The latest headline unemployment number has now topped 10 percent. It's entirely possible that it may rise to 11 percent still. Another indicator Clark looks at is U6, which is a more realistic measurement of unemployment, and that has topped 17 percent.

U6 takes into account those who are involuntarily working part-time because they can't find full-time work and those who have given up looking for work out of sheer frustration.

Sounds gloomy, right? Well, Clark is here to share a ray of hope that he sees on the horizon.

Another indicator that economists look at involves temporary help firms. All through this recession, temp agencies have been reporting fewer and fewer jobs. But that's actually turned and they're now reporting more temporary staffing activity.

If you look at prior recessions and job downturns, the first hiring that companies do when they come out the hole involves temporary employees. So this stat about temp work bodes well in Clark's eyes.

In big companies when a job is posted, most of the hiring decisions come from internal candidates. You want to get in a position where you are an internal candidate and temp work is one way to do that.

The unemployment rate continues to be just plain ugly across the country. The U6 level of unemployment is now at 17 percent.

U6 is a broad-gauge measurement that takes into account those who are involuntarily working part-time because they can't find full-time work and those who have given up looking for work out of sheer frustration.

The New York Times recently ran an article titled $13 an Hour? 500 Sign Up, 1 Wins a Job.

The upshot of the story is that a trucking company in Burns Harbor, Ind., posted an opening for an administrative assistant to do data entry and make photocopies.

Between 300 and 500 applications poured in overnight. The applicants included a a former I.B.M. business analyst with 18 years experience; a former director of human resources; and a master's degree holder with a dozen years on the job at accounting firm Deloitte & Touche.

We've all heard similar horror stories. It's been a brutal time out there in the job market. If you are unemployed, it feels like it will never get better. But don't start having doubts about yourself as a potential hire. There are opportunities right now.

CNNMoney.com reports the Best Jobs in America are the following:

1. Systems engineer

2. Physician assistant

3. College professor

4. Nurse practitioner

5. Information technology project manager

Jobs like these may all require more education on your part. As the economy flexes, you must flex too and obtain new skills, new training, a new trade, different certifications or a new profession.

It is very rare that the job training and skills you enter the workforce with will carry you through an entire lifetime. The typical person now has four distinct careers over a working lifetime. We're not talking about jobs, of which most people have 15; we're talking about four different careers per person!

Clark himself is on his third career. He began as a social worker, then started a travel agency chain and now works in the broadcast industry. So he has one more in front of him. What might that be?

CLARKONOMICS: The brainiacs are saying the recession is over, citing a rise in corporate confidence and a spike in orders being placed. But it's not yet the real healing that individuals and families so desperately need on the job front.

For the foreseeable future, the job market will continue to be tough. That leaves many people in unexpected positions. Clark recently talked with a woman who was unemployed for some time. After a few minutes, it emerged that she had not applied for unemployment compensation because she was too proud.

Unemployment compensation should not be a dirty word in your vocabulary; insurers pay this insurance during good times so people can survive during lean times.

Three factors make this an extremely tough cycle. First, individuals went into the recession with big debt. Second, banks took on too much speculative debt and harmed our nation to its core. Third, the federal government has taken on massive borrowing as a result of the first two factors. Yet the government's artificial props for the economy will eventually have to be dealt with. We can't keep printing money!

So know that it is legitimate for you to seek assistance in this economy. Here are two key takeaways:

• Do not allow pride or embarrassment to keep you from applying for unemployment compensation.

• Do not be afraid to rely on food stamps to put square meals on the table for your family.

More and more employers are weighing job candidates based on their credit report -- even though it's no indicator of what kind of employee someone will be!

This is a practice that started and should have ended with bank tellers and cashiers at retail stores -- basically, people who touch money every day. But now so many businesses check credit reports without thinking it through. In fact, your application often gives them permission to pull your credit.

The real problem is that many credit reports have errors. Public Interest Research Group estimates that close to one-third of reports contain serious errors that can cost you a job offer or prevent you from getting new credit.

This is yet another reason why you should visit AnnualCreditReport.com to pull one of your three credit reports every four months. Remember, you have a credit report from each of the three main credit bureaus -- Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

Paying off any small nagging debts will immediately help your credit. But if you have errors, be sure to challenge them. When you challenge an error, it temporarily removes it for 30 days. Contact the alleged creditor by phone and in writing to dispute the debt. They're liable for putting false info on your report if you can demonstrate financial harm, such as the loss of a job offer.

CLARKONOMICS: Unemployment benefits are likely to be extended by 13 weeks in the 27 states that have been hardest hit by joblessness.

These states include Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Washington, Wisconsin and West Virginia.

Again, this has not been signed into law yet, but it is a bill that's destined to become law very soon.

We are in a cycle that likely won't see a decent recovery in the job market until 2011 or 2012. Clark says this reluctantly because, for the unemployed, taking 2010 off the table is dispiriting. The reality is that in 2010 we'll reach equilibrium between job losses and job gains. But we won't see a true recovery until a year or two out beyond that point.

When employers begin hiring after the recession, it will likely be with more contract work than full-time employment. This looks set to be the start of a long-term trend; you may be signed to a 90-day or 1-year contract.

Basically, employers want the ability to grow or shrink their work force at will according to how business is doing.

Another benefit for employers is that they can sidestep the messiness of layoffs with contract workers. The issue simply becomes will they offer you a new contract or won't they? Much nicer than having to "let more heads roll," which is never a pleasant experience.

Contract employment has long been very popular in Europe and Japan.

Let's face it, the social contract of lifetime employment -- where we worked for one employer who provided a pension -- has long ago faded away. Contract employment is just one more recognition that employers rent us and we rent them for a period of time.

And it's definitely something of a double-edged sword. On one hand, it becomes more difficult to make longterm plans. How can you buy a house and stay in it for a minimum of 5 years (as Clark recommends) when you don't know if you'll be employed? Yet on the other hand it creates more hiring opportunities in a capitalist system.

Yet here's the ultimate downside: One thing you can't measure is how loyal an employee will be and how customer-focused they'll be when they know their employer hasn't made a commitment to them.

The official unemployment rate is now 9.7 percent, which is moving dangerously close to the psychologically devastating 10 percent mark. At the same time, teenage unemployment is at an all-time high with roughly 26 percent of teens unemployed.

Meanwhile, U6 -- the broadest gauge of unemployment -- is edging closer to 17 percent. U6 takes into account those who are involuntarily working part-time because they can't find full-time work and those who have given up looking for work. That means 1 in 6 Americans who want a traditional full-time job can't find one.

Without a doubt, the employment thing will be a slow recovery. That's why it's important to remember that jobs are always a lagging indicator of the recovery, as Clark previously explained.

One positive indicator is that temp agencies say they're getting called more often by employers. So yes, there is a recovery underway, but nobody knows how long it will last or how strong it will be.

Yet opportunity comes up in unexpected places. The big, bad federal government has some nearly 300,000 "mission critical" positions that must be filled over the next several years. Medical, intelligence and defense are among the hottest areas of federal hiring.

Beyond that, there are another 300,000 jobs that not considered critical fills, which account for normal turnover and vacancies created by retirement.

USAJobs.gov is the official clearinghouse for federal hiring.

In addition, technological advances will create new types of jobs. For example, clean energy -- whether you agree with it or not -- will translate to jobs such as the retrofitting of residential and commercial real estate for new green standards.

On that note, Clark says the time may be right for solar energy at your home. As he previously reported, there's an oversupply of panels, which drives the price down, and there are also some attractive federal tax credits to install them. Could this be another employment opportunity for jobless construction workers?

When one door closes, you've got to find an open window!

Employers are seeking skilled laborers in a number of targeted job fields, according to The New York Times.

Such fields and professions include welding, electrical linemen, special education teachers, geo-technical engineers, respiratory therapists, civil engineers and occupational therapists.

One additional thought from Clark. If you are in nursing school, the consumer champ recommends pursing a DNP (doctor of nurse practitioner) degree. Over time, the DNPs will take over primary care.

Today's economy means that you have to look at education and career training as a lifelong pursuit. The old historical model of going to school and then permanently working in one field just doesn't fit the reality today. Our economy is changing and dynamic. New opportunities present themselves when old jobs become obsolete or unavailable.

Will you take advantage of what's on the horizon?

The reality of unemployment is getting uglier across the country, according to new stats from the Labor Department.

Michigan has it the worst. There's practically nobody left in the state and of those left, 1 in 7 are unemployed! That's a 14.1% unemployment rate.

Oregon (12.4%) is second worst, while the No. 3 slot goes to Rhode Island and South Carolina. Beyond that, Nevada, California, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and almost the entire Southeast are all ailing on the job front.

So where are things going well? Other than in New Hampshire, it's mostly the heartland and all its contiguous states. North Dakota is king, as is South Dakota. Other heartland areas with low unemployment rates include Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Oklahoma -- what's commonly called flyover country.

This recession is interesting in that Americans are generally not picking up and moving for opportunity. Why? Nobody can get out of their house with their shirt on.

