While you were busy advising and inspiring the great minds of tomorrow, hoping that Pottermore turns out to be everything you’re dreaming it will be and more, or breathing a sigh of sweet, sweet relief, here’s what was happening in the employment and workforce management world this week…

• Executives to Jobs Council: “What Else Ya Got?” A report that included five recommendations for fixing unemployment – such as “Boost jobs in travel and tourism” and “Train workers for today’s open jobs” – failed to wow the other members of the President’s Jobs and Competitiveness Council when presented at a jobs-related forum in Raleigh, N.C. last month. (Wall Street Journal)
• Career Sh*t My Dad Says In honor of Father’s Day on Sunday, readers shared the best career advice they ever received, including such gems as, “You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take,” and “You can’t change the circus, unless you change the clowns.” So true…Thanks, Pop! (TheWorkBuzz)
• Working – and Overworked – Dads Sound Off Speaking of Father’s Day, CareerBuilder’s annual study revealed that fathers are having a hard time finding a work/life balance, and suggests ways working dads can be both father and employee of the year. (TheHiringSite)
• America’s Managers Rule, Says Science Tina Turner could’ve been singing about U.S. bosses, who, researchers say, are simply the best. (Harvard Business Review)
• 10 Reasons Your Employees Hate You Right Now Bet you can’t guess ALL TEN of the top employee workplace complaints. (Don’t worry if you can’t: No one’s a winner in this game.) (About.com)
• Americans are So Miserable, We Need a Whole Index to Measure It Thanks to high unemployment and inflation, the nation’s misery level registers at 12.7, which, apparently, is bad. (CNBC)
• Much Like Beyoncé, Work-Life Flexibility Perk is a Survivor A new survey shows that work-life flexibility was one of the few workplace benefits to survive the recession. (United Press International)
• Employers Yearn for Corporate Version of Botox Trying to appeal to younger job candidates, ‘mature’ technology companies like Microsoft and HP have had to rethink their branding strategies in the face of stiff competition from ‘hipper’ start-ups like Facebook and Twitter. (Wall Street Journal)

While you were busy preparing for the long-awaited reunion with Ted, Danny, Mr. Ernst and the rest of the gang at Bar None Dude Ranch, celebrating Earth Day the way Gaia always intended it, or suddenly having a new appreciation for Rebecca Black…here’s what’ s been happening in the world of workforce management…

• Employees complaining about long work hours? Show them this infographic that demonstrates working patterns around the world. They’ll shut up good when they check out Mexico, Japan and Portugal. (Life,Inc.)
• Sure, it’s all fun and games until someone gets heart disease. If your health benefits don’t cover adult onset diabetes, you might want to cool it with the office candy jar contributions. (Wall Street Journal)
• You don’t have to be a reality show star to launch a successful business. (It probably doesn’t hurt, though) (Hollywood Reporter)
• More companies finally get what Dolly Pardon was singing about. More companies are enabling employees to take a break from the traditional 9 to 5 by offering flexible working arrangements to increase retention, productivity and morale. (Fortune)
• From the playground to the workplace, bullies are everywhere. A new survey shows that not only is bullying rampant in the workplace, but bosses are the biggest offenders. (For shame!) (The Hiring Site)
• And you thought you just had to watch what you said over email…Employers be warned: Employees everywhere are now using cell phones and other digital to secretly record what they think is discriminatory or inappropriate activity at the office. (ABC News)
• If there’s one thing Hollywood loves, it’s causing workplace trouble via Twitter. ‘Glee’ producers weren’t so delighted after one of the show’s actors spoiled a major storyline. (Yahoo!)
• Offering free coffee will no longer suffice. As more reports link sleep deprivation and on-the-job mishaps, the U.S. Department of Transportation recently changed its rules to require an extra hour of rest between shifts for air traffic controllers. (Chicago Tribune)

While you were busy wondering why this song won’t go away already, severely testing your neighbors’ patience, or making an appointment for a mani/pedi STAT…here’s what was happening in the world of workforce management this week:

• McDonald’s supersizes its hiring efforts McDonald’s recently announced a “one-day hiring spree” on April 19, during which the corporation will offer 50,000 new jobs across its 14,000 locations nationwide. Sort of like Supermarket Sweeps, but with hiring. (CNNMoney)
• Wrap your mind around this (if you can): Lack of career development hinders women’s career development. A new study indicates the reason so few female CEOs exist is that they lack the same type of career coaching their male counterparts get. Who says gender bias still exists in the workplace? (WSJ)
• Small- and medium-sized businesses: 1; big businesses: 0 Recent data shows large businesses are much slower to hire than their smaller counterparts. WTF, big businesses? (USA TODAY)
• More companies take the “equal” out of “equal opportunity employers” The legality of companies specifying that they will only consider job applicants who are currently employed has come into question lately, as more employers jump on this bandwagon. (NPR)
• Employees don’t like pay cuts. Public workers nationwide believe the public has a false public perception that they are paid too much, and are therefore vulnerable to budget cuts targeting their pay and benefits. (MSNBC)
• City somehow surprised to find that employees don’t like pay cuts. An Ohio city’s attempt to save $54,000 backfired – in a big way – after three workers, who (shockingly) were unhappy to see their hours, pay and benefits reduced, decided to quit instead – which ended up costing the city $75,000 in severance and unused vacation time. (I think this is what they call “a teachable moment.”) (UPI)
• Facebook gives Google a run for its employees. Facebook’s recent high-profile acquisition of some of Google’s top employees underscores a trend commonly seen following times of economic change: high performers leaving companies for new opportunities. (You’ve been warned, Apple.) (Inc.com)
• It’s not what you know…it’s who your people know Finally figuring out what we already knew, more employers are finding that their best hires are coming from employee referrals these days. (NPR)

What left an impression on you this week?

While you were busy not being at all pretentious, failing to impress anyone in Arizona, wondering when these two became friends or deciding that even that annoying “five dollar footlooooong” jingle can’t get in the way of true love…here’s what was happening in the world of workforce management this week.

• Groundbreaking evidence shows employees don’t respond well to pay cuts. In a new article for Slate, writer Ray Fisman explores the research that indicates that while pay cuts lower productivity, raises don’t do much to boost it, either. (Slate)   
• Seeing co-workers at the gym can be awkward awesome. So long as spandex stays out of the picture, working out alongside colleagues can be a great team-building experience, argues Wall Street Journal writer Sue Shellenbarger.  (WSJ)
• Being popular is a blessing and an HR curse. Facebook received 250,000 job applications in 2010, AllFacebook.com revealed this week. Awesome for Facebook but maybe less so for its HR department, which has its work cut out for it sorting those applications…(Shameless self-promotion alert: ) Guess they should’ve used CareerBuilder’s free screeners! (AllFacebook.com)
• Employees who work in Canada are about to go “om.” Justice Canada in Ottawa is participating in a taxpayer-funded program that uses the Buddhist concept of mindfulness to help employees cope with personal and workplace pressures. (Vancouver Sun)
• Young professionals want to live the Google life. Out of 150 employers, Google topped the list of companies young professionals want to work for the most. Facebook must be dying to know how many applications they received last year… (WSJ)
• Sometimes, there’s just no satisfaction in finding out you were right…A new CareerBuilder survey shows that women believe men earn more than they earn. Turns out, they’re right. Really, really right. (The Hiring Site)
• Perks are back! (Except for that one that about getting pay raises.) A new survey by Accountemps shows that while companies are still hesitant to increase employee pay, they’re trying to compensate in other ways to retain and attract employees. But is it working? (Cliffhanger!) (MSNBC)
• Someone must’ve missed the memo about the Accountemps survey. Radio talk show host Howard Stern is suing his employer, SiriusXM Radio, for failing to pay him the bonus he believes his contract entitles him to.  (MSNBC)
• It’s not just men who are clueless about women. Employers all over the world are, too. A new survey shows that employers worldwide lack a strategy to develop women leaders. (Typical employers. Am I right, ladies?) (FoxBusiness)
• Pay-for-performance programs can end up costing employers. Pay-for-performance programs can bring out the happy, productive and motivated worker in every employee and lead to better business results for employers. OR…they can also do the exact opposite of that. (Globe and Mail)

While you were busy marveling at the fact that it’s Friiiday Friiiday, finally beating a long-time rival, daring to say what no one else will, or putting an abrupt end to playtime with the kids…here’s what was happening in the world of workforce management this week…

