Workforce Week®

	www.workforce.com
	February 11 - 17, 2007 Vol. 8 Issue 7

In This Issue...

Workforce News of the Week
Feature: The Innovation Factory
Feature: Back to School: Exec Programs See Resurgence
Get a Free Recruiting Benchmarking Report for Your Company
Forum Post: Staff Appreciation Gift Ideas?
Best in Shows
Commentary: Zero Tolerance for Jerks

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Workforce News of the Week:

Odd Bedfellows Join Hands in Health Care Debate: Wal-Mart, AT&T, Intel and Kelly Services join the Service Employees International Union and policy groups to participate in the “Better Health Care Together” campaign.
Click to read more. >>>

Sex Discrimination Suit Against Wal-Mart Gets Go-Ahead: The case, brought by a group of seven women alleging bias in pay and promotion, could cost the retailer billions of dollars in damages if it loses.
Click to read more >>>

My Head Hurts: Does Your Job Threaten Your Mental Well-Being?
Click to read more >>>

Employees Who Steal
Click to read more >>>

Coffee Talk—Train ’em and Pay ’em
Click to read more >>>

Anxiety in Austin—No Bonuses at Dell
Click to read more >>>

Nap Time, Mes Amis
Click to read more >>>

Space Cadet Romance
Click to read more >>>

Feature
Strategy & creativity
The Innovation Factory

IDEO helps top executives rethink their approaches to problem-solving and developing creative environments. Senior managers turn to IDEO to learn how to foster creativity by developing corporate cultures that are founded on breaking rules, building teamwork and stimulating the free expression of ideas.

Feature
Special report on training
Back to School: Exec Programs See Resurgence

Firms are putting their cash into non-degree studies that address specific company needs. Students looking for an MBA may find there’s no free ride.

Discussion
Staff Appreciation Gift Ideas?

Posted in the General Forum:
A reader writes: "I am searching for that perfect gift that all employees (from mailroom to secretaries) can utilize. I already have done gift certificates, and the usual gifts (i.e., pens and paperweights). Can anyone kindly share their favorite gift ideas or name your favorite gift that you received from your company. (And yes, huge bonuses would be nice, but I am on a budget of $20 per person.)"

Join the discussion >>>

Conventions & conferences
Best in Shows 2007: Notes From Key Workforce Management Conferences and Conventions

Ever wanted to attend an important conference or convention but just couldn't make it? The staff of Workforce Management will bring you reports from key workforce management conventions and conferences throughout the year in this exclusive Web feature. We'll report on the buzz at each show as well as highlights from selected seminars, presentations and speeches. We hope that Best in Shows will be the next best thing to actually being there.

Read about the 2007 Deploy Solutions User Conference >>>
Read about the Conference Board 2007 Employee Health Care Conference >>>
Also:
Best in Shows 2006 >>>

Work Views

Zero Tolerance for Jerks
WARNING: This article contains a certain word that may be offensive to some readers. However, if you have to deal with a jerk or jerks at work, then this article will prove invaluable.

Workforce Management editor John Hollon writes: “There are tens of thousands of business books published over the course of a year. A good number of them seem to cross my desk. Most are simplistic, stupid, boring or just plain bad. I wouldn’t recommend them for a sleep aid, much less a source of smart management practices. Until now.”
Read more about dealing with jerks at work. >>>

Also:
“Mind the Gap” to Improve the Performance of New Hires >>>
Why VPs of HR Don’t Become CEOs >>>
I Am NOT a “Business Partner” >>>

Taxing Health Benefits

Do you think your company and your employees would benefit from such a tax change?

33%: Yes, most or all of our health plans cost less than the deductibles.
57%: No, most or all of our health plans cost more than the deductible.
    9%: I don't know.
    1%: My company does not offer health insurance.