Kansas City Star: Workplace http://www.kansascity.com/workplace/index.xml News, sports and entertainment from Kansas City Star en-us Copyright 2008 Kansas City Star Workplace 60 Tue, 13 May 2008 08:42:06 CDT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss McClatchy Interactive's PubSys feedback@kansascity.com Speaking in another language isn't rude http://www.kansascity.com/770/story/616518.html http://www.kansascity.com/770/story/616518.html Tue, 13 May 2008 08:39 CDT Dear Diversity Diva: Where I work there are several groups of people who are originally from other countries, and when they are in the break room or standing off to the side they frequently talk to each other in their own language. Why are people that rude? — English As My Official Language The real differences in women who become self-employed http://www.kansascity.com/508/story/606472.html http://www.kansascity.com/508/story/606472.html Tue, 06 May 2008 10:14 CDT I’d really like to know how self-employed women differ from their wage- and salary-earning counterparts. Topics & trends: Diversity Diva visits KC this week http://www.kansascity.com/workplace/story/616844.html http://www.kansascity.com/workplace/story/616844.html Mon, 12 May 2008 22:00 CDT Michelle T. Johnson, who writes the online Dear Diversity Diva column for The Star, is conducting a free workshop Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Center for Spiritual Living, 1306 W. 39th St., Kansas City. On time tip: Don't get robbed http://www.kansascity.com/workplace/story/616842.html http://www.kansascity.com/workplace/story/616842.html Mon, 12 May 2008 22:00 CDT Know your time robbers. It may be getting off track on extraneous work, too much office socializing, making too many personal calls, falling into the perfectionist trap on a task, letting meetings run on, or being a magnet for interruptions. KC's gallery of leaders commits energy, brainpower to build community assets http://www.kansascity.com/workplace/story/616744.html http://www.kansascity.com/workplace/story/616744.html Mon, 12 May 2008 21:46 CDT Passion and patience. That’s what it takes to be a business/civic leader in Kansas City. But those traits are only part of what make Tom McDonnell and Terry Dunn headliners among the area’s current civic leadership. Topics & trends: Pro bono work http://www.kansascity.com/workplace/story/606842.html http://www.kansascity.com/workplace/story/606842.html Mon, 05 May 2008 22:22 CDT In a telephone survey of 250 managers from Fortune 500 companies, 91 percent said they find value in using their volunteer programs as a tool for training, according to consulting firm Deloitte Services. Still, only 16 percent regularly offer such projects to employees. KC job growth slows, unemployment rate rises http://www.kansascity.com/workplace/story/596656.html http://www.kansascity.com/workplace/story/596656.html Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:03 CDT The Kansas City area’s unemployment rate rose to 5.5 percent in March, up from 5.3 percent in February. Topics and trends: Jobs most at risk http://www.kansascity.com/workplace/story/596005.html http://www.kansascity.com/workplace/story/596005.html Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:49 CDT A CareerBuilder.com survey of 3,000 U.S. hiring managers found these jobs are most likely to be outsourced to foreign vendors, based on the percentage of firms that said they plan to do so: Women's Employment Network shares its success stories http://www.kansascity.com/workplace/story/592362.html http://www.kansascity.com/workplace/story/592362.html Fri, 25 Apr 2008 21:07 CDT Sharon Holmes was a depressed 19-year-old divorcee with two daughters, one just 2 weeks old, when she forced herself to go to the Women’s Employment Network for job-readiness training. Publication of help-wanted index to cease http://www.kansascity.com/workplace/story/589826.html http://www.kansascity.com/workplace/story/589826.html Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:21 CDT A steady move toward online employment recruitment is leading to the demise of a long-standing national economic indicator. Topics & trends: Going mental http://www.kansascity.com/workplace/story/585623.html http://www.kansascity.com/workplace/story/585623.html Mon, 21 Apr 2008 21:35 CDT More than 80 percent of employees admit to taking “mental health” days from work to recover or recharge, according to an online poll by ComPsych Corp., a corporate counseling company. Almost a third said family and relationship issues were the cause. When asked what would likely cause them to take a breather, 20 percent said it would be stress related to work and 12 percent said they would take time off due to lack of physical energy. Boredom and lack of motivation accounted for... Career ladder: Jennifer Furla of Jeffrey Byrne & Associates http://www.kansascity.com/771/story/616841.html http://www.kansascity.com/771/story/616841.html Mon, 12 May 2008 22:00 CDT • Title: Executive vice president. • Organization: Jeffrey Byrne & Associates, 814 W. 54th Terrace; 816-237-1999. Career ladder: Steve Duethman of Ellerbe Becket http://www.kansascity.com/771/story/616839.html