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With today’s economy and worldwide events it is hard to remain calm and stress free. Our homes, lives, families and jobs are all affected and under high levels of stress. It is important to learn what triggers stress and what can help lessen the impact it can have on us. There are things we can do to help manage and control certain stressful situations.

Stress in the workplace

For many, a stressful workplace or even fellow workers that you may have a problem with can bring an onslaught of stress or tension. Instead of keeping silent and allowing it to build up and cause you to suffer even more, it could be alleviated by talking about it with your employer to find out if something can be done to remedy the situation.

Respectfully speak up for yourself

Unless you say something, your employer may not even realize there is a problem. Sometimes talking about it and airing it out is just what you need to remain calm and continue to work productively in your work environment. It may require looking into resources that can give some helpful tips of how to go about it.

Other stress triggers

Money itself can also be another stress trigger. Many people live paycheck to paycheck and barely make ends meet. This can be a real challenge. It is hard to balance our “needs” from our “wants,” but it is essential that we strive to do so. It may be that we need to make sure to be more conservative with our utilities and even get the most food for our money by using coupons and finding out what stores are having the best sales. In some circumstances people are relying on short term loans online to get cash til payday.

Communication can minimize stress

Another important quality that can help with stress is to learn how to communicate. This is especially true in the family unit. If all in the family work together to help make things less stressful, it can help immensely. When each person does their part, no matter how little, it helps relieve some of the challenges that may arise. Talking about problems and feelings will help keep the stress at a minimum and give more understanding into the problems that can overload your life and threaten your peace within your home environment.

Conference Board survey is telling

Job satisfaction has been on a decline since 1987, which is when the Conference Board first began keeping track. Lynn Franco, director of the Conference Board’s Consumer Research Center, (see http://finance.yahoo.com/expert/article/moneyhappy/212163) said, “What we’ve seen over the last 22 years is that irrespective of whether the economy is boom or bust, the overall level of satisfaction expressed by the U.S. workers has been steadily declining across every single aspect of the job.” Those aspects include job responsibilities, benefits, security, promotions, bonuses, communication, recognition, wages and potential for growth.

The reason for a decline in job satisfaction

One of the main reasons why workers are no longer satisfied with their jobs is that people feel they can’t get ahead. Franco said, “Household incomes, adjusted for inflation, have stagnated since 2000. Meanwhile, out-of-pocket costs for health insurance have risen sharply.” The added strain of health care has put pressure on workers to expect more from their employers in terms of pay and benefits, neither of which are flourishing. Some people are opting for better-paid but less-rewarding jobs to keep up with the cost of living.

Productivity is declining also

The problem with making money now and discontentment on the job is productivity declines. Some experts are finding that with dissatisfaction comes a lack of commitment to the business’ goals. Adam Grant, management professor at University of Pennsylvania, said, “You have more and more workers doing fragmented tasks, and we know that in order to experience work as meaningful, you need to see end results. … The rise in globalization and outsourcing is making it difficult for that investment in the outcome to be nurtured.”

Another reason for the decline in productivity is the changing face of businesses today. Grant added, “As organizations become faster and flatter hierarchically, it becomes more necessary to depend on employees for generating new ideas. Although it’s nice in terms of giving them autonomy and the ability to contribute in new ways, it makes it harder to specify the job description. It can be quite stressful not knowing what your core responsibilities are or what supervisors are expecting of you.”

The future of the workplace

Working for money now is not as satisfying as it once was. The changes in the workplace that contributed to the change in emotion are both internal and external. Externally, the recession caused many employers to have to make difficult decisions that adversely affected existing employees. Internally, the workplace is changing and a new model is coming into play that isn’t necessarily conducive to job satisfaction, either. Over time, things will modify themselves, but whether or not job satisfaction returns has yet to be seen.

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Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has been under constant fire since the beginning of the great recession. Some people say he was put into a difficult situation, but still others maintain that his performance has been worthy of scorn. Marketwatch reports that gold prices have fallen for the third straight day, while Reuters reports that the Bernanke testimony has people skittish on jobs and America’s economic recovery. Payroll loans should be expected to continue at their current rate as the economy remains uncertain.

