Benefits Manager

Small businesses are toning down their holiday celebrations and gifts again.

Rhode Island lawmakers are mulling changes big and small to a public pension overhaul proposal after hearing from hundreds of Rhode Islanders during 30 hours of hearings on the legislation.

The Labor Department said Thursday that weekly applications dropped 9,000 to a seasonally adjusted 397,000, the lowest level in five weeks. It's only the third time since April that applications have fallen below 400,000.

According to a new CareerBuilder survey, 2011 seasonal hiring is expected to mirror 2010, with 29 percent of retailers planning to hire extra help.

A consistent message and brand is essential in remaining in the minds of potential clients.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Wednesday acknowledged that the pace of economic growth is likely to be "frustratingly slow," after the Fed downgraded its forecast for the next two years.

Health care costs have been on the rise for years. Greedy insurance companies, more expensive medical technology, government involvement or lack thereof the reasons cited by the talking heads seem almost endless.

Rhode Island is ground zero for pension reform right now. The state, which has found itself with an unfunded pension liability of between $7 billion and $9 billion, has proposed a hybrid defined benefit/defined contribution plan to reform its retirement system.