layoffs

Vote for America's Biggest 'Corporate Fool'

As April 1 approaches, Green America wants you to help it choose the "Biggest Corporate Fool" of 2012: the worst offender in the realm of business shenanigans. You've probably heard of most of the nominees -- but the behavior they're being called out for may be news to you.

American Airlines' Flight Out of Bankruptcy Gets Bumpier

American Airlines executives hoping to bring the deficit-riddled carrier out of bankruptcy want to trim about 13,000 jobs. They left their unions' counteroffer sitting on the tarmac. Will the two sides ever be able to meet in the middle?

Is Corporate America Too Focused on Profit Margins?

I recently penned a column pointing out that when America "lost" the TV manufacturing industry to Japan, it wasn't necessarily a bad thing, because the business has become a low-margin money loser. A lot of readers disagreed.

Before You Cheer IRS Budget Cuts, Consider This

Nobody enjoys paying taxes, so hearing that Congress is cutting the IRS budget might inspire you to applaud. But this is the agency that makes sure the rest of government gets funded, and stops the unscrupulous from dodging their fair share of the burden.

Did Warren Buffett Make a Bad Call on Bank of America?

When Warren Buffett announced in August that he would spend $5 billion to snap up Bank of America shares, investors cheered. Surely this must mean that we've seen the end of the bad news from America's biggest bank, right? Wrong. So did the Oracle of Omaha blunder?

Job Market Brightens as Unemployment Claims Sink

Far fewer people are seeking unemployment benefits than just three months ago %u2014 a sign that layoffs are falling sharply. The number of people applying for benefits fell last week to 366,000, the fewest since May 2008. If the number stayed that low consistently, it would likely signal that hiring is strong enough to lower unemployment.

Banks Back Away from New Fees, Eye Cost Cuts

The financial world's fee fever may have abated -- for now. Several big and medium-sized banks say they're not implementing fees for debit card use anytime soon. But with bank revenues slipping, they do need to act, and more are considering cost cuts to repair their bottom lines.

For Workers Laid Off in Recessions, Big Pay Gaps Persist

No matter when a person gets laid off, it can have long-lasting financial consequences -- among them, a wage gap that persists for years. But a new study reveals that men who are part of a mass layoff during a recession lose 72% more over their lifetimes than men who lose jobs in during periods of economic growth.

Not So Friendly's: Bankrupt Chain Lays Off 1,260

The 63 restaurants Friendly's closed on Wednesday resulted in about 1,260 layoffs -- more than 12% of the company's 10,300 person workforce. Everyone from managers to dishwashers were told Tuesday evening that the following day would be their last at Friendly's.

Advice for an Exec Laid Off After 37 Years With One Firm

Rhonda, a 57-year-old Californian, was laid off in September after 37 years with a medical laboratory company. Now she needs to dust off those rusty job hunting skills, and figure out her financial next steps too. DailyFinance's Laura Rowley brought in a couple of experts to guide her.

Layoffs Leave Everyone Worse Off

Corporate executives stick to a script when pulling the layoff lever: Cite the tough economic landscape, promise that employees will remain the firm's most valued asset, insist that there was no other option to protect the company's future. Here's why you shouldn't buy what corporate America's selling when it comes to life-ruining layoffs.

How Our Economy Has Changed Since 9/11

Many of the economic problems of Sept. 11, 2001, feel awfully familiar today: Recession, bursting bubbles, low consumer confidence, predatory lending. But of course, it's a whole new world now, so we asked economists what the most significant shifts of the past decade have been.

Americans' Financial Health Is a Tad Better

The American consumer's financial health is showing signs of improvement, but the weak job market continues to derail the nation's economic recovery -- particularly for people in the lower income brackets, according to September's Consumer Reports Index, released on Tuesday.

Assuring Half Your Income When Your Job Goes Away

State unemployment insurance provides money to out-of-work adults, but for most people, those checks are hardly enough to cover the bills. Enter IncomeAssure, a supplemental unemployment insurance policy that lifts your benefit to 50% of your former income for 24 weeks. Is it a product you should consider?