A study of the effects of veterans' preference on women's careers in the federal civil service between 1975 and 1995 reveals diminishing effects of the preferences and disadvantages to veterans. One can expect little change in federal women's status if veterans' preference is eliminated. (Author)

Boston University (Massachusetts) has devised an alternative form of faculty-tenure appointment offering a six-year probationary period, traditional performance and peer-review standards, salary premium from the first day of employment, ten-year renewable contract with one-year notice, same privileges and voting status as traditionally tenured…

Rural sociologists have seemingly moved away from an active interest in the plight of migrant farmworkers and the centrality of their labor in the development of U.S. agribusiness. Answering Pfeffer's (1983) call to analyze the different forms of agricultural production, I focus on the key formative period of what I refer to as the U.S. capitalist…

The conceptualization and measurement of key job characteristics has not changed greatly for most social scientists since the Dictionary of Occupational Titles and Quality of Employment surveys were created, despite their recognized limitations. However, debates over the roles of job skill requirements, technology, and new management practices in…

In the current career climate characterized by change and turbulence, employees may demonstrate limited organizational commitment to their employers. Rousseau (1998) suggests that two key ways to elicit loyalty from employees today are to reinforce perceptions of organizational membership and demonstrate organizational care and support for…

It is estimated that by 2010 there will be 20 million full- and part-time telecommuters working in the United States. The purpose of this article is to assist employment counselors in their work with organizations in implementing e-worker programs as well as in their counseling of e-workers. The authors define e-worker, summarize the growth of…

A 7-month research project was conducted by graduate students at a garment manufacturing plant in Fayetteville, Arkansas, to gain information about high employee turnover. Information also was gathered about the employment situation in northwest Arkansas in general, union-labor relationships, and how other companies handled turnover. Data were…

This SPEC Kit and Flyer focus on the extent to which Association of Research Libraries (ARL) libraries engage in formal or organized customer service programs. Seventy-five out of the 121 member libraries responded to the customer service program survey (61%). The SPEC Flyer discusses results in terms of customer service program characteristics,…

A common mistake made by job seekers is to discuss salary before receiving a job offer. This paper offers two basic rules for discussing compensation: (1) Do not mention salary in an interview if the employer does not broach the subject; and (2) when negotiating a pay rate, never give the first figure. Although a job's salary is usually paramount…

An update on academic freedom cases and complaints made to the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) is presented. AAUP responded to 1,222 academic freedom cases in 1986, an increase of 20% in the number of cases handled in the 2 preceding years. Two institutions were added to AAUP's list of censured administrations: Clark College…

Leave of absence policies in business and education and the rationale for offering these policies are examined. Most businesses and education agencies allow extended personal leaves of absence, which are usually unpaid. Most companies prefer to use general policy statements and to consider each request on an individual basis. According to a survey…

At the request of Congress, the General Accounting Office (GAO) conducted a study of drug testing of employees by employers. To identify and obtain the most recent surveys on drug testing policies and practices in the private sector, the GAO searched 14 computerized bibliographic files and discussed information needs with representatives of 35…

One part of a memorandum to the National Association of Educational Broadcasters' Ad Hoc Committee on Employment Practices of Educational Stations (November 8, 1968).