Almost half of Americans arent happy with their paychecks

Almost half of Americans arent happy with their paychecksAlmost half of Americans arent happy with their paychecksIn a tight labor market and booming economy, it would seem logical that valued workers could demand satisfying wages. But a new poll suggests thats not the case.A collaboration between SurveyMonkey Audience and Quartz at Work found that 49% of Americans arent satisfied with their earnings. Only 46% of women report being pleased with their incomes, versus 56% of men.This financial angst may be part of why workers are choosing to explore other job openings, especially when it appears that, at least in neighboring countries, leaving a company can result in a disloyalty bonus of 4%.This dissatisfaction exists as part of a wider system thats devaluing worker contribution. According to The New York Times, in 2000, when the American economy was doing well, wages and salariesacross the entire workforce accounted for roughly 66% of the national income, while corporations profits c omprised only 8.3%. But belastung year, those numbers changed significantly, despite a healthy economy. Corporate profits were more than 13% of the nations income, and wages and salaries were now only 62%.There is plenty of evidence that workers have yet to receive their fair share of this most recent expansion - or even the previous one, according to The Times.It may then seem counterintuitive that 72% of Americans agreed,employers do their best to pay employees well, according to the Quartz at Work and SurveyMonkey poll. Especially when workers feel their paychecks are not what they should be, why do they still choose to believe the best of the corporate world?Quartzs reporterLila MacLellan had theories on why this disconnect exists - she says progressives may not be informed on economics, Americans may be placing greater faith in their own bosses than in other businesses, or people may have just drunk the Kool-Aid that financial bigwigs have served them.Whatever the reason, the SurveyMonkey and Quartz at Work numbers indicate an incongruence between Americans perceptions and national data and reports.Corporate profits have rarely swept up a bigger share of the nations wealth, the Times writes, and workers have rarelyshared a smaller one.

4 ways to navigate a long-term career break

4 ways to navigate a long-term career break4 ways to navigate a long-term career breakLeaving work to pursue maternity or paternity leave, a sabbatical, or something else long-term can be a tough decision. Heres what you can do before and during the process to ensure that your exit and re-entrance go as smoothly as possible.1. Make sure you have a strong networkTami Forman writes about this in a Forbes article about what women should do before leaving work for a leave. She says to think about making a network of people in various fields, not just within your own.She continuesWhen restarting, many women find they either want or need to pivot their career. Having contacts across a variety of different fields will give you more opportunities to do that successfully.In other words, cast a wide net in terms of who you know. Forman also says everyone should do this, even if not leaving work.2. Think about your financesThings are different when yourmain source of income disappears.Lifehacke r recommends examining your debt when getting ready for a sabbatical-style career breakDebt is like a sword hanging over your head- if possible,get rid of itbefore the break. If not, determine how to continue paying it off during the break. At the very least, ensure that you wont add any new debt because of your break.Other tips in the article include creating an emergency fund and figuring out how to fund everyday expenses, among others.3. Use the time off for reflectionIf you feel like you stumble to and from work every day with no time to think about what you want out of your professional path, a career break could be just what you need.Madeleine Hall writes about leaving her job as a Broadcast Associate for a morning show in New York City to teach English in Spain, and how the time offgave her the ability to do. She writes in a Levo postNot only will living outside your comfort zone bring you a fresh perspective on life in general, it will also give you the opportunity to reflec t upon your chosen career path and reevaluate whether you are on the right track. For me, I returned to New York City and decided that the thrill of breaking nachrichten welches not worth spending a few years on the overnight shift and eventually becoming a senior producer. My time away helped me realize that I hadnt been feeling as fulfilled as I had originally hoped.She also mentions that taking the time off might help you handle your job better upon your return and that either way, its healthy to take a step back and think about how you got to where you are.4. Pay attention to whats going on in your fieldStaying in touch with developments in your industry will still be critical, so be sure you dont duck out completely just because youre no longer coming into the office every day.iRelaunch CEO and co-founder Carol Fishman Cohen talks about how she barely kept up with the business berichterstattung after leaving her job during this TEDxBeaconStreet talk.She continuedMy background i s in finance, and I hardly kept up with any news when I was home caring for my four young children. So I was afraid Id go into an interview and start talking about a company that didnt exist anymore. So I had to resubscribe to the Wall Street Journal and read it for a good six months cover to cover before I felt like I had a handle on what was going on in the business world again.Take advantage of your time off. Use it as an opportunity to help clear your mind, think about what you want, spend time doing what you love, and even reconnect with others.

Dont Accept That Legal Job Offer Without Reading This

Dont Accept That Legal Job Offer Without Reading ThisDont Accept That Legal Job Offer Without Reading ThisYouve filled out countless applications, sweated through stressful interviews, and now youve finally scored a legal job offer. So its time to dive straight into your legal career, right?Not so fast. Before you accept any job offer, its important to read through the terms carefully and evaluate whether the position is a good fit for you. Here are four points to consider before accepting a job offer1. Dont underestimate job perks.Lets say you receive two legal job offers. Firm A is offering you a 10 percent higher salary than Firm B. So isnt Firm As offer your obvious choice? Not necessarily. Depending on your particular lifestyle and goals, job perks may be mora valuable than a soaring salary.Take a close look at the benefits any organization offers before you automatically opt for a higher salary. For example, Firm B may provide top-of-the-line health insurance, a 401(k) and a bo atload of other perks - such as free office lunches, half-day Fridays, professional development opportunities and the option to work from home. Depending on your priorities, Firm B may be your best bet - even if their salary offer is lower.2. Office culture can make or break a legal career.For some legal professionals, a law firms culture is more important than compensation. If it doesnt fit your personality, you could end up dreading going to work every day. So think back to what you saw around the office during your job interview.Were employees dressed to the nines, or was office attire more casual? Did you overhear friendly conversation in the hall, or did everyone seem rushed and stressed? Did you observe healthy camaraderie, or did employees seem highly competitive? Depending on what drives you, you may prefer a more laid-back office, or you might thrive in a more fast-paced environment. Consider all of these factors before you accept that job offer.3. Everything is negotiabl e.Before you sign on the dotted line and settle for a second-rate career package, take time to negotiate. For example, if a firm cant offer you a higher salary, try asking for more paid vacation days, matching 401(k) funds or even an office with a view.On the other hand, if they dont provide the option to telecommute that you really wanted, ask for a higher salary or a flexible work schedule.4. Not all salaries are created equal.If salary is your top concern, make sure that any potential employer is offering you a competitive amount. That means doing your research, such as taking a look at the Robert Half Legal Salary Guide. It shows projected starting salary ranges for lawyers, paralegals, legal secretaries and other positions throughout the legal field.After carefully evaluating these four elements, you may discover that the legal job youve been offered is not right for you after all. In that case, you might need to clarify your legal career priorities - or even consider position s in a different practice area, particularly if you have skills that are in high demand. What has influenced your legal career decisions? Share your experience in the comments.