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One-Man-Band Businesses Are Not Playing So Well

Lisa Johnson Mandell — 2011-08-01T06:24:00+00:00

Chances are you know a number of people with one-man-band businesses -- proprietors who work for themselves and don't have any paid employees. Real estate agents, beauticians and handy men are good examples of "nonemployer businesses." While those individually-run operations used to be common, they're not so much any more. Their number has dropped by more than 260,000 across the United States over a recent two-year period, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Hotel Manager Turns Up Heaters on Strikers -- During Heat Wave

Lisa Johnson Mandell — 2011-08-01T06:21:00+00:00

Labor relations between the Park Hyatt Chicago and certain employees were hot enough during a recent strike, but one manager upped the temperature even more by lighting the heaters over strikers on one of the hottest days of the year. The striking workers are now filing charges against the hotel.

Company Barbecues Go Up in Smoke

Lisa Johnson Mandell — 2011-08-01T04:26:00+00:00

It looks like the good old summer company picnic/barbecue if finally going the way of the raucous company Christmas party. Fewer and fewer businesses are throwing seasonal bashes these days. Recent research showed that only 41 percent of the companies surveyed are planning a company picnic this summer.

For New Grads, It's All About the Health Insurance

Lisa Johnson Mandell — 2011-08-01T04:09:00+00:00

If you've been paying any attention to the latest data on what motivates the youngest crop of job seekers, you've probably heard that they're all about job satisfaction over everything else -- that happiness even outranks salary. That seems to have changed a bit over the last few months, according to a recent survey, which found that more than half (57 percent) say they would take a job they didn't like just for benefits like health insurance and retirement accounts.

Stay-at-Home Moms, You May Believe You Left the Workforce by Choice, But Did You?

Lisa Johnson Mandell — 2011-07-29T19:55:00+00:00

Studies have shown that most Americans believe career opportunities for men and women are equal in this country. Still, statistics clearly show that women earn less than men, are underrepresented at the highest levels of many fields, and face other gender barriers -- such as bias against working mothers, and inflexible workplaces. How can there be such a disconnect between reality and perception?

Burned Out at Work? Your Boss Doesn't Think So!

Lisa Johnson Mandell — 2011-07-29T11:35:00+00:00

While you're busy sweating bullets because of factors that go far above and beyond the summer heat, your boss could be sipping on an ice cold glass of lemonade, thinking everything is hunky dory. A recent survey showed that 77 percent of workers say that they are burned out at work, while only one in four employers think their staff is over-stressed.

Forced to Be the 'Devil's Double': The Horrifying Job of 'Being' Saddam's Son

Lisa Johnson Mandell — 2011-07-29T10:36:00+00:00

Living in the lap of luxury in a plush apartment with gourmet food, designer suits, top of the line watches and as many pliant women as you desire, all provided gratis at any hour of the day or night, doesn't sound like such a bad gig, does it? But when the price for all this involves standing idly by while rape, murder and torture are being committed, the perspective changes drastically.

Hard Drinking, Bar Brawling Mayor Plans to Keep His Job (Video)

Lisa Johnson Mandell — 2011-07-29T01:32:00+00:00

Last weekend Sheboygan Mayor Bob Ryan went on a three-day bender that involved at least one fight and inappropriate comments to a bartender. Ryan admits to all that and says he needs to address his drinking problem, but swears it will not affect the remainder of his term. He promises to remain completely sober for the duration.

Six New 'It' Jobs in High Demand

Lisa Johnson Mandell — 2011-07-28T14:37:00+00:00

The financial industry, once considered super-chic by college grads and working professionals alike, is rapidly losing status points. More people than ever in the financial industry are trading bonus checks for unemployment checks as financial behemoths like Credit Suisse and Morgan Stanley are laying off people right and left, and banks like Wells Fargo and Bank of America have shed thousands of employees and are rumored to be letting more go. More than 15,000 jobs in that sector were lost in May alone.

Nearly Naked Businessmen Want the Suit Off Your Back

Lisa Johnson Mandell — 2011-07-28T11:43:00+00:00

On Tuesday, August 2, if you live in a major city, be on the lookout for attractive guys wandering the streets wearing only boxers, dress shoes, socks and ties. You'll know them by the signs they're carrying, which read "Give the suit off your back."

They're part of a campaign launched by Men's Wearhouse during the month of August, asking for professional clothing donations that will be passed along to low income men and women. The aim is to help the less fortunate find jobs that will make them self-sufficient and better able to support their families.

