are all facing today make it harder and harder for people who are living, or expecting to live, on the severance packages being offered today. Companies tend to want to provide lump sum severance payments so they can take the full accounting charge in the current quarter and move on.  However, many ...

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