• The concept of ‘too soon’ (and now, that of employment) is lost on Gilbert Gottfried. Aflac fired angel-voiced spokesman Gilbert Gottfried after the comedian (?), posted what many considered tasteless jokes on Twitter regarding the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Suddenly, Charlie Sheen looks like employee of the month. (MSNBC)
• Another employee causes hell for his employer via Twitter this week. Gottfried wasn’t the only one attempting career suicide on Twitter this week.  The New York City Ballet company has decided to censor tweets by its dancers after a star mocked his director’s drunk driving arrest and ridiculed a major donor. Yep, that’ll do it. (DailyMail)
• Stranded Tokyo employees crash at the iPad store. Following the tragic events in Japan over the weekend, Apple allowed its employees who were stranded there to sleep at the Tokyo store and even went so far as to provide them food and drink. (PR Daily)
• Think your manager is underqualified? He might agree with you. According to a recent survey of nearly 4000 managers nationwide, 26 percent of participants agreed they were not ready for supervising others when they started managing. (UPI)
• Barack Obama could be this generation’s Jane Addams. Following a government report on the state of women in business, President Obama said in his weekly radio address that he will fight to pass reforms that stop wage discrimination based on workers’ sex. (WSJ.com)
• More employers succumb to peer pressure regarding tobacco. As they see more hospitals and health systems refuse to hire smokers, private companies are starting to follow suit. Some workplace advocates, however, think the move is totally uncool. (Detroit News)
• Employees hoping to see benefits return shouldn’t hold their breath. A recent SHRM poll shows that, despite an improving economy, 20 percent of employers continue to scale back on employee benefits, such as health care coverage, paid relocation programs and paid leave accrual. (Employee Benefit News) On the upside, however…
• The latest work perk could help employees forget about the ones they’re not getting. Many startups, such as Yelp, Twitter and Crowdflower, allow alcohol in the workplace, supplying employees with beer, so long as employees handle the privilege responsibly. What could possibly go wrong? (NBC Bay Area news)

While you were busy forgetting about everything else that happened this week, here’s what was happening in the world of workforce management this week…

• Google, Yahoo! and Microsoft may be getting calls from former employees soon. Less than a year after AdAge lauded AOL for successfully recruiting top talent from Google, Yahoo! Microsoft, The New York Times and Time Warner, AOL’s CEO announced that the company plans to lay off 900 employees this year.  (CNNMoney)
• You’ll never guess who CBS fired this week. Now that CBS has finally fired “Two and a Half Men” star/train wreck, Charlie Sheen, the self-proclaimed winner is now free to give even more media interviews. How awesome for the rest of us. (Newser.com)  
• The 401(k) doesn’t look a day over 29. Now that the 401(k) is in its 30th year, Baltimore Sun blogger Eileen Ambrose asks, “How’s that working out for us?” (Baltimore Sun)  
• Companies have begun lifting to look more attractive to potential talent. A recent Towers-Watson survey reveals that, in efforts to recruit better employees, more companies are lifting pay freezes this year than last year, and many are even bringing back merit wages. And they’ve never looked better. (CFO)
• The Container Store CEO spills secrets for success. In this clip from CBS Sunday Morning The Container Store’s CEO credits his employee focused culture with his company’s success. (CBS News)
• CEOs admit they’re not so talented when it comes to talent recruitment. Three of the ad industry’s most powerful executives recently came together in a joint statement and admit they were guilty of “criminal neglect” when it came to their talent recruitment efforts. (AdAge)
• Chicken soup for the awkward interviewer’s soul. For anyone who’s ever had an awkward interview moment (e.g. everyone), BNET blogger Amy Levin Epstein has compiled some real-life job interview horror stories. (MoneyWatch)

While you were busy doing everything short of jumping up and down on Oprah’s couch to prove how well you’re doing, proving everyone who said you were too unfunny/awkward/high to host the Oscars…well, pretty much right, or announcing the reunion that tens of people have been waiting for, here’s what was happening in the world of workforce management this week…

• Smiling employees not something to smile about. Employees who feel pressure to smile and act happy on the job may actually be anything but, a new study finds, as the pressure to smile can lead to emotional exhaustion and withdrawal. Irony! (Daily Mail)
• Why in-person interviews and reference checks matter…A dentist in England was fired and faces criminal charges for, among other offenses, “breaking wind and belching in front of patients and staff, telling a patient he had bad breath, and exposing a nurse to X-ray radiation.  (BBC)
• All employees should come Natalie Portman-approved. Shortly after Christian Dior model Natalie Portman condemned designer John Galliano for making racist comments, the fashion label fired Galliano. And you thought Charlie Sheen was the only celebrity churning out the crazy this week… (NPR)
• Pension envy divides private and public workers Private workers who want the same benefits as public employees may find less to complain about as state and local governments struggle to continue offering these benefits.  (NPR)
• Apple finally receives a little recognition for once. Fortune released its list of the World’s Most Admired Companies and, not surprisingly, the company behind the gadget that united the world – tech geeks and regular folk – topped the list. (Fortune)
• Employers should encourage divorce. At least among so-called “office spouses,” according to this MoneyWatch report. Experts and anyone who’s ever seen Moonlighting say that these relationships can actually cause more trouble than they’re worth. (CBS MoneyWatch)  And finally…
• Remember when we said billion? Well, we meant trillion. (Our bad!) State and local governments may owe workers up to $1.5 trillion, much more than the government and taxpayers initially thought. (Washington Post)

While you were busy buying the ingredients for True Grits, Winter’s Boneless Buffalo Wings and 127 Layer Dip, suddenly having a new appreciation for your own parents, and seeing this bit of news coming a mile away, here’s what was happening in the world of workforce management this week…

• Where is Sally Field when you need her? With anti-union efforts cropping up in many states now, protests are being planned nationwide to protest these efforts, something that experts fear will weaken the struggling labor movement even further. (NPR)
• Well, at least we didn’t name our children ‘Facebook’… The U.S. now has the distinction of having “the most family-hostile public policy in the developed world,” according to reports this week that we are one of only three nations – out of 181 studied by Harvard and McGill universities – that don’t guarantee working mothers leave with compensation. Our mothers would be so proud if they weren’t so busy working. (Bloomberg)
• America’s CEOs decide to switch it up a bit. In an effort to generate fresh ideas without hiring new management, many U.S. companies have begun asking executives to take on unfamiliar roles within the organization. It’s like “Wife Swap” but with more power suits and fewer tears.  (Wall Street Journal)
• Pension envy divides private and public workers. Private workers who want the same benefits as public employees may find less to complain about as state and local governments struggle to continue offering these benefits.  (NPR)
• Charlie Sheen manages to show up every employee who’s ever only bashed his boss on Twitter. After “Two and a Half Men” star Charlie Sheen made a series of very public criticisms about his boss, Chuck Lorre, CBS announced that it is halting production on its top show. The incident highlights the dilemma many employers face when star employees start showing erratic behavior. (AdAge)
• Rhode Island finds all-new way to drag down employee morale. In what is sure to be the least fun surprise ever, the nearly 2,000 teachers in Rhode Island who received termination notices this week will have to wait until the end of the school year to find out if they have a job next year. (CNN)
• Businesses seem to be doing quite well for themselves, thankyouverymuch. In what seems to be a hopeful sign for the job market, a new survey from Towers Watson shows that many large and medium-sized employers are doing away with hiring freezes and plan to give workers their highest wage increase in three years. (CBS MoneyWatch)
• Be careful when hating on the world’s oldest profession. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid wants to ban prostitution in Nevada, saying it is hurting that it is bad for the economy. Shockingly, not everyone is keen on this idea. (Slate.com)

While you were busy welcoming our new computer overlords, sending your deepest sympathies to Cousin Jeffrey or possibly being inspired by Madonna, here’s what was happening in the world of workforce management this week…

• Full-body scanning is no longer the biggest security checkpoint nuisance. Theft is. A TSA supervisor admitted to stealing money from passengers at security checkpoint and accepted bribes and kickbacks from a colleague. Bon Qui Qui would have none of this. (Daily Mail)
• Female veterans aren’t even asking to break the glass ceiling…They just want to get into the building. According to new government date, female veterans, who are struggling to find jobs, are twice as likely to become homeless as women who never served in the military. Do I smell a sequel to G.I. Jane? (I hope not.) (USAToday)
• Colleagues who say “Namaste” together stay together. For some New York City workplaces, yoga is gaining ground on happy hour as the best place for employers and employees to bond outside of work. (Guess this is one instance where it’s okay to do the downward dog with your employees – hey-o!) (New York Post)
• Depending on how old you are, this article will inspire or depress you. Forbes Magazine profiles America’s 20 Most Powerful CEOs 40 and Under.  Read it to learn the secret of their success. Or just go see The Social Network. You’ll get the gist. (Forbes)
• Business schools take a page from their own books. Faced with a need to cut back on spending, many business schools are practicing what they teach by finding more creative ways to trim their budgets and avoid layoffs.  (BusinessWeek)
• Suspended teacher is a quieter, more social media-savvy Steven Slater A high school teacher in Pennsylvania has been suspended from her job after calling her students “disengaged, lazy whiners” on her blog. Similar to when a Jetblue flight attendant famously told off a rude customer last year, the incident has drawn a lot of media attention, with many defending the outspoken teacher.  (MSNBC)
• The Feds are coming (and it’s not to deliver good news, if that’s what you’re thinking). As many as 1,000 businesses suspected of hiring illegal immigrants will be forced to turn over employment records for inspection, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Hopefully, that shouldn’t affect anyone reading this. (WSJ.com)
• Marc Jacobs is as hip of a recruiter as he is a designer. It only makes sense that designer Marc Jacobs would turn to Twitter for help filling an open social media manager position. (The media attention probably doesn’t hurt his recruitment efforts, either.) (OUT)
• The President, the Facebook guy and the brains behind Apple have joined forces to save the world. President Obama met with 12 American technology leaders – including Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and Apple CEO Steve Jobs – to discuss ways to promote industry growth. (Bloomberg) And finally…
• People want good jobs more than they want good health. A new survey by Towers Watson indicates that fewer employers consider their health a top priority today than in 2008, and are increasingly worried about losing their jobs. (NYTimes)

