Last 5 Articles
| · Transition and Our Finances - [ 0 comments - 35 reads ] |
There are a number of situations that can place us out in the job market. In some cases, it may be planned, such as the decision to start a new career or to look for opportunities with another employer. In other cases, the decision may not be ours, rather, a contract that is ending or a corporate layoff could suddenly leave us out of work.
If we have work and are looking for work, finances are probably not much of a concern, but if we face an employment gap, finances can become a critical issue. Even in planned situations, the potential for an employment gap can become unpredictable. Regardless of the situation, we should have a financial contingency plan that will cover us and those who depend upon us in the event we lose our source of income.
The worst case scenario is what to do in the event we suddenly lose our job. If we have a financial contingency plan, we should be able to quickly shift to a conservative budget and will be able to shift the majority of our attention to the job search. If we don’t have a financial contingency plan, we may squander assets that could later prove to be critical.
Our financial contingency plan should start with an assessment of required versus discretionary expenses. Discretionary spending appears to be the most obvious source of conservation, but a prudent assessment of fixed or required spending may present savings opportunities as well. The objective is to identify a conservative budget and project how long our liquid or near liquid assets will last while in-between jobs. The objective is to have a plan that will cover us for at least six months. We may want to consider a longer period the more senior or specialized our job position is. It may be more difficult to find similar employment in such situations.
Even if we have what we consider to be a secure job, we should periodically revisit our financial contingency plan. This is especially true if we take on a significant expense responsibility such as a loan for a new car, college tuition, a new mortgage, or an equity line. We must account for new financial responsibilities when we consider the impact to our contingency budget.
We should also take into account periodic expenses that may be on a quarterly or annual budget. Do we know where we are in relation to such potential expenses? Are we also aware of home and auto maintenance? We should factor in such issues as an aging car or home appliances. What is the potential we will face a major home or auto repair expense? Do we have credit that can cover us and what is the cost of that credit should we be forced to rely upon it?
All of these variables can impact the duration over which our finances can cover an income loss, but if we have evaluated our financial contingency plan, we will be in a better position to make informed decisions. The issue is not just providing during a loss of income, but protecting ourself such that we do not risk our credit rating, or worse, critical assets while we are seeking a new income source.
Beyond asset protection, a financial contingency plan can also make a difference in decisions associated with our job search. The more secure our financial situation; the more options we
have in selecting the job we want. We want to be in the position of selecting a new opportunity that is consistent with our goals. If we do not have a financial contingency plan, then, we may place ourself in a position where we feel we must take the first thing that comes along; and chances are we will end up compromising something along the way.
Printed with Permission. Copyright © 7 Jun 05 - all rights reserved. http://www.guardianangelstore.com
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| | · What Will the Pope and President Obama Discuss? - [ 0 comments - 62 reads ] |
In a 23 Jun 09 article, the Catholic News Service reported that Pope Benedict XVI will receive President Obama for a visit in the Vatican on 10 Jul 09. The Catholic News Service related that the visit will come at the end of President Obama's participation at the G8 Summit to be conducted in L'Aquila, Italy.
On 24 Jun 09, the Huffington Post reported that the White House had confirmed arrangements for the visit and that the First Lady would accompany the President during the visit. It was noted that Papal audiences are normally conducted in the morning and the afternoon visit was a break in Vatican tradition. The Huffington Post opined that it demonstrates Pope Benedict's interest in meeting with the U.S. President.
As controversy swirled over Notre Dame's invitation to President Obama to be the 2009 commencement speaker, the Vatican was reserved in comment. Approximately 70 American Bishops issued statements disapproving of the invitation because of President Obama's position on embryonic stem cell research and abortion. It was noted by some pundits, however, that instead of criticism, the Vatican appeared to be issuing mild praise through the Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano.
In the 6 May 09 article, “One Hundred Days that didn't Shake the World,” L'Osservatore Romano appeared to give a positive review of President Obama's approach to Iran, Beijing, Russia and Cuba. The article also stated, “Even on ethical questions over which the Catholic episcopate has expressed strong concern from the time of his electoral campaign Obama does not seem to have established the radical changes that he had aired.” Despite the positive remarks, the article concluded, “But perhaps it is too soon to speak of revolution or to over analyze with judgments, positive or negative as they may be. These hundred days have not shaken the world. Better to await the next 1,361.”
The cautious Vatican position may be designed to preserve opportunities to influence President Obama in relation to catholic social teaching. On 9 May 09, the Washington Post analyzed that the Vatican fear is that President Obama would be “a global version of Spain's José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, the socialist prime minister who has defied church opposition by legalizing same-sex marriage and pressing for liberalized abortion laws.” The Washington Post referred to the comments of Massimo Franco, author of "Parallel Empires," a history of U.S.-Vatican relations, who opined, “The Spanish bishops' experience in fighting a center-left government in Europe has taught the Vatican to be more cautious with Obama.”
It is safe to assume that Pope Benedict and President Obama will discuss matters common to heads of state. The world issues of economics, human rights, political tensions, and war are likely to dominate. It is likely that the Pope and the President will find common ground in many of these subjects, but it is even more likely that there will be disagreement over the matters of the rights of the unborn.