Clark predicts our current national unemployment rate of 9.4% will rise to somewhere around 11%. Yet he also thinks we'll have an inkling of economic recovery after Labor Day. But jobs will be a lagging indicator of the recovery, for reasons that he previously explained.

A bad credit reputation may keep you from getting a job in a tough market. The best guess is that between 40% and 50% of employers are running credit checks on "would be" employees. And we're not just talking about for jobs in the financial sector.

However, a study from Eastern Kentucky University finds that there's no correlation between credit score and job performance.

So employers are going into battle with the wrong weapon. They're listening to their human resources departments that say to run a credit score on all potential hires -- even though it's a meaningless indicator. Silly, silly, silly.

Meanwhile, to add insult to injury, The Los Angeles Times reports that 1 in 3 credit reports may contain serious errors.

Remember, you're free to see your credit reports once a year at AnnualCreditReport.com.

If you find an error, you must dispute it with the individual credit bureau and the issuer of the credit. Be sure to file both disputes at the same time.

Send all supporting evidence via certified mail and tell the credit issuer that you'll sue them for fiscal damages if the fix is not made in a timely manner.

Don't trust the bureau itself to launch an investigation into your claim of an error. Their version of an "investigation" is sending an electronic transmittal to the credit issuer and asking if the info they have is correct. Sherlock Holmes they're definitely not!

The long-held wisdom of wage stickiness is faltering in the midst of the recession as unemployment rises.

Wage stickiness holds that it's better to layoff some workers and preserve the wages of those who remain -- instead of cutting everyone's wages to ensure there are no layoffs.

Challenger, Gray & Christmas -- a leading outplacement consulting firm -- conducted a survey in January that found 1 in 4 employers favored wage freezes over cutting heads.

Now, Challenger's May update of the same survey finds that number has more than doubled in 5 months, according to The Wall Street Journal. This time around, more than half of the employers asked are now doing wage freezes or pay cuts instead of firing workers.

Clark has long believed that workplace morale is devastated when there's a pay cut or a salary freeze. But it just doesn't seem to be so any longer.

Perhaps it's because so many of us know someone who got laid off. Now we're happy to keep our jobs at 80 or 90 cents on the dollar. The alternative -- facing a lay off where our income dwindles to zero -- is just too bleak.

Of course, the penny-pincher's challenge to you at a time like this is make sure you can get by on less. That means reducing debt and building a cushion of savings.

One of the most-viewed stories on The Chicago Tribune website recently had an eye-popping headline that read, "Laid Off? You'll Likely Never Make as Much."

The reality is that many people end up happier following a layoff than they were before. They're often more stimulated by their new work or earn more money. Even The Chicago Tribune's otherwise pessimistic article grudgingly admits that this happens to about 1 in 4 people.

It's a sign of the times that an article like this would get so many eyeballs. But economies go in cycles and things will get better down the road -- as scary as it may be to get laid off today.

Clark himself got laid off in college at a time when he was paying his way through school. It took him time to find another job. But he did eventually land on his feet.

Clark has been obsessed with exercise since he was 19 years old. He exercises on a daily basis -- either running, using a stair master, an elliptical glider or lifting weights.

But a new medical study finds that exercise may not be enough if you spend your days in a sedentary job.

A Canadian study of 17,000 people that started in 1981 found that if you sit at work, you have a higher death rate from a wide variety of illnesses -- even if you exercise regularly! The results were published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.

To combat the dangers of sedentary jobs, Dr. James Levine of the Mayo Clinic has developed the Walkstation. The Walkstation allows you to walk slowly at 1.5 miles per hour on a treadmill that's equipped like an office desk.

Clark himself has long stood while doing his job. When he owned a travel agency, he held standing meetings because he believed they were more efficient. He also does his radio show on his feet because he's a jitterbug.

Clark has long believed high tax states suffer mightily as entrepreneurs and large businesses naturally move away because of unfavorable tax policies. In his mind, it's a simple issue of business wanting to follow the path of least resistance and keep more of each dollar it generates.

Now his belief is substantiated in a new study out of Ohio University, according to The Wall Street Journal. Over the course of 10 years, the study found that states with no state income tax created 89% more jobs than states with high taxes. Personal income was also 32% larger in states with no state income tax.

And it's not just geography that's a factor here; states with no tax are all over the country.

Look at New Hampshire vs. Massachusetts as an example. New Hampshire has steadily gained more company headquarters and entrepreneurs as people flee neighboring "Taxachusetts" and Vermont to cross the border into the "Live Free of Die" state.

More than 1,100 people move from the 9 highest income tax states to states with no income tax every single day. But it's not only states that are competing with each other for residents and businesses. Jobs can migrate around the globe, so we need to keep our taxes low to retain the best opportunities.

States may have to make the difficult decision to offer fewer services instead of raising taxes. Government can't provide everything we want without consequence.

CLARKONOMICS: Consumer prices continue to drop, unemployment is likely headed a bit higher and defaults on credit cards may hit all-time highs. At the same time, there are clear signs of recovery in the global economy.

Britain, France, Italy and China all officially considered to be out of the recession now. Yet even when our recovery comes, it won't necessarily be rosy on the job front for awhile.

People often wonder why jobs are a lagging indicator of economic recovery. It's quite simple really. When business contracts, employers start laying people off. But when things pick back up again, they start with the overtime instead of rehiring new employees.

That approach only works for so long until you exhaust your existing workers, and that's when you have to start hiring again.

Complicating an employment recovery is the fact that Americans are not relocating for job opportunities in the numbers they once historically did. The difference with this recession is that no one can afford to get out of their house.

But if you can relocate, there are great opportunities in "flyover country" like Wyoming, the Dakotas and other heartland states.

Of course, select fields continue to have great opportunities anywhere you look, such as medicine and government. Both fields need people with a wide range of skills. USAJobs.gov is the official clearinghouse for government jobs.

Staples, Office Depot and Office Max -- the Big 3 office supply chains -- are being hit with a double whammy at the moment. First, there have been sluggish sales because of the economy. Second, they're facing fierce competition from 3 new cheaper competitors.

Those 3 competitors are Amazon.com, Sam's Club and Costco Wholesale. In fact, Costco has opened a new offshoot chain called Costco Business Centers. According to The Wall Street Journal, there are only 9 Costco Business Centers in the entire country, yet they've already raked in $1.25 billion for the year.

The markups at the warehouse clubs are so much lower than what you find at the Big 3. Costco caps all markups at 14%. The Big 3, however, have typical markups of 28% on their products.

If you're not lucky enough to live near a Costco Business Center, Clark recommends buying your office supplies from the standard warehouse clubs and then purchasing whatever else you may need from Amazon.com.

One non-profit organization that took a similar approach was able to save $7,000 of donor money that would have otherwise gone to office supplies, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Give it a try if you're a small business owner.

The average American family survives on somewhere between $40,000 and $50,000 depending on what source you believe. Compare that to the kind of salaries paid at large law firms. Skadden Arps, for example, routinely pays its lawyers more than $100,000.

So what does a company like Skadden Arps do when business slows down sufficiently enough for them to consider furloughs? According to CNNMoney.com, they give their lawyers a one-year paid sabbatical with $80,000 of compensation!

The lawyers are expected to go do something useful, like public defender work, yet they're not duty bound to do so. They could simply travel the world for a year if they're so inclined.

Several months ago, Clark posed a poll question to listeners about whether, given the choice, they'd prefer to take a 10% pay cut and preserve everyone's job at work, or maintain their current salary with the understanding that a 10% reduction in staff will be necessary.

The wage stickiness factor holds that an employer's smartest move in difficult times is to reduce headcount and preserve the wages of those who remain. It's long been thought that lowering the wages of the survivors would be demeaning to worker morale.

But that assumption hasn't always proven true in this recession. In fact, our poll showed that most people wanted the salary freeze so that no one else would get axed. The Skadden Arps scenario, however, is like a hybrid of both options.

Nice work if you can get it!

Politicians don't understand economics. It's a rare bird in Washington who actually does. That's why D.C. has a new plan for taxation that would stick it to people who run their own businesses.

Under the new tax regime, there would be no increase in taxes for big businesses or for individuals. But small business would pay dearly.

The Washington Post is not exactly known as a bastion of conservative reporting, but even their own analysis shows that a 19% increase would be typical for most successful small businesses.

It's important to note that we're not talking about all small businesses here. These new taxes would only affect those businesses that are successful enough to have a number of employees and keep retained earnings.

Retained earnings are the rainy day monies that get put aside to deal with future losses. Under the new regime, there would be much higher taxes on that kind of money.

This all raises the question of what constitutes a "successful" small business? You could be just barely cash flow positive to the tune of 6 figures and you may still be taxed heavily. Why? Your business and personal earnings will be treated as one in the same -- unlike the treatment that big business gets.

Clark is particularly bugged by the disparity in treatment that's afforded to small business and big business in this respect.

Small businesses are the lifeblood of the country and a real engine for job growth. Big business, meanwhile, only gets dumber as it get larger -- much like a dinosaur.

We've got to create an environment in this country where it's favorable for small business to take the kind of risks that will ultimately create job growth. And the new tax plan doesn't cut it!