While you were busy learning more than you ever thought you would about Egyptian politics, defending your $3 billion or so investment or showing that you’ve clearly learned nothing from the likes of Brett Favre, Kwame Kilpatrick, Mark Foley, etc., here’s what was happening in the world of workforce management this week…

• There’s a Reason Party City Doesn’t Have an Aisle for This Some companies have taken to throwing farewell parties for laid off employees, but the practice is getting some criticism from career experts who say it’s insensitive. (ABC News)
• The 21^st Century’s Answer to “Ask Not What Your Country Can Do For You…” “Ultimately, winning the future is not just about what the government can do to help you succeed. It’s about what you can do to help America succeed,” Obama told American businesses on Monday, urging them to tape into their reserves and invest in hiring. (New York Times)
• Jobs Defies the Old “There Are No Good Work at Home Opportunities” Stereotype The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple CEO Steve Jobs has stayed very much involved in the company’s business initiatives since taking medical leave three weeks ago and working from home. (WSJ)
• Bosses Who are Sensitive to Employees’ Facebook Comments May Be SOL The “landmark case” highlighting workers’ rights regarding social media has been settled.  The company with whom the NLRB filed a complaint for firing a worker after she posted negative remarks about her boss on Facebook has agreed to revamp its rules to ensure they don’t restrict workers’ rights. (WSJ)  
• Smokers Need Not Apply More hospitals and medical businesses in many states are adopting strict policies that make smoking a reason to turn away job applicants, saying they want to increase worker productivity, reduce health care costs and encourage healthier living. (New York Times)
• Technically Speaking to Qualified Applicants Proves Difficult While companies have slowly begun to hire again overall, finding qualified talent for technical positions still eludes many employers today. (BARRON’S) And finally…
• Ah, Memories…MSN brings us on a trip down traumatic memory lane with its slideshow showcasing some of the most controversial stories of workers getting fired in recent history.  (MSN)

While you were busy being frozen in fear by the idea of losing cable or internet access, having a very awkward social media moment, or declaring 2010 the best year ever (for you, at least),  here’s what was happening in the world of workforce management this week…

• There’s No Business When It Comes to Snow Business An infographic via Mint.com illustrates the true cost of ‘Snowpocalypse 2011’ – including $100 million a day in lost productivity for the U.S. Federal Government. But at least we got to catch up on all that mail we’ve been meaning to sort, yes? (Mint.com)
• More Employers Developing an Affinity for Affinity Groups A new study out indicates that special interest groups among employees are increasing at companies across the nation, and receiving financial backing from these companies as well. (Employee Benefit News)
• If This Is True, Oprah Employees Must Be Crazy Engaged In efforts to convince top talent to stick around, some small businesses are using unusual teambuilding practices – like starting book clubs – to engage workers. The most unusual thing of all is that it’s working. (Reuters)
• The City of New York is Saved! Its Workers? Not So Much New York’s mayor has proposed new budget cuts – and it will only cost future city workers a big chunk of their retirement benefits. Shockingly, some people don’t find this to be good news. (BloombergBusinessWeek)
• Our Big Fat Greek Wage Comparison A new study by The European Commission comparing the minimum wage in the U.S. to that of European countries found our minimum wage to be most similar to Greece’s. (Business Insider)
• What You Won’t Learn by Watching Grey’s Anatomy A new survey shows that the gender pay gap among starting physicians has increased over the past 10 years. Maybe that’s why Meredith’s so mopey? (MSN)  
• Southwest Employees Add “Blogger” to Their Resumes In efforts to engage both fellow employees and customers, Southwest has called upon 30 employees companywide to write and record online blogs. No comment from Kevin Smith…yet. (Ragan.com)
• Hiring Illegal Immigrants Doesn’t Come Without Repercussions. Ditto For Firing Them. A group of workers fired from Chipotle Mexican Grill or being illegal immigrants are suing their former employer for failing to comply with Minnesota law and pay them on time. (Star Tribune)

While you were busy updating your Amazon.com wish list, confirming what you already suspected about your favorite 2 a.m. dining facility, or in no way whatsoever exploiting your reunion with a long-lost family member,  here’s what was happening in the world of workforce management this week…

• Motivating Losers Starts with Perks (And Also Not Calling Them “Losers”) Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have found that giving perks to departmental losers makes them better employees, according to Post-Gazette writer Ann Belser. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Program Helps Transgender Workers Work Their Transferrable Skills In hopes to garner support for a new equal rights bill that highlights gender identity and gender expression in Massachusetts, the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights group will start offering “Back to Work” seminars geared toward transgender workers. (Boston Herald)
• If There’s One Thing Younger Workers Love, It’s Not Going Into Work More younger workers are looking for employment with companies that offer work-at-home and telecommuting options for employees, according to CNN. (CNN)  
• The Only Time It’s Ever Maybe Okay to Go Pantsless to an Interview Virtual interviewing – via Skype and other means – is one of the many ways in which recruiting is going high-tech, according to an ABC News article, along with mobile text alerts and video resumes. (ABC News)   
• Google Won’t Stop Until Everyone in the World is Working for Them In its ongoing attempt to take over the world maintain its competitive edge in the marketplace, Google announced this week that it planned to ramp up its hiring in 2011. (USA Today)
• Mass Layoffs Increasingly a Distant Memory According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), many of the companies plagued by mass layoffs in 2009 and 2010 now expect to recall workers. (The Fiscal Times)  
• Behind Every Great Female CEO is a Great Sponsor.  According to a new study by the Center for Work-Life Policy, the reason women hold just 3% of Fortune 500 CEO seats is a lack of sponsorship – that is, the backing necessary “to inspire, propel, and protect themselves on their journey through upper management.” Hey, let’s change that, shall we?  (Harvard Business Review) And finally…
• A Messy Workplace Situation Just Got a Whole Lot Messier The aftermath over Juan Williams’ dismissal at NPR and consequential resignation of SVP Ellen Weiss continues, with questions looming over the circumstances – and necessity – of Weiss’ departure, as well as her boss’ management decisions. (Washington Post)

While you were busy surprising the technology world with the announcement of your resignation, surprising the technology world with the announcement of your temporary leave, or surprising…meh, probably not really anyone with the announcement of your retirement, here’s what was happening in the world of workforce management this week…

• Call These Companies ‘Frosted Flakes,’ Because They’re Grrrrreat! FORTUNE magazine released its annual list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For. Prepare to not be shocked. (FORTUNE)
• No Pressure at All on Obama’s New Hire…None. At. All. Putting the future of job creation more or less in the hands of one man, President Obama has appointed GE CEO Jeffrey Immelt to chair the new “President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness.” (MSNBC)
• Employees in Virginia Apparently Free to Act as Ridiculous as They Want Virginia’s Supreme court ruled that a restaurant worker was entitled to worker’s comp after being injured during on-the-job horseplay, thanks to the, um, “horseplay doctrine.”  (Workforce)
• Just Like the Poltergeist (But Way Less Scary), Workplace Perks Are Baaaaack Rather than survival, more companies are switching their focus to employee satisfaction and retention these days, bringing back perks they might’ve cut during the recession. (Star Tribune)
• The Office File Cabinet Isn’t Just For Files You’ll Never Revisit The NYPD recently released a study that found that the office file cabinet was the best place for workers to hide should someone ever walk in and start shooting a gun. (New York Post)  
• Dress Codes Get Workers’ Panties in a Twist After inciting controversy over what some say is an overly strict workplace dress code, Swiss banking giant UBS AG announced plans this week to revise its current 44-page dress code to be less micro-managey.(MSNBC)
• Another Product of the Recession: Pay-For-Performance Models Last week it was GM, now even more companies are adopting the pay-for-performance model. (Advertising Age)   And finally…
• What Happened to the Good Ol’ Days When You Could Spy on Employees on Facebook with No Repurcussions? More and more companies are facing legal troubles these days, as the lines between their rights as employers – and their employees’ privacy rights – become ever more blurry. (Wall Street Journal)

While you were busy realizing you’ve been reading the wrong horoscope all your life,  thinking it was about damn time you got some credit for something, or planning your return to the Big Game, here’s what was happening in the world of workforce management this week… 

