Staff reductions prompted by the economic downturn have left many managers scrambling to find ways to get more out of their remaining employees. In a well-intentioned attempt to balance productivity and cost-savings, however, mistakes are often made that contribute instead to a decline in staff motivation and loyalty.

The good news: You accepted a terrific job offer. The potential bad news: You must supervise the internal runner-up for your spot.

A major change in the workplace is always unsettling, even for financial professionals who accept it as a staple of today's business world. But when the impending change involves welcoming a new supervisor, it can be especially unnerving.

Performance reviews are a standard process at most companies, as managers complete forms supplied by their human resources group and meet with employees to discuss their feedback.

Professionals didn't need the government's official declaration that the economy is in recession to know that these are difficult times.

Most people know how much the Internet has changed the way job seekers search for a new position, but not everyone is aware of the new opportunities it has created for employers as well.

Signing bonuses, window views, and several weeks' vacation may be flashier benefits, but you shouldn't overlook disability insurance when shopping around for a job. What happens if you flip over your bicycle handlebars or are diagnosed with a serious illness and have to miss work? Will you lose your job? Will you still get paid? The key, we've learned, is to ask.

Going from employee to manager is like taking a quantum leap.

An employee asked to take on managerial responsibilities ought to be ready to make the case for a promotion after three months of solid performance as a manager.

A carefully-worded and dispassionate statement clearing up your actions can increase your odds of success.

Candidates looking to step back and readjust their work-life balance face a challenge communicating that to potential employers.

If you have a knack for writing, graphic design, web coding, or other creative pursuits, then freelancing might be an appealing option.

People make New Year's resolutions with the best intentions, but they often fail for lack of a solid action plan. If you've resolved to move your career forward into a new industry, occupation or level of responsibility, increase your chances of success with this three-part action plan focused on results.

As a manager, you have a direct impact on the well-being of your employees. While maintaining an open-door policy and listening to the concerns of those you supervise are important acts that help establish a positive working relationship with staff members, there are additional steps you can take to motivate and inspire your employees. Following are some tips.

In any disaster, there are opportunities...and rewards for the ready.

Hollywood stars have glamorous lives, beautiful spouses and stratospheric paychecks. But between their on-again-off-again romances, legal troubles and paparazzi stalkers, sometimes it's not the lives of the rich and famous that make us seethe with envy. Instead, it's the glamorous lives of their movie characters that really have us turning green.

Nearly 40 years after "flower power," body art has seen a resurgence. Men and women flaunt pierced navels at the beach, sterling silver glinting in the sun. Tattoo parlors have popped up in suburban areas in response to the demands of the younger generations, while some Baby Boomers are reviving their flirtations with their inky past.

Sure, she can baste the pants off of most people in any room, but what can Martha Stewart teach them about ancient Egyptian artifacts? Well, probably more than you think. After all, Stewart holds a bachelor's degree in history and architectural history from Barnard College, a background that doesn't usually guarantee a future as a home design expert, business CEO and reality-television star. But that didn't stop Stewart. Read on for more surprising celebrity majors.

Do what you love and the money will follow is great in theory, but the truth of the matter is, certain jobs and fields simply pay more.

It's one of the simplest things you can do. Your mother mother told you to always say it. By expressing it -- or not -- you can change a person's mood and perception of you in an instant. Who knew two words could be so powerful?

It's 6 a.m. and you are about to throw the alarm clock out the window. It's too cold out, you're tired, you had one glass of wine too many last night, you've really got to clean your house, and, most importantly, you haven't had some real bonding time with your couch lately.

Think it's entertaining to watch MTV's "Pimp My Ride" turn a beater car into a showpiece? Imagine seeing a 10 x 10-foot cubicle transformed into a vehicle for productivity and advancement! Better yet, try it out for yourself. Here are nine easy and affordable ways to make over your cube and improve your image and outlook at work:

Fantasy baseball? Sign me up. The Kentucky Derby? My money is on the long shot. NBA finals? I've got $10 on the Bulls. When will Abby have her baby? Huh?!?

Ever suspect your boss was put on this earth just to make your job harder? If so, you're not alone.

"Micromanagement" describes a situation in which all aspects of a workday, down to the most insignificant tasks, are observed by an overbearing manager. Luckily, there are some steps you can take to help keep a micromanager in check.