In can be expected that Pope Benedict will encourage President Obama in pro-life matters. It is equally likely that the President will politely dismiss the issue as he did during phone calls from the Pontiff in the post presidential election days. According to a 22 Jan 09 Newsmax.com article, President-Elect Obama's response to the Pope in relation to the subject of abortion was that, “We agree to disagree.”
The Catechism of the Catholic Church holds that, “Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person—among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life.” The scripture it cites is, “The word of the LORD came to me thus: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you.” Jeremiah 1:4-5
For now it is a matter of speculation of what will be said. Pro-life advocates will hope that the Pontiff will have influence over the President in all matter of life and social justice. The motivations of the two, however are very different. For one in the conversation it is a matter of politics, but for the other, it is a matter of the Word of God. One is a political leader while the other is entrusted with guiding God's children in Christian faith. We can only pray that the encouragement of Pope Benedict will not continue to be lost upon the relatively new leader of the free world.
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| | · The Obama Choice for a Church Home Still Pending - [ 0 comments - 38 reads ] |
On 29 Jun 09, a Time.com article reported, perhaps prematurely, that President Obama and family have chosen a church home. USA Today and the Huffington Post, however, reports that the White House denied such a choice has been made.
The Time.com article reported that after the first family, friends and aides had attended several churches to include the 19th Street Baptist and St. John's Episcopal Church, the Obama's elected to follow in the foot steps of President George W. Bush and attend Evergreen Chapel as their place of worship. The report indicated that the key advantage of the nondenominational church at Camp David is that it will allow the First Family to worship without the feeling of being on public display.
The Time.com article identified the challenges for famous people to attend church. The issue is the public spectacle and the actions of the curious who stare and may attempt to take photos during religious services. In a 21 May 2008 article, Hollyscoop reported that Beyonce could no longer go to church because she would be mobbed by fans as she attempted to worship.
The celebrity news site, celebrifi.com, reported on 4 Jan 09 that Miley Cyrus and her boyfriend Justin Gaston were seen attending services with Miley's parents. There was no real story other than photos snapped as the teens exited with the congregation. Snapping a chance picture while a celebrity is exiting a service, however, is not as disruptive as those who attempt to use camera phones or digital cameras to snap a picture during the service.
The challenge for Presidents wishing to attend services is the public interest in their habits and the security apparatus that must accompany the First Family wherever they go. In an article posted on chicagotribune.com on 26 Dec 2008, it was noted that President Obama's church attendance went down as soon as he became president-elect. The article pointed out that the habits of several Presidents changed after assuming office. It was noted that President Reagan did not attend church in Washington very often due to the inconvenience of security measures upon the congregation.
While the variety of articles on the subject cite that the White House continues the search based upon a variety of personal and political decisions, it would not be surprising if the First Family selects the isolated chapel at Camp David. The President, however, may be reluctant to make a decision based upon the potential political some would seek to find in the choice.
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| | · People Contact in the Job Search - [ 0 comments - 57 reads ] |
The bottom line is that people hire people. Classified ads, company web sites, and job boards do not hire people; people hire people. The key objective, then, of any job search is to seek contact with people. This is not to say that in our job search we should not spend any time with the classifieds, company sites or job boards; but we must choose how we focus our time and how much of our time we devote to these activities.
The above resources, along with business journals and trade publications are sources of job leads, but the leads we must seek are people to contact. We must be mindful of corporate processes through which to get our resumes into their recruiting system, but we should not limit ourselves there.
Especially in tight job markets, human resource departments seek to insulate their hiring managers from literally hundreds of applicants for a single opening. The result, though, is our resume gets lost in an electronic database and may never be read. We must follow the rules, but we must also find means to get out of the database and get face-to-face with people.
While we must spend time with a variety of sources, the most effective source of job leads is people. When we submit resumes through a web site or ad, a job may or may not be behind it. The information may be stale or some sources may simply be trolling for resumes for contract purposes. When a person gives us a job lead, there is a much greater chance there is something worth while to pursue. If that person is an insider to the organization with the opportunity, then, they might be able to provide a good word or get our resume a look outside of the database.
Our opportunities to connect with people come from a variety of sources. Job fairs may seem like a good source because the event is full of people. We must keep in mind that such events are also full of people just like us and full of people seeking to isolate their hiring managers from people like us. The job fair is little better than web sites unless we seek to find a means to follow up outside of simply handing over our resume.
We should seek to capture some contact information through which we can conduct a follow-up call or visit. As a minimum, we should seek to get a business card; however, larger companies are likely to bring in human resource recruiters that are not local. Their business card is still better than nothing, but what we want to learn are names on the inside. Getting past the receptionist is easier when we have a specific name for which to ask when we attempt to do a follow-up call or visit to a potential employer.
The most effective sources of people contact are professional associations, network groups, volunteer activities and community organizations. When people know us and our capabilities, they are often willing to help us. The best time to engage such activities is while we are employed, however, joining organizations and letting new contacts know that we are in the job hunt can still produce results. Naturally, the better people know us, the more likely they are to try and help us, if they have the opportunity. Our investment in our people network is best maintained over time. We should keep in mind that the favor we provide today could get paid back when we seek our own opportunities.