• Let’s Leave This One Out of the Guinness Book of World Records 2010 was a record-breaking year in terms of lawsuits filed by private-sector workers on employers on charges of discrimination. Yet one more thing we can blame on the economy. (WSJ)
• Morale Booster or Sexual Harrassment? (You Say Potato…) Despite claiming that he was merely trying to boost morale, Navy Capt. Owen Honors was relieved of his command last week over raunchy videos he made and showed to his crew five years ago. And the Facebook community is up in arms about it! (MSN)
• Some Business Jargon is Annoying. (And By “Some” We Mean All.) You’d think using terms like “drill down” and “think outside the box” would make you sound smart. You’d be wrong. (Forbes)
• Facebook Just Can’t Help Itself When It Comes to Causing Workplace Problems A waitress at a New England tavern filed a complaint against her employer, alleging that the threatening comments that appeared on the tavern owner’s Facebook page were directed at her, in retaliation for filing a sexual harassment complaint. (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
• Don’t Let Your Place of Business Turn Into an Episode of Hoarders Keeping a clean and organized office space isn’t (just) about being anal, anymore. It’s also about being cheap saving time and money. (LATimes) And finally…
• GM Union Workers May Soon Feel Pressure to Perform General Motors announced this week that it wants union-represented workers’ pay tied to performance and the company’s financial health. What could go wrong? (Chicago Breaking Business)  

While you were busy beating the odds of one in 178 million, eagerly awaiting M. Night Shyamalan to announce he’s making a movie about this (if the world doesn’t end first), or wrongly believing there aren’t enough reality shows in general (and about this family in particular), here’s what was happening in the world of workforce management this week…

• Lois Lane Not the Only One Fooled by Glasses Beware job candidates who wear glasses to interviews. A new study suggests job seekers who wear glasses to interviews are more likely to be hired because they’re automatically viewed as more intelligent and more professional than their 20/20 counterparts.  (Daily Mail)
• Even Obama’s Having a Hard Time Filling Open Positions Overwhelmed by incoming cases, the federal courts say they are in desperate need of candidates to fill about 10 percent of vacant seats right now. I’ll do it! (NPR)
• Pulled “a Boehner” Lately? Don’t Make a Habit of It Incoming Speaker of the House John Boehner may get away with it, but crying at the office is still a workplace faux pas, says business writer Allison Lynn. (Life, Inc.)
• Now Recruiters are Just Picking People Right Off the Street You really never know where your next employee will come from, do you? After hearing a homeless man showing off his self-described “God-given gift of a great voice” on the local radio, a recruiter for the Cleveland Cavaliers called in and offered him a job with the organization on the spot. (MSNBC)
• Goldman Sachs Wants It Both Ways While Goldman Sachs officially prohibits Facebook use among employees, the firm recently invested $450 million in Facebook. At the same time, employees are expected to be able to educate less tech-savvy clients about the social networking website. Catch-22?  (FastCompany)
• B-Schools, Employers Try to Help Graduates Bring Their A-Game Business schools have started soliciting input from companies that want to hire MBA grads, in hopes to shape their curriculum around skills that will help graduates’ job prospects. (Wall Street Journal)
• Lawmakers Now Free to Act Like Every Other American Worker During Meetings Thanks to a new rule from the incoming House Republican majority, members of the House may now use electronic devices on the House floor as long as it doesn’t “impair decorum” (which, apparently, tweeting does not do).  (TheHill.com) And finally…
• Overqualified Workers Aren’t the Devil, Study Shows A new study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology suggests that hiring overqualified job candidates doesn’t necessarily lead to turnover. In fact, they may even stay longer because they enjoy a better work/life balance. (Human Resources Executive)

While you were busy preparing to hang up your suspenders, claiming you were going to be busy washing your hair that night anyway,  or trying to ruin every child’s fun…here’s what was happening in the world of workforce management this week…

• Working in pajamas is preferable to fighting traffic. Employees who telecommute the majority of the workweek have more job satisfaction, a new study from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee shows. (UWMNews)  
• Sometimes the best workplace holiday gifts are the ones not given. Workplace gift-giving can be tricky (and by tricky, I mean ‘awkward and potentially disastrous’). Todayshow.com offers tips for what to get – and what to avoid getting – for that special colleague in your life. (TODAY)
• All Obama wants for Christmas is more jobs. President Barack Obama held a meeting with 20 top CEOs on Wednesday, hoping to encourage them to invest their funds in growth and hiring.  (WSJ)
• No more playing fast and loose with the term ‘contract worker’ State and federal agencies are cracking down on companies that misclassify employees as independent contractors. (USAToday)
• Too bad this story is real, and not just another bad sequel to Wall Street. An insider trading probe at Wall Street continues to deepen, with charges now against six people. (NPR)
• Micro-management’ could take on a whole new meaning. More businesses try to do more with less workspace, increasingly taking away corporate office space and closing the walls on corporate workers.(Los Angeles Times)
• American CEOs have been waiting four years to feel this good. A new survey indicates that optimism about the future of sales, investments and hiring among U.S. chief executives is at its highest level since2006. (Bloomberg) And finally…
• Sometimes, trying to save a buck just isn’t worth it. After violating federal labor law by withholding employee raises and benefits, Kaiser Permanente must now pay workers what they are owed. (Sacramento Business Journal)

While you were busy getting lost on the ABC studios lot surprising the ladies of The View, mistakenly using the words ‘fascinating’ and ‘overexposed’ interchangeably, or explaining Solar Death Rays to the most powerful man on the planet …here’s what was happening in the world of workforce management this week…

• If there’s anything Facebook loves, it’s rolling out new changes (and confusing recruiters) Facebook made yet another high profile change to its platform this week. Find out what these changes mean for social recruiting efforts. (Social Talent)
• ‘Employees behaving badly’ isn’t nearly as fun or sexy as it sounds You can’t exactly afford to fire “superstar” employees who have special talents, technical capabilities, or who rake in top sales…but you shouldn’t have to put up with their bad behavior, either. (The Globe and Mail)
• Even if women professionals wanted to rely on their looks (we don’t)…we can’t anyway A new study suggests that attractive women may be at a disadvantage when it comes to landing a job interview. For men, on the other hand, good looks work to their advantage.  (OreganWomensReport)
• If you can’t beat social media, join it, says CEO While most CEOs are still skittish about using social media, Best Buy’s CEO has found a way to embrace it.  Find out how he uses social media to engage employees and customers alike. (Bloomberg Businessweek)
• (Spoiler alert!) Managers don’t have it so easy Just in case you didn’t already know that management is tough, TLNT.com drives the point home with 10 reasons as to why. (TLNT.com)
• Soon, it’ll be just another Sunday for Wal-Mart employees. Weeks after announcing its plan to offer its workers limited tuition reimbursement, Wal-Mart hits them with news that it will stop paying its staff an additional $1 an hour for working Sundays. (Washington Post) And finally…
• Here’s an idea for what to get the employee who has everything Adding to the many lucrative perks Silicon Valley already offers employees, workplaces in the Bay Area are now providing electric-vehicle charging stations for their employees. (Mercury News)

While you were busy proving that you can go home again despite no one being happy to see you, accomplishing something that might be impressive were it not so despicable, or estimating your net worth at $4 billion (must be nice)…here’s what was happening in the world of workforce management this week…

• Yes, your employees were probably shopping during work hours this past Monday, and no, probably not for stuff for you.
• Then again…not taking a non-related work break could be a sign that your employees are workaholics.
• Employers, your resistance to Facebook is futile. May as well just accept it now (if not that invitation to Mafia Wars).
• There are 50 ways to leave your lover and at least 12 ways to create a great corporate culture.
• Just in time for holiday sales, employers are snagging former executives at a fraction of their previous salaries.
• I hope no one had grown too attached to the seven million jobs that didn’t come back.
• Recent college grads have as hard a time finding work as older workers…only much earlier in life.  
• Don’t hiring managers have enough applications to go through without having to review an 11-page presentation, too? And finally…
• This is…just…wrong.

While you were busy picking the absolute worst time to cut away from a live television feed, making every bride-to-be in the world slightly less excited now about every detail of her own upcoming wedding, or figuring you’ve cornered the market on everything else online, so why not move to e-mail?…here’s what was happening in the world of workforce management this week… 

• Top talent doesn’t come cheap…anymore, at least.
• If you’ve been ignoring unemployed job seekers, don’t think they haven’t noticed.
• Unless that top talent also happens to be nearing retirement age, that is…
• You can’t put a price on employee engagement. Unless you’re Microsoft, where said price is up to $10,000.
• Keith Richards is giving out management advice. Yes, that Keith Richards.
• Some companies giveth their employees extra healthcare incentives…
• While some companies taketh away (rather illegally, at that).
• Along with Turducken and fruit cakes, get ready to see a lot more work perks in the coming months. And finally…
• I wonder if these new robot workers are anywhere near as scary as this robot actress.

While you were busy scaring the living daylights out of Pat Sajak, wondering if it’s too late to reconsider your honeymoon plans, or getting Star Wars fans everywhere all riled up, here’s what was happening in the world of workforce management this week…

• Wall Street is all, “Now THIS is how you celebrate Veterans Day.”
• Law firms want more than just a pretty report card when it comes to new hires.
• It turns out, there is such a thing as office envy.
• Walmart joins the list of companies offering employees tuition reimbursement.
• This isn’t your grandaddy’s workplace…even though he works there, too.
• Employees are complaining about their employers on Facebook…and there might not be anything companies can do about it.
• Take it easy, managers – your employees aren’t out for your job.
• Perhaps this is one of the reasons employers avoid giving feedback.
• Google’s controversial pay raise costs one employee his paycheck.
• No kidding. Really?  And finally…
• Preparing for that dreaded performance review? Check out the top 10 performance review euphemisms.