Frank McGhee of Integrated Brokerage Services told Reuters that difficulties with the euro have shifted some of gold’s value back toward the dollar. Gold bullion, which has generally been seen as safe in tough economic times, is tending to run with riskier markets, which some consider to be a bad sign.

Recovery “not yet sustainable”

Continued low interest rates go along with this, which does little to encourage investors. Bernanke testimony included a promise to Congress that the Federal Reserve will abandon its “ultra-low monetary policy” when there is real recovery, namely by adjusting the rate for lending between banks.

Gold and currency trade are down

That’s the way it will stay until there are more obvious signs of recovery, signs that sustainable recovery is well underway. Reuters indicates that the International Monetary Fund is attempting to liquefy its gold supply, which is influencing prices and keeping traders wary. It all leaves regular people wondering where they can get a personal loan to make expenses. The Bernanke testimony doesn’t make things appear any more positive at the moment.

(Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gageskidmore/ / CC BY-SA 2.0)

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It used to be that employers would hire new college graduates, giving them the chance to work while they learned necessary job skills, but not anymore. The recent loss of jobs across multiple economic sectors has led experienced workers to vie for positions they would not have considered in better times. As a result, employers now have a wide range of workers to choose from in filling entry-level positions.

Employers stand to gain from the experience of seasoned workers, which makes it difficult for new college graduates to compete. More and more, employers require that recent college graduates have some kind of work experience. Work experience as a job prerequisite for new college graduates may seem like a contradiction of terms, but in reality there are things students and new graduates can do to gain valuable gain work before searching for jobs.

College internships

The last couple of decades have seen a rise in the availability and types of internship assignments for college students, particularly for undergraduates.

In the past, work internships were geared to students seeking degrees in engineering, architecture and other specialized fields where newly-acquired technical knowledge could be applied in practical settings. At the graduate level, internships have always been required of medical students, but they were also common in teaching and social work. With the growth of the service economy in recent decades, internships have become increasingly common in computer information technology, media production, marketing, and finance.

Like so many things, internships have waned as a result of the recession, but they have not disappeared altogether.  Top-tier schools, at least, continue to be targeted by large companies offering internships for students in their first, second, and third years of college.

International internships

Recent exponential growth in international trade and investment has increased the demand for talented employees with international knowledge and multi-cultural experience. Many American students and young professionals travel overseas to participate in internships and similar opportunities that provide practical exposure to the business world outside the United States.Conversely, in the United States more internships and business externships have opened up for foreign students and professionals.

The fact that many of these internships do not offer a salary  has not deterred students from seeking them out. Indeed, according to the Institute of International Education, between 2000 and 2008 the number of overseas internships created annually nearly doubled, from 6,940 to 13,658.  Not surprisingly, rising unemployment rates in 2009 were accompanied by further increases in the number of overseas internships.

Effects of the New International Economy

The new global economy requires that many workers and managers be knowledgeable about other countries and cultures. In a recent Chicago Tribune article, Victor C. Johnson, senior public policy advisor for NAFSA: Association of International Educators, said that an internship or related experience abroad will soon be a prerequisite for a good job. Calling this “the next digital divide,” he added,“the kids who graduate from school who have international experience are going to have a leg up in gaining successful lives…We just hear CEO after CEO saying that the work force of the future, really the work force of the present, has to be a cross-culturally competent work force. Work forces are cross-cultural; businesses are global,” he said. In the same article, Craig Brown, executive vice president of The Association for International Practical Training, a nonprofit internship-placement agency, explained, “It used to be that speaking English meant you could work anywhere in the world, but it’s not the case anymore. Companies are selecting candidates who are multilingual.”

Good reasons to learn a second (or third) language

More and more American students are competing for jobs with foreign students who, in addition to their native language, have learned English and perhaps a third language, as part of their educational curriculum.  That increasing competition is one more good reason for American students to start taking better advantage of the many foreign language courses offered by American universities, many of which are being expanded under new policy directives and financial support from the federal government.

