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Cee Bee's Latest Working News

Here are this week's picks in working news:

Avoiding hiring U.S. workers

Dry cleaner wins in $54M case

Ann Coulter at it again

More than 700 workers laid off in 4 days

Teen 'surgeon' flees police

Fashion industry icon dies

Horse-kicking jockey suspended, fined

WWE wrestler involved in murder-suicide

Professional competitive eater has jaw injury

Death Grips

Happy National Handshake Day!

You heard me right - it's National Handshake Day, according to Chase's Calendar of Events.

Take today to perfect your grip - workplace/career experts Pamela J. Holland and Marjorie Brody (also co-authors of Help! Was That a Career Limiting Move?) offer 10 nightmarish handshakes to avoid:

1. The “macho cowboy”… is the almost bone-crunching clasp many businessmen use to shake hands. What are they trying to prove, anyway? There’s no need to demonstrate your physical strength when shaking another person’s hand.
2. The wimp… is usually delivered by men who are afraid to “hurt the little lady” when shaking women’s hands. Modern female professionals expect their male counterparts to convey the same respect they’d show their male colleagues.
3. The “dead fish”… conveys no power. While there’s no need to revert to the macho cowboy death grip, a firm clasp is more powerful than one that barely grabs the hand.
4. The “four finger”… is when the person’s hand never meets your palm, and instead clasps all four fingers, crushing them together.
5. The cold and clammy… when it feels like you’re shaking hands with a snake. Warm up your hand first before grabbing someone else’s
6. The sweaty palm… is pretty self-explanatory, and pretty gross. Talcum powder to the rescue.
7. The “I’ve got you covered” grip… when the other person covers your hand with his or her left hand as if your shake is secretive.
8. The “I won’t let go”… seems to go on for eternity because the other person won’t drop his or her hand. After two or three pumps, it’s time to let go. “It’s a lot like a kiss – you know when it’s over,” Brody says.
9. The “southpaw”… when the person uses the left hand to shake the right hand has food or a drink. Always carry your drink and plate with your left hand to keep your right one free for meet and greets.
10. The “ringed torture”… when the person’s rings hurt your hand. Try to limit the number of rings you wear on the right hand to only one or tow and be mindful of any that have large stones.

Cee Bee's Latest Working News

9 firefighters die in fire

Isaiah Washington up in arms

Young workers being babied

Worker fired for reporting mice problem at Pizza Hut

Journalists give cash to politicians

Adam 'Pacman' Jones faces felony charges

Leaps of faith

I've come across a few articles in the news lately about people taking a "leap of faith" when it comes to their job.

In some cases, people realize their current occupations just aren't doin' it for them anymore. Or sometimes, these folks have had an underlying passion for something unrelated to their current job, but for whatever reason - fear, lack of resources or whatever -they haven't acted on it.

Ditching corporate America to pursue personal passions - anything from animals to quilting to art - can be risky business. It usually requires deep pockets, lots of patience and plenty of determination.

That being said, it can be done.

For example, Jill Lurato changed the face of pet care in parts of New York and New Jersey. She spent 15 years working for a Fortune 50 company, dealing with stressful commutes, downsizings, mergers and other day-to-days in the corporate world. Finally, she developed a "plan B," which included pouring her passion for pets into a lucrative business endeavor by launching an at-home petsitting and dog-walking service. She now enjoys a fun and healthy lifestyle, while gaining financial security and professional independence.

Lurato is one of many examples of what can happen when you take a leap of faith with your career.

Follow these tips if you're feeling like taking the jump:

• Learn more. Research the field or passion you want to pursue. Sign up for classes that will give you the necessary background, education or training you need to excel in that industry. Investigate levels of pay and where your skill level would land you in that spectrum.
• Find a mentor. Find someone else who has taken the same leap of faith you're pondering. Ask them what they did to get there, what obstacles they faced and any advice they have to offer you.
• Track obstacles. Ask yourself what's keeping you from pursuing your passion. Are you lacking financial support? Education and training? Make a plan for how you can tackle each of the challenges you face.
• Seek expert advice. Find a career counselor to help you make a plan to take the leap into a new career. Hire a financial planner to help you budget while you make the financial sacrifices necessary to take the plunge.

Good luck!

The week in news

The latest working news:

Police Brutality

Boomers put off retirement

CEO's make big bucks

TV Anchor makes inappropriate comments on air - on accident

Thefts on the rise at Wal-Mart

Extreme workers

Commuters go it alone despite fuel prices

Leaps of faith in the workplace

Happy Father's Day, Dads!