While you were busy taking the inaugural ride on the official Farewell Season jet, starting a petition to make Spoonachos happen (can we, please?), or not being quite ready yet to call it water under the bridge, here’s what was happening in the world of workforce management this week…

• Your employees might be more productive if they would just simmer down now.  
• If you didn’t make Forbes’ list of the most powerful leaders, take heart: there’s always next year.
• Awkward! Bosses aren’t quite the amazing managers they think they are.
• (…but if you’re like President George W. Bush, Kanya West will be there to set you straight.)
• Employees at one McDonald’s franchise got a little something extra in their most recent paychecks.
• Speaking of being a better manager, looks like Uncle Sam needs some help in that department, too.
• Water cooler chats aren’t just good for employee hydration needs.
• Perhaps tired of hearing the old “A Cow Broke Into My House” excuse, many employers are changing their sick leave policies. And finally…
• Encouraging your workers to do yoga could be a good (wait for it…) ommmmen for your company

While you were busy winning America’s hearts, if not Project Runway, feeling relieved to know it’s not just you, taking all of the fun out of Halloween, here’s what was happening in the world of workforce management this week…

• Sure, they can run entire companies, but most CEOs still can’t tell their Farmvilles from their Mafia Wars
• Speaking of…employees in Germany are unfairly being forced to play Farmville on their own time.
• Drug testing involves some tricky questions for employers. (Yes, that was a pun. But also true.)
• Research suggests the reason some companies thrive is a cultural thing.
• McDonald’s employee sues the company for what could be called a $17.5K wellness benefit of sorts…
• Companies and employees pretty much agree: technology rules.
• Steven Slater thinks that perhaps telling Jetblue to shove it wasn’t the ideal way to quit his job now that he thinks about it. And finally…
• Timing is everything.

Congratulations to Parallel HR Solutions and our employees for our recognition as an Emerging Elite Company for the Mountain West Capital Network‘s “Utah 100″!

While you were busy barely even trying to hold it in, wasting absolutely no time at all, or thinking to yourself, “If we can get 33 trapped miners out of a cave, surely we can find a way to distribute movie popcorn butter more efficiently!”…here’s what was happening in the world of workforce management this week…

• Oprah tops the list of most wanted celebrity bosses. (There’s a shocker.)
• I have a feeling I know where Mario Batali would fall on that list desirable celebrity bosses
• There’s a good chance your employees don’t think as highly of you as you’d like them to.
• The demand for digital business cards is, ahem, virtually non-existent.
• Is Wall Street writing paychecks their shareholders can’t cash?
•  20 perks your employees are bitter that they are not getting want.
• It’s true: Social media and professionalism can coexist. And finally…
• Eliminating full-time staff sets some employers free.

While you were busy getting the makeover no one really thought you needed in the first place, forgetting to press “end call,” or downloading CareerBuilder’s latest hiring forecast (what’s that? It’s free? Okay!)…here’s what was happening in the world of workforce management this week…

• Johnny Depp did not write history’s greatest cover. He just played the guy who did on film.
• A new healthcare waiver helps employers get off easy. Their employees? Mmm…not so much.
• Obama addresses “women’s issues,” Warren Buffet at the Most Powerful Women conference.  
• Some of these “workplace don’ts” are funny, and some are true, but all are funny because they’re true.
• Remember when United Airlines announced its merged with Continental? Neither did we. But anyway, the CEO is very excited about it.
• Doesn’t Rick Sanchez know that the cool way to be fired is to make controversial public statements on Facebook – not national TV (hello!)?  
• Older workers are watching their 401(k) accounts shrink right alongside their bones. And finally…
• This survey about restaurant employees working while sick may have you eating TV dinners for a while.  

While you were busy announcing your 2012 presidential bid (good luck with that, btw), finding someplace to put that extra $100 million you had lying around, or believing again that true love really does exist…here’s what was happening in the world of workforce management this week…

• McDonald’s hourly employees should probably start cutting down on eating their employer’s food.
• “Forced fun” in the workplace is exactly as delightful as it sounds.
• Spoiler alert! Business execs reveal the one question they ask on every job interview
• Sure, your employees are talking on social networks, but are they saying anything?
• Shocking: Working Americans don’t get enough sleep.
• Possibly even more shocking: Women managers are still few and far between.
• Fun fact: In addition to forest fires, you also have the power to prevent workplace stress.
• The Senate really, really wants you to reconsider outsourcing jobs.
• Turns out those Chrysler employees who wanted to be able to drink during daytime hours actually got their wish. And finally…
• Internal promotions = everyone wins!

While you were attempting to give Katie Couric a run for her money, admitting what everyone had pretty much already assumed,  being deemed “too hot for public access TV,” or having the most productive two days of work you’ve had in years…here’s what was happening in the world of workforce management this week…

• Does the latest ad trend mean that casting calls will replace employee interviews?
• The recession ended in June 2009? Funny how we missed that somehow.
• “Hey boss, take my wife (to dinner), please!”
• Maybe if Sen. Harry Reid is real nice to them, the Jets will spring for his workplace sensitivity training, too.
• The other kind of ”Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
• If you, as an American worker, feel tired and overworked, workers in Luxembourg must be exhausted! And finally…
• When your employees booze, you lose…especially when your employees booze in front of TV news cameras.

Ah, yes — a lot has happened this past week in the world of recruitment — and we don’t want you to miss any of it. From a candidate listing ‘God’ as a referral on a resume, to a call to CEOs to be more loving to employees, this week has had its ups and downs. Let’s take a moment to savor the last moments of this past week’s recruitment news and gossip before Monday takes over.

We created a brand new e-book for you — did you know? Well, we did, and it’s called Referral Madness. It’s all about how you can build a better, smarter employee referral program to get quality employees — and more of them — in the door. Download it now (it’s free!).

Enough about us — let’s talk about ice cream. Mmm, ice cream. Dairy Queen just launched a “Good Morning America  Blizzard.” It’s mocha chip with bananas — think that’s a healthy start to the morning? If not, what would you suggest?

Okay, on to more serious matters, like love. One executive coach tells CEOs they need to use that oh-so-powerful four-letter word more. Do you agree, or do you think it’s a bunch of (insert another four-letter word here)? Since we’re getting personal, what makes candidates and other users “Like” your brand on Facebook? You may be surprised.

Microsoft employees had a funeral for its competitor’s mobile devices — was it in poor taste or good for employee morale? Speaking of employee morale, Dilbert poked fun at some companies’ social media strategies (or lack thereof) — can you relate?

Recruiters are “going big” in recruiting new hires, and one person says Gen Y suffers from another big thing — their egos.

On The Hiring Site, we addressed the sometimes-mystery of niche job sites (as well as what “niche” really means). What do these niche job sites do? Why should you care? How can they help you find candidates in your specialized market?  Don’t worry, we cover it all here.

Sexual harassment in the workplace happens in the halls of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, too, and while trying to hypnotize an HR manager into hiring you may not be harassment, it’s certainly strange. Employers (fondly?) recall the most memorable things they’ve seen on candidate resumes — including the one in the headline of this blog post. What’s the strangest thing you’ve come across on a resume — can you top these?

All right, now you’re free to go get that third cup of coffee.

While you were busy downloading your new, free e-book (what?), watching your 15 minutes of fame finally run out, or proving that money actually does buy happiness (in a way), here’s what was happening in the world of workforce management this week…

• Score 1 for Charlie Brown: Turns out, too much confidence can be a bad thing.
• ‘Baby-faced’ entrepreneurs struggle to be taken seriously (but those public kegger pics on Facebook probably don’t help matters).
• H.P.’s war with its former chief executive plays like an episode of “The Hills”
• Re-employed workers on relationships with new employers: “It’s complicated.”
• BMW sets the bar for employers bracing for the ‘Silver Tsunami’
• Employers find that it pays to do pro bono work. And finally…
• For American workers, 100 is the new 65.

While you were telling the world’s worst lie defending your ex-girlfriend, reminiscing about the time Donna Martin almost didn’t graduate, or never looking at economics the same way again (or wanting to), here’s what was happening in the world of workforce management this week…

• Not everyone’s drooling over Food Network stars. Namely, their employees.
• The best new workplace trend ever?
• The CEOs of the future will have a lot more in common with Lady Gaga.
• 10 things your employees hate about you.
• Unsettling.
• Breastfeeding holds benefits for babies and business…
• Look, we’re not saying women CEO’s are more trustworthy (but that’s because a bunch of British people already did).
• More business trips are becoming family affairs.
• Nigerian workers may want to start investing in alarm clocks. And finally…
• British Prime Minister David Cameron is like the Rosa Parks of paternity leave.