Need Help Finding a Job? Turn to Your Neighbor

Lisa Johnson Mandell — 2011-07-28T09:36:00+00:00

Are Americans hunkering down and isolating themselves, or are they extending a hand to help those around them while the economy wavers and dips? According to a new survey, the news is good: 83 percent of us are willing to help a neighbor with financial problems, and 45 percent of us will help a neighbor look for a job.

GE to Bring on 250 Workers at Aviation Plant in Mississippi

Lisa Johnson Mandell — 2011-07-28T06:59:00+00:00

At least one major U.S. company is on a hiring roll. GE just announced a $56-million investment in a new 300,000-square-foot aviation plant, which will create 250 new full-time jobs, not to mention the construction positions necessary to build it.

Live Alligator, Naked Man and Getting Assaulted: All in a Day's Work [Video]

Lisa Johnson Mandell — 2011-07-28T06:21:00+00:00

It was bad enough that Fox 29 reporter Chris O'Connell had to go cover a story about an intense animal cruelty case at a Philadelphia home -- where the stench was so bad that neighbors were selling their houses. Add that to the fact that a naked man had been reported outside the house, and you have one unsavory assignment.

Wild Miami Joy Ride Gets Cop Fired, Charged with Felonies

Lisa Johnson Mandell — 2011-07-28T05:06:00+00:00

It was bad enough that a couple of Miami Beach police officers joined a raucous bachelorette party at a South Beach club -- while in uniform. But when one of the officers jumped on his police ATV to take a female partier on a pre-dawn joy ride and ran into two people, seriously injuring them, he not only got fired, he was booked on multiple felonies.

One-Handed Boxer Denied TSA Job Because He Can't Give Proper Pat Downs

Lisa Johnson Mandell — 2011-07-28T02:02:00+00:00

If he can win Golden Gloves boxing matches with one hand, 32-year-old Michael Constantino thinks he should have no problem working as a screener for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at the airport. Unfortunately, the TSA didn't agree, and rejected him because of his "medical disqualification."

Detroit Companies Pay Employees to Live Downtown

Lisa Johnson Mandell — 2011-07-27T09:39:00+00:00

Some corporations are so committed to restoring Detroit to the great American city it once was that they're actually paying employees to move downtown. The companies have banded together in a $4 million "Live Downtown" initiative that will provide cash incentives to employees who choose to move to Downtown Detroit, and actually live where they work and go to ballgames and cultural events.

Woman Sues Employer Over Sex Accident on Business Trip

Lisa Johnson Mandell — 2011-07-27T08:26:00+00:00

A woman is sent by her employer to a distant city for business purposes. She checks into a hotel the night before because she has a big meeting early the next morning. Apparently she has a big meeting of a different nature the night before, because she ends up back in her hotel room with some guy, and things start to get wild.

So wild, in fact, that a light fixture mounted on the wall above the bed comes loose, hits her in the face, and does some damage.

American Workers Need More Vacation, Sleep and ... Chocolate?

Lisa Johnson Mandell — 2011-07-27T07:31:00+00:00

Apparently what American employees really want is less work, more sleep and more chocolate, according to a recent survey taken by Mars Chocolate North America. OK, so the company behind the survey might have a little something to do with the fact that chocolate made the list, but it doesn't have sway over the fact that respondents overwhelmingly declared that they want more vacations and/or rest.

The Road Weary, the Wide-Eyed and Three More Types of Business Travelers

Lisa Johnson Mandell — 2011-07-27T06:28:00+00:00

Do you consider business travel a perk or a burden? Many people think flying to distant locations on the company dime would be fascinating and glamorous, but those who travel often, twice a month or more, will tell you that it can really wear on you, even if you're traveling business class and staying in five-star hotels. Those who have to drive for business trips really suffer. Still, 78 percent of all business trippers enjoy traveling for work, according to a recent survey.

Darth Vader, a Goat and a Pizza Delivery Guy Walk Into an Apple Store ... [Video]

Lisa Johnson Mandell — 2011-07-26T14:22:00+00:00

Who has the nicest, most easygoing and accommodating employees in New York? Mark Malkoff (comedian/filmmaker/New Yorker) postulated that the Apple stores will let you get away with just about anything there -- they even encourage customers to take videos of themselves dancing in the stores. So he set out to prove just how much they'll allow by pulling several outrageous stunts in various stores in the New York area, and he documented his antics in a video just to prove his theory.