CLARKONOMICS: Recently, Clark read about an economist who jokingly called the glum state of our economy a "hecession" instead of a recession.

That's because the job losses are mainly hitting men. The Financial Times of London reports men account for 80% of the jobs that were lost since the recession began in 2007. That's over 4 million jobs lost by men vs. only 1 million lost by women. The male unemployment rate is just under 9%, while it's around 7% for women.

The reasoning behind these numbers is simple. Some of the hardest-hit sectors of the economy -- construction and manufacturing -- have been male-dominated. Women, meanwhile, tend to dominate in the relatively unscathed sectors of education and healthcare. In fact, we are on the cusp of reaching a level where more women are employed than men across the country.

But here's the good news. When the economy does recover -- and that's a "when," not an "if" -- the men who took the brunt of the hit will go back to work. Because they tend to have higher salaries than women, there will be a very positive boomerang effect that should be greater than stats suggest.

But you've also got to recognize that many manufacturing jobs are not coming back. And in construction, we'll need a smaller industry in the future than what existed in the past.

So men might want to use this downtime for education and retraining in a new career.

Finally, unemployment varies so much by region. California and North Carolina are two of the hardest-hit states. If you're looking for where the jobs are, think about "flyover" country like North and South Dakota and other heartland states.

In his continuing efforts to be a resource for the unemployed and the underemployed, Clark wants to share the findings of a recent Washington Post report about who is hiring.

Ever thought about being a spy? The CIA and other spy agencies are constantly in need of new hires. However, most of the jobs are not exactly the stuff 007's dreams are made of. In fact, Clark recalls working as a bill collector years ago and being sent to collect at the National Security Agency. Most of the employees he saw were doing administrative tasks at the office!

Then there's always the old standby of healthcare. This sector is constantly hot as our population continues aging.

Other sectors that are hiring include engineering, biotech and software design. For example, Washington D.C.-based Northrop Grumman, which deals with software development and network security, is soon planning to hire 4,000 new employees.

One final word of caution: People tend to gravitate toward big companies to apply for work. That's a real fool's errand, according to Clark. Why? Well, as companies get larger, they mostly hire through attrition. So the bulk of the real hiring happens at companies you've never heard of in sectors you never thought of.

Meanwhile, many universities are making a new effort to help out-of-work alums because they want to create a new sense of loyalty and attract donation dollars when the tide turns.

Many people who are unemployed are spending their time in isolation hunkered down behind a computer while searching for job postings and sending out resumes.

Wrong move, says Clark.

The consumer champ has a strong bias for the old-fashioned way of job hunting where people meet in support groups to encourage each other.

Fortunately, the two approaches are no longer mutually exclusive. The San Francisco Chronicle recently reported on a new website called LaidOffCamp that presents a free opportunity for people to get together and network across the country.

This is essentially day camp for those who have been laid off and want to know how to get moving. It's described as "an ad-hoc gathering of unemployed and nontraditionally employed people (including freelancers, entrepreneurs and startups) who want to share ideas and learn from each other…Attendees will discuss topics in sessions that may include: living on an extreme budget, building your personal brand, how to be a freelance consultant and more."

LaidOffCamp is traveling around the country with meetings coming together in New York, San Diego, Detroit, Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, Dallas, Washington D.C. and elsewhere. You can even host a camp gathering in your town!

Unemployment support groups are an old concept, but people are not using them this time around because they think the Internet replaces everything else. It doesn't. The Internet is only a tool for communication and research. The most important thing at a time like this is using the Internet as a way to reach out to others a la things like LaidOffCamp.

Clark has a special warning to share for small business owners. As a business owner, in a recession, it is not uncommon to have internal employee theft, fraud, forgery, embezzlement and more.

Business owners face an added burden when it comes to certain kinds of ID theft. Under the Uniform Commercial Code, they may be held partly or totally responsible if their own credit card or business checking account number is used for phony charges. So it's imperative to keep your check book locked up at the office if you're a business owner.

Additional threats include billing fraud and skimming. The latter involves free product being given away, or someone not ringing up cash sales on the register. Clark suggests using WiLife.com for an affordable camera system that can help you monitor register sales.

Executive compensation is something of a sore point for Clark. In some of its more outrageous examples, you have former Home Depot CEO Bob Nardelli who received $130 million as part of his exit package. Meanwhile, Countrywide CEO Angelo Mozilo got $120 million when he exited -- after playing a major role in our subprime mortgage crisis.

Sometimes it feels like there's nothing we can do about these outrageous golden parachutes and gilded bonuses.

Thankfully, some CEOs have taken the moral high road when it comes to bonuses. Bank of America CEO Ken Lewis actually requested that he receive no bonus because the company isn't doing well. Clark is normally no friend of Bank of America, but he salutes Lewis for his decision. Similarly, AFLAC CEO Dan Amos turned down a golden parachute offer, saying that if he fails the company he doesn't deserve any special treatment.

These two examples, however, are isolated instances. More often, the honchos take the money gladly -- even when they fail.

The real problem here is corruption in Washington D.C., according to Clark. The consumer champ hopes new laws are passed that turn control of corporate America over to the true owners of a company -- we the stockholders.

Clark is intrigued by the way the economic theory of wage stickiness is playing out in today's economy.

Wage stickiness holds that it is better to layoff some workers and preserve the wages of those who remain vs. cutting everyone's wages to ensure there are no layoffs. Economists favor the former approach because they believe it's better for worker morale.

But a recent poll question on ClarkHoward.com found that -- given the choice -- most of you prefer the opposite of wage stickiness. The overwhelming number of respondents said that they'd rather everyone take a haircut at work to ensure there would be no beheadings.

So are the economists just plain wrong? Or is that in these uncharted economic waters, we realize the next one who gets canned could be us…and it's better to have 90% of a loaf than none at all? Perhaps there's another reason people want to see headcounts preserved at work; nobody wants to be part of a skeleton crew of survivors who have double or triple the normal workload!

Whatever the motivating factor, your fellow citizens are more mature and responsible than they get credit for being.

For example, one of Clark's radio colleagues hit a ratings mark that qualified him for a huge bonus. Management told him that they could give him the bonus he earned fair and square -- but they'd have to let go of 7 staffers to be able to afford it. Though he'll never admit it, the man did the honorable thing and agreed to give up his bonus rather than see people fired.

When times are tough for businesses, the economic theory of "wage stickiness" holds that it is better to lay some workers off and preserve the wages of those who remain vs. cutting everyone's wages to ensure there are no layoffs.

But some employers are experimenting with flipping that equation on its head. Instead of doing layoffs, they're cutting wages across the board and preserving the headcount.

What do you think? Be sure to vote in Clark's poll and let him know.

Executive producer Christa and associate producer Joel both agree that they'd prefer pay cuts to layoffs. Economists, however, disagree with both of them, arguing that the hit morale takes as your check shrinks is very severe. But as Christa counters, having a skeleton staff that has to do twice the work is depressing too.

We'll leave you with this very inspirational story from Clark's past: When he owned his travel agency, one of his corporate clients was in dire financial straits. The office manager at the company believed so much in the company that she went off the payroll for 2 years. She lived on her husband's salary and actually worked for free for 24 months. When the company recovered, she got her retroactive pay, plus another 50% for her loyalty!

With the rise in unemployment, Clark wants to lay out a strategy you can use if you get laid off.

• Do not be reluctant to file for unemployment insurance. There's nothing shameful about it. Employers pay premiums over time during the good years to provide for those who get laid off in lean times. It's not beneath you to accept this insurance money.

• If you are hit with a layoff, it's likely that an immediate superior who is familiar with your performance will break the news to you. That's the best time to negotiate on your own behalf. Think through what you want to ask for when it comes to health coverage and severance (if applicable). Ask for a personal letter of reference to assist in your job hunt.

• Looking for work is a full-time job. You need an action plan. Start by reviewing your list of contacts, but heed these words: People don't like to be called and asked if there's a job. However, they love to give advice that may lead to an opportunity. Visit in person with your contacts if possible.

• Triage your finances so you know which debts to prioritize and which to neglect if your money runs out. Paying for your car is central to finding employment for most people. It's practically higher than paying your mortgage or rent. You many need to live with friends or relatives until you can get back on your feet. What shouldn't you prioritize paying? Your credit cards!

Did it seem like your wallet was getting magically thinner in recent times? That's because of the effects of inflation. Surprisingly, that trend has now reversed on a dime. In fact, we just had the greatest decline in costs since the 1940s.

When inflation is low, the dollar you earn has more impact for you. If your raises at work haven't been keeping up with inflation, well, you may now see a reversal of fortunes. This year, you'll actually have increased buying power on what you now earn.

Meanwhile, employers have learned that if you cut wages and decimate morale, you may lose more in productivity than you gain in saved wages. The traditionally accepted practice is to thin out the herd and then preserve the wages of those who remain.

We hear a constant litany of headlines about layoffs. Larger companies will trumpet their layoff announcements because it plays out well on Wall Street. After all, investors anticipate that a company reducing its overhead should be able to deliver more profits next quarter. But the problem so often with playing to Wall Street is that you can lose employees who would make you more money over time.