While you were remembering to pack your stuffed tiger for that upcoming trip (we’re looking at you, mister),  throwing in a live tiger while you were at it, or breaking your nine-month silence on someone named Tiger, here’s what was happening in the world of workforce management this week…

• Most American workers are satisfied with their pay, a suspicious-sounding survey shows.
• Clearly, Germany is on a quest to ruin everybody’s fun.
• It’s official: Shirley Sherrod and USDA awkwardly amicably end their relationship.
• Doing favors at the office isn’t doing you any favors, says science.
• Happy workers make for more productive workers, an obvious-sounding study reveals.
• “Fantastic” news from the boss could be anything but…
• If you’ve ever been exposed to an awful cover letter, you’ll appreciate this. And finally…
• If you share something in common with judge James GIbbons, you may want to make a note to yourself to clean out your cache.

While you were busy taking your bank-robbing business elsewhere, thankyouverymuch, doing your part to help more Americans develop heart disease, or taking some of the heat off of Dr. Laura, here’s what was happening in the world of workforce management this week…

• Is news that women aren’t moving up in the workforce like men really news?
• This might be the cuuuuutest workplace story EVAH!
• Unlimited vacation time with no catch? (Suspicious!)
• It was only a matter of time before America’s favorite unruly employee got his own reality show.
• A Massachusetts teacher gets, ahem, schooled on the dangers of Facebook.
• Guess what won’t be on Oprah’s list of favorite things this year…
• First it was God. Then it was the Web. Now, apparently, creativity is dead, too.
• The upside to high unemployment?
• CBS wants all of America to watch you get passed over for a promotion.  And finally…
• Gordon Gekko had it all wrong: Green is good. (Zing!)

While you were busy losing ground in your bid for “employee of the month”, providing too-good-to-be-true water cooler gossip, or hoping the other two stories would detract from your little workplace mishap, here’s what else was happening in the world of workforce management this week…

• I think the answer to this question is “only if they buy you a lobster dinner first.”
• It’s funny because it’s true: Workplace jargon edition
• Sick of the bad economy? Start hiring already!
• Not to be Debbie Downer, but let’s talk about workplace violence. 
• Trying to find qualified workers is like 10,000 spoons when all you need is a knife.
• “Extreme Downsizing” sounds like the least fun reality TV makeover show ever.
• Can’t afford health care? Send your employees to Panama. 
• Economists are being all “Step off!” to lawmakers….And finally….
• Suddenly, Steven Slater doesn’t look like such a bad employee anymore.

While you were busy hiding your Jersey Shore knowledge, making the announcement the world was waiting with bated breath to hear, or getting your Amazon pre-orders in, here’s what was happening in the world of workforce management this week…

• Maybe you should just consider implementing a social media policy.
• Maybe Sherrod and Obama can talk about this the good ol’ fashioned way.
• Never a dull moment at the Essence offices these days…
• Before you write off that candidate…see how that candidate writes.
• Don’t eliminate training programs entirely: Just trim the fat a little. (Maybe Drew Carey can give you some tips.)
• See? There IS a place in corporate America for the cast members of Jersey Shore.
• (…of course, if corporate America is really lucky, they’ll follow the latest job seeker trend. )
• Leaders, do not as Tony Hayward does, but…well, no, that’s it. Just don’t do what he does. And finally…
• Some employers are such commitment phobes these days.

While you were busy getting ready to indulge your inner geek, finding the world’s scariest personal trainer, or failing to truly clarify a rumor about yourself, here’s what was happening in the world of workforce management this week…

• Don’t worry, your employees are just reading it for the articles.
• Good news – you can totally justify expensing that mani/pedi now.
• Can the Japanese government prevent workers from being exploited?
• Salesforce CEO says leaders should emulate MC Hammer. (Maybe so your employees will be too legit to quit?)
• More good news – you can totally justify spending the last three house playing Mafia Wars now.
• A new Outlook plug-in helps you check yourself before you electronically wreck yourself.
• Don’t count on seeing pre-recession numbers anytime soon. And finally…
• The best news yet – you can totally justify that martini lunch now (or at least attempt to).

While you were busy getting ready to indulge your inner geek, finding the world’s scariest personal trainer, or failing to truly clarify a rumor about yourself, here’s what was happening in the world of workforce management this week…

• Don’t worry, your employees are just reading it for the articles.
• Good news – you can totally justify expensing that mani/pedi now.
• Can the Japanese government prevent workers from being exploited?
• Salesforce CEO says leaders should emulate MC Hammer. (Maybe so your employees will be too legit to quit?)
• More good news – you can totally justify spending the last three house playing Mafia Wars now.
• A new Outlook plug-in helps you check yourself before you electronically wreck yourself.
• Don’t count on seeing pre-recession numbers anytime soon. And finally…
• The best news yet – you can totally justify that martini lunch now (or at least attempt to).

While you were busy announcing your engagement the old-fashioned way, breaking – or more likely saving - hearts all over the world, or actually NOT imagining that you were seeing the Old Spice guy everywhere yesterday, here’s what else was happening in the world of workforce management this week…

• No one likes finding out their best employee is leaving via ESPN…but that’s no excuse for bad management.
• Finally, a workplace comedy for the tween set.
• 10 signs you work in a fear-based workplace.  
• Obama says job loss keeps him up at night. (You and about 15 million other people, Mr. President.) 
• One agency is about to find out what happens when interns stop being polite and start being real…or just live together for six months
• And now…deep thoughts.
• TSA tries a cheesy approach to recruiting employees (pun intended, btw).
• Don’t try to convince these guys the recession is over. And finally…
• Hiring for a social media director? Join the club.

While you were busy humbly announcing a career decision, making what is probably a wise career decision, or wondering if you still even have a career, here’s what else was happening in the world of workforce management this week…

• Employers are trying to take all of the fun out of getting lung cancer.
• See, Jake and Vienna? Parting ways in the public eye doesn’t have to be messy.
• If you like processed meat, then you probably also like annual job reviews.
• If sexism still exists in the workplace, you won’t find it here.
•  Let’s hope dermatologist visits are covered in this employer’s health care plan.
• As green initiatives go up, so too, does worker productivity.   
• Ditto for family-friendly benefits…
• I could think of a few other countries where lessons in workplace etiquette are needed…
• Every day??? Being a leader sounds exhausting. And finally…
• Best. Pension deficit solution. Ever.

While you were busy getting ready to own Steve Jobs, planning a single ladies’ night to the tune of $750 million or finally retiring those bright blue hot pants, here’s what was happening in employment news this week…

• All that time you spent watching the World Cup during work hours doesn’t have to be a total loss.
• Some people may have to put off that move to Florida.
• Managers need management, too.
• Will Bret Michaels make a cameo as an intern on VH1′s new reality show? (Fingers crossed!)
• Remember these scary intern stories for your next office camping trip.
• Older workers just can’t catch a break this week…
• Gay Google employees, on the other hand, are having a pretty good week. And finally…
• Hey Maywood, CA, why not just outsource your entire city?
• …and then maybe these CA state workers could apply for those jobs.

While you were busy totally seeing this coming, inexplicably getting your own YouTube channel,  or showing would-be iPhone owners what waiting in line for a guilty pleasure really looks like, here’s what was happening in the world of workforce management this week…

• America’s CEOs are hoping to make this year more like 2007.  
• If you’ve ever been the victim of office chair envy (yes, it’s a thing) you know just how serious the matter is…   
• We know the rules bend slightly in the summer, but some employees are playing fast and loose with the term “casual dress.”
• Japanese employers are all, “You can’t pull off a beard, so don’t even try.”
• The government gives gay workers another reason to celebrate during Gay Pride Month.
• What to do when you can’t add employees? Add employee hours.   
• Tips to avoid getting burned (out) at work. And finally…
• It’s time to start hittin’ the ol’ “delete” button.

While you were busy figuring out what to spend today’s $59 on, suddenly thinking that having lactose intolerance wouldn’t be that bad, or (shameless plus alert) seeing all the free stuff you could get when you visit Booth #1419 during SHRM 2010 in San Diego!…here’s what was happening in the world of workforce management this week…

• If you or someone you know abuses the “Reply all” button, you should read this.
• Speaking of… if it IS a ‘must-reply-all’ e-mail situation, avoid saying these 23 things.   
• Can you divorce yourself from the family business?
• It’s sort of like Netflix for your business needs.
• Oprah sure knows how to show up every other boss in the world recognize her employees.
• ‘World Cup madness’ takes on a whole new meaning at the office
• The next best thing to reading your employees’ minds.
• U.S. oil spill workers find themselves dealing with a whole other mess. And finally…
• Do you think Steve Forbes’ employees get a raise if he gets more Twitter followers than Ashton?

While you were busy denying you were ever a member of the Tag Team crew, exchanging text messages with child services,  or becoming the unlikely (to everyone but my grandmother) new queen of daytime TV, here’s what was happening in the world of workforce management this week…

• The editor of this article about how a beer company successfully recruits new employees beat me to the pun…
• I could make a good case for why “Dancing With The Stars” could be on this list.
• employment situation report, planning to hire this quarter, according to a new survey.
• You say you don’t want to hire unemployed workers? You may want to reconsider…
• Turns out it’s not just job seekers who feel frustrated right now.
• Offering workers flex time to watch the World Cup? You may want to reconsider.
• Turns out it’s not just basketball players who learned John Wooden’s coaching.
• Nobody likes a complainer…especially at this energy company.
• The debate continues…And finally…
• Don’t you hate when this happens to you?