When the prices of commodities are booming and expenditure is increasing in every manner, it becomes essential to make some planning for your income.

It can take four to 14 months to find the right job... and fewer than 90 days to lose it. According to executive coach Linda Seale, most professional and managerial dismissals are due to failure to understand and fit into a company's culture.

Too often in life, we fail. We fail not because we set our goals to high and miss achieving our aspirations. Instead, we fail because we set our dreams too low and we achieve them.

From Orange County to Wisteria Lane, TV characters always seem to be well-dressed, debt-free and driving expensive cars up to their pristine homes. But despite their alluring jobs, most of these characters would be solidly middle-class in the real world. Take a look at how much some TV characters would really be bringing home each year.

Job candidates rarely admit to being fired for poor performance... and they might just be telling the truth. A Harvard University study found that for every dismissal based on failure to perform, there are two dismissals due to personality and communication problems.

You've heard of the dog who ate homework, but what about the cat who unplugged the alarm clock? These days, people are getting very creative when they don't want to go to work.

Time to dust off the whoopee cushions and hand buzzers. April Fools' Day is here and there's no better place for wisecracks and shenanigans than at work.

Are you a copywriter trapped in an accountant's body? Or are you a sales manager who longs to be a clinical therapist? Not everyone gets things right coming out of the gate. Our first job tends to be doing something we may or may not have real talent for, in an industry that doesn't really interest us.

It was Merriam-Webster Online's No. 1 word of 2004, and Fortune magazine named it the No. 1 tech trend for 2005. Two surveys by the Pew Internet & American Life Project in November 2004 found that 8 million people say they have created one and almost one-third of Internet users say they read one. But it's still a mystery: Six-of-ten Internet users say they don't know what "blog" means.

Five true tales!

There are few things as frustrating as a poorly run meeting. Especially when all you can think about is the "real" work you could be getting done if you were not stuck in the conference room. Here are some basic guidelines to help you manage your meeting time.

Congratulations! You got your diploma, aced the interview and landed a job offer... now what?

Lured by convenience and seemingly easy money, more and more people are falling prey to job scams. Particularly vulnerable are people who want or need to work from home and those who are looking supplement their income. Those who fall victim can suffer serious consequences including debt collection and criminal charges.

We've been waiting months to store away our away our scarves and sweaters. But there's a down side to the balmy weather: Even if you take off your suit jacket, the shirt underneath it is plastered to your sweaty back before you board your train.

After graduating with a degree, what's the next step to launch your long-anticipated career?

Political correctness does not just mean watching what you say. In its best sense, being politically correct means learning about others and respecting the differences that make each of us unique. In the workplace, there are steps you can take to make sure you are not only following the "PC rules," but are also making your life richer.

What would you do to get your dream job? Bribe the employer with food or gifts? Hit on the hiring manager? Become a stalker?

We've all been through it. The waiting -- endless waiting -- for the phone to ring with the hope that, maybe, just maybe, one of the resumes you sent out this week will get through to the right person... and he'll like what he sees.

What is the worst outfit ever worn to a job interview? For a career services director at the University of Chicago, it was the applicant who sported a Madras tie as a belt and a patterned cotton hat.

When you walk into an interview, remember this: It only takes 30 seconds to make a lasting impression.

Science backs up what the etiquette books have been saying all along: A firm handshake helps make a good first impression for both males and females.

Warning: Too much cleavage can be hazardous to your career.... and there's science to prove it.

We go to see movies to be entertained and get a temporary break from reality. Sometimes, though, the characters and situations on screen seem eerily familiar.

For most of us, summer has been synonymous with vacation, long lazy days and time off. But the summer provides great opportunities to help your job search.

Obtaining PMP certification will give you the project management skills to excel at your company. These skills will make you a more productive and valued contributor to current and future employers.

No Experience Means No Job and No Job Means No Experience...

Job fairs are a great way to shop for new job opportunities, network and make personal contacts with recruiters at various organizations. Here are some techniques recommended by experts to ensure that your performance at the fair doesn't turn into a circus:

Downsized, restructured, displaced, canned, terminated - any way you put it, you're still out of a job and it's still not the easiest subject to talk about in an interview.

