By Miriam Salpeter, GreatPlaceJobs Career Expert
www.keppiecareers.com

Is it just me, or do many movies for young people tend to have a career theme? I first noticed this back when I watched the Bee Movie. (I blogged about this HERE), and then again with Bedtime Stories -  a comedy about a hotel handyman (Adam Sandler) whose life changes when the outrageous bedtime stories he tells his niece and nephew start to actually come true. (Am I the only one who thought that movie was a career story?) Now, it’s Night At the Museum – Battle of the Smithsonian. Larry (Ben Stiller) realizes that running his own business isn’t half as much fun as hanging out with museum objects that come to life at night. Concluding that happiness is the most important thing in life, Larry makes a move.

What about you…Have you thought about the most important things in life? Given any thought to how happy (or unhappy) you are in your current job?

Alexander Kjerulf, author of Happy Hour is 9 to 5 – How to Love Your Job, Love Your Life and Kick Butt at Work, notes that studies show that people who pursue the career they like, rather than the career they think will make them rich, are more likely to become millionaires. However, when he studied U.S. workers, he found that “You get paid to do your job, not to like it,” seems to be the attitude of most US managers and workplaces. Further, he found that American employees “seem to be willing participants in this arrangement..When I ask Americans what makes them happy at work, they rarely talk about the work itself – many tend to see it as a means to an end, rather than as something to enjoy.”

He also reminds us that “happy companies make more cash.” This agrees with research that award-winning workplaces outperform and weather the recession better than their counterparts.

Alexander offers these questions to help evaluate your work happiness:

• What went really well for you at work?
• What did you do that you’re proud of?
• Who have you helped out?
• How have you grown and developed professionally?
• How have you grown and developed personally at work?
• Who has really appreciated your work?
• Who has helped you out and been there for you?
• Who have you admired at work?
• What have been some fun moments at work?
• Which 5 things from the last few months that you would you like to have more of?

Is it important for you to be happy at work? ARE you happy? Or, is it time to consider a change? Award-winning employers, such as the ones who post positions on GreatPlaceJobs, are less likely to experience lay-offs during a downturn. Now you can search our database for free and download a free toolbar to help you get started: http://greatplacejobs.ourtoolbar.com/

You deserve a job with a terrific company!

Great news for job seekers looking for opportunities with award-winning employers. GreatPlaceJobs.com now offers two search options for anyone hoping to find a great job!

Job seekers will have FREE access to all job listings that are more than 3 days old or unlimited access to all job listings as soon as they are posted for only $27.95 for a 3-month membership! (Premium members will also receive a free copy of the ebook, Dig Your Job (a $9.99 value)!  Dig Your Job includes over 200 ideas to help you find a better job or keep the one you have.)

Because there is no charge for companies to post jobs, GreatPlaceJobs is the most comprehensive source of real jobs at the nation’s best employers. Each month, GreatPlaceJobs typically features tens of thousands of new open jobs at great companies.

Why should you take some of your precious time to search on GreatPlaceJobs?

Top-ranked employers have proven themselves to be much more recession-proof than the average company. Award winning companies are much more likely to survive the current recession without suffering layoffs or a bankruptcy. A recent study found that, in 2008, companies recognized as great workplaces conducted layoffs half as often as a general sample of other companies. In addition, excellent employers had a 27.4 percent higher revenue growth rate during the third quarter of 2008.

As a member of GreatPlaceJobs, you’ll save time in your job search because you’ll see only real, open jobs at certified great companies. Never again will you find yourself trolling through endless lists of low-quality job listings on other, less-targeted job boards!

GreatPlaceJobs can help make your job search easier, faster and smarter.

• 28,340 new jobs in the last 30 days.
• Only jobs at award-winning excellent employers are featured.
• More than 1,300 companies approved as great employers. All companies are individually qualified and approved before being added to GreatPlaceJobs.

Add the GreatPlaceJobs toolbar!

You deserve a job with a terrific company! Download a free toolbar to help you get started: http://greatplacejobs.ourtoolbar.com/

The Workplace Bullying Institute’s recent newsletter reminds us of the old catch phrase, “lean and mean,” used to describe companies laying off workers due to tough times. They ask if it is a purposeful PR move that companies don’t tend to refer to themselves in that way today, when, as the newsletter points out, the liklihood is that many companies are “meaner” as fewer people are required to do the work of many.

The newsletter also notes:

Mistreatment by bullying is four times more prevalent than illegal forms of harassment that require discrimination on the basis of race, sex or gender. Illegal discrimination is a form of bullying. The newest statistics about discrimination complaints filed with the federal EEOC (for the year ending in Sept. 2008, a period before the huge economic collapse) shows that complaints rose by 15% over the previous year — a new record of 95,402 private sector claims. Tops on the list were 35.6% race discrimination claims (up 11% ), second at 34% were retaliation claims (up 22.6%), and third at 25% were age discrimination claims which rose the most (up 28.7%).

According to a nationwide poll by the Employment Law Alliance, close to 45 percent of American workers say they have worked for a bad boss or have experienced workplace abuse. And a recent Florida State University study proves what experts have believed for years: Employees don’t leave their job or company, they change careers to leave their boss. It turns out that a good working environment is often more important to job satisfaction than pay. In fact, eBossWatch, a service that allows you to rate your boss (and warn others of a boss who bullies), was founded to offer workers an opportunity to share information about being bullied.

The researchers also found that employees with an abusive boss experienced higher levels of exhaustion, job tension, nervousness and depressed moods.

