Who wants to pay more taxes? Of course, no one. So the two-month extension to the employer payroll tax is welcomed news to the ears of employees. Especially middle class workers. The bigger question is whether or not the payroll tax break will actually help or induce employers to add new jobs? While the tax break is a good thing, on its face, especially during the holiday period, the fact of the matter is that no significant job increase will come about because of the temporary extension [two months] of the employer paid payroll tax. It makes for good politics and it is definitely welcomed but -- no new jobs.

Let's face it, during the holiday season, employers do a lot of seasonal hiring anyway to beef up for the holiday season spending which spans Thanksgiving, Christmas and the start of the New Year. Get it? Employers beef up head count because of "demand." A demand for products and services brought on by the social pressures to spend all one has [and then some] on holiday gifts for which it takes most of the following year [for most people] to pay off. Bottom line -- demand equals jobs.

A payroll tax break is only a feel good. Instead of spending a lot of political capital on a payroll tax break, maybe we should try to figure out how to create a climate of product and service demand. You think? Some say government has no role in that matter. That might be a bit of a stretch, since the government has been a part of every major economic boom since modern day economics. Granted, the role of government has not been at the same height as that of the private sector. Then again, in this case the private sector is more so in a wait and see mode. Someone has to do something to keep the tribal members happy. Since, the private sector isn't doing much; the baton has been passed to the Feds.

So while the Feds are doing what little they can [to boost the economy] such as the payroll tax extension, the jury is out on the temporary tax cut extension actually creating jobs. One thing is for sure, current employees, across the country, are certainly glad to have more cash in the wallet during the holiday season.

Jobs are hard to come by these days; everyone knows this, especially the unemployed. So what is so bad, on the job, to make one even consider leaving? In a word - growth. If you are not going to grow on your current job, it may be time to go. That is at least what some people are thinking these days. Sounds like an arrogant position considering so many people wish they had a job. Here's the logic, should you settle for a paycheck now that will in the longer run prevent you from having a paycheck later via loss marketability of your skills since you aren't growing in your current position? Like most situations such as this, the only real answer is that - it depends. It depends on your situation.

For those who are close to retirement grow or go is a none issue for others it is real. At the end of the day if you're pretty close to retirement does it really matter if you growing your skills? Probably not. It is probably more important to simply collect a steady paycheck. Of course there are always the under achievers who have serious skill deficiencies that they do want to fix and simply want to milk the cow for all it is worth. Sounds like a HR hiring policy issue - you think? Why would you want to bring on under achievers except for the low wage benefits...susssh, don't tell Perry I said that. Somehow, Perrry thinks low wage jobs are the answer. As for the over/achievers, "riding the pine" and no playing time on the court is simply unacceptable. Can you blame them? After all most employees don't just want to earn a paycheck but they want to contribute in the process. What a terrible thing huh, you give them a paycheck and they are still complaining. Pull out the whipping post and show them a lesson or two. Bottom line is that yes, it's a tough career decision to say "grow" or "go" but it's one that has to be made or acknowledged as a none issue. That of course is an individual situation that must decided on a case-by-case basis.