CAREERS NOW 08-20-08

Government Employee Benefits Are Best

DEAR JOYCE: I've always thought that the government pays better employee benefits than private business. Am I right? - W.W.

You are, at least as far as state and local government jobs, according to a new report from the Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.

As of March, 61 percent of private-industry employees had access to paid retirement benefits, and approximately half participated in retirement plans. Meanwhile, 89 percent of state and local government employees had access to retirement benefits, and 86 percent participated in retirement plans.

Medical care benefits were available to 71 percent of private-industry workers, and about half participated. For government workers, 87 percent had medical care benefits available, and nearly three-quarters participated.

Virtually all full-time government employees had access to retirement and medical benefits (99 percent and 98 percent, respectively). In private industry, 71 percent of full-time workers had access to retirement benefits, and 85 percent had access to medical care.

Fine print? Find it online at www.bls.gov; click on Newsroom, then search for "Employee Benefits in the United States."

DEAR JOYCE: I feel that I have been discriminated against in our company's promotion policy because of my marital status. Can you recommend an employment lawyer? --- R.F.

I'm afraid not, even privately, because I simply don't know who has a background in your issue and your locale. You can contact the National Employment Lawyers Association at nela.org and use the Find a Lawyer button. Or you can use the referral service offered by your local bar association; some states'bar association will refer you to lawyers who agree to charge clients only $25 for an initial 30-minute office consultation.

Commercial Web sites, such as LegalMatch.com, offer another research avenue. A new free resource set to launch in September is WhoCanISue.com. This one will provide real-time access to attorneys who will offer guidance about whether you might have a case; if so, you'll be referred to a vetted attorney.

DEAR JOYCE: I'm an engineer about to announce my retirement before someone does it for me. My wife wants to travel but I'd prefer to start and operate a small business of some sort. Ideas? - Y.O.S.

You may have to do both to keep the peace. If you do move forward with your small business plans, in this changing world you'll need all the reliable research you can grab, from major trends found in such publications as Futurist magazine (www.wfs.org/futurist.htm) to the amazing amount of free small business information you can get from the federal government's SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business" (www.score.org).

DEAR JOYCE: The restaurant where I've worked as an assistant manager for three years is not doing as well as it was before the gas prices shot up. At a recent meeting, the owner announced there may be pay cuts ahead. This is frightening - I don't make all that much now. What is your advice? - K.O.O.

The answer depends on what job you can land to replace your current position and how quickly. Yahoo! HotJobs recently posted a substantial article with lots of points that anyone facing a possible job-cut needs to consider. Google for "How to Handle a Pay Cut" by Caroline Potter.

DEAR READERS: Sadly, I report to you that Caryl Rae Krannich of Manassas, Va., left this earth on August 4 after suffering a sudden and unexpected heart attack. A leader in the career development environment, many of you know Dr. Krannich's work through her books. She was the author, or co-author with her husband of 31 years, Dr. Ron Krannich, of more than 80 career and travel books.

Among Dr. Krannich's legacy books with lasting positive impact on communities are those she wrote to help ex-offenders find employment to turn their lives around. A former college professor, Dr. Krannich was a phenomenal researcher and writer who generously shared her knowledge and wisdom with readers the world over. R.I.P. Caryl.

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