Employment

Questions Regarding U.K. Employment Law and PILON

December 3, 2013 by Tim McMahon

Can I receive my payment in lieu of notice tax-free in a settlement agreement?

A settlement agreement will often bring an employee’s employment to an end without the need to work the notice period. Instead, the employee receives a payment based on what they would have earned during their notice period. This is known as a payment in lieu of notice or a PILON for short. Many people presume that if the PILON is paid under a settlement agreement it can be paid free of tax. However, this is not necessarily the case.

Is the PILON contractual or not?

As a general rule, payments that are made under an employment contract are taxable. This obviously includes salary, commission, bonuses, and holiday pay. Meanwhile, payments that are made by way of compensation are tax-free (up to £30,000). For example, damages for unfair dismissal or discrimination would come within this category. And so an important question is whether the PILON is contractual or not. Does your employment contract contain a clause that allows your employer to make a PILON? If it does, then the PILON should be taxed. Since it is being made in accordance with the employment contract.

If however [Read more…] about Questions Regarding U.K. Employment Law and PILON

Job Hunting Today: Nailing the Video Interview

November 21, 2013 by Guest Contributor

Location was an integral element in finding and securing jobs. Whether a need to travel for an interview or relocate for a new position, one’s geography mattered. However, given today’s technological innovation and tools, a workforce can be managed remotely, and initial interviews may be conducted across state lines or oceans.

A proactive candidate searches for local, national and (even) international opportunity; a number of owners are willing to (in the least) conduct video interviews searching for potential in-house or remote workers. It’s only a matter of time before an experienced and valuable candidate secures a video interview; here’s how to do it successfully.

Dress for Success

Distance and video technology does not dismiss the formality of the business-related event. Dress as you would for an in-person interview, men wearing a tie and women in a dress or pants suit. In some cases, an interviewer may propose an informal interaction, but allow them to decide such logistics.

Use Notes

While a video interview provides [Read more…] about Job Hunting Today: Nailing the Video Interview

Classic Workwear That’s Fit for a Purpose

November 21, 2013 by Guest Contributor

When we talk about “workwear” we’re not talking about what you wear to the office on “casual Fridays” … we’re not even talking about what to wear on the other four days either.

By definition, “workwear” is different from regular clothing because it must be designed in order to withstand a much higher intensity of use. Depending on the type of work involved, various types of specialty clothing might be essential. In other cases, it can simply mean being able to get the job done without causing your day-to-day clothes any damage.

Uses

If your job involves dealing with hazardous substances or naked flames you will usually be required to wear protective clothing as set out by various health and safety regulations. These must be made from materials resistant to the substances in use and offer a comfortable yet secure fit that reduces the risk of injury or harm.

Types

Everything from gloves, boots and full-body coverings can be made in fabrics and materials that are specifically created to deal with a wide range of potential problems and therefore there are many types of workwear.

Coveralls are one of the most commonly used items of workwear and essentially are a one-piece garment that covers the torso, arms and legs. They come in a wide variety of styles and materials and may also be advertised as boiler suits or all-in-ones. A similar item is known as overalls, which generally cover the legs and torso but not the arms. [Read more…] about Classic Workwear That’s Fit for a Purpose

Social Butterfly: 5 Jobs for the Effusive Talker

November 11, 2013 by Guest Contributor

Radio Host

Professional radio hosts make their job look easy, but in reality it’s a job that requires a specific skill set. Staying up-to-date on current events, being aware of popular trends, and conducting live interviews demands an avid talker who’s not afraid to keep the conversations going. A host must also not be afraid of putting their foot in their mouth at times. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics the average radio host earns $27,010 per hour, however getting you show “syndicated” can multiply your earnings, top syndicated radio personalities can earn hundreds of thousands per year.

