Still Standing - Career Expert Offers Eight Strategies to Help Layoff Survivors Rebound

TORONTO, March 5 /CNW/ - Many professionals have felt the shock of layoffs during these difficult times -- including those who kept their jobs. According to administrative staffing firm OfficeTeam, employees who survive corporate downsizings often must manage heavier workloads and stay motivated while worrying that their jobs could be eliminated next. "It's natural for people to have mixed feelings about keeping their jobs when coworkers have been let go," said OfficeTeam executive director Robert Hosking.

"Layoff survivors often experience guilt about being the ones who stay while also working in an environment marked by uncertainty." According to Hosking, professionals who are spared from layoffs should not pretend it's business as usual. "This is a time to work closely with your manager to ensure your workload reflects company priorities," he said. "Also,try to stay positive. This can be challenging, as losing good people inevitably affects morale, but the more you can do to lift the collective spirit, the better off you will be."

OfficeTeam offers these tips for rebounding after company layoffs:

1. Make yourself indispensable. Focus your efforts on projects that help boost your firm's bottom line. Take courses to learn skills that allow you to contribute in new ways.

2. Build visibility. In uncertain times, it's important to be noticed for the right reasons. Volunteer for projects that no one wants to tackle or that fall outside your job description. Also provide periodic reports updating your supervisor on your achievements.

3. Adapt to change. Managers appreciate employees who can roll with the punches and maintain productivity when faced with adversity. Demonstrate your ability to stay positive, motivated and focused on doing good work.

4. Conduct an audit. Now is the time to be nimble. Evaluate current processes and offer suggestions for cutting costs or saving your company time or resources.

5. Avoid the rumour mill. While increased water cooler chatter is inevitable after layoffs, avoid contributing to the gossip. Also, don't believe everything you hear. If you have questions about your company's direction, ask your manager but understand he or she may not have all the answers.

6. Be generous with praise. After downsizing, employees may begin to doubt their abilities and question their own future with the company. If you are a manager, you may not be in a position to make promises of job security, but you can give direct reports positive feedback on their performance in challenging times.

7. Reach out. Offer assistance to those who have experienced a job loss by introducing them to your professional network and helping them with their job search.

8. Look out for yourself. Layoff survivors often experience increased workloads, which can lead to burnout. Talk to your manager about setting priorities, delegating projects or bringing in temporary professionals.

Hosking noted that workers need to be aware of the realities of their organizations. "Those who think their job may be in jeopardy should focus on reactivating their professional networks, taking stock of their skills and accomplishments, and putting together a strong resume," he said.

About OfficeTeam

OfficeTeam provides businesses with the highly skilled administrative professionals they need to maximize productivity, achieve cost efficiency and support full-time staff. The staffing firm has 325 locations worldwide and offers online job search services at www.officeteam.com.

What's 'In' and 'Out' in the Job Hunt?
Career Expert Provides Job Search Strategies for a Challenging Economy

TORONTO, March 11 /CNW/ - Monogrammed stationery. Rolodexes filled with business cards. The Sunday want ads. These, like many job search tools, have given way to the modern "must haves," according to Collin Maria Ezzell, division director of The Creative Group, a specialized staffing service placing creative, advertising, marketing and web professionals. "As competition for employment intensifies, job seekers who have a firm understanding of how to promote themselves through new technologies and tools will have an edge on the competition," says Ezzell. "Simply replying to online job postings and classified ads is no longer enough. Many jobs aren't advertised. That's why networking, both online and in person, can help candidates uncover opportunities."

Following are job-hunting tactics that are "in" and "out," according to The Creative Group:

Adds Ezzell, "The most successful applicants thoroughly research prospective employers and job descriptions before initiating contact. Those who tailor their application materials to these requirements and highlight how their skills and expertise can offer immediate value will have an advantage."

About The Creative Group

The Creative Group specializes in placing a range of highly skilled creative, advertising, marketing and web professionals with a variety of firms on a project and full-time basis. The Creative Group's internal account managers typically have prior experience working within the creative industry, which helps them better understand their clients' needs and their freelancers' unique talents. Headquartered in Menlo Park, Calif., the firm has offices in major markets across the United States and in Canada. More information, including online job-hunting services, candidate portfolios and The Creative Group's award-winning career magazine, can be found at www.creativegroup.com.