While you were busy snagging your free donut, snagging free ice cream, and gorging on both to numb the pain while watching a particularly bittersweet “Golden Girls” marathon, here’s what was happening in employment news this week…

• Employers are attempting to cut down the fat – in more ways than one.
• Jack Cafferty asks, “How do you define ‘job’ in 2010?”
• For all the lies on Mark Kirk’s resume, at least he never claimed to be a Kennedy.
• Don’t you hate when this happens to you?  
• Hiring? Full-tie workers are out. Contractors are in.  
• It’s not just resumes: A lot of want ads leave a lot to be desired. And finally…
• Employees feeling unproductive? It might be time to spring clean the office.

While you were busy pondering about a thousand or so unanswered questions, wondering why you never thought to put your favorite NBA team’s logo on a pizza (seems so obvious now, doesn’t it?), taking the movie Up a little too literally or planning an amaaaaazing Memorial Day barbecue, here’s what you may have missed in the world of talent management and recruitment.

• The latest ‘fired because of Facebook’ story is a total joke.
• Saying no to employee vacation requests could get you burned.
• Take that, Farmville, Mafia Wars and Scrabble…Even after all these years, Pac-Man’s still got it.
• An ex-employee tried to give away secrets of the club that’s made for you and me.  
• Zappos’ CEO discusses delivering happiness (and not just in the form of shoes…although that’s a close second).  
• Employees will play a critical part in the United Airlines and Continental merger.
• FYI…when you hire Gen Y, you’re also hiring their parents. And finally…
• Quit happens.

While you were spending precious work hours your leisure time playing the best new party game EVER, opening a moral and ethical can of worms, or withdrawing $20 fast cash in solemn tribute to the inventor of the ATM, here’s what was happening in the world of workforce management this week…

• Gen Y job seekers aren’t asking for a green workplace — they’re demanding it.   
• Gender stereotypes at work go both ways.
• If anyone can make internships trendy, it’s Lady Gaga.  
• Serious thoughts on leadership from the CEO of The Onion   
• The Rhode Island school that fired its 93 staff members last year is all “My bad!”
• Woman’s Day names the 7 Stupidest Employee Mistakes Ever
• Don’t worry. Your employees (probably) won’t do (all of) these things while you’re away.
• New technology makes it possible for you to work remotely and still creep out your colleagues…and finally…
• Are smartphones making employees act stupid?

While you were busy tasting a genuine American burger, denying divorce rumors, or ending an respectable 85-year-old career…here’s what was happening in the world of workforce management this week…

• Here’s where the ‘transferrable’ part of transferrable skills comes into play…
• We needed 11 years’ worth of scientific research to tell us this?
• Buffalo job seekers are subtle.
• Twitter isn’t your everyday social network (…in fact, it really isn’t a social network at all.)
• Here’s where the ‘constructive’ part of constructive criticism come into play…
• Was there plan B? (Because here’s where the ‘B’ part would…well, you know.)
• Not this old excuse again…
• Proof that you really never know what you’re going to find when you Google yourself. And finally…
• Company-paid incentive trips aren’t just for Oprah’s employees anymore.

While you were busy breaking barriers in the comic book world, sending “shockwaves” throughout the NFL with your draft pick, or really, really, really wishing you’d remembered to clean out your cookies…here’s what was happening in the world of workforce management this week…

• This whole “green” thing seems to be catching on.
• A new book on performance reviews likens the practice to Bill and Ted’s journey .
• You might say America’s favorite boss‘ employees are his lucky charms. (Get it?!?)
• Poaching talent can leave some employers with a bitter taste in their mouths.
• Your internship program is (possibly) killing your reputation.
• Now the Supreme Court has to decide if employees have to sext on their own time.
• When McDonald’s seeks to stire up some friendly workplace competition, it really goes all out.
• Oh, the church is making you do it, you say? These employees aren’t buying it. And finally…
• Oregon employers are legally allowed to kill employees’ buzzes.

While you were busy learning a recipe you’d never find in Martha Stewart Living, explaining the difference between ads and what sound an awful lot like ads, or saying goodbye to any chance you ever had to get tickets to Oprah’s ‘favorite things’ episode…here’s what was happening in the world of workforce management this week…

• It’s not just employees who benefit when companies implement wellness programs.
• These companies sure treat their mothers well, according to Working Mother magazine
• No offense to Jennifer Lopez, but this is the comeback we’ve all been waiting for.
• Employers should know better than to mess with employee perks – especially when said perk is beer.
• A sad – and somewhat bizarre – reminder of the toll workplace harrassment takes.
• Sure, they get their 15 minutes of fame, but what else do CBS’ “Undercover Boss” bosses get?
• Companies are cracking down on business trips. (As if air travel is ridiculously expensive or something.)
• And finally…Predicting a slow economic recovery is so hot right now.

While you were busy announcing plans to someday release your next book, announcing plans to produce your Next Chapter,  or being announced as the next Susan Boyle…here’s what was happening in the world of hiring, recruitment and workforce management…

• At the office, sharing doesn’t always mean caring.
• Of all the cutbacks the USPS is planning, morale isn’t one of them.  
• Is this the beginning of the rise of anti-social media?  
• Stiffing your workers out of pay? Enjoy it while you can. (On second thought, don’t. That’s just not cool.)
• Can you also expense the carton of Ben & Jerry’s and box of tissues while you’re at it?
• Thanks, we’ve only been waiting two years to hear this…
• Today’s interns may be different, but the rules for hiring them stay the same.
• IT men (and women) needed to become G-Men.  And finally…
• Not everyone is over the moon about pay-for-performance.

While you were busy forgetting to fill this out, renaming yourself Topeka for a day (silly you!), or putting the final touches on your Peeps diorama…here’s what was happening in the world of hiring and recruiting this week…

• Paycheck yourself before you pay-wreck yourself. Hey-o!
• Unexpected advice of the week: Figure out who among your staff is indispensable, then fire (?) them.
• The World’s Most Ethical Companies (They exist!)
• If workers are in fact choosing fear over flex-time…then should we just throw this report away?
• We’ll believe this when we see it.  
• No such thing as a free lunch? Tell that to Facebook employees.
• Don’t think of it as losing a tax break… the Obama administration hopes you’ll think of it as gaining so much more.
• Is this job seeker move a sign of desperation, ingenuity, or simply…the times?
• Your employees may be happy just to have a job…but will it last? (Cliffhanger!)
• Job seekers make it even harder to stalk screen via Facebook. And finally…
• It’s not the jeans. This job is making you look fat.

While you were busy negotiating a reality show with A&E, participating in the most awesome March Madness bracket ever, or planning your trip to Orlando/buying a new cape…here’s what was happening in the world of hiring and recruiting this week…

• The President gets to work from home, so maybe after his upcoming forum, a lot of other people will get to, too.
• New York Magazine takes a trip down “What if” Lane…
• Seven phrases to avoid with your employees.  
• And speaking of things to avoid…15 workplace habits to add to that list.
• How much are you really paying for your employees?
• What one reality show teaches us about management. (Spoiler alert! It’s not Steven Seagal: Lawman…not this time, at least.)
• Starbucks’ CEO talks about how he brews success…Yep, he sure has a whole latté say about the subject. No beans about it. (Okay, I’m stopping now.)
• Companies finding that the best new hires…aren’t really new at all.  And finally…
• Guy Kawasaki is so over Tolstoy

While you were busy trying to take ownership of your party name back, denying a link between your new weight loss plan and Scientology, or having a little trouble preparing your St. Patrick’s Day meal…here’s what was happening in the world of hiring and recruiting this week…

• Well…guess this news takes a little pressure off of some employers.
• One employee’s bad experience with a co-worker’s perfume leads to lawsuit, punny news headline.
• Fast Company shows you how to “procrastinate the right way”…starting with reading this article.
• For everyone’s sake, let’s hope the answer to this is “No.”
• There’s no “i” in “team,” but there are three in this company’s employee management system.  
• It might be lonely at the top, but at least you still have your health. Right?
• Is this the start of a new job seeker tactic? And finally…
• If this is true, I hope Dolly Parton writes a new song.

While you were busy snubbing Farrah Fawcett, suddenly remembering all your favorite scenes from Lucas, or being all, “Take that, Bill Gates!”…here’s what was happening in the world of hiring and recruiting this week…

• Here’s good news for people who like depressing news.
• Let’s just hope this doesn’t start office turf wars between Mac’s and PC’s.
• Office coffee is good to the last drop …and then the problems begin. 
• Education assistance doesn’t just benefit employees…it benefits agencies, too. (The more you know…) 
• Five seasoned managers offer you the chance to take sadistic pleasure in learn from their mistakes.
• Yay! U.S. companies lead the world in employing the largest number of women. (Don’t go patting yourself on the back just yet, though.)
• The business world’s equivalent of asking your buddy if you can just crash at his place..
• We’re so bringing this up at the next company meeting. And finally…
• If we were surrounded by New Orleans’ best King Cakes all day, we’d be pretty happy employees, too.