If you are a business owner, some of your employees may be giving you a big lump of coal this Christmas. The Wall Street Journal reports there's been a big increase in internal theft (aka "shrinkage") that's being attributed to the recession.

Employees who may not have been tempted to steal in the past are doing so this year -- whether it's theft of goods in retail or embezzlement in a non-retail business.

If you are a small business, the question is do you have internal controls in place that will prevent someone you trust from stealing? Be sure to have good internal control of your financials. You may also want to check out the possibility of an inexpensive Internet-based security camera system such as WiLife.com if you have multiple locations to monitor.

Recently while at an ice cream parlor, Clark watched a teenage employee give free ice cream to a group of friends. He intended to tell the owner, but it slipped his mind and he couldn't remember what the teen looked like when he went back to the parlor!

The trend of employers opening up medical offices on-site for their employees isn't exactly new. After all, Clark recalls working for IBM in the '70s and visiting an in-house doctor. But The Wall Street Journal now reports that companies like Toyota, Walt Disney and Intel have opened full-service doctor's offices with a large range of medical equipment at their locations.

This can save the employer a fortune. Illnesses can be caught early, making for less absenteeism, and employees don't have to take time away from the job to run out for medical treatment.

Clark vividly recalls his encounter with the doctor at IBM even after all these years. As soon as he walked in, the doctor remarked, "So, I hear you like double cheeseburgers." The penny-pincher's reputation as a lover of fast food obviously preceded him. Later, the doctor drew a picture of 2 double cheeseburgers and crossed one out -- in an effort to convince Clark he had to stop eating fast food. Did he listen? No way!

Small business faces a very challenging climate right now with lines of credit and credit card limits alike both being lowered.

So what's an entrepreneur to do? Well, barter is back in a big way for the first time since the early 1990s. In its simplest form, barter involves trading your services or goods for another's services or goods. There is no exchange of cash. Clark wants you to know that through bartering, you create reportable income. So be aware of the implications of potential income tax evasion here.

The most popular form of barter is going through an Internet-based barter exchange. The barter exchange simply administers the transactions and keeps a record of them for members. So in essence, you as a small business trade your services for credit that you can then use to "buy" services from other businesses.There's even a trade association called IRTA.com to monitor the barter exchange companies.

One caveat: Clark's recommendation is that you should never put more at risk than you can afford to have wiped out if the barter exchange goes insolvent.

CLARKONOMICS: Clark wants to issue a special challenge to churches and other religious organizations ahead of what is likely to be a trend of rising unemployment.

At just a little over 6%, unemployment remains low today compared to historical numbers. But odds are fairly good that we may see it rise to between 8.5% or 9%. Some places like Michigan and Rhode Island may be there already, with California following closely behind.

In the past, churches, synagogues and other religious institutions have offered people a place to network during times of high unemployment. In Clark's estimation, the Internet and its networking forums just don't have the same touch as a brick-and-mortar building where you can go to share bumps in the road with others seeking work.

So our nation's religious institutions should look to fill that role again. There's also going to be a great need for counseling. People are more likely to hurt themselves during times of higher unemployment. They may feel a lowered sense of self-esteem; we perceive our value as being based on what vocation we have. It may not be true, but it is how we feel in America.

If you are facing unemployment, realize that it probably stems from larger economic tides and it is not a reflection of you.

Likewise, if you know a friend or family member facing unemployment, reach out to them regularly. Some people may need financial help. The big houses we Americans have can be put to good use if a loved one is evicted or foreclosed upon and needs a place to stay. We tend to look to government to take care of us, but the state can't do what we can do as a family.

Having said all that, Clark wants to emphasize that we are not headed toward a wave of mass unemployment in the 20% range that would suggest a depression.

A new survey from the American Management Association reveals workers are more productive and happier if they're treated with kindness and respect by a boss. Duh, no big surprise there!

This flies in the face of the school of thought that says you should manage by fear and intimidation. We've all worked for someone like that, haven't we?

When he owned a travel agency, Clark did everything he could to make his employees happy. Every year, he took 25% of his profits and spread them out as bonuses among the workers. As a result, his turnover was near zero. Employees knew they were part of the team.

He also gave employees free postage because human nature is what is and employees usually steal postage. In addition, he offered unlimited free soft drinks and other beverages. Clark knew a thirsty employee would be gone 20 minutes in search of a beverage.

No one system is right for every employer. But if you do special things for your employees, they'll do special things for your customers in return. As an example, Clark's employees might deliver an airline ticket to a customer on the way home because they wanted to see the business do well. Clark calls it "enlightened self interest." Romance your employees and they'll romance your customers.

CLARKONOMICS: If you're a business owner, you know that passing price increases to customers is difficult during touch economic times. Savvy shoppers may notice that Frito-Lay is reducing ounces and upping the price. Perhaps they're secretly trying to give you a hint about that diet you've been putting off?! Just kidding.

Gas stations are also squeezing costs in their own way. Some locations are offering cash discounts at the pump, which saves them the expense of processing credit card numbers. They can then pass a piece of those savings along to you. It costs a gas station about 10 or 12 cents per gallon to run your card. So it's really a win/win situation.

The spiraling rate of inflation has led to economic dislocation. The government is reporting the inflation rate at around 4%, but Barron's says it's actually over 10%. There's political benefit in lying about the rate of inflation, and it also cheats Social Security recipients out of the proper inflation adjustment. But we see the inflation everyday when we go out.

Businesses are in real bind because they have rising costs at time when there's less demand. Just look at the airlines and their huge fuel bills. Southwest is the only one that made a meager profit. Continental is not merging with United because the latter loses $6-$7 million a day!

Yet the average person pays fares that are up only 3% over a year ago. Why? Demand is too soft for the airlines to charge any more. When push comes to shove, airlines may be willing to park planes in the desert. This will reduce the number of available seats and allow them to charge more money for fewer seats. Every business faces this kind of choice in a recession.

So you must be an educated consumer and cherry-pick the deals. Patient leisure travelers can do this when it comes to flying. Shoppers can do this by avoiding overpriced groceries until they go on sale. It's like a chess game and you've got to out-think the business owner who is trying to sell to you.

Clark has been reading a new book titled High Wire: The Precarious Financial Lives of American Families. Author Peter Gosselin's story dovetails very neatly with Clark's talk of the recent generational shifts that make our current economic slowdown more painful.

It's no secret that there's no longer a "lifetime contract" between employers and employees. We "rent" them and they "rent" us. Gone are the days of pensions after a lifetime of work or the promise of employer-provided healthcare in old age. To complicate matters, people have long since stopped paying cash and now live on borrowed money.

These factors in combination make for an explosive mix that creates financial insecurity. Gosselin talks about being on a wire without a net. Think about your own life: Are you without a net? If so, are you prepared for the consequences that can come if you lose your job?

Here's Clark's advice to get things back on track in your life:

• When it comes to a house, buy with a down-payment. Go for a 30-year fixed rate loan to keep things simple.

• With cars, limit your loans to 42 months or less -- or risk being upside-down in your car.

• Do not use debt for lifestyle; it only creates obligations, not opportunities.

On the other side of the ledger, are you saving? The average American family is spending more than it takes in. But, again, what happens when you lose your job??

In the midst of all the doom and gloom about employment forecasts, Clark recently told you about certain opportunities in the job market. But there's an underground opportunity just around the corner that could go mainstream in the next few years. You've heard of white collar and blue collar jobs, right? Well, how about green collar?!

There could be potentially millions of jobs coming in the environmental sector. Clark thinks back to the UC Davis professor he had on the air who worked for 20 years to develop plug-in hybrids. These kinds of cars start out electric and then switch to gas when they run out of juice. After years of pooh-poohing plug-ins, GM is now advertising a plug-in called the Volt coming in 2010. Likewise, Toyota spent years being hostile to the idea of modifying the Prius to be a plug-in hybrid. Now they're going to launch that version in 2010 for fleet sales before entering the general market with it.

Here's another example of a green business: Our old electronic waste is often shipped to Third World countries where kids disassemble computer monitors and get exposed to dangerous chemicals. Clark recently read a Forbes story about an independently wealthy man who thought there had to be a better way. So he launched a business called ERI (Electronic Recyclers International) in Fresno, CA. ERI employs ex-convicts who follow safety standards in taking equipment apart and recycling it. It's been a real money-making venture. And it also benefits ex-cons by providing employment and opportunity for those who haven't had much in their lives.

Look around each corner and you'll see green opportunities going forward. Clark thinks retro-fitting houses to make them energy efficient will employ those laid off in construction. Bringing home green by working green will soon be more of a reality.

As Clark recently explained, workers are normally entitled to 26 weeks of unemployment benefits. But a new federal law now extends that coverage through 39 weeks. If you've exhausted your 26 weeks and still haven't found work, contact your state's Department of Labor to apply for the extension. If you're already in the midst of your original 26-week benefits, you'll likely just be extended through 39 weeks.

Meanwhile, The Career Journal reports a number of people are going into altruistic jobs. Applications for the Peace Corps are up just under 20%. Teach for America applications are up 36%. Even the Jesuit Volunteer Corps is experiencing a surge in applicants.

