|
Don't Gamble With Your Future: Keep Your 401(k)
Compiled by the DiversityInc staff
February 26, 2008
Don't Gamble With Your Future: Keep Your 401(k)
As the economy inches closer to the feared recession, some Americans are hitting up their 401(k)s to make simple purchases such as groceries, but economists warn that this can be dangerous. "This is never a good idea," Julianne Malveaux, economist and president of Bennett College for Women, told NPR. "You are taking money out of your future to take care of your present." Malveaux also warned homebuyers looking to borrow from their retirement plans to