Showing a disregard for the safety of workers can get you in trouble in this country. But unfortunately, not enough trouble.

BP executives and managers have been screwing up for years when it comes to worker safety, and the recent deaths of 11 workers on the Deepwater Horizon is only a continuation of a sad history for the company. In 2005, 15 people died and hundreds where injured at a BP refinery blast in Texas.

If a company’s executives or managers are so focused on the bottom line that employees end up maimed or dead because they cut safety corners, the government can come in and fine them.

But the fines for worker deaths are pathetic. Turns out they are more severe if you kill a turtle. (more…)

Today, Congress will begin debate on how the war in Afghanistan will be won given the toppling of the commander there Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, following fallout from a scathing Rolling Stone article last week.

But little thought will be given to the war military men and women will have to fight when they return home.

Finding a job in this economy is a challenge, and it’s even harder for veterans, and insanely hard for veterans who were disabled in Iraq or Afghanistan. Estimates put the jobless rate among vets at 1 to 2 percentage points higher than the rest of the population, and the rate among disabled, vets or otherwise, is nearly 17 percent. And if you’re under 25 and a returning vet, the rate was 21.6 percent last year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

No matter which side you’re on in the political debate over the war, there’s no denying that a regular paycheck and a fulfilling job will help our soldiers make a smoother reentry into civilian life. That said, there are high hurdles they face when it comes to finding a job, everything from discrimination from prospective employers to not being able to drop the “Yes-Sir” mentalities once they take off their uniforms.

While many reservists will have their jobs kept open for them by employers, there are thousands of individuals who have only known military life and will have a tougher time transitioning. Some entered the military in recent years, right out of high school or college, did their tours of duty and are ready for the unknown civilian work world. Others spent decades in the military and now find themselves over 40 and wondering how to live among the suit set.

So what’s the biggest factor keeping ex military folks from landing jobs? Seems we civilians just don’t get what these brave men and women did over there. (more…)

You might not be interested in reading any obits today on a really old senator who probably should have retired from Congress long ago.

But in this era of Twitter, Facebook and extreme self promotion, all of us, including every so-called social media and personal branding guru out there, might want to spend some time today reading about how Robert Byrd, the longest-serving member of Congress who died today at age 92, went from Ku Klux Klan member to liberal hero.

Byrd also voted against the Civil Rights Act, but he went on to become a champion of the rights of all Americans.

So many of you have asked me how to explain being fired from a job, or getting a hiring manager to see beyond a past public transgression, or criminal record. And parents are often wondering if something their kids say on Facebook will come back to haunt them when they go out in the real world.

All these things can make your career life harder, no question about it.

A newly released survey by OfficeTeam found that one in five job candidates gets dropped after references are checked.

But how did someone like Byrd overcome such a checkered past? Was he a shrewd image revamper or did he just not let his past keep him down? (more…)

Today, the unemployment checks for about 1.3 million Americans will be cut off. Why? Because the Senate allowed an extension of jobless benefits to die yesterday.

The nation’s ever-growing deficit has everyone spooked, according to a Wall Street Journal article today, so the politicians cut off “the federal cash spigot.”

No matter which side you’re on when it comes to the deficit, the reasons for cutting off out-of-work individuals given by politicians and conservative economists were pretty pathetic. (more…)

My column next week for MSNBC.com explores why women don’t help each other when it comes to career advancement or landing a job.

I posed a key question: Are we just too bitchy to lend a hand?

I put this query out to women, academics, and PR sources looking for people who could discuss this topic, and received a slew of bitchy comments from women accusing me of being a bitch for even asking the question.

I can’t repeat some of the comments women sent me because they were so bitchy. We’re talking personal attacks.

Maybe you don’t agree with my premise, but hey, you don’t have to be so bitchy. (more…)

That uptight, serious looking guy on the unemployment line this week may be General Stanley McChrystal.

Word is, the President may have to can him because he did the one thing you’re not supposed to do — he and his underlings dogged the big bosses.

It’s never a good idea to say anything negative about the boss unless it’s to the boss’ face; and even then you’re taking your chances. (more…)

Remember Trina Thompson? She was the graduate from Monroe College in the Bronx who last summer sued the school because she couldn’t find a job.

One of her arguments was that with a 2.7 grade-point average, or GPA, she should have had no problem landing a gig in a lousy economy.

Bloggers and the media mocked Thompson because many said a 2.7 GPA was really not that great. Well, turns out a 4.0 GPA might not be that great either. (more…)

There’s that moment at the end of a job interview when the hiring manager asks: “Do you have any questions?”

Alas, many job seekers go blank at this point. I’ve done that too. You’re nervous, or just exhausted from a day of interviews, and suddenly you can’t think of one question.

What do you do? Do you really need to come up with something?

I’ve been getting this question a lot lately from readers and from friends. That’s a good sign because that means more of you are getting interviews. So don’t sweat this too much, but definitely, definitely give it some thought before you go on that interview.

Some of you might think it’s ok to just say, “You answered all my questions,” or, “I don’t have any questions.” But is this a wise move? (more…)

Let’s face it, most employees use their company-issued pagers, phones, laptops for personal reasons sometimes. It’s just the way life is now — the lines between work life and personal life are becoming more and more blurred as workers seem to be working round the clock these days.

But if you do use these devices for a message or text you want to remain private you’re out of luck. That’s the message the U.S. Supreme Court sent today when the justices unanimously ruled your boss can snoop, even if your manager tells you it’s okay to use such devices for personal reasons. (more…)

There’s been an explosion in the number of networking groups for women out there, and it shouldn’t surprise anyone.

The business and work worlds have been dominated by men since the beginning of time so can you blame women for wanting their own Good Old Girls network?

Well, some guys want in on the all-gal party. What’s this world coming to? Should men be allowed? (more…)