10 Jobs That Could Cause You Pain We all know that work can be a pain, but some jobs actually cause physical pain due to the nature of what's required to get the job done. ABC News put together a list of the ten jobs that could cause harm, and while some are expected others might just surprise you.
The most confusing part of getting my first job out of college wasn't getting used to the structured days, it was deciphering the health care plan options that were offered in my benefits package. Years later, the choices make a little more sense but they still aren't 100 percent clear, and one thing is for sure: health care is more expensive. Hewitt Associates estimates that total health care spending will cost eight percent more than it was last year, and not paying attention to whether or not your plan is best for you could mean you are spending more than necessary. CNN Money broke down how to evaluate the situation so you can make changes to your plan for 2009 if needed.
Separate the apples from the oranges. More companies are offering the option of high-deductible plans with an HSA. This type of plan will likely save you money while you're healthy, but could end up costing you more when you are sick. Make sure you can afford the deductible before opting for this plan.
Narrow the oranges. Are your doctors in-network? And would you ever want to go out of network? If you want to keep your current provider, call your doctors to see if they'll accept the plans you're considering. Note that HMO and POS plans usually require a recommendation to see a specialist, so if you're too busy to fit in an extra appointment just to get the referral, a PPO might be a better choice.
What started out as a small government initiative for working women is now an event attended by thousands and draws only the most inspirational voices to speak. The 2008 Women's Conference was held in Long Beach, CA yesterday, hosted by Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger. The all-day conference drew a crowd of 14,000 international women from various professional walks of life and 60 speakers aiming to "empower and inspire women to become architects of change." The agenda covered all the bases with discussions about how to live an authentic life, how to step forward with confidence, starting your own business, managing your financial life, and many, many, more. Check out who was on stage — hit start slideshow to begin.
The class of 2009 is well in to its first semester of senior year, and the future could be even more up in the air for this group than it has been for previous graduates. The job market won't exactly be welcoming the class of '09 with opening arms and evidence of that can be seen in the reduction of corporate recruiters on college campuses. A survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers projects the weakest outlook in hiring for new graduates in six years, while just two months ago the group projected a 6 percent increase in hiring.
The job market is changing rapidly and the decline in hiring projections can be attributed to a number of factors, like a weaker financial sector and tighter budgets all around. The Wall Street Journal spoke with one senior finance major at NYU who planned on making his career on Wall Street, and is now exploring other options like Teach for America. He says the economic downturn makes young job seekers "feel freer to pursue your real passions."
Do you think the weak job market will allow new graduates to choose paths truer to themselves?
Weights and measures inspectors from Northern California discovered that Target repeatedly charged customers with higher prices than the listed prices, and as punishment Target must pay a $1.7 million civil penalty. Sonoma County District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua remarked, "Customers should not have to worry about being charged the correct price. We believe the settlement sends a message."
The investigation was limited to Northern California, but there's more than a good chance electronic scanners in Targets all over the country have been over-charging customers. Target is a fan-favorite around here, but spending money unnecessarily is not OK. Next time you are shopping at Target, or anywhere for that matter, make sure you're paying attention to what you're being charged — those mistakes add up.
Oil prices are falling (hooray) but other products aren't following suit. The high cost of groceries and other personal necessities like toothpaste are still in tact even though the initial hike was blamed on oil. Steady prices that exist without the explanatory rationale are called sticky prices. Competitive juices are needed to get these sticky prices to budge. Lars Perner of the University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business explains, "As soon as the first [company] in a category reduces prices, the others will follow suit. But they're all hoping the other one doesn't."
Discrimination can have many ugly faces; whether it's deliberate or unintentional it never feels good when you've been unfairly treated. On Sunday's episode of Mad Men, Peggy Olsen finally got the office she deserves — one that doesn't double as the copy room. She made the change happen by standing up for herself and believing that her contributions were enough to warrant her own office, even if she was (gasp!) a woman.
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