November 1, 2007
Pardon the Dust
Due to technical issues, Counselor's Log is undergoing some reconstruction. The site will return as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience.
Posted by webmaster at 02:33 PM
April 10, 2007
Requests for Salary History Can be Discriminatory
Savvy career counselors (like Jack Chapman) have long cautioned interviewees to delay, if not avoid altogether, discussion of their salary history. This wise advice acknowledges that the real money issue is the value the candidate brings to the open position, not how much she made at her last job.
It's a short step from the reality underpinning that strategy to the idea that women -- and other protected groups who historically have earned less -- have reason to worry about having their low wage trend continue if they have to disclose that trend during the interview process.
And most of the federal courts that have addressed the issue seem to agree: Employers should need some good reason to ask, otherwise it could constitute illegal discrimination.
Many thanks to employment attorney Jeffrey Lax, Assistant Professor at Kingsborough Community College, Brooklyn, NY, for championing this cause ' including summarizing the various court decisions and explicating some of the complexities around the applicable statutes ' and gracefully offering you a copy of my interview of him on this emerging issue. Send me an email and I'll send you a copy of my interview with Professor Lax when it becomes available.
Posted by danfelix at 04:33 PM | Comments | TrackBack
March 02, 2007
the war abroad impacts employees here
Evidence of the war's reverberation into the world of employment extends beyond two well-publicized whistleblower cases (the employee lost one and won the other) and a freedom of speech case (applied the general rule: the right to express one's views does not extend into official capacity during work time).
Perhaps most compelling are the cases involving US citizens sent to Iraq by their private employers. The Associated Press has estimated that during their stint in Iraq some 800 of these non-military folks have been killed, and over 3,000 have been wounded ' statistics that it claims are not reported by the government reports of U.S. casualties.
Curiously, a federal court has denied jurisdiction over one set of wrongful death claims filed by civilian workers, despite the likely involvement of federal laws and issues. My prediction ' rulings of the courts will be inconsistent with each other, and the generally more generous state courts will better compensate those who are able to recover for their injury.
Contact me if you'd like further detail on any of the above. And if you'd like something done about the war, exercise one or more of your constitutional rights.
Posted by danfelix at 02:12 PM | Comments
February 08, 2007
....Diversity: Proven to Pay
A few reports are finally surfacing over a 2006 study proving empirically that racial diversity has a positive impact on a company's bottom line. Conducted by Professor Cedric Herring of University of Illinois at Circle, the research, apparently the first of its kind, evidences that employers with more racial diverse workforces enjoy a cornucopia of blessings as compared to their less diverse competitors: higher sales, more customers, and better market share and profits.
The research is available in the various forms: as an academic report DoesDiversityPay, as well as a more graphic and less dense PowerPoint-styled .pdf version (ask me for a copy). Professor Herring also anticipates it to be the subject of an upcoming book with the working title of From Affirmative Action to Diversity: The New Business Case for Equal Opportunity.
Presumably, the argument extends to supporting the economic power of other diversity on all levels - age, gender, nationality, etc. So, not only does the "old boy club" offend, now we know it also hurts the bottom line.
Posted by danfelix at 01:37 PM | Comments
January 19, 2007
Significant trends in the news...
Recently I've read:
(1) the number of terminations of CEO's was up 12% in 2006 over 2005;
(2) the annoucement of the first election to law firm partnership of a flex-timer;
(3) various on-line job boards are specifically targeting the older worker.
These reports are consistent with my understanding of the evolving workplace: shorter work tenures (often project oriented), and the expansion of specialized opportunities (not expanding quickly enough for some). In short, more holes available for an increased variety of pegs.
It's more than just a good thing for those of us who prefer customization and variety. It's actually a foundation for the happy production of wealth for both employer and employed.
This synergistic phenomenon is dramatically substantiated by another stunning and under-covered report . . ..
Posted by danfelix at 09:54 AM | Comments
November 10, 2006
Chicago salary increases remain flat
at about 3.5% - at least according to the just-released 2006 Chicago Benchmark Compensation Survey prepared by Watson Wyatt Worldwide, and co-sponsored by the Chicago Compensation Ass'n and the Society of HR Professionals. Attending the release program yesterday, I found out that the participating companies report a relatively high turn-over rate of 15%, that severence continues to vary by level & longevity, and that employers are implementing few "work/life" policies.
The study also confirmed one of my suspicions: more is being expected for less. Specifically, increased performance expectations exceed raises in compensation.
Posted by danfelix at 02:27 PM | Comments
....but don't expect too much if you're a woman
Women are under-represented as equity partners in U.S. law firms, and their pay is lower, according to a new study by the National Ass'n of Women Lawyers. Published ruminations on the cause has focused on cross-cultural differences, such as women's supposed discomfort with entertaining clients through sporting events, which remains popular among marketing devices. Perhaps it's another c-c d: do more women chose a different balance of work & family? Law firms don't commonly recognize a parent path to partnership.
Posted by danfelix at 01:56 PM | Comments
November 01, 2006
Want a job? Become a lawyer...
Almost 90% of new law school graduates found employment, according to the National Association of Law Placement. Placement has hovered in the 83-92% range since at least 1985. Interestingly, small law firms and firms over 101 attorneys both shared roughly 37% of the grads each - with public service jobs at 21%.