Reporter

For those who enjoy getting to know people through conversation, becoming a reporter offers the perfect opportunity to hone those conversational skills. Reporters do more than investigate stories, and write compelling articles. Using journalistic training and a desire to know more, reporters get to the heart of interesting people and things by [Read more…] about Social Butterfly: 5 Jobs for the Effusive Talker

What’s the Latest Buzz on Online Medical Education

October 31, 2013 by Guest Contributor

The advent of the internet and personal computers revolutionized the way we receive information. Modern technology makes it possible to educate and train the next generation of health care providers in a virtual classroom (such as those at CNACertification-Training.com). While online education creates opportunities for many people, especially those unable to pursue an education otherwise, it does not come without challenges and concerns. Many professionals are concerned that the quality of education received online may be substandard. Lack of personal interaction, potential academic dishonesty, and inadequate training of instructors bring into question the reliability of these distant learning programs.

Team Work

A universal concern among skeptics of online curriculum is the seeming lack of interpersonal interaction between peers, students, and faculty. There is doubt that online programs provide the necessary training to prepare students for working as part of a group. All healthcare workers are part of a team of professionals providing patient care. Learning to communicate and cooperate with others is essential to building a cohesive unit, and without it, patient care suffers. An online classroom generally does not afford the opportunity of face-to-face collaboration. And an individual, knowledgeable in theory, may yet be ill equipped to work with others. Most online programs deal with this issue through the use of online forums requiring students to post a certain number of comments on each assignment. This allows students to provide and receive feedback on their ideas from other students and the professor.

The Honor Code

Academic honesty is another concern. The anonymity provided by [Read more…] about What’s the Latest Buzz on Online Medical Education

Should You Become a Storage Buyer?

October 31, 2013 by Guest Contributor

With the popularity of shows such as the reality TV smash hit “Storage Wars“, more people are considering a full-time or part-time career as a storage buyer. Storage buyers are individuals who go to storage auctions that sell unpaid and abandon storage units by auctioning them off to the highest bidder. Prior to bidding on storage units, bidders are allowed to walk through the storage facility to take a quick glimpse at the contents of each storage unit. However during this quick glimpse, it is difficult to see the unit’s full contents, and most of the time bidders are not permitted to physically enter the storage units. If you are considering becoming a storage buyer there are a few questions you should ask yourself first.

Do You Have the Appropriate Knowledge, Tools, and Space?

Is important to know becoming a storage buyer will not be an overnight get-rich-quick plan but you can start small and work your way up. If it is a career choice you would like to seriously consider, first ask yourself if you have the knowledge, tools, and space required to do the job well. The knowledge would be the ability to spot antiques and memorabilia, even when only seeing a small portion of the items. If you purchased or bid on a storage locker without having the knowledge of valuable brands, memorabilia, and antiques you will have to invest additional fees to have the items you win appraised. As far as tools, you will need to ensure you have a vehicle large enough to transport the items you win. You also need the appropriate space to store your storage unit’s contents until you are able to resell them elsewhere. Keep in mind that some valuables will require a temperature controlled environment.

Are You Willing to Gamble with Your Money?

Becoming a storage buyer is in essence becoming a full-time gambler. Some units you bid on will have visible, valuable collectibles, while others may have something such as a vintage military storage locker that you place a high bid on in hopes that its contents are filled with military memorabilia. However, this is a [Read more…] about Should You Become a Storage Buyer?

Five Careers to Put Your Engineering Degree to Good Use

October 23, 2013 by Guest Contributor

When students choose to pursue a degree in engineering, many doors open for job opportunities in the various specialties of this broad field. Although the nature of the work depends on the specialized profession, nearly all careers in engineering involve making a difference in many peoples’ lives directly or indirectly. In order to help you find a career that is right for you, please read on to find five different careers that will put your engineering to good use.

Biomedical Engineer

Biomedical engineers design and analyze solutions for problems in the medical and biological fields, with the goal of improving the efficiency of healthcare. Biomedical engineers team up with scientists and chemists to design medical products, such as [Read more…] about Five Careers to Put Your Engineering Degree to Good Use

BLS Recovering From Shutdown

October 19, 2013 by Tim McMahon

The government shutdown is over and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is recovering from their unscheduled vacation. The United States federal government shutdown of 2013, lasted from October 1 to 17, 2013. Unemployment data for the month of September was due to be released on October 4th i.e. four working days into the shutdown.

