Employee Participation

Arriel Michelle Williams is in the early stages of a painstaking physical transformation from man to woman, and the clanging dissonance between her masculine voice and high heels, earrings and fashionable ladies' tops risks disquieting potential employers.

The United States added 103,000 jobs in September, an improvement over this summer and just enough to calm fears of a new recession that have hung over Wall Street and the nation for weeks.

Kobe Bryant may ride out the NBA lockout playing in Italy. Others people who depend on the league aren't as fortunate.

Despite the unemployment numbers, finding qualified employees is still a major issue facing employers, but by offering attractive benefit options, such as a telecommuting arrangement, many top job candidates will often take a second look at a potential employer, says Brandi Britton, district president at Robert Half International.

Employee evaluations are rarely fun for either party involved, but they are necessary for a company to move forward with its corporate goals. While tensions may be high, a human resources professional or manager can alleviate the uncomfortable situation with strong preparation and a well-defined plan.

Investors are not optimistic about their ability to build and maintain retirement savings, according to the September Wells Fargo/Gallup Investor and Retirement Optimism Index. Nearly two-thirds of investors65 percentsay they have little or no control at all over their retirement savings.

The Supreme Court will decide whether the government can get involved in a workplace dispute between a church and one of its employees.

Liberal groups are trying to build a grassroots movement that will help revive the economy and protect Medicare and Social Security, but whether they will be successful and use it to help re-elect President Barack Obama is unclear.