A new survey done by the Conference Board showed that job satisfaction is at an all-time low of about 45%. That is the total amount of employees who are content with their current situations. Part of the problem is the economy. When the recession began back in 2008, companies cut workers. That loss of a workforce caused existing workers to have to pick up the slack. They were called upon to take on bigger responsibilities, bigger projects, more worry, but without any more pay. The added strain brought workers to a new place of unease when comes to their jobs.

The history of job satisfaction

Job satisfaction has been declining for some time now. In fact, since 1987, the trend to be unsatisfied with employment has risen consistently. Lynn Franco, director of the Conference Board, said, “What we have seen over the last 22 years is that irrespective of whether the economy is boom or bust, the overall level of satisfaction expressed by US workers has been steadily declining across every single aspect of the job.” Those aspects include pay, benefits, job security, promotional possibilities, bonuses, workloads, communication, and future growth.

A major contributor to the feeling of displeasure is the feeling that workers cannot get ahead. Financially, it has become increasingly difficult for people to overcome high expenses. According to the 2009 Kaiser Family Foundation report, the average worker contributes $779 for single workers and $3,515 for family coverage. The prices of food, shelter and household items has also increased. In contrast, pay has stayed the same. Franco said, “The shifting of health-care costs from employer to employee and the fact that wages have not been growing all that rapidly means purchasing power is diminished.”

People respond by taking higher-paying jobs

To make it through the difficult economy, many workers are taking higher-paying jobs that are less rewarding. Robert Frank, author of “Falling Behind: How Rising Inequality Harms the Middle Class”, said, “If people are feeling more economic pressure, they are more willing to sacrifice other dimensions of job satisfaction in order to get more money.” It has long been a standard goal of Americans to earn as much money as possible, but to still maintain job satisfaction. Studies are showing that as the economy struggles, more people are willing to forgo satisfaction for the sake of making ends meet.

Satisfaction denied means lag in productivity

Some experts suggest that discontent is a very difficult result of taking any job. Although people believe that money is a panacea, studies have shown that it isn’t. In fact, once you have a pool of people doing jobs that they don’t necessarily like, it creates a team of people who are much less productive. Ideally, employers should be looking for workers who are engaged in their jobs and the business. Without that connection, jobs suffer. Adam Grant, a management professor of at University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, said, “There has to be a connection to a real outcome for the end users – clients, customers, patients, etc. As the world globalizes and companies begin to do more outsourcing and more international work, they are using more 24-hour communication and technology to make it easier to get jobs done without a face-to-face connection with the people benefiting from the work you do.” That can seriously cut back the amount of job satisfaction workers experience.

Overall it is a good market to find a job

Overall, it is a good market to find a job in, but at what price? The economy is showing signs of a turnaround and most likely will return to its healthy state by mid-2010. That change should encourage people at their jobs to look forward to a time when their employers can return to old practices. The workers will be in line for their standard annual raises, 401k contributions will resume and benefits will no longer be on hold.

While some people are being laid off, others are scared, wondering if and when their pink slip is coming. They accept wage cuts, work longer hours and even take out payday loans to hold on to the one job they have. Are they doing the right thing? Do they need to remain in fear about losing their job if they ask for a raise? Perhaps the entire strategy needs to be thrown out in favor of a new strategy at a time when all parties are facing similar problems.

Employers Facing Problems Too

Lower revenues resulting from the recession has meant that employers have had to cut costs. Even though cutting costs did not have to mean just cutting down the number of employees or reducing wages, this was the route many companies chose. However, they could never do without the entire workforce, which made this a clear indication that employers faced a problem in laying off all their employees. Yes, they did lay off some while making the others work more. So, the people working more had two choices—stay on the job and hope that they would not be laid off as well, or ask for higher compensation for the extra work they were being told to do. Most chose the latter without realizing they were only inviting more trouble by having to take out more payday loans in order to manage their expenses. Had they realized that they were entitled to more benefits and pay increases, because the employer was demanding more of them, they would have been better off.