You may be surprised, but the best companies still have job opportunities, even in a downturn. These companies have policies to protect workers and focus on their well being, which makes it less likely for a bullying boss to be successful.  Join GreatPlaceJobs to search for opportunities in award-winning organizations. When you join, you get a free copy of G.L. Hoffman’s ebook, Dig Your Job (a $9.99 value)! The book includes over 200 real-world tested ideas to help you find a better job or keep the one you have.

Stay tuned tomorrow for tips on handling a workplace bully!

We have written about the fact that award-winning employers, because of their happy and engaged workforce, tend to outperform their competitors, both in good times and in bad, and research shows that great workplaces are less likely to lay employees off.  Here’s more proof why job seekers should be focusing their efforts on top-ranked employers such as those featured in GreatPlaceJobs.

NuStar Energy, one of the nation’s largest asphalt refiners and an award-winning great workplace, announced that each of its employees would receive a bonus equivalent to at least two week’s pay after the company reported record revenues and profits in 2008.  NuStar’s CEO also reaffirmed the company’s commitment to its long standing no-layoff policy.

Curt Anastasio, NuStar’s CEO, said, “We’re very proud to reward our employees with this well-deserved bonus in a year that has been plagued by economic turmoil.  At NuStar, if any of us get a bonus, all of us get a bonus.  It’s just like our no-layoff policy. We have never had a layoff and never will because we firmly believe that it is our people who not only contribute to our success, but get the company through difficult times.

“Our employees know that if they work hard they will always have a good job. This is a sacred trust first…and it is not only the cornerstone of our company’s employee-first culture, but also of our success.”

NuStar achieved revenues of $4.8 billion in 2008 despite the economic crisis, more than 225% higher than in 2007.  The company earned record profits of $225 million last year, an increase of over 1.5 times the amount earned in 2007.

Source: Savannah Morning News

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Another in a series of posts highlighting GreatPlaceJobs’ workplaces.
By Natalie Roig, GreatPlaceJobs Research Assistant

W.L. Gore & Associates was founded in 1958 by Bill and Vieve Gore. W.L. Gore was founded to find opportunities for fluorocarbon polymers and polytetrafluoroethylene. W.L. Gore has over 45 different locations found all over the world. Their products provide innovated solutions in next generation electronics, medical products and high performance fabrics. W.L. Gore created next generation cable assemblies and components for the electronics industry, set the standard for outerwear comfort and protection and solved difficult industrial problems with innovative materials and technology.

They take their reputation very seriously, which is why W.L. Gore continues to deliver new products and better solutions to the marketplace. W.L. Gore employs approximately 8,000 associates all over world. W.L. Gore relies on their employees for creative ideas in science, engineering, sales and marketing.

W.L. Gore & Associates has received many awards over the last year. Fortune Magazine has included W.L. Gore on the list of “100 Best Companies to Work for in America” every time since the list was published. W.L. Gore has also been named one of the best workplaces in the UK, Germany, France and Italy for several years in a row. To look for jobs with W.L. Gore & Associates, join GreatPlaceJobs.

W.L. Gore & Associates in the news:
On February 13, 2009, W.L. Gore announced that they were placed on Fast Company Magazine’s “Fast 50″ list. This list identifies the world’s most innovative companies. Gore was ranked number 30. Companies placed on this highly distinguished list must exemplify success and strength of character as well as have strong finances.

Another in a series of posts highlighting GreatPlaceJobs’ workplaces.
By Natalie Roig, GreatPlaceJobs Research Assistant

Umpqua Bank is on Fortune Magazine’s best places to work list. Umpqua Bank is a bank that has three main parts of its business: green, business and house.  Umpqua Bank is reaching out to any and every customer to provide the best and most reliable service. To reach the right customers and clients requires the right employees. Umpqua looks for employees that have great communication skills, a drive and willingness to work and who want to make a difference in peoples lives.

The green aspect of the Umpqua Bank refers to the green street lending.  Green Street lending is looking to manage rising energy costs and protect the environment. Umpqua Bank and Energy Trust of Oregon joined together to create the Umpqua Bank’s Green Street Lending and Energy Trust’s cash incentives. This incentive can help anyone invest in energy-saving improvements and solar power for their home and/or business.

The business aspect of the Umpqua Bank refers to main street local businesses. The employees of Umpqua Bank must understand the homeowner’s business aspect.  Umpqua provides friendly service and has employees who live and work in the community and who will know you by your name. (Not a lot of banks can brag that they know their customers personally.)

Umpqua Bank always wants to improve the community. The employees at Umpqua put in 25,719 hours last year through their connect volunteer network. The characteristics that make Umpqua Bank so well rounded are as follows:

1.     They provide service for anyone looking to better their life and/or business.

2.     They care about the environment and try to help by providing their customers with a greener life style.

3.     They also care about the community and try to touch everyone in some way.

To look for jobs with Umpqua Bank, join GreatPlaceJobs.

Umpqua Bank in the news

In Renton, Washington, Umpqua Bank will be joining with Small Victory to host “Seeds of Hope” on May 2, 2009. Seeds of Hope is a dinner and auction that will benefit the Seattle Area Charity Auction and will be held at the Renton Community Center. The event will last from 5:00pm to 10:00pm and admission is $15-$20.

On January 21, 2009, Umpqua Bank held a program that helped inform parents how to save money for their children. Topics that were discussed included child savings accounts and money-management lessons. Umpqua Bank helped students save more than $552,000 since September 1, 2008.  

Join today, as we are raising our subscription price to $27.95 on April 1, 2009 (no joke!)! Our members also receive a free copy of G.L. Hoffman’s ebook, Dig Your Job (a $9.99 value)! The book includes over 200 real-world tested ideas to help you find a better job or keep the one you have. G.L. is a serial entrepreneur and venture investor who has been featured in Forbes, the Wall Street Journal and other business publications and newspapers.