Ok. So the rumor mill has it that obese workers are treated unfairly during the hiring process and those already on the job. So what is the problem? Should obese [potential] employees get treated fairly? I mean like, such employees care little about themselves but somehow employers should care more about such workers? That just isn't the real world. Obesity on the job is not only costly to the employee i.e. health risks, job performance but also costly to the bosses that be i.e. increased group health care premiums, lost job performance, moral, etc. Sure there are the few that have valid medical conditions contributing to the weight issues but most of the time obesity points to a lack of self-control. That's simply something employers don't want to deal with. Who can blame them? The bottom line is that having weight issues is a visible sign to hiring managers that you may not be able to a) perform the required duties b) cost the company a bunch of money in health care costs. So if you really want the job [or keep the job you already have] it may be a good idea to demonstrate commitment to one’s own health first. Chances are high the boss will notice which could even lead to new opportunities given the demonstration of commitment to a rather personal challenge such as losing weight. Food for thought.

The longer unemployment stays high, which is currently at 8.1%, the more pressure is on both jobseekers and employers. From a jobseeker's standpoint, most cannot weather the storm of 6 months or more of unemployment, which means they will eventfully become less hopeful. When that happens it means job seekers are more likely to say "Can somebody anybody give me job?" That mentality is simply bad for business. Why? Quite simply after going through months [and for some years] of thrashing in the job market if/when jobseekers do become employed, they are more fearful of losing their job for any and everything, which means performance suffers. This is precisely why, the private should not sit around idle waiting on election results and political climate changes but instead realize how sitting on the sidelines in contributing to the very thing employers fear most - a bad hire. Now is just as good of a time as any to put some action behind hiring needs through posting job vacancies. Plus, it's a supply/demand thing which means discounted salaries [discounts are good, exploitation is bad] for hiring now versus waiting until the next economic upswing.

Who hasn't wondered why the least intelligent (borderline retard) co-worker, seems to get the breaks, promotions and favors from the boss. But why? How in the world would a buffoon be able to achieve such clout in the workplace? You know why..."The AK factor" i.e. the as* kissing factor. Sure, "The AK factor" is joked about at work, but lets face it; where some lack intelligence they make up for it in soft skills. Those same soft skills inevitably will keep him/her on the payroll. Even more so, on the payroll with an attractive salary, perks and with the bells and whistles available only the dreams of most other employees.

Make no mistake about it, soft skills are real. Soft skills transform the average employee in the big boss. Sure, its unfair but then so is life. Let's face it, people are people, whether at work, the mall or at home. And people in general typically suffer from narcissism. The "thought to be buffoon," at work, knows this and just how to massage the egos of the narcissistic power brokers; hence job stability for him/her and good luck for everyone else or go find another job somewhere. Oh well, too bad huh...its rough working for someone else, especially when skills, intelligent and commitment ride backseat to "The "AK factor." Guess we could all start new businesses...then again we could seek consultation from the workplace buffoon. Maybe he/she has an "AK fast track" course or something. Sign me up.

In the not so distant past, for those looking for new employment opportunities it was "...go south young man..." Now, it seems like jobseekers, entrepreneurs, and even large corps are changing that slogan to "...go south young man..." So much for the Golden State huh. So what’s driving employment opportunity seekers to head south? Well for one thing, job growth. If the jobs head south, so too will the people. What about businesses, why would a business from the North or West go south, knowing the history of the south? One word -- taxes. Even better -- three words - "dirt cheap taxes." For business owners, entrepreneurs and large corps the huge reduction in taxes adds up to millions in savings. Think about it...why else would anyone want to live in Alabama versus say New York or California? Bottom line is cheap taxes for business means jobs growth in the south -- especially in Alabama and Georgia. The flip side [there's always a but] is that such a move may not be so good for job hunters, who often have to trade in certain rights found in more progressive states such as New York or California, to have a job in the south. Oh well, guess that's an individual decision...maybe a job with no rights in the south is better than no job in New York with rights.