Colorado's Job Openings - It Could Be Worse...

Just came across an interesting article in the Denver Business Journal (http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2008/05/19/daily19.html?f=et61&ana=e_du) about the number of jobs in the 3rd quarter of last year.

Here is the article in its entirety:

"Colorado gained more private-sector jobs than it lost in the third quarter of last year, the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday.

The state has reported job gains exceeded losses every quarter since the third quarter of 2006.

Colorado businesses added 148,053 jobs in the third quarter of 2007 from companies opening or expanding, while 144,857 jobs were lost from companies closing or contracting.

That leaves Colorado with a job gain of 3,196 for the quarter.

For the United States as a whole, the private sector lost 235,000 jobs in the third quarter, the first quarter of net job losses since the second quarter of 2003."

Well as a recruiting company headquartered in Denver, CO and with most of our clients currently in Colorado this is an optimistic indicator as we continue to head into 2008 and the prospects of a worsening economy. We here at StratStaff can be thankful we are in Denver and the economy and business is healthier here than in other places.

Just an FYI....

10 Hilarious Excuses for Being Late to Work

I recently came across a hilarious press release from Career Builder with some interesting facts about employees being late to work.

According to a recent CareerBuilder.com survey, 15 percent of workers say they arrive late to work at least once a week, while nearly one-in-four of all workers (24 percent) admit to making up fake excuses to explain their tardiness. The CareerBuilder.com survey, “Late to Work,” was conducted from February 11 through March 13, 2008 among 2,757 employers and 6,987 workers.

Here are the Top 10 Most Unusual Excuses for Being Late to Work:

1. While rowing across the river to work, I got lost in the fog.
2. Someone stole all my daffodils.
3. I had to go audition for American Idol.
4. My ex-husband stole my car so I couldn’t drive to work.
5. My route to work was shut down by a Presidential motorcade.
6. I wasn’t thinking and accidentally went to my old job.
7. I was indicted for securities fraud this morning.
8. The line was too long at Starbucks.
9. I was trying to get my gun back from the police.
10. I didn’t have money for gas because all of the pawn shops were closed.

I wouldn't recommend using any of these excuses if you show up late to work, unless of course it is true...but then again I might just come up with an excuse that is more believable, like "the dog ate my homework" or something similar.

While the majority of hiring managers believe their employees’ reasons for being late to
work, more than 27 percent say they are skeptical of the excuses.

Enjoy the weekend!