Printed with Permission. Copyright © 5 Apr 09 - http://www.guardianangelstore.com"
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| | · Huffington Post Misrepresents Pope's Position on Unions - [ 0 comments - 73 reads ] |
In the article, “Chamber of Commerce, Unionbuster vs. Pope, Catholic Bishops on Union Rights,” posted by the Huffington Post on 22 Jun 09, the position of the United States Council of Catholic Bishops is misrepresented. The article concludes, “So, who should the public trust on the Employee Free Choice Act and workers' rights: The Chamber of Commerce and Jackson Lewis or the Pope?” The implication is that the teachings of the Catholic Church as to worker's rights is an endorsement of the Employee Free Choice Act. No such endorsement exists, only the recognition of worker's rights and the responsibility of government, business and unions to provide for those rights.
The article cites guidance issued by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) entitled, "Respecting the Just Rights of Workers: Guidance and Options for Catholic Health Care and Unions," as siding with the union movement on worker's rights. The Huffington Post article stated, “While the Chamber of Commerce continues its smear campaign against the Employee Free Choice Act, the union movement enlisted a powerful ally yesterday in its drive for workers' rights: the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, following the guidance of, yes, the Pope.”
Contrary to the article's statement that the union movement enlisted the USCCB, the USCCB explanation is somewhat different. According to a USSCB news release posted 23 Jun 09, “The three-way dialogue was initiated by the USCCB in an effort to find common ground on alternative approaches for carrying out Catholic social teachings on the rights of workers to freely choose whether or not to be represented by unions.” The chair of the effort, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, stated, “Though they had different perspectives and points of view in many areas, the participants shared the conviction that it is up to workers—not bishops, hospital managers, or union leaders—to decide how they will be represented in the workplace.”
A fair reading of the USCCB guidance recognizes the rights of workers to chose whether or not to be represented by the union, but it also states, “...we acknowledge a fair and just workplace may
exist with or without a union.” It goes on to say, “Whether workers decide to be represented by a union or not to be represented, Catholic teaching respects their decision.”
While the Huffington Post article implies the Pope supports the Employee Freedom of Choice Act, it is clear in the USCCB guidance that some provisions of the EFCA might be challenged. The guidance states, “We also had clear differences on the utility and value of other means of verifying what a majority of workers wanted (e.g., "card check" and similar mechanisms). Participants respected these differing perspectives and did not abandon strong convictions and positions in these areas.”
One of the major provisions of the EFCA is that, “If the Board finds that a majority of the employees in a unit appropriate for bargaining has signed valid authorizations designating the individual or labor organization specified in the petition as their bargaining representative....the Board shall not direct an election but shall certify the individual or labor organization as the representative described in subsection (a).” This is the provision known as “card check.” It essentially removes the right of workers for a secret ballot as to their desires.
In a 26 Mar 09 Fox News report, an example was provided as to how card check was abused by union organizers to intimidate workers. One worker related as to how she was worn down by the constant harassment of a union organizer. She stated, “When they approach you every day, every day, every day, after awhile it is like, ok, fine, I'll sign the card.”
The report related that the “union gained enough signatures through card check, but that a number of employees appealed to the National Labor Relations Board which ruled that the employees were entitled to a secret ballot.” The report pointed out that the employees had to stand up for their right to a secret ballot. Once the secret ballot was held, the majority of employees voted against union organization.
According to a Catholic News Service report posted 2 Feb 09, the Pope told directors of the Confederation of Italian Labor Unions on 31 Jan 09 that, "The great challenge and the great opportunity posed by today's worrisome economic crisis is to find a new synthesis between the common good and the market, between capital and labor. And in this regard, union organizations can make a significant contribution." The Pope also stated, “In order to overcome the economic and social crisis we're experiencing, we know that a free and responsible effort on the part of everyone is required."
A fair representation of the Pope's statement is not an endorsement of EFCA as the Huffington Post article implies, rather the importance of the responsibility of both management and unions to provide an environment which is fair to workers, free of intimidation from either side. The USCCB guidance states, “...workers have the right to decide through a fair process – free of coercion and based on accurate and truthful information – whether and by whom to be represented in the workplace.”
According to the 1996 Catholic Framework for Economic Life, “...free markets have both clear advantages and limits; government has essential responsibilities and limitations; voluntary groups have irreplaceable roles, but cannot substitute for the proper working of the market and the just policies of the state.” Legislation, therefore, must be designed to create a fair work environment, balancing the interests of all the principals towards maintenance of a fair and just economic environment. When that balance is exceeded, no one is served.
The framework goes on to state, “Workers, owners, managers, stockholders and consumers are moral agents in economic life. By our choices, initiative, creativity and investment, we enhance or diminish economic opportunity, community life and social justice.” Catholic social teaching reflects the new covenant taught by Jesus to love one another as He loved us (John 13:24). Catholic social teaching promotes an ethical work environment. Through the engaged partnership of all involved, a just economy is generated. Abuses by any party creates unhealthy conflicts and divisions which can only result in strife.
“If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.” Mark 3:24-25
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