A number of compensation plans include the use of a company car as a benefit. Sometimes the car is necessary for the position, other times, it's considered an incentive.

Do you remember the days when a real, live person used to answer the phone? When there were no "phone trees," no push button menus, and people actually used the telephone to talk to each other?

Come on, admit it. You sneak a peak at your horoscope now and then, don't you? And even though horoscopes aren't always correct, every once in a while you read one so dead-on it makes you reconsider your feelings about this whole astrology thing.

After four (or more) years of college, that diploma is so close you can taste it. And that means a bitter reality: Ready or not, it's time to find a job.

Forging a career path is a long process. It involves evaluating your goals, weighing your options, making difficult decisions, and learning from your experiences so that you can reevaluate and make new choices. There is, however, a shortcut on this path. People all around you have made similar decisions and learned the lessons-and their wisdom is there for the taking.

Sick leave policies vary from company to company, but often the employee bears the responsibility to call in each day he or she is absent.

Many parents of newborn infants contemplate returning to work on a part-time basis at first. So is it better to submit a written proposal or to take your manager aside and start with a conversation?

In the course of a job search, it's very common for job seekers to locate openings that closely match their skills and experience but are not a perfect fit. So what do you do when the description fits you to a tee but your skills fall just a little short?

When it comes to salary negotiations, a two-letter word can cost you thousands of dollars.

You want a career that will make you happy, but you don't know how to find it? Two psychologists offer advice on where to begin.

Most people are hesitant to make follow-up phone calls because they don't want to pester their colleagues. However, persistence can prove you're serious about a position or diligent in your work.

If a coworker is unable to show her fabulous side, she could need some coaxing. Draw her out like a stylist highlighting a client's best features. Or, give her something to do.

Having sensitive information about your coworkers can wear a conscience down. Should you hoard the information? Pass it along to the grapevine? Hint to your coworker that it's always a good idea to keep one's resume current? They call it "dirt" for a reason.

There are many reasons to consider relocating for your career - but some make a lot more sense than others. Here are some "right" reasons to plan a move for your career.

What happens when your faced with taking an uninteresting job in a great company? How to deal with choosing between the company and the job.

Your job title may be a lot of fancy words, but it won't translate into more money or more responsibility unless your job description matches up.

After graduation, formal career guidance becomes nonexistent and young professionals are often on their own to navigate the new world of work. An increasing number of people are seeking answers to their career-related questions from online career coaches. But while cyber-coaches can provide a multitude of advantages, they can't help with every aspect of the career search. Learn about the advantages and disadvantages of working with a coach online.

What is a career coach and do I need one?

If you're unhappy with your job, it might be time for a career transition. Results from an Experience survey provide insight into making the change.

Your baby face has never been such a liability. Young professionals with "fresh energy and new perspective" are being tapped for management positions, but age-related skepticism is a challenge for these new managers.

Everyone enters into a business with good intentions, but conflicts do arise. Covering these bases will help you and your partners create a healthy working relationship.

You're filled with visionary ideas about everything from streamlining your company's file system to expanding into international markets. Whatever your status within the company, you should learn how much space you have to share ideas before you inadvertently overstep your bounds.

All it takes is a casual lunch here and a happy hour there, and before you know it, you have yourself an office relationship. But beware: Secrecy, intimacy, and risk are generally not recommended tools for career advancement.

With the workplace becoming the most likely place for Americans to meet romantic partners, what exactly are the rules about fraternizing with officemates? While policies vary company-to-company, here are some guidelines.

Confused about which medical plan to choose? This mini-guide will explain the basics of your health care insurance options, including the difference between HMOs, PPOs, and indemnity coverage, and give you some smart suggestions for evaluating and selecting a plan that's right for you.

Those who say they "don't have a creative bone" in their bodies, listen up: It's not about being a creative-type; it's about applying creativity to what you do.

Perhaps when you think of "grammar," you remember diagramming sentences in the third grade. Thankfully, reviewing grammar doesn't have to be an eye-glazing experience.

Do you want your body language in the interview to say, "I just told my boss a lie about where I was going and then changed in my car"?

Face-to-face is a great way to hear good news, such as news of a raise. But you've got to get it in writing too.

You can run the numbers to compare whether you'll be better off with one total compensation package versus another. But you've also got to account your comfort level with the mix of types of pay, and the associated risks.

