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 loss weight or exercise. The people who were paid fourteen dollars were more likely to loss 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.