People are using today's sluggish economy as an opportunity to take time out from their career and try something different. If you've hit a career roadblock, can you try moving forward in a new way?

Clark recently put out a call to corporate America for more businesses to adopt the 4-day work week. With such a schedule, employees work four 10-hour days instead of five 8-hour days. That means a savings in fuel, reduction of air pollution and improvement in employee morale/retention.

Some employers also offer flex hours. With flex hours, there's a core of the day that employees must be on the job. The rest of the day can then be structured more freely. So under this arrangement, you can make that early morning doctor's appointment and just work a few extra hours in the evening to make up for the lost time. It's a win/win situation for everyone involved.

The governor of Utah has instituted a 4-day work week for most state employees -- except public safety workers -- until further notice. Think about the money they'll save by not having to heat or cool their facilities from Friday through Sunday.

So if you're the boss at a small business, can you make a 4-day work week work for your company? It creates employee loyalty and the cost of turnover by not doing it will be far more expensive in the long run.

The outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas has released several predictions about future workplace trends.

There's been so much talk about the idea of telecommuting, but so little action. Yet in the future, more of us will work independently and some of us will do so from home.

The only downside Clark foresees is that more of us will be contractors, especially with big companies and small start-ups. Most mid-sized companies will retain their regular staffs going forward.

Clark thrives on the kind of worker independence that Challenger is predicting. There was only one time in his life when he worked in a true corporate bureaucracy, and that was at IBM. His entrepreneurial spirit sometimes conflicted with the corporate world during his tenure there.

One serious implication of more contract work comes to mind: How will we provide healthcare in this brave new world? Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney took a lot of heat over his state's efforts to eliminate employer-provided healthcare. But the reality is that more people in Massachusetts have coverage than before, especially among the self-employed.

Returning to the Challenger predictions, more companies are expected to switch to 4-day workweeks. That would mean four 10-hour days instead of five 8-hour ones. Wouldn't that be nice?!

Younger employees have no clue how to dress in the workplace. With guys, it's sloppy clothing; with women, it's inappropriate clothing -- including short skirts, skimpy outfits and exposed tattoos.

Clark recently saw a Dear Abby column that was dedicated to an HR manager who needed to vent about this issue. Shortly after he saw that, The Orlando Sentinel/Newsday ran a photo gallery of outfits that were deemed too sexy for the job. Meanwhile, Clark was recently in Dallas at a hip gelato parlor. He was shocked by how white-collar women getting out of work were dressed. And he wasn't just being fuddy-duddy.

Pop darlings Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson have all had their own influence on today's lax dress standards for young women. The range of acceptable behavior and dress got muddied up.

Recent college graduates starting their first jobs should err on the side of conservative dress. If a workplace is more relaxed, you'll figure it out over time. Some employers have even been convinced by consultants to have fashion shows featuring mannequins sporting appropriate workplace clothing!

CLARKONOMICS: The headlines about unemployment have created a lot of anxiety across the land. Initial claims climbed to a 4-year high and workers are remaining jobless for longer; about 3 million have lost a job and not been able to rebound with employment. Meanwhile, Challenger, Gray & Christmas -- a leading outplacement consulting firm -- found a 19-month high in the number of planned job cuts.

Should you be worried? You know from your own industry and place of work whether or not you'll be OK. Be realistic when you're facing that onslaught of headlines. Maybe you don't need to fret as much as you have been.

If you are in danger of being pink-slipped, that's fair warning to get your financial house in order. Start pulling back on the spending and reducing your debt. That way you'll be more prepared in the event of a layoff.

This time is not even close to the worst we've seen, yet it's not the best either. Things could decline even further, but Clark doesn't see overwhelming doom and gloom ahead. It's steady as you go for most of us.

Clark has a bias in favor of states that run a fiscally efficient house. He believes that's the way to position your state for growth and prosperity over time. Texas is one place that really fits the bill; there is no state income tax. That creates a favorable environment for businesses to set up shop. Let's face it, states compete with each other for employers and jobs just like nations.

Is it any wonder that the Lone Star State has more Fortune 500 companies than any other? The tax issue isn't the only determining factor, but Clark believes it's the most important one. That's why ultra-high tax state New York -- traditionally the center of business and finance -- has seen an exodus of major corporations for years. The Empire State's loss has been Texas' gain, as the latter has been a major job growth center for the last 8 years.

If you're a business owner, you want to go to a place where the government won't take too much of your paycheck. Look at talk radio, for example. Many hosts reside in Florida regardless of where their show originates. That's because Florida is also a no state income tax domicile. By comparison, New York City and state taxes can eat up some 11% of your paycheck.

One corollary of note: If you reduce taxes, you must take the bitter pill of also reducing spending. Part of our federal mess is that the president and Congress reduced taxes while increasing spending. If you want one, you've got to do the other.

In the midst of all the doom and gloom about employment forecasts, Clark recently told you about certain opportunities in the job market. But there's an underground opportunity just around the corner that could go mainstream in the next few years. You've heard of white collar and blue collar jobs, right? Well, how about green collar?!

There could be potentially millions of jobs coming in the environmental sector. Clark thinks back to the UC Davis professor he had on the air who worked for 20 years to develop plug-in hybrids. These kinds of cars start out electric and then switch to gas when they run out of juice. After years of pooh-poohing plug-ins, GM is now advertising a plug-in called the Volt coming in 2010. Likewise, Toyota spent years being hostile to the idea of modifying the Prius to be a plug-in hybrid. Now they're going to launch that version in 2010 for fleet sales before entering the general market with it.

Here's another example of a green business: Our old electronic waste is often shipped to Third World countries where kids disassemble computer monitors and get exposed to dangerous chemicals. Clark recently read a Forbes story about an independently wealthy man who thought there had to be a better way. So he launched a business called ERI (Electronic Recyclers International) in Fresno, CA. ERI employs ex-convicts who follow safety standards in taking equipment apart and recycling it. It's been a real money-making venture. And it also benefits ex-cons by providing employment and opportunity for those who haven't had much in their lives.

Look around each corner and you'll see green opportunities going forward. Clark thinks retro-fitting houses to make them energy efficient will employ those laid off in construction. Bringing home green by working green will soon be more of a reality.

CLARKONOMICS: Are Americans going backwards economically? That's how some of the financial press is spinning the latest findings of the Pew Research Center. Only 4 in 10 people feel they're moving forward -- and that's a record low. Of those who define themselves as middle class, 80% say they can't maintain their standard of living. This, of course, translates to lack of optimism about the country.

When you look at the last 5 years, there has been some distortion in the economy and some trends have squeezed people. But look further back to the '70s. The average American family income is 40% higher than it was one generation ago. That's practically unprecedented for an already developed economy. Meanwhile, the average family is 35% wealthier in terms of net worth than a generation ago.

Yet the Pew findings ring true. The middle class is hollowing out. In town after town, the non-skilled union jobs have steadily been evaporating as our manufacturing base declines. The kinds of jobs that unskilled laborers now have to get as a replacement typically pay much less and don't have a pension or benefits. So what's happening is that our country is dividing into 3 distinct groups: One third of Americans are making really decent money; one-third have low incomes and are not doing so well; and one third are in the middle. Clark's never seen this kind of split in his lifetime; the classic bell curve of yesteryear is gone and that's why there's unease.

Even if you're mid-career, you've got to reinvent yourself. This is the real challenge as we face global competition. The free trade genie won't go back in the bottle. Clark wants to hear political discourse about how to start re-training mid-career people. Community colleges and state-sponsored technical schools are both great venues to gain new skills or get re-training.

CLARKONOMICS: There's bad news on the job front with the unemployment rate rising from 4.8% to 5.1% and employers reporting 3 consecutive months of job losses. We may be at the beginning of more trouble. But the irony is that we're starting from a good spot. Economists never even thought we could get an unemployment rate as low as 5% without overheating the economy.

Instead of focusing on the bad news, Clark wants to let you know about companies that are planning on doing some big-time hiring. Forbes recently reported that Accenture -- an international consulting, technology and outsourcing company -- plans to hire 60,000 new employees in 2008. And that's just one example. This is not a doom and gloom economy where there are no jobs to be had.

Kiplinger.com recently ran a feature about recession-proof careers. These fields include healthcare, education, security, environmental science and government. In one example, The Washington Post reports that a Maryland county is pursing paramedics like they're star athletes. The starting salary is $57K.

Keep in mind that 70% of the jobs that will exist in 20 years don't exist today. Think back to 1988. At that point there was no Internet and no e-mail. You've got be willing to continually reinvent yourself. The typical American will have 5 careers and at least 15 jobs. Be ready to go back to school if necessary. As our economy changes, you've got to move with it.

CLARKONOMICS: Everyday during these Clarkonomics segments, Clark brings you all kinds of woeful news about the economy. So it's nice to be able to finally bring some good news. Each year, a temporary employment firm called Manpower Inc. compiles a very comprehensive hiring survey. Their spring report really wowed people because it found that more than 1 in 4 employers expect to increase total net employment during the next 3 months. Less than 10% expect to reduce head count. The remaining companies surveyed foresee things remaining level. That's fantastic news if you're job-hunting.