The Correct Position

If an employer is sacking a few employees while asking the rest to put in extra hours or effort at their jobs, he/she is only taking advantage of the current situation. Employees have every right in such a case to tell their employer that they are putting in an extra effort due to shortage of employees and need to be compensated for the same. Replacing all employees is never a good option and employers realize this very well. Training new employees costs more than retaining the older ones at additional pay increases. Under the circumstances, employees have a good opportunity to trumpet their expertise at the job and ask for a raise, but employees do not have to make this seem as a demand. They can put across their point of view letting the employer know about their feelings and the fact that they deserve to be treated better in the interests of all.

Be Honest and Authentic

As this is a matter of great importance in the times that we live in, it is necessary for employees to remember their positions and explain to the employer that they both stand to gain with small adjustments from either side. The employee should be willing to work a little extra to avoid the payday loan that he would otherwise need, while at the same time, the employer should also understand the worth of the employee with proper information being provided. With due considerations from all sides, this can turn out into a win-win situation for all concerned.

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The Numbers Paint a Grim Picture

We are all aware that money is tight for a lot of people these days, but somehow when the actual statistics come out it can still be quite shocking. A recent Associated Press article (See: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/20-millionplus-collect-apf-2239818806.html?x=0) is reporting that more than 20 million Americans received unemployment payments over the course of 2009. The unemployment rate for the year reached a whopping 10 percent. It is easy to see why sales of many products are way down when one in every 10 people is out of a job.

It has been a Drawn Out Struggle for Some

While there are not as many workers being laid off or let go as there were in recent months, many employers are still reluctant to re-hire until they see a dramatic upturn in the economy. Some of the people who have lost their jobs have been fortunate enough to find work elsewhere, even if their new jobs are not optimal. While lifestyle adjustments are often required, those who have had to take on casual jobs to remain employed should count themselves lucky to have found some work. Among those without a job, 5.8 million have been unemployed for over six months. This circumstance can take a toll not only on the pocketbook, but also on a person’s pride.

The Vicious Cycle

With so many people out of work or working low paying jobs, there is little money being spent. Businesses that rely on sales of some sort are still struggling to bring in customers. They cannot take on extra employees because they are not making enough money to keep them, or at the very least, they are wary of what the economy has in store for us in the upcoming months and years. Also, government stimulus programs are beginning to wane, meaning there is even less money for businesses to work with. So with consumers unable to spend and companies powerless to hire, the economic crisis seems to be here for the long haul.

Just how Long will the Crisis Last?

The unemployment rate is showing signs of declining, but not at a speed that most of us would like to see. Experts are estimating that within a year’s time the rate will be above 9 percent, slightly down from the current 10 percent. With such a scarce job market the government has been forced to extend the term of unemployment benefits beyond the usual 26 weeks several times in 2009 and will likely have to continue to do so, otherwise millions of people will be left with even less to spend.

Job Competition is Fierce

If you are one of the many Americans who is unemployed and looking for work the odds are definitely not great. It is estimated that for every open job there are six unemployed candidates. Of course, there are also many other people to consider. This number does not include the many employed people who are searching for full time or higher paying opportunities.

Try to Remain Positive

It can be tough to stay optimistic is such trying times. Taking a casual job can be humbling, but you can take pride in the fact that you have beaten the odds. Also, try thinking outside the box. If you have skills that would allow you to take on freelance work, this can be a great time to use them. Companies are far more likely to take on freelancers than regular employees right now. The internet has opened up a wide range of online opportunities too.

When the recession hit, it brought along inflation, rising unemployment and an increase in home loan defaults, which was naturally expected by the economic “gurus”. The recession did not specify that it would target any specific community, but African Americans living in Milwaukee found themselves bearing the brunt of the rising unemployment rates. These are not high school drop outs that had been laid off, but rather, people who were well educated and waiting in line to take out a payday loan against their next unemployment check. While the recession holds no respect for a particular race or skill set, it seems that the recession hit Milwaukee’s African American population pretty bad.

Selective Discrimination?

In a city of mixed communities with all races living together more or less equally, every community has its share of the unemployed population. African Americans, however, seem to be facing the brunt of the unemployment with nearly one in two African Americans in Milwaukee being unemployed. It would then be calculated that they represent about half of all people racing to get jobs, which is higher than in any other community. As said earlier, these are not people who are uneducated, but are very highly educated. Some hold degrees from reputed colleges and had jobs that were paying $60,000 a year only two months ago. These same people are now in a line with proof of unemployment and looking for a payday loan. They have families to feed and rent to pay, but what they do not have is a job to fulfill on these duties.

