You probably cost your boss a lot more than you think you do.

For Jim Garland, who owns a corporate aircraft cleaning and support services company, a $14 per hour worker has a true cost of $19.63 per hour, or about 40% more than base pay. This so-called "loaded rate" includes fixed expenses -- federal and state taxes, health insurance, workman's compensation, uniforms, and paid time off -- along with soft costs like the time spent training a new hire.

Job cutting is never easy, but it often becomes progressively harder as we go deeper into an organization.

At the beginning, employers may be able to lay off only weak employees they might have considered letting go anyway. While these weak performers are human beings worthy of dignity and respect, we can make ourselves feel ok about their terminations because they are based on merit.

See careful talent assessment helps companies find the right people for every position.

At the Microsoft Redmond campus, five staffers from different teams got together for a chat. They talked about what it's like to work at Microsoft and dug in on subjects like career development, innovation, and work/life balance. Each brought their own perspective, experience, and sense of humor to show what it's really like on the inside.

Sara Lee CEO Brenda Barnes offers her take on the importance of giving all employees the opportunity to contribute their best.

Curious about salary potential in various business jobs? This free salary wizard has the answers.

See the what the National Association of Manufacturers has to say about the Employee Free Choice Act.

See the what the AFL-CIO has to say about the Employee Free Choice Act.

Did you know that Walt Disney (DIS) offers employees pet insurance? That at NASA you could be part of a team developing a new spacecraft that will carry the next generation of astronauts to the moon? Or that Apple (AAPL) has employees whose official job title is "genius"? These are some of the benefits or jobs that make for an ideal employer, according to research firm Universum USA's 2009 survey of more than 60,000 undergrads across the U.S., which is conducted annually for BusinessWeek.

So while jobs may be scarce, students can still dream…and possibly even secure a position among these coveted employers, most of which are still hiring.

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If you think it's getting harder and harder to concentrate at work, you're not alone. Experts say workplace distractions are so widespread that even managers who extend their workday hours cannot avoid disruptions by colleagues, which come in the form of project requests, meeting reminders, last-minute or changing demands, emotional breakdowns, and even expressions of love.

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