Meanwhile, Clark recently read that the number of weeks it takes to find a new job once you're unemployed has increased because of the slowing economy. So it may take longer to turn the ship around, but that ship will sail. If you're worrying about a future layoff, get your money together for leaner times. Clark believes that you really lose confidence during prolonged unemployed. So you've got to have an action plan. First, get out and volunteer in some activity you believe in; you could end up with a job through that alone. Second, take a job doing anything, at least part-time, so you can pay your bills. Even if you're embarrassed by the gig, at least you're putting money back in your wallet.

What are the bathrooms like where you work? They used to be disgusting at the studio where Clark records. It got to the point that he had to speak to the head of facilities management. Now they're much cleaner.

Years ago, Clark told the story of a Wall St. stock analyst who liked to visit the companies he invests his clients' money in. He got in the habit of routinely using the bathroom at the companies. If the toilet was filthy, he would cancel his appointment and pull all financial support. This stock analyst knew that if the bathroom was filthy, the employees were not valued and that speak volumes about the company's chances of long-term success. The same holds true with reserved parking spots for upper management at a company. Priority parking tells the little guy that he doesn't count, and that doesn't make employees feel valued.

Now The Chicago Tribune reports that employees get fired up when basics aren't being met at the workplace. 1 in 3 will actually quit over things like lousy bathrooms. After all, clean bathrooms are a basic in a developed country like ours.

Clark often promises to help you avoid getting ripped off. But what happens when you rip yourself off? Clark is very upset about a report he read on TheStreet.com talking about employers offering 401(k) debit cards! Employers don't like the paperwork hassle of employees taking loans against their 401(k), but this type of debit card offers a way around the paperwork. 401(k) debit cards have been around for about 5 years and they're gaining in popularity. Clark wants you to know that they're a horrible idea. People are being told it's such a great deal to borrow from yourself -- because you pay yourself back instead of a bank. But this is a fallacy. Here's why: Money in a 401(k) is pre-tax dollars, while you have to use after-tax dollars to pay yourself back. So you might pay $1.50 in real money to pay back $1 to your 401(k).

But wait, it gets worse. If you lose your job, the money is due back in the plan right away. If you can't pay back the loan, you trigger a huge tax burden and penalty because the borrowed money is treated as a premature distribution from your 401(k). You'll incur around 40 percent tax and penalty. So say you borrowed $10K from your 401(k). You will now owe the IRS around $4K you may not have because of your job loss. There are some desperate situations where borrowing against your 401(k) may work, but Clark says you must exhaust all other possibilities first. The feds should have never approved this 401(k) debit card. Clark believes 401(k) contributions should be mandatory and withdrawals should be banned.

Here's an odd one for the job seekers among you. There's a new website that pays you to go on interviews. So far only technology-geared companies are making use of NotchUp.com, which is in beta. Here's the scoop: It's very expensive for companies to use classifieds and online job sites to find new employees. NotchUp.com, however, is free to employers. They find it's cheaper to pay targeted candidates for their interview time than to go the traditional advertising route and have to sort through a ton of unqualified applicants. Will NotchUp.com be around a year from now? Who knows! But if you're seeking a new position, pursuing this opportunity can't hurt you. Meanwhile, Monster.com currently is combating negative publicity stemming from a recent security breach. So beware if you're contacted by an unsolicited "recruiter" seeking sensitive personal info. They may offer to run a background check with the promise of potential employment. But you may fall victim to ID theft if you let your guard down.

Note: Clark is broadcasting remotely for his Christmas Kids 2007 initiative. You can donate online.

While Clark's helping you play Santa for needy children, a new report suggests that we aren't playing Santa to ourselves and our own retirement needs. People left to their own devices don't save. Or they may begin a 401(k) and then spend the money when they switch jobs. If you are younger than 45, Social Security won't be able to help you in a meaningful way. Meanwhile, there are very few pension plans around anymore. So you are your only line of defense! Many employers now have mandatory enrollment in their 401(k) plans, but the amount they deduct may be so small that it won't help in the long run. Clark's executive producer Christa began saving a mere 2 percent of her salary when she was 22. Then at one point when she changed jobs and got a higher salary, she made the leap to saving a whopping 15 percent! Her advice is to start saving now, don't wait for tomorrow. One of the most disturbing findings of the new study shows that people in their 20s have a real problem saving. That's scary considering that your 20s should be one of the easiest times to save. Most people don't yet have a family or other heavy financial obligations at that point. The sad reality is that if you don't save for retirement, you'll have to work until you die or you're physically unable to work anymore.

Does your company still have a holiday party? If so, Clark has a word of advice: Don't get trashed during the festivities! At Clark's studio, there's a holiday party coming up this weekend. They won't be serving any hard liquor, but beer and wine will probably be flowing. More than a third of all companies no longer serve any alcohol at all. There's a very important reason why Clark is urging you to not drink at your holiday party. MSNBC reports that 1 in every 7 people have been fired because they got trashed and did regrettable things in front of co-workers and superiors. So drink the egg nog that's not spiked. Or fool your co-workers by drinking ginger ale and telling them it's Scotch with seltzer! Clark is not being a party pooper, he's just trying to help you with your career. Meanwhile, The Boston Globe reports that some companies are moving their holiday parties to January. This helps combat winter blues among employees and also saves money because facility and entertainment expenses are cheaper after the holidays.

With more and more people telecommuting, workers who spend most of their time at home are facing feelings of isolation and need outlets for collaboration. Now there's a new online community called Jelly that hopes to address those needs. Jelly offers telecommuters the opportunity to meet at someone's home on a semi-weekly basis and do their work. Clark loves the networking aspect of Jelly, and he even wonders how many marriages will come from this! Clark sometimes goes to Panera Bread to get a bagel with his son and he sees salespeople taking advantage of the free wifi. The amusing thing is that the telecommuters slyly peer over their laptops to check out fellow workers. It seems wifi spots are like what bookstores were to meeting people back in the '90s. But at least back then you could strike up conversation based on what books people were reading!

About a year ago, Clark talked about Scott's Miracle-Gro firing employees who smoked. Employers have a direct interest in your health. Statistics tell us that smokers have higher absentee rates and medical bills than non-smokers. Clark recalls when he had a furniture delivery job in high school and the driver claimed that smoking since 12 hadn't hurt him! But today people accept it as common knowledge. Other than outright firing people, is there a way that companies can motivate people to have healthier habits? It turns out that paying workers small financial rewards to go on a fitness regimen works.

According to a new study in the Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, cash incentives of as little as $7 work to get people in shape. Money is even a better motivator than having a gym at work, the study found. Here's how the study worked: Groups were either offered no incentives, seven dollars or fourteen dollars. They weren't given any advice on how to lose weight or exercise. The people who were paid fourteen dollars were more likely to lose weight than those who received no money. Fourteen dollars was an even bigger motivator than seven dollars, which Clark thinks is funny because it's not really all that much money as an incentive for three months of exercise and diet. The authors of the study now plan to do more research to find out the optimal amount of money it will take to bribe workers to health!

If you own a business or manage a company, do you allow your employees the freedom to make you money or do you put them in a straitjacket? One of the biggest straitjackets is working from the office. The Wall Street Journal revealed the results of a study that monitored 10,000 workers. Some of the workers were telecommuters and others were regular office workers. Job satisfaction and loyalty to the employer were higher among those who telecommuted. A lot of employers are still suspicious of letting people work from home. There's the idea that people have to be monitored to be efficient. Human nature dictates that some people will be very motivated workers and others will not be very motivated at all. But you can't create productivity by staring at someone across the office. Clark himself admits that his productivity at the studio drops to almost zero. That's why he does all his show research at home. He's the kind of person who finds the office is a major distraction because he loves to chat with co-workers!

How much of your retirement money should you put into your employer's stock? Not one single cent, according to Clark. Clark recalls when he first learned that companies were pushing their workers to put their 401(k) money in employer stock or only offering the company match when employees invested in their stock. It was back in the 1990s and he was speaking about retirement savings at a tech company. When he started talking about employer stock, there was a murmur that ran through the crowd. It turned out almost all 600 employees put a big chunk into their company stock. When the dot.com era went bust, those workers lost 90 percent of retirement savings. More recently you had the same thing happen during the Enron and WorldCom scandals.

The latest news in this arena now comes from Countrywide Home Loans. The nation's largest independent mortgage lender is facing a lawsuit because it required employees to receive their match in company stock. Countrywide also allegedly pushed employees to put their own money in company stock. As the mortgage mammoth's profitability has declined, its employees' retirement stashes are now in danger. Why the SEC hasn't outlawed company stock from retirement options is beyond Clark. He advises people who have been contributing to company stock to stop, and instead put their money in a targeted retirement portfolio option. This will adjust your risk based on the years you have left until retirement. Half of your money should be in a total stock market plan, so you don't have all of your eggs in one basket. You may also want to check out some overseas mutual funds since the capitalist market is expanding abroad rapidly. Clark wants you to spread your retirement investments among hundreds of companies instead of gambling on just one -- the one where you get a paycheck.

