boss

Companies’ compensation budgets remain tight, so workers need to gather information before approaching the boss.

Thank you, boss? While the annual cost for employee family health insurance jumped 9% this year, employers shouldered the bulk of that increase, according to a new industry survey Tuesday.

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

Dear Annie: One of my goals in the coming year is to spend more time with my wife and kids, whom I've badly neglected over the past few months because of work.

My department was shrunk by more than half earlier this year, and I've been doing jobs formerly held by three other people, as well as my own job, without a raise or bonus.

Getting a job is simple when you've got a lot to offer an employer.

Dear Annie: We used to have a great team here, until our boss was replaced by a manager brought in from another part of the company who is now trying to control our every move.

He insists on telling everyone what to do and how to do it in minute detail (even though we've all been excelling at our jobs for years).

No detail is too ridiculously tiny to escape his scrutiny, and he's constantly issuing new rules and guidelines, some of which contradict each other.

Dear Annie: I work as a senior manager on some projects that are showing strong returns. I haven't been here very long, so I'm still trying to figure out the politics, but I'm pretty sure I'm due for a promotion to the next level -- or at least, I need to start planning how I'll get to that level.

How do I make a case for my promotion? And how should I seek out my boss's honest opinion about what I need to do to move up?

-- Politically Perplexed

Planning for retirement is important -- and it's worth having a decent alternative future, just in case the markets don't snap back.

Companies are shifting more responsibility for staying well onto their employees, and offering incentives to do so.

Your next paycheck will probably be a little fatter than usual, but it's not because your boss thinks you're swell.

Instead, the increase reflects the Making Work Pay credit, part of the economic stimulus package enacted this year.