So the employment data is now scheduled for release on October 22nd. And the Consumer Price Index which is used to calculate the inflation rate, which was scheduled for release on October 16th is now scheduled for release on October 30th.

Although the shutdown inconvenienced vacationers wanting to see National Monuments and the National Zoo, did it really save any money? If past shutdowns are any indicator… probably not. Government employees will probably [Read more…] about BLS Recovering From Shutdown

A Head for Figures: Working in the Financial Industry

October 15, 2013 by Guest Contributor

When you’re at school there are some lessons you love, and some that you detest. A lot of people can’t wait for PE so they can get out of the classroom and have a run-around, while others may look forward to the days when they can experiment with blowing things up in Chemistry class. Math, however, is one of those lessons that goes either way – you either really enjoy complex equations, or you hate them and you’d rather be doing ANYTHING else.

There are a variety of careers that require all types of math from theoretical math to applied math to simple arithmetic. The finance industry generally requires “applied math” rather than more complex theoretical math or even Calculus. The major exceptions would be Actuaries, Economists, and Statisticians which might require higher levels of math.

Actuaries

Actuaries analyze the financial costs of risk and uncertainty. They use mathematics, statistics, and financial theory to assess the risk that an event will occur and to help businesses (generally insurance companies) develop policies that minimize the cost of that risk. The employment of actuaries in the insurance industry is expected to grow by [Read more…] about A Head for Figures: Working in the Financial Industry

More Ways to Improve Your Resume

October 10, 2013 by Tim McMahon

Life Experience

Make your resume interesting by including some unique facts about yourself. If you start off with a small section called “Life Experience” and include a few interesting things you’ve done like hiking the entire Appalachian Trail or catching a 50 pound fish or whatever, it will make you memorable and give the recruiter something to ask you about if they call you in for an interview.

Choose Your Words Carefully

The right words can make a resume stand out, while the wrong ones can make it doomed for the trash. Use action words to allow you to be seen as a can-do person, and keep everything concise.

Bulleted lists are great for emphasizing skills while making your resume easy to skim.
Instead of just listing facts about yourself, show an employer how you got results in your previous jobs.
Use good grammar, check your spelling and have at least one other person read over it to look for mistakes.
~~See how many words you can eliminate to give the same information in a concise organized way.~~
Eliminate words to present information concisely.

Layout

Many job seekers make the mistake of trying to make their resumes stand out by using unusual fonts or layouts. However, this usually has the opposite of its intended effect. A resume that’s too distracting to employers often winds up in the reject stack. One thing that can be done to improve the looks of a resume is to save the file as a PDF document. That way it will always appear the same no matter what kind of computer or type of software the recruiter is using to look at it. Once it is saved as a PDF document if you want to make changes normally you would have to go back to the original document and edit it and then save it as a PDF again. But now there is software that allows editing PDF files directly so you can skip that extra step. Sending a resume to an employer in PDF format not only shows you know your way around a computer, but also presents the resume in an easy-to-read format.

Focus on the Job

Too many resumes are generic, rather than being tailored to the job for which a person is applying. In the old days, when resumes were run off in mass quantities on a commercial “off-set” printing press, you couldn’t customize it, but these days with word processing software and even electronic resumes there is no reason you can’t customize your resume for each job (except laziness) and every reason why you should take the time to do it right.

Many people think if they list all their previous jobs, that will make them more appealing to employers. However, if you’re applying to be a computer programmer, it’s a good idea to focus on why you would make a great programmer. So you need to tailor your resume to that specific programming job using the exact keywords used in the job description. But you don’t want to leave gaps in your employment history either, so only include the bare minimum about the fast-food job on the resume. Focus instead on skills, certifications and knowledge that can be applied to the specific job at hand.

By following these tips to improve your resume, the dream job that’s been waiting for you can become reality in no time.

See Also:


Resume Paper	Resume Magic, 4th Ed: Trade Secrets of a Professional Resume Writer	Knock ’em Dead Resumes: How to Write a Killer Resume That Gets You Job Interviews	Resumes For Dummies