On his recent book tour Clark met a gentleman who was about to become a refugee from corporate America due to company downsizing. He decided that buying a franchise was the right way to go from here. Clark asked him what he knew about the industry, and he said "nothing." He said the franchise company promised incredible profits, but you can't always trust their word. Clark asked what his previous field was...he answered computers. Clark asked him why he wanted to go into a field that had nothing to do with his business experience...was he burned out? He said no, he just thought he could make a lot of money with this franchise. But Clark wants you to think long and hard before you do buy one, especially if you're a corporate refugee. Clark's advice: work in the industry first and see if you really like it. Learn it from the inside out, even if it means emptying trash cans at first. Franchises are much harder to sell than buy, so you want to be 100% sure you want to stick with it. Corporate refugees, you have to be especially careful, since what you used to do was very specific, typically. You'll have to be a multi-disciplinary person--a utility player-- if you're going to go from an office into running your own business. If you're not, you're probably not the kind of person who should own a franchise. So what do you do if you have experience but can't find a regular job?. Try consulting. Use the knowledge you gained in the corporate world and put that to use helping others who can benefit from your advice and experience. If you've gained the currency of knowledge, education and training and just kick it to the curb, you'll be throwing the baby out with the bath water!

Tattoos are something that used to be limited in popularity, but today more than 1/3 of people age 18-40 have them, according to recent surveys. Clark thinks that companies that develop tattoo-removal technology might just be good investments going forward! However, visible tattoos can hurt you in many workplaces, or keep you from getting the good job you want. So if you're thinking about getting a tattoo, consider keeping it in a place most people won't notice. It's just Clark's opinion, but he thinks it's a practical suggestion.

We have seen a lot of inquiries about “working from home” on Clark’s Web site. Over the years, this has been a tough topic for Clark to bring up because there are so many work-at-home scams. He doesn’t want you to get taken. The good news is that there are now legitimate potential opportunities for working at home. We have them list on our work-at-home page. The area with the most activity seems to be “virtual call centers.” It’s being referred to as “insourcing,” which allows people in the States to act as customer service agents and technical support agents from the comfort of their homes. It is the opposite of “outsourcing,” whereby people in India and other countries overseas were being hired for the jobs. Check it out if you’ve always wanted to work from home. Just make sure that you thoroughly check out the company.

A few years ago, Clark talked about a new trend in the job industry whereby companies were firing smokers. We did a poll on the topic at the time and the majority of voters thought it was wrong to fire someone with a job because he or she smoked. There is a huge lawsuit underway involving Scotts lawn care company, which instated a policy saying the company does not employ smokers. The man who is suing was fired after the company conducted a random drug test and nicotine was found in his system. The company was spending millions on health care to take care of smoking-related illnesses, so it created the policy. Since then, the company also put $5 million into building a health and wellness center to help employees become healthier. Its’ tough love, but it has worked for many employees and the employer. So, is an employer stepping across the line with these policies? Clark says yes, but he thinks Americans need it. If 70 to 80 percent of employees are now using the facility, it’s working. We’ll keep you posted on what the courts decide.

Have you ever lied on a resume? If you have, you’re not alone. Almost half of all people lie on their resumes. Surveys show that 47 percent lie about jobs they’ve held, education and dates of employment. The sadder part is that only about half of all employers actually check the facts on resumes. For those companies that do check, educational institutions are very cooperative and quick to give that information. They don’t want people claiming they went to their school if they didn’t. Unfortunately, employers don’t take the same tack. They are scared of being sued, so they don’t really offer much information or sometimes don’t cooperate at all. So, what are people lying about? One in six resumes have erroneous information about education. So, you want to double check the facts!

When Clark was in graduate school, he worked for IBM. One of the great perks of the company was that there was an on-site doctor at the office. It was very convenient and affordable, not to mention that it kept Clark “on-the-clock” for longer each day. That was more than a decade ago, and other companies are finally catching on. In-house clinics save companies a ton of money because referrals are reduced and emergency hospital visits drop dramatically. Companies are taking more money out of our pocketbooks and paychecks because companies cannot keep up with medical care and its costs. So, getting more creative with medical care is a necessity. Companies aren’t doing it to be nice but you both can benefit.

If you work on a computer at the office and have a company e-mail account, what are the chances your employer is spying on you? More than one-third of large companies now read every e-mail received and sent by employees. In fact, companies are hiring people whose sole job duty is to read other workers' e-mails. Half of companies use software AND human beings to scan e-mails. So, pretty much anything in your e-mail account is fair game. That also goes for your Hotmail, Yahoo and G-mail accounts, if you use them at work. When you are on an employer’s property and are using the employer’s equipment, they have the right to spy on you. It also goes for Blackberry devices that are technically company property. Your privacy extends to your home computer and the e-mail you send and receive there. So, don’t send obscene jokes or use profane language in e-mails. Employers look for “cuss” words as grounds for dismissal.

Do every get worn out at work? Do you ever think to yourself, “What am I doing here?” It’s called mid-career burnout and it happens to a lot of people – even those who do what they love. How do you recharge people’s batteries? The smart companies offer sabbaticals. It’s not to give people a “free ride.” Letting people take sabbaticals keeps people productive and loyal. According to Money Magazine, more companies are giving employees the chance to take a sabbatical every seven or 10 years. American Express, for example, lets people take a month to volunteer every 10 years. Other companies allow you to do whatever you want. So, whether you have vacation or the change to go on sabbatical, take it!

If you have children in high school or college, they may have profiles on one of the following: Facebook, Myspace, Friendster or Xanga. These virtual communities are all the go with 20-somethings and sometimes older people prowling for innocent youngsters, as we’ve learned. The teens and young adults who post on these sites talk openly about topics one might write in a diary. But on the sites it seems okay to post virtually. The pictures people post are very telling as well, with some risk takers committing illegal acts in the photos. Employers are now using these sites as a way to find out more about potential hires. NYU surveyed recruiters and every company they talked to is now doing this. People aren’t getting hired as a result of what they’re posting on these sites. So be aware. Companies see this as a red flag because they don’t want free spirits who might cause trouble for them with wild behavior.

Clark talked recently about the new legislation in Massachusetts that requires everyone in the state to have health insurance. The law has been made even stronger because the governor used the “line item veto” power to eliminate clauses that made the bill more confusing. Massachusetts has offered insurers a giant market to sell to and what must be covered. The idea is that people won’t get stuck paying for others who didn’t spend as much on health care. Yes, the government plays a role, but that is okay in Clark’s opinion.

A new report from the American Management Association found that 90 percent of companies are spying on you at work. Three-quarters of them now log every Web site that you visit. What if you’re at work and you’re checking out travel Web sites or, worse yet, visiting poker or porn sites. Visiting these can get you fired in a huge hurry. Also, you are not protected if you use Yahoo or Hotmail. Employers can track every e-mail you read and send. And it’s completely legal. You are using their computer and their Internet connection. Blackberry devices are also fair game. So, what about your phone communications? Half of employers are listening to your phone conversations and one in five is taping all calls at work. So, just know that many of your privacy rights go away when you enter your workplace and use company property.

You are going to find more opportunities to work full-time or part-time from your home in the years to come. It’s known in the industry as having a “remote workplace.” Some employers, of course, won’t consider it at all. Others are at the other extreme and will do everything they can to encourage people to work from their homes. Companies that jump into the trend with both feet have come up with solid procedures to monitor your work and save tons of money with work-at-home programs. Sun Microsystems has about half of its workforce at home now and has saved $300 million a year as a result. The company doesn’t need office space, computer or phones, so it saves a ton of money. Another technology company, Agilent, has closed 50 U.S. sales offices and reduced their cost by 60 percent. About 12 percent of U.S. workers are now working remotely, and as many as 40 percent are expected to work at least part-time from home in the next few years. Everyone benefits. So, what’s the disadvantage of working from home? You may end up working too much. And, showing your face around the boss and other people at work is always advantageous. But the new mantra in the workplace seems to be: "If you want to keep them, let them go."

Employers are allowing employees to donate their sick time and vacation time to Hurricane Katrina victims, thanks to a recent IRS decision. The employer doesn’t get any kind of benefit, aside from a rewarding feeling. The employer gets a tax break, though, so you may start to see more about it. The program is available in 2005 and 2006. Clark thinks it’s a great idea because the average full time employee fails to use eight days of vacation or sick time each year. And, in most companies, if you don’t use it you lose it. So, look into whether you can donate the time. It may be used for hurricane help or some other cause. In addition, if you’re extremely wealthy, there is a special provision that waives limits on donations to the hurricane relief. So, you can donate as much as you want. Just make sure you check with your CPA before doing so.

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In other news, employers are now charging people more for health insurance if they have unhealthy habits. People must take a health assessment and employees are docked pay until they fill it out. The companies also spit back out an action plan to help you get healthier. Northwest Airlines, for instance, has implemented a surcharge for employees who smoke.