While you were busy taking a shot every time someone mentioned “this amazing journey,” setting up the most unlikely partnership since…ever, or hitting the gym in preparation for your next plane trip, here’s what was happening in the world of hiring and recruiting this week…

• This isn’t the solution to male-on-female sexual harassment that we had in mind…
• Don’t order that “40 Years of Service” plaque just yet…
• What is it they say about good intentions?
• Calling in sick? You’re so behind the times.
• Wait a second…how did they get away with this and still make the “Most Admired Companies” list? (Suspicious!)
• Speaking of suspicious…job candidates just got sneakier!
• I wonder if his Spidey sense helped him see this coming…
• Some employers don’t believe in taking snow days, apparently.
• Some employees luckier than others when it comes to getting bonuses back.
• You don’t have to read your employees’ diaries to find out what’s bothering them.
• A new jobs bill is proposed, but (spoiler alert!) not everyone’s happy about it.
• And finally…Was firing every single teacher NOT the solution after all?

While you were busy pushing through your bloody nose, heading to the Apple store to get hitched, or wishing you’d bought theft protection when you opened your foursquare account, here’s what was happening in the world of hiring and recruiting this week…

• Cut hours or cut jobs? That could soon be the question…
• Walmart gives student workers credit…literally.  
• It’s like the business world’s equivalent of getting fake-numbered…
• Happy, friendly employees don’t necessarily equal productive employees.
• ESPN suspends “Pardon” host for not-so-polite remarks…
• Turns out, job seekers like seeing green (and we don’t mean money, either. Hey-o!) 
• Whaddya know? It’s not always employees who burn out…
• Seriously? Every teacher?  And finally…
• Nobody says “full-time” anymore, dear.

While you were busy apologizing to Kevin Smith, apologizing to everyone else, or refusing to apologize to Sarah Palin, here’s what was happening in the world of hiring and recruiting this week…

• Need a good thank you gift for your employees? How about the business?
•  Showing your vulnerable side could be a strategic business move… 
• Is Toyota’s HR department to blame for the company’s failures?
• Paying employees unfairly? They’re on to you, fyi… 
• Companies who try to pass off their regular employees as independent contractors may want to fess up…
• Many employers planning to just say “whatevs” to health care reform bill.
• The sisters are doing it for themselves - with the help of social media.
• Brushing off employees with SAD could have unhappy effects for employers. And finally…
• Did BusinessWeek just zing you with this article’s subheading?

While you were busy getting more intimate than you might’ve wanted with your Gmail contacts, apologizing for trying (and failing…so so much) to be clever, or sharing your Valentine’s Day horror stories, here’s what was going on in the world of talent management and recruiting this week:

• British employees say U.S. employer has some ‘splainin’ to do…
• Looking for love in all the wrong workplaces? Not for 37 percent of employees…
• Beware bad leadership advice…particularly THIS bad leadership advice…
• 2010 means ch-ch-changes for employers and 401(k)s
• Guess what you just spent on this morning’s meeting (besides a precious hour of your life).
• These aren’t your grandmother’s temp workers…
• If you’re doing this, this, that or any of these other things…stop it.  And finally…
• The question isn’t “Will there be job growth?” but “Where will there be job growth?”

While you were busy trying to stake your claim on the phrase “Who Dat,” (prematurely?) accepting a scholarship to USC, or matching wits with Bill O’Reilly, here’s what was happening in the world of hiring and recruiting this week…

• How (not?) to resign in 140 characters or less
• New series finds out what happens when CEOs stop being polite and start being real step into their employees’ shoes
• Thanks to this, employees can now take justice into their own hands.  
• You might be a productivity killer (and not even know it).  
• Teamwork: 1, Talent: 0
• Wellness benefits take a hit from the man.  And finally…
• Looking back on workplace fashions, and speculating on the next big trend. (Let’s hope it’s not this.)

While you were busy updating your Twitter account with what was surely a clever joke, changing your travel plans, or shopping for a new growler,here’s what was happening in the world of hiring and recruiting this week… 

• So, some guy gave some speech where he talked about jobs this week…
• Here’s one way to work your social media policy…
• Some companies have fun, whether they like it or not.  
• Curious about the status of the stimulus?
• SAS is a-ok for employment.
• Social media is now Vatican-approved.  
• The TSA managers are not amused.
• First came social media specialists…Will companies now start hiring more social media lawyers?
• Job seekers move it all for the money.
• Forecasters putting their money on job growth in 2010. Read more...

While you were busy pre-ordering your Oprah tell-all, assessing the best and the worst of the red carpet, or trying-but-not-really to tear yourself away from the live puppy cam, here’s what was happening in the world of hiring and recruiting this week… 

• Workplace blame is kind of like what laughter can be (but not as fun).
• No, this headline is not from one of Leno’s bits…
• So would this be considered maternity stay?
• Need an “easy” button?
• Reference checks for these hires are going to be tricky…
• Men, don’t read this.
• Despite downturn, employees keep on truckin’…
• New lawsuit has EEOC emphasizing employers’ obligation to protect their employees
• Hoping permanent jobs will come back? Don’t read this. And finally…
• Um…agree to disagree?

Assuming you might need an excuse to tear yourself away from the coverage of Tuesday’s devastating earthquake, here’s a roundup of this week’s top stories from the world of talent management and recruitment:

• Many companies talk about diversity (but are they really saying anything?)
• Speaking of…Is “The Office” the new model for workplace diversity? (That’s what she said.)
• Reporting from the red carpet apparently isn’t as easy as it looks.
• Companies send out search parties in the aftermath of Tuesday’s earthquake. 
• What to expect when you’re expecting…a baby boom at the office.
• New employee Meatloaf bites the hand that serves feeds him.  
• I hope Joyce Lain Kennedy isn’t ruining anyone’s fun by naming things you can’t legally do to your employees.   
• It’s one thing to date someone you work with (so to speak); however, it’s another thing to cheat with said person.  
• Salinas’ employers are about to gain some major street cred.  And finally…
• NBC proves how hard it is to push around one employee without everyone else taking notice. 

While you were busy addressing cancellation rumors, shopping for the e-reader that’s right for you, or helping Samantha Micelli raise money for clean water, here’s what was happening in the world of hiring and recruiting this week…

• If everyone could just calm down a sec about today’s jobs numbers…
• Business meeting? Time to dig out the ol’ SuperSoaker 5000.
• Leaders offer business breakup advice on Fast Company.
• Steal from your company to help pay for your wedding? Shame on you. Steal as much as $750,000 to pay for said wedding? Well…
• If even CEOs can’t keep New Year’s resolutions, is there any hope for the rest of us?
• Perhaps those CEOs should start here: 8 Steps to a Better Year in 2010
• What employers don’t know about workplace safety regulations and worker rights could cost them.
• CEOs share their secrets for maintaining that new CEO smell.  And finally…
• Maybe Lloyd Dobler had it wrong. Maybe, like business managers today, Dianne Court was only trying to give him what she could afford.

While you were busy crashing from too much celebration on National Cupcake Day, taking advantage of Free Shipping Day, or saying, “Who is doing what now?” here’s what was happening in the world of hiring and recruiting this week…

• Glassdoor.com releases its second annual “Best Places to Work” list with a new number one.  
• What prom and job growth have in common. 
• Turns out, Employee Assistance Programs can assist companies, too
• A new bill represents broadest protections ever extended to transgender public employees in NY State.
• Jealous! Some companies actually do well during recessions.
• Workers wait 2 hear if text messages on employer-owned electronic devices  will B kept private.
• New survey shows how we achieve workplace satisfaction (Is it sad that we need a survey to tell us that?)
• Michigan becomes the 38th state to ban workplace smoking. (Any takers on who will be 39?)  
• And finally… Admit it – you let a few of these slip out every now and then. Read more...

While you were busy waiting to see if you’d be named Barbara Walter’s Most Fascinating Person of 2009, lining up to take a shot at your neighbor’s flat screen, or trying to get the one-hit wonder of the decade out of your head (ha ha, good luck), here’s what was happening in the world of hiring and recruiting this week… 

• With internships on the rise, check out what makes a company a best place to intern.
• Speaking of lists, here’s one you don’t want to be on…
• Some employers looking to a unique – and tasty – economic indicator.
• Remember the kids in high school who bought their term papers online? Well, they’ve grown up and branched out…
• I wonder what Ronald McDonald would have to say about all of this.  
• Note to self: When thinking about posting sensitive company information online…don’t.
•  Is cross-cultural training the new management training?
• If Obama has his way, small businesses could see funding coming their way.
• Now you can salsa dance your way to being considered a great place to work.
• 10 Business Words to Ban (wait…only 10?)
• How to be successful: Play in traffic.
• And finally…Colleagues find themselves getting closer to one another (quite literally).