Archives: May 2008

The Bitter American Worker

Posted by: Diane Brady on May 29

I came across two interesting studies today that paint a pessimistic view of attitudes in the workplace. The first is a national survey from the Marlin Company showing that 75%...

GE's ambitious water plans

Posted by: Diane Brady on May 28

Normally, I'm skeptical of green initiatives by companies--whether it's a carbon offset or an expensive new earth-friendly product. But one thing that intuitively makes sense is a push to reduce...

A Community Goes Up--And Wins a Round--Against Nestle

Posted by: Michelle Conlin on May 28

A while back, I wrote a story about how some residents in the tiny, no-stoplight town of McCloud, Ca. had gone up against the multinational Nestle. Nestle wanted to...

Answering to Henry Blodget

Posted by: Diane Brady on May 27

Reader Jake Zamansky wrote an interesting blog item today about fielding criticism from former analyst-turned-journalist Henry Blodget. While Zamansky raises some great points about people in glass houses throwing stones...

A Dubious Smack for Hank Greenberg

Posted by: Diane Brady on May 21

He has battled Eliot Spitzer and AIG. Now, Hank Greenberg faces another potential foe: the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The former AIG chief has received a "Wells notice", which...

A New Power Principle?

Posted by: Jena McGregor on May 20

You may think it’s your boss who’s always the one messing things up. But according to new research in the journal Pyschological Science, people with lower-ranking titles are more likely...

The Stealth Layoff

Posted by: Jena McGregor on May 16

The story in the New York Times today about stealth layoffs is a little haunting. It looks at the trend among Wall Street banks to quietly lay people off--while they're...

What Should Immelt Do Next?

Posted by: Jena McGregor on May 15

So now that General Electric is apparently selling its major appliance business, what should Jeffrey R. Immelt do next? "Deliver, deliver, deliver," says Noel Tichy, a long-time GE watcher and...

Good-bye to GE Appliances

Posted by: Diane Brady on May 14

Ask many Americans what they associate with General Electric and they'll give you two words: light bulbs and ovens. Ask investors what they would like to see GE dropkick from...

Gary Bettman--Hockey's Savior or Destroyer?

Posted by: Diane Brady on May 14

This has been one of the most exciting National Hockey League playoff series in recent memory. But does anyone care? (Some do) If they don't, there's always one mantra among...

Is AIG battling a break-up--or just internal strife?

Posted by: Diane Brady on May 12

I was struck by a report in The Wall Street Journal today that officials at International Lease Finance Corp. are contemplating a split with American International Group. Wow! ILFC is...

Hello, 1984

Posted by: Jena McGregor on May 08

Here's something to strike fear in the hearts of British job-seekers: Later this month, reports the BBC, the UK'S National Staff Dismissal Register is expected to go live. What a...

The Death of the Business Trip?

Posted by: Michelle Conlin on May 07

I am furiously reporting a story about what companies are doing to reduce business travel. Does anyone out there have a story to tell? Please comment here if you do!...

Newsflash? Working Moms Work Late

Posted by: Jena McGregor on May 07

It's Mother's Day this weekend, and that occasion prompted the staffing service Adecco to release a survey about working moms working late. I'm not sure this qualifies as news--is anyone...

The Power Business Ballad

Posted by: Jena McGregor on May 06

We've all been there. That moment at a colleague's retirement shindig, acompany holiday party, or a corporate retreat, when the nightmare hits: What if this song or skit ends up...

Starbucks: It's the Coffee, Stupid

Posted by: Michelle Conlin on May 06

Is it just me? I was once a glutton for Starbucks. The company's iced quad espressos had me flying all day. The stuff was crack. I was hooked. We were...

A rare find: the female "thinker"

Posted by: Diane Brady on May 05

Another day, another guru list. This time, The Wall Street Journal has come up with its list of top business gurus--led by strategist Gary Hamel. Next on the list is...

The Greening of Warren Buffett?

Posted by: Diane Brady on May 02

I just got notice that a group of Native women will stage a protest tonight over Warren Buffett’s "fish killing dams" on the Klamath River in Northern California. My first...