Employers are starting to offer pet insurance as part of the company benefits package. There is no subsidy from the company, but people are getting it at a lower rate because of the number of potential customers. So, should you buy it? Well, the average owner spends just over $200 a year. Pet insurance would not be worth it in that case. But if the dog or cat is going to undergo a complicated surgery or major procedure, it would be a better idea. Also, if an unexpected expense occurs, would you be able to pay for it? If you don’t have the money, you have a potential case for pet insurance. Keep in mind that Consumer Reports gives it two thumbs down, though.

Clark was 22 when he got his master’s degree in business management. At the time, he had done a number of studies on companies and programs. What he learned was that the best companies treat their workers like gold. And he believes it even more today. Even more convincing is the news recently reported in the Financial Times of London. The Times reported that stocks of the 100 best companies to work for in America also have stocks that earn three times the rate of general companies on the various exchanges. That’s because companies that romance their workers have workers that romance the customer. It simply improves how companies run and earns more money for the company. The data is very clear on this. So the bottom line is that you want to invest in a company that treats its workers well.

Wal-Mart has taken a lot of heat for having many of its workers on state assistance programs for health care. Many Wal-Mart employees don’t have health coverage for Wal-Mart because it’s so expensive and because they make so little that qualify for state assistance. As a result, the company has gotten a black eye in the public view. In response, the company is trying out a new low-cost health care plan that is basically like an HSA. It will cost between $10 and $25 a month, with a $1,000 deductible per year. It gets more complicated after a year, but that is the general idea. About 50 million people in the country have no health coverage. When those people get care, people who have insurance end up paying for it. So, offering reduced options to lower income people is a good idea. Another provider known as “Mega Insurance” uses green, yellow and red stickers for its doctors. The green doctors treat for very little out of pocket expenses, while red doctors charge a lot. It keeps the responsibility with the patient, so consumers make informed decisions based on care and cost.

You should be getting your “open enrollment” benefits package at work in the next few weeks. It’s the time when you decide whether you are going to contribute to a 401k plan, how much you’re going to contribute and if you are going to take out life insurance. It may be an extremely short list or an exhausting list. But you want to pay attention to some things very closely this year. First of all, employers are drastically changing the options available to you and how you enroll. There are also new rules coming with Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) as well. People have been reluctant to take advantage of these plans because they have had a “use-it-or-lose-it” clause. But if you enroll next year, the amount will roll over to 2007. So you have roughly 15 months to spend your money. In addition, for the first time you’ll have access to a Roth 401k. It works like a Roth IRA in that you put after-tax dollars in your 401k plan. For most people, doing a Roth 401k will be more beneficial for you over time because you pay no tax when you retire. You can also put in much more money - $15,000 compared to $4,000 into a Roth. And you can mix and match these two.

Clark has a warning for you about your health care plan at work this year. Many companies are switching to “active enrollment” this fall instead of automatic enrollment. In the past, if you weren’t making a change, you simply did nothing when you got your enrollment forms. But with active enrollment, you have to re-register or you may lose benefits, have higher premiums or be put in a reduced-choice plan. It saves the company a lot of money because people forget about registering. So, the spirit of the plans is becoming very unfriendly. You need to know the ropes and know how your plan works.

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The positive flip side of this is that more and more large employers are offering on-site medical clinics. It’s voluntary and usually free to use the clinics, and it saves the company money as well. This is great news for people with chronic illnesses like diabetes. They are more likely to see someone close by than to make an appointment and travel to a doctor’s office. It’s paternalistic, but the company is able to help you stay on the straight and narrow while keeping costs low.

How often have you called in “sick” when really you weren’t ill at all? Well, it’s the time of year when it happens most often. Employees aren’t losing sleep over it though. Why? Because we feel entitled, according to the research group CCH. Only one in three days are people really sick when they bag out on work, the survey shows. That means that two out of three sick days the person isn’t sick at all. Clark has heard people use the term “mental health day.” But sick days are for when we’re sick. A number of employers have started offering generic “time off” instead specific sick days or vacation days. People can use the days for whatever they want.

What percent of people participate in a 401k plan at work? The most recent statistics show that it’s down to about two-thirds of people. And of those people, only a few are contributing the maximum. If you’re a young person, social security isn’t going to cut it when you get to retirement age. To that end, Fidelity Investments has been touring companies, discussing the idea of Congress enforcing automatic enrollment in the workplace. It turns out that 80 percent stay in the plans when a company has automatic enrollment, which is great. Clark thinks participation should be mandatory, not optional. Some may see that as an infringement on personal liberties, but something needs to change if we want to prevent more people from entering poverty in an old age. If your company does not have an automatic enrollment program, it’s up to you. Do not put this off any longer!

The sale of clothing for women – sizes 14 and up – is growing by leaps and bounds. That’s because 40 percent of American women are in the plus size range and that number is growing. It’s not a good sign for the health of the country, but it means good news for clothing manufacturers, which are designing more choices larger women. Only 20 percent of clothing sold these days is “women’s sizes,” according to the Wall Street Journal. Most likely that is because the clothing is very dowdy and old-fashioned. But with more choices, prices are expected to go up.

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The downside to this story is that heavy people are having a hard time in the workplace. According to USA Today, employers may be turning down overweight workers because they cost so much more in healthcare costs. A worker who weighs 30 pounds over a healthy weight costs a company about 50 percent more than a worker of healthy weight. Also, men who are overweight miss two-thirds more days of work each year than men of normal weight. For women, it’s 50 percent more missed time. Clark would like companies to emphasize healthy eating and fitness programs instead of canning overweight people. Gyms at work are also a great idea.

Many employers are adopting procedures where they automatically enroll employees into a retirement plan. Others are increasing your contribution every year or every six months. And some are starting “rolling enrollments” where people can join anytime of the year. Clark thinks all of these are great. There is no reason for people not to contribute to a 401k plan and every reason why they should. It’s for our own good. Of course, the company is getting something out of it too. If not enough people are contributing to these plans, the company loses its opportunity to offer the plan. So, it’s about feathering their nests, too. This seems cynical, but it is still great because everyone wins. Do you agree with employers being able to force you into a 401k?

Have you ever worked at a job where you watched the clock the whole day? Years ago, Clark worked as a bill collector for IBM and he was bored out of his mind. His stimulation came when he went to school at night, something IBM graciously paid for. It’s still going on, according to recent several stories and surveys. People who are bored at work have a lower satisfaction with work than those who are overworked. More than half of people are bored at work, but those people are much less happy with their jobs than the half who are overworked. If you’re at a job where you’re just passing the time, it’s not fair to you or your employer.

Flex time is the idea of letting people commute to work at various times of the day. This allows employees to miss traffic and attend personal appointments or take care of family matters. According to Money Magazine, the number of people participating using flex time is declining, though. Clark thinks that flex time does nothing but good things for the employer; it allows people to miss traffic and still work full days. Also, workers want empowerment. People want the freedom to make mistakes and to make up for them. Clark believes it's better to protect the quality of your business by giving your employees what they want. It will be reflected in their work.

Do you work for a company that cares about you? The people who employ you really care about how you are treated. Fortune Magazine thinks it’s important to point out these companies, so the publication lists the “Top 100 Companies to Work For” every year. Every one of the companies says it puts employees first. The company that got top honors this year, Wegman supermarket chains, even has a motto that states, “Employees first; Customers second.” It’s enlightened self interest. The better you treat your employers the better they’ll treat customers, and everyone makes money. More companies need to abide by this motto.

In the banking and financial industry, the big thing today is to try and get people to do all of their business with one financial house. The push revolves around “data mining,” whereby companies gather your information and send you solicitations to get more of your money. The trend usually starts with one company and everyone else follows like a herd of elephants. Clark doesn’t understand why companies choose to follow because often it doesn’t work. A great insurance provider might do a horrible job with a stock portfolio or mutual fund and vice versa. No company can be all things to all people. The one possible exception is ING, a European financial company that opened an American arm four years ago. The name of the U.S. company is ING Direct. After being in business for four years, the bank is now among the largest in the United States. ING Direct is bringing in $1 billion in new deposits each month. So, why is it working for them? They are a no-frills company and only do business over the phone or on the Internet. They don’t try to offer thousands of services, but they do offer mortgage services, CD investing and regular checking and savings accounts. Because there are no branches, the company is able to offer great rates on mortgages and bank accounts. The company also has mutual funds, but they are very pricey and Clark wouldn’t want you to buy from them. So, again, you should find someone else to handle that for you, while leaving some services up to companies like ING. Everyone is trying to build these behemoth companies and it’s going to be their downfall. There is hazard and risk for consumers, as well, because they are trying to get all the great deals from one place. And that is not realistic.

The Employee Benefit Research Institution recently conducted a survey into our compensation and benefits packages. Researchers found that the amount of compensation that doesn’t show up in your paycheck but goes toward benefits has more than doubled what it was in the ‘60s. That’s one of the reasons why airline employees are fighting tooth and nail for their salaries and benefits. They have been with the company for years and much more of their paycheck is going toward health care and other benefits. More and more companies are stripping away benefits like employee pension plans and retiree benefits. Industries are in a rut about whether to keep their word to former employees or to cut them loose. What this means is that money you have in an IRA is yours. You can count on it. Money that was promised by an employer may be broken down the road. As a consumer, look for the best deal as you always do.