| News 11 Investigative Report: The Excuse Machine
Looking to fool your boss, so you can get the day off? Admittedly, there some high tech new ways. But if you get caught, losing your job might be just the beginning of your problems, reports News 11's Dan Bumpus. Many employees treat their sick time like extra vacation days, and some people have discovered, you can now go online for fake doctor notes and funeral announcements that seem to make calling in sick -- a snap. But beware -- you aren't just pulling a fast one on your boss. You are also breaking the law. Still, ask almost anyone, and they'll probably admit to telling a tale so they could miss work. "I've definitely called off before and said my cousin is sick, have to go take care of 'em," says Michael Yoder, a part-time worker.
Amy's heroin cheek
Our daily digest of worrying stories from Amy Winehouse�s world includes the news that her tour manager quit after finding heroin in his system after he inhaled it passively on their tour bus. According to the Sun, Thom Stone produced a doctor�s note to prove he had traces of the drug in his system and that he wanted to leave the tour. A source told the paper: �He was watching them get off their heads on drugs and wondering whether Amy was even going to get up on stage. It was a nightmare job. �They (she and hubby Blake Fielder-Civil) didn�t get on with Thom and were taking the p*** when he tried to pull that excuse to leave. They wanted rid of him anyway.� The final straw reportedly came when Amy and her banged-up bloke where arrested in Norway with cannabis last month.
K.P. WARAN: Look sharp and think positive
IT is not every day that two pretty women insist on dropping by to see me at the same time. Despite the overlapping appointments, I decided to let it ride, especially since there was a trayload of appraisals to be done during the latter part of the day. Wendy Lee is someone I met a couple of weeks ago when we ended up with back-to-back speaking engagements at the 1 Utama shopping centre. Wendy was giving the 400 retailers tips on corporate image grooming and how to improve customer service.
I had a presentation on how best to use newspapers to promote events, products and services. At the end of the programme, we chatted about how enjoyable our work was and the immense pleasure we got from meeting people.
I found Wendy's boundless energy, invigorating personality, positive outlook on life, including deriving happiness and joy from the most basic things in life, very exciting.
What's Going On: On-going events
Speak up for a child in foster care. SF's foster children need your help. Be a Court Appointed Special Advocate. Men and people of color are especially needed. Training provided. Call for upcoming orientations dates and locations, 415-398-8001. Info at www.sfcasa.org. Become a volunteer at one of SF's most resourceful youth organizations. SMART, Schools Mentoring and Resource Team, is a scholarship program for highly motivated, low-income middle school students in SF. Everyone welcome, males and people of color strongly encouraged. 1370 Mission St., 2nd Floor, SF. 415-865-5400. www.thesmartprogram.org. Are you experiencing loss, divorce and/or separation, child custody issues? Need someone to talk to? You are not alone. There is support available. BAWELDS (Black African Women Experiencing Loss, Divorce and/ or Separation) offers support and resources that can enable you to get to the other side with ease and grace.
Nearly 80% of UAW workers ratify pact with Ford 11/18/07
United Auto Workers members have ratified a historic four-year contract with Ford Motor Co. that sets lower pay for some newly hired workers and puts the company's huge retiree health care debt into a UAW-run trust. The UAW, which represents about 54,000 workers at Ford, said Wednesday that 79 percent of those voting favored the pact. Workers at General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC already have ratified similar deals, with the contract winning at Chrysler by only a small margin. Unlike the other two automakers, there was no strike at Ford. The landmark deals have been praised by the companies and union for protecting jobs while at the same time cutting labor costs to make the struggling automakers more competitive with their Japanese rivals. UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said the union negotiated a contract with Ford that protects wages, benefits and seniority rights and provides income and secure health care for retirees.
LifeMasters Provides Healthy Tips for Individuals Living With Diabetes
In recognition of American Diabetes Month, LifeMasters -- a national leading provider of disease management programs and services -- encourages individuals to keep up with routine self-checks and stay active to prevent complications from diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association, 20.8 million children and adults have diabetes, and another 54 million people have pre-diabetes. Diabetes can result in heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness or lower limb amputation. "Learning to manage your diabetes is something that takes personal commitment, but it's worth your time and effort," said Mary Jane Osmick, M.D., medical director at LifeMasters. "Once you learn to better manage your blood glucose, blood pressure, cholesterol and weight by keeping them in the right ranges, you can decrease your risk of diabetes complications.
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