Tips For Smart Consumers

TORONTO, March 2 /CNW/ - In the face of increased reports of questionable telemarketing calls -- many from outside Canada -- the Canadian Marketing Association advises that a consumer's best defense against becoming a victim of fraud is to stay educated and be cautious when making buying decisions.

Protect Yourself

• Guard against questionable telemarketing practices and don't feel pressured to make an immediate decision on the phone. Don't hesitate to ask anyone who contacts you to pitch a product or for research or fundraising purposes to provide written information about their organization.

• Don't provide personal information unless you are sure that you are dealing with a reputable organization.

• Ask for valid references and a call-back number.

Contests

• You shouldn't have to make a purchase to enter a contest and the chances of winning the contest should be the same whether or not you made a purchase.

• Be wary of requests to pay fees for shipping, duty or taxes on prize winnings.

• Don't provide confidential banking information in order to claim their prize.

• Being asked to call a 1-900 number to claim a prize is fraud; there is always a charge to call a 1-900 number.

• If a deal or contest sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

• Being contacted about having won a prize in a contest that you don't remember entering is another warning sign of fraud.

Smart shopping

• If you are unsure about the reputation of a company you are about to do business with, check with the Better Business Bureau.

• Check the company's return policy to make sure you don't get stuck with faulty merchandise that you can't return.

• When making purchases online, make sure that the payments are being processed through a secure server and never send payment information via email.

• Check the company's privacy policy.

• Always keep a record of your transactions, including the date, the goods or service purchased and the method of payment.

• If an unfamiliar charge or duplicate transaction shows up on your credit card, call the credit card company immediately and ask them to investigate.

Look for the Logo

Look for the Canadian Marketing Association logo on an organization's print and online materials. That way, you'll know that you're dealing with a reputable organization that adheres to marketing best practices and the Association's Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. Further tips and resources can be found on the CMA website (www.the-cma.org).

With more than 800 corporate members, the Canadian Marketing Association (CMA) is the largest marketing association embracing Canada's major business sectors and all marketing disciplines, channels and technologies. CMA is the marketing community's leading advocate on the key public policy issues affecting both consumer and business-to-business marketers. As well, the Association is the principal provider of knowledge, marketing intelligence and professional development opportunities for marketers; and catalyst for networking and business opportunities within the marketing community.

Economy Down the Toilet ? – Measures to ease the flow !
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2009/09/c6712.html?view=print

Budget Bathroom Installation Made Easy With Saniflo - Despite Home Renovation Tax Credit, Money Still Tight in Tough Economy

GUELPH, ON, March 9 /CNW Telbec/ - With the recently announced Home Renovation Tax Credit there has never been a better time for homeowners to consider adding a new washroom to their homes. Tough economic times, however, have left many without the ability to spend large sums on reno projects.

Saniflo macerating toilet systems present a great opportunity for homeowners looking to take advantage of the HRTC, letting them add a bathroom while avoiding the high-cost of installing below floor drainage.

"Renovating or adding a second or third bathroom has always been a great way to increase the value of your home," says Michael Polzler, Executive Vice President, Regional Director, RE/MAX Ontario-Atlantic Canada. "In fact, bathrooms ranked amongst the most value-added upgrades by consumers in a recent survey conducted by our company." Often though, homeowners are forced
to compromise on either budget or bathroom positioning due to the high-cost of the work required to run drain lines.

Macerating toilets systems provide homeowners with a money-saving option when conventional plumbing fixtures are impossible or cost-prohibitive to install. These above-floor systems do not require expensive renovations, so walls and floors remain intact, and installation is quick and easy.
"Macerating toilet systems are a simple solution to what is perceived as a complex problem," says Daniel Cayer, National Sales Manager, Saniflo Canada. "With Saniflo a stylish bathroom can be added anywhere in the home, from the basement to the attic, and installation takes as little as half a day." Macerating toilets systems route flush water through the back of the toilet instead of down through a floor drain. The systems use a fast-rotating blade to liquefy waste and toilet paper in the flush water, which is then discharged under pressure through small-diameter 3/4-inch piping. Dependant on the system chosen, waste can be pumped up to 18 feet vertically or 150 feet horizontally to a drain line or plumbing stack. This feature lets homeowners add a new bathroom exactly where it is most convenient.