Government Assistance?

Many people may think that the government is doing something to help bring the unemployment rate down, and are in all likelihood supporting the democratic cause led by President Obama. In all probability, the person on the street is likely to blame the republicans under George Bush for the current scenario, while at the same time there is a lobby in the senate that is busy giving lip service to the woes of the African Americans. They spare no effort in passing bills worth billions promising jobs that are yet to be created, while others are still busy opposing the very bills that these senators seek to introduce. People are becoming increasingly frustrated, because jobs are hard to come by. Any jobs that do appear in the classifieds have so many applicants, that many even lose hope of getting that all important interview. Will the government do something about the loss of jobs for all Americans, including Milwaukee’s African American residents? This still remains to be seen, but the answer should be a large YES!

Hope Against the Worst

In spite of the bad times these people face, they have not lost hope. They cling to the belief that the government will do something to increase the number of jobs available. They will do anything to stay afloat, borrowing money or taking payday loans to escape from the current crisis. One can only hope that they stay successful in their attempts and do not buckle under the debts that they are raising.

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Just when We thought it was Over

While many people who have been hit hard by the recession are thrilled to hear that it is coming to a close and believe that they will finally be able to earn some much needed money now, this may not actually be the case. Most of us would not expect that the end of a recession would include more tough times, but the truth is that in this case it likely will for many people. A recent Associated Press article speculates that people who are out of work or hoping to make more money will be apt to run into more employment difficulties, possibly for as long as another decade. The best case scenario is thought to be a 5 year wait for the unemployment levels to return to where they normally are.

So where do We Currently Stand?

With 7 million jobs that have been completely eliminated, the unemployment rate currently stands at a dismal 10 percent. This means that there are approximately 15.4 million people who are out of work and in desperate need of some money now. This does not even factor in the additional hardship caused by people who have had to take on lower paying jobs or have taken a cut in pay to keep their job. Also with the cost of living on the rise, people have been hit even harder.

Why will it Take so Long?

Adding jobs back in will take time. The economy is picking up, but it is moving along slowly and employers will tend to be cautious about taking on more people or giving raises until things have really improved. Add to this slow progression the fact that there will be huge numbers of job seekers in the market, all competing for the limited positions, including some retirement-aged people who will choose to work longer to help ensure their security. Sadly, the recession came just after a period of time where relatively few new jobs were created, making the unemployment situation even more precarious.

What do the Experts Think?

According to the article, economist David Levy believes that the next decade will see unemployment at around 8 percent and that average wages will drop. These issues will result in people having more trouble paying off money that they owe. The experts tend to believe that the improvement will be very slow and painful. The optimists in the group tend to be of the opinion that many of the jobs will be back in place by the middle of the decade, but that so many more people will decide to get back into the job market, that the unemployment rate will stay high because there will be more people than jobs.

Where do We Go from Here?

The country, its citizens and its companies have been hit extremely hard by this recession. Healing will take a great deal of time. If you are one of the many who is seeking a way to earn some money now you will likely have to think out of the box. Taking freelancing or odd jobs can often help bring in some cash until a regular job comes along.

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Reports dated 12/22/2009 state that the US economy is recovering at a rate of 2.2% over the last quarter, but this was below the earlier predicted figure of 3%. There could be a number of reasons for this particular slowdown, but no explanation has been offered as to what this will mean for the common US citizen. Will they get jobs? Will they be able to spend less time online or in lines waiting for a personal loan to be approved? That is a question that will plague the minds of most Americans.

Optimism From One Day?

The downfall of the economy happened over a period of time, rather than in a single day. What started out as a trickle ended up as a tsunami and affected the entire country, as well as most of the world. But it wasn’t just the people and companies affected. States managing unemployment benefits and other assistance programs are also on the verge of borrowing huge sums of money from the government. How then can the economy be on the verge of a recovery? Available figures state that the recovery is slower than expected. The above statement was based on a day of high fives on Wall Street when investors dumped the US Treasury and pushed the stock markets up. Of course, the media had a field day with this by making a preposterous claim that the economy was on the verge of a recovery. One wishes that they were correct, but figures certainly prove them wrong, at least for now.