As contrary as it may seem, most people in the U.S. workforce have some choice in what they do for a living and where they work. That means most workers can hold out for a job with some degree of intangible benefits such as personal fulfillment, positive corporate culture, and meaning.

Are training programs corporate boot camp? Will you make it through alive? Survivors from the best programs share their experiences from behind the lines.

Are you an email addict? Know the signs!

Your hard work has paid off; you've secured a new challenge and our well on your way in your new career. Congratulations, your journey to career fulfillment is now complete, or is it?

Benefits represent an additional 25 to 67 percent on top of base pay, so if your employer's base pay appears to be lower than what you could get somewhere else, make sure you look at the total compensation package.

If you have to return a signing bonus because you left the company before a specified time was up, you might still be able to recoup the money.

For someone going from contractor to full-time employee, the difference in pay depends on how expenses were tracked and on the responsibilities of the full-time position.

Startups are great places to gain job responsibility, but sometimes you have to make a tradeoff between responsibility and pay.

The decision to change careers is a difficult one, but a career change can be rewarding if you make honest decisions and take the right steps.

When managers create new positions, they sometimes consider moves to be "lateral" that in reality bear additional responsibilities. The key to assessing the value of a job is to look closely at the associated tasks and responsibilities.

Generally, it's not the employee who is exempt or nonexempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act, but the job.

You arrive at a new job and notice that every coworker has a nickname, first name, last name; sometimes an honorific, a hyphen here or there, an accent and a diacritical mark. If only their parents, like mine, had understood the brand equity inherent in the one-word name.

It's a close call whether the trading room floor on the day of IPO or Vanity Fair's Academy Awards bash is more thrilling. After the awards you can sip champagne and dance new Latin steps in dresses made of scarves. But at your own IPO, you are clearly a winner.

It's never a good idea to compare your performance - or your pay - to that of a former employee, because you don't know what experience he or she brought to the job.

It's impossible to know what to expect from your first job. Here is some perspective on your professional debut, as well as some advice for getting the most from your first job.

As traditionally "corporate" cultures become more horizontal and intimate, soft skills are becoming essential to the success of businesses. Employees must be able to work as part of a team, find and communicate solutions, and be effective managers.

Startups often let employees take on broad, diverse responsibilities. But how does startup work experience translate to a larger organization?

When looking for a company that offers good benefits, decide which benefits are most important to you and check out some of the determinants as well.

One of the most cherished aspects of telecommuting for workers and employers alike is the productivity that comes from maximizing your time and working in a convenient location. Who are the 21 million people who have the luxury of working in their pajamas every day?

It's all negotiable. Every new job - every performance review, in fact - is an opportunity to negotiate base salary, various kinds of bonuses, benefits, stock options, and other incentives that add to job satisfaction and provide financial security.

You can make your performance review a "rewarding" experience for your boss (and for you!) Here's how.

Find out how you can use volunteerism as a career-planning tool.

Compensation is more than just base pay. It is a total package that should address your overall well-being - financial, physical, emotional, even spiritual. As companies compete for talent in tight labor markets, many are rolling out better benefits to attract and retain the best workers.

Forty years ago, economists predicted that the U.S. workforce was heading into a crisis of leisure - that people would soon have so much free time, they wouldn't know what to do with it. As the impact of technology made more and more human labor redundant, it was widely assumed that a four-hour workday, or a three-day week, or even a six-month year would eventually be the norm.

So, would you recognize a generous time off policy if you saw one? If you had to establish a time off policy for your company, what questions would you ask?

Updated laws and legislation protect members of the uniformed services from certain workplace uncertainties, allowing reservists and guardsmen to leave their civilian posts to serve their country without having to worry about job security, delayed compensation, revoked benefits, or other adverse employer reactions.

This mini-guide will explain the basics of your health care insurance options and give you some smart suggestions for evaluating and selecting a plan that's right for you.

What do you do when personalities clash in the office, or when your coworker takes credit for something you did, misses a deadline, or just plain annoys you?

Leaving a job can be a nerve-wracking experience, but if you follow some basic rules of workplace etiquette, giving notice doesn't have to be an overwhelming task.

If you learn to evaluate your performance and skills honestly, you'll be able to determine whether a boss or coworker's criticism is warranted.