Unlike traditional plumbing fixtures, macerating systems require only a water line to connect to the toilet and an electrical outlet to power the unit. Many systems also feature additional drainage inlets, allowing for the connection of a sink and bath/shower in addition to the toilet. The result is
a full bathroom installed quickly and economically on top of any finished surface.

SANIFLO CANADA offers a complete line of macerating toilet systems and gray water pumping systems for residential and commercial applications. Saniflo markets through independent sales agents across Canada, and the product line is currently available at distributor and dealer locations throughout the country. www.saniflo.ca

Statins help elderly as well as young after stroke
By Megan Rauscher Megan Rauscher Fri Mar 6,
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090306/hl_nm/us_statins_stroke/print

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Elderly people who've suffered a recent stroke benefit almost as much from treatment with a "statin" drug as do younger stroke patients, researchers report in the medical journal Neurology. The cholesterol-lowering statins reduce the risk of heart disease. A study called SPARCL (for Stroke Prevention by Aggressive Reduction in Cholesterol Levels) was performed to see if statins also reduced stroke risk.

The study compared the risks and benefits of taking high-dose atorvastatin (brand name Lipitor) versus an inactive placebo for patients who had recently had a stroke or a so-called TIA, or transient ischemic attack. TIAs are sometimes called mini-strokes, but experts say the condition is far from trivial.

In the study there were about 2250 patients who were at least 65 years old and around 2500 who were younger than 65. Cholesterol levels were similar in the two age-groups at the start of the study, and levels fell to a similar degree with atorvastatin treatment.

Subsequently, the occurrence of a fatal or nonfatal stroke was reduced by 26 percent in younger subjects with atorvastatin compared to placebo, and by 10 percent in elderly subjects, Dr. Seemant Chaturvedi of the Wayne State University/Detroit Medical Center Stroke Program and colleagues report.

They also found the high-dose atorvastatin regimen was well tolerated by both younger and older subjects. "Clinicians should strongly consider using statins post-stroke or TIA regardless of patient age," Chaturvedi concluded in comments to Reuters Health. The authors of a commentary published with the study note that doctors are currently less likely to prescribe statins for the elderly, "reflecting a broad perception that it is too late for such a treatment to make a difference in the elderly."

The message from the SPARCL analysis "is clear," the commentators conclude. "Whenever possible, stroke and TIA patients, even the elderly ones, should be given a high-potency, high-dose statin."

SOURCE: Neurology, February 24, 2009.

Adult learners - Key to a successful economy

TORONTO, March 9 /CNW/ - International Adult Learners' Week wrapped up on March 8 with activities in every province and territory in Canada, highlighting the importance of lifelong learning and the diversity of adult learning opportunities across Canada.

"Research has shown that lifelong learning is critical for people to be able to take advantage of economic opportunities and have meaningful participation in society," said Shirley Bond, Minister of Education for British Columbia, the lead jurisdiction on a pan-Canadian literacy action plan developed by the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC). "We need to celebrate and encourage lifelong learning, which helps adults improve their health and well-being, diversify their skills to adapt to a changing economy, and be able to create positive changes within their communities."

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) officially launched International Adult Learners' Week in 2000 to promote a culture of lifelong learning as a way to help the citizens of the world achieve their full potential.

"As Canada's workforce shrinks, this week is about the importance of lifelong learning and keeping up your skills," said New Brunswick education minister and CMEC chair, Kelly Lamrock. "By raising awareness, building partnerships, and leveraging access to resources and services, my colleagues and I are working together to provide Canadians of all ages the opportunities they need to develop their skills to improve their lives."

Learn Canada 2020 is CMEC's priority declaration, and it highlights adult learning and skills development as one of the four pillars of lifelong learning. Learn Canada 2020 identifies the need for a more accessible, diversified, and integrated system that supports adult learning in Canada. CMEC will further emphasize the importance of adult learning and literacy at the upcoming Sixth UNESCO International Conference on Adult Education, which will take place in Brazil from May 19 to 22, 2009.

To learn more about adult literacy and learning opportunities, visit www.literacy.cmec.ca.