(well, in a few days...)

Dad's have always been expected to bring home the bacon, but in today's modern workplace, mom and dad are both doing their fair share. In fact, according to a new CareerBuilder.com survey, 37 percent of working dads would stay at home if their spouse or partner made enough money to support the family and 38 percent would take a pay-cut to spent more time with their kids.

Are you bitter because dad missed dance recitals, soccer games  and graduation because of work? Twenty-four percent of working dads feel work has negatively impacted their relationship with their kids. In the past year, almost HALF (48 percent) of dads have missed a significant event in their child's life due to work. One-in-five have missed four events or more.

Some other significant findings about working dads from the survey:

• 27 percent spend more than 50 hours a week on work and 8 percent spend more than 60 hours.
• 25 percent spend less than one hour with their kids each day. Forty-two percent spenc less than 2 hours each day.

Some dads say their companies haven't caught on to the new trend of flexible work environments. Thirty-six percent say their company doesn't offer flexible hours, telecommuting, job sharing and more.

Are you a working dad looking for a healthy balance between family time and work?  Richard Castellini, Vice President of Consumer Marketing at CareerBuilder.com and father of three, offers these five tips:

1. Keep in touch. While you're at work, make a quick call in between meetings & projects tell your kids you're thinking about them.
2. Plan a kid-friendly potluck. If co-workers in your department have kids, ask your boss if you can have a kid-friendly potluck for lunch on Friday. Not only does this allow the kids to spend extra time with you, but it also gives the employees in your department time to get to know each other better.
3. Give your undivided attention. When you are home spending time with your family, turn off your cell, walk away from your e-mails and give them your full attention. If you bring work home, do it after the kids have gone to bed.
4. Keep one calendar. Schedule baseball games and play recitals on the same calendar you use for meetings and travel to make sure you never double-book yourself. Save your vacation days for those special events in your children's lives, so you're there and in the front row.
5. Make time. At least once a week, schedule a family activity that involves interaction such as games, bike rides, trips to the playground, etc. Also make sure to schedule a date night for you and your significant other.

Cee Bee's Picks in Latest Working News

It seemed to be a big week in celebrity working news... but that's not all!

Mom to C.E.O.

Paris back to jail?

Equal versus Splenda

'Borat' draws another lawsuit

Job outlook looks 'grey' for TV star

Does it pay to have a cool job?

I always wonder - who is the person that writes the blurb on the back of my  new DVD? Whose voice am I listening to in the movie theater during previews?  Whose job is it to map out the do's and don'ts of traveling abroad?

These things don't come about by themselves - it's someone's job to do them. If you think about it, there is a job for almost everything. Some jobs are awesome, others are awful, most are just enjoyable enough to get us through the day.

What about people who have those really "fun," "cool" jobs? You know, the people who love talking about their job because they know others will "ooo" and "ahhh" at the cool factor of their work?

What I've always wondered is, do they pay well?

Check out these fun jobs and how much you'll earn:

Travel Agent
Why it's cool: Travel from your desk by making flight and hotel accommodations, recommending tourist attractions and restaurants and providing travel advice to clients - all while reaping benefits like reduced rates for transportation and lodging.
What it pays: $27,640

Sports Agent
Why it's cool: Agents get to haggle with money for a living. Securing and negotiating employment and endorsement deals as well as handling public relations matters for clients are among the day-to-day for these folks.
What it pays: $64,100

Wedding Planner
Why it's cool: Helping brides plan the wedding logistics, from choosing colors to church decorations to party favors, allows you to hone your people-helping skills and have fun at the same time.
What it pays: $30,300

Sommelier
Why it's cool: How cool would it be to know, off the top of your head, that oysters and Chablis pair well, or to be able to go to a meeting where tasting wine was the entire agenda?
What it pays: $110,000 at upscale restaurants

Impersonator
Why it's cool: Masquerade as your favorite pop icon, political figure or even as the opposite sex in this creative profession.
What it pays: $23,500

Groomer
Why it's cool: Perfect for animal lovers, groomers are responsible for maintaining animals' (usually a dog or cat) appearance. They give baths, manicures and haircuts to our furry friends, saving us time and trouble.
What it pays: $60,000

(for the full story, read Fun Jobs : Do They Pay?)

Cee Bee's Latest Working News

Woman sues over vomit

Dispute over chili sauce results in shooting

Domino's Pizza worker gets robbed - and asked out

Rosie leaves View early

'Dr. Death' released from prison