http://www.kansascity.com/771/story/616839.html Mon, 12 May 2008 22:00 CDT • Title: Managing principal. • Organization: Ellerbe Becket , 2380 McGee St.; 816-561-4443. Career ladder: Ward Shaw of Walton Construction http://www.kansascity.com/771/story/616837.html http://www.kansascity.com/771/story/616837.html Mon, 12 May 2008 22:00 CDT • Title: Chief administrative officer. • Organization: Walton Construction Co., 3252 Roanoke Drive; 816-753-2121. Don Clark, AIG Financial Advisors http://www.kansascity.com/771/story/606836.html http://www.kansascity.com/771/story/606836.html Tue, 06 May 2008 10:21 CDT • Title: Branch manager. • Organization: AIG Financial Advisors, 7007 College Blvd., Overland Park; 913-451-7526. John G. Houlehan, Country Club Bank http://www.kansascity.com/771/story/606838.html http://www.kansascity.com/771/story/606838.html Tue, 06 May 2008 10:21 CDT • Title: Executive vice president. • Organization: Country Club Bank, 9400 Mission Road, Prairie Village; 816-360-8639. Dolores Otto, Stepp & Rothwell Inc. http://www.kansascity.com/771/story/606840.html http://www.kansascity.com/771/story/606840.html Tue, 06 May 2008 10:20 CDT • Title: President. • Organization: Stepp & Rothwell Inc., 7300 College Blvd., Overland Park; 913-345-4800. Jennifer Gunby, George Butler Associates Inc. http://www.kansascity.com/771/story/596011.html http://www.kansascity.com/771/story/596011.html Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:40 CDT • Title: Civil engineer. • Organization: George Butler Associates Inc., 9801 Renner Blvd., Lenexa; 913-492-0400; www.gbutler.com. John Brown, Hollis + Miller http://www.kansascity.com/771/story/596009.html http://www.kansascity.com/771/story/596009.html Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:41 CDT • Title: Vice president. • Organization: Hollis + Miller, 220 N.W. Executive Way, Lee's Summit; 816-525-5600. Darryck Dean, Harmony Inc. http://www.kansascity.com/771/story/596004.html http://www.kansascity.com/771/story/596004.html Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:41 CDT • Title: Vice president. • Organization: Harmony Inc., 4901 Main St.; 816-333-5059, www.kcharmony.org. Moms long for time flexibility http://www.kansascity.com/196/story/613988.html http://www.kansascity.com/196/story/613988.html Sat, 10 May 2008 00:10 CDT There’s an e-mail circulating about the working mom who says, “I’m tired. I’m going to bed” — and then does dozens of house, family, pet and work preparation chores on the way. Rights of employees in the digital age http://www.kansascity.com/196/story/610263.html http://www.kansascity.com/196/story/610263.html Wed, 07 May 2008 21:24 CDT Two college students in California may force the National Labor Relations Board to enter the 21st century — but don’t get your hopes up soon. Job-hunting advice that's worth repeating http://www.kansascity.com/196/story/603381.html http://www.kansascity.com/196/story/603381.html Sat, 03 May 2008 00:48 CDT One thing that’s apparent in writing a careers column is that readership changes based on personal job circumstances. Elder-care benefit a boon to boomers http://www.kansascity.com/196/story/599801.html http://www.kansascity.com/196/story/599801.html Wed, 30 Apr 2008 22:33 CDT Many workers struggle to balance their personal and home life demands with their jobs. One of those demands — caring for aging parents — is beginning to eclipse child-care concerns as a pull on workers’ time and mental energy. A rude attitude at job interviews http://www.kansascity.com/196/story/592813.html http://www.kansascity.com/196/story/592813.html Sat, 26 Apr 2008 00:22 CDT Hiring managers who have years of experience interviewing job candidates are reporting a sad decline in applicant behavior. A cyberspace handshake helps make connections http://www.kansascity.com/196/story/589110.html http://www.kansascity.com/196/story/589110.html Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:48 CDT Minutes after attending a seminar titled “Use Social Networking to Your Professional Advantage,” I opened my e-mail and found two new invitations to join LinkedIn.com networks. Have a Plan B, even a Plan C http://www.kansascity.com/196/story/582803.html http://www.kansascity.com/196/story/582803.html Fri, 18 Apr 2008 23:38 CDT Meet Terence Hall: splendid antidote to the worried midcareer job hunters who find themselves tossed into the job market unprepared. Smart ways to ‘spend' your rebate: Save it or pay debt http://www.kansascity.com/196/story/579222.html http://www.kansascity.com/196/story/579222.html Wed, 16 Apr 2008 20:33 CDT If you had been in a certain hearing room this week on Capitol Hill, you might have heard this: “The most powerful messages that individuals receive each day are to spend and, if need be, to borrow to do so. Schools and businesses have roles in job readiness, Forsee says http://www.kansascity.com/workplace/story/613518.html http://www.kansascity.com/workplace/story/613518.html Fri, 09 May 2008 20:45 CDT Gary Forsee, former chief executive of Sprint Nextel, the Kansas City area’s largest home-based public company, now leads the four-campus University of Missouri system as president.