No Relief in Sight

Compared to the people who frequent the stock markets and share the sentiment of the economic “gurus”, there are millions without jobs, in debt and living in the fear of losing their homes. These are people who do not even understand what the reports on the economy mean, let alone even care about them. Their only concern is to save their homes, get a job and put food on the table, and they will do so by using the last cent that they have saved. Even taking a personal loan to make ends meet is also an ever-present option in their minds. They understand the basics of life, but not the intricacies of the stock markets.

The Problems Just Don’t End

Current figures available from a number of sources state that unemployment is set to increase over the next year, yet the cost of living is not going down at all. Assistance for the unemployed may be cut while taxes increase, and all people can do is look towards the skies and hope for divine intervention. Even that looks difficult at the moment with all the snowstorms blasting the country. Personal loans taken out have to be repaid while fresh applications need to be made to stay afloat in the coming months. All of this will create a sense of pessimism among the public and leave them wondering if it will ever end.

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Some people actually got jobs in November!

Numbers on unemployment for November have been released, and it turns out that unemployment actually went down last month, falling from 10.2 percent in October to 10 percent for November.

Of course, this might be just because of seasonal employment, but I suppose we have to take whatever we can get. It’s widely known that optimism will help the economy more than anything, because confident consumers spend more money. People are also much more likely to get payday cash advances if they know their jobs are secure.

The bad news

Unfortunately, while the overall number of unemployed Americans fell in November, the number of Americans who have been unemployed for at least 27 weeks (more than six months) increased. Luckily the legislation passed last month that extends unemployment benefits should help some of these people out.

Usually, unemployment rises in January as people who had taken temporary jobs over the holidays go back to being unemployed. Also, many companies do layoffs in January after they see their budgets for the previous year.

Not black and white

Of course, though the falling unemployment rate is indeed great news, it doesn’t give us cut and dry answers about where the economy is headed. This little upturn in employment could be simply circumstantial. Experts have been saying for months that unemployment would be one of the last economic factors to change after the recession ends. It’s surprising, therefore, to see a reduction in unemployment now, and it’s very possible that unemployment will go back up or possibly get worse in 2010.

The unemployment numbers have fluctuated a lot this year, but one thing is for sure: They’ve been bad, bad, bad. In December 2007, before the recession began, the national unemployment rate was only 4.9 percent, which is normal. Even at its new, lower rate, unemployment is still more than double that. Once more people start getting jobs, those people will start spending money. Of course, people need to spend money in order to create more jobs.

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The ridiculously high national unemployment rate (9.8 percent) has convinced Congress to consider a bill that would allow people to collect unemployment for an additional 13 weeks. However, an unemployment extension of three months might not be long enough for many people.

CNN Money reports that the job market will get better — in a year or so. Actually, the forecast says it won’t be until summer of 2012 that employment is back up to normal rates. Though people are starting to apply for auto loans again and spend a little more, the unemployment situation is not getting any better, and in many places it is actually getting worse.

How do they know?

The recession is crawling to an end as reports show the economy actually grew last quarter. Still, it’ll be a long time before there are enough jobs to go around. CNN explains:

Jobs are what are known as a trailing or lagging indicator, meaning that they change in response to other economic events, rather than predicting changes the way a leading indicator, such as the stock market, does. That’s because even after a recession has ended, employers are slow to add staff until they’re sure that demand has returned.

The article from CNN also points out that the last two recessions we’ve had were followed by a “jobless recover,” and this one probably will be, too.

When is unemployment extension vote?

Though the unemployment extension legislation has already passed the House, there is not a vote scheduled for the Senate yet, which is bad news for people whose benefits will be running out soon.

The length of time a person can collect unemployment is different in different states, but anyone who is on unemployment right now most likely will not be able to continue collecting their checks until the summer of 2012, even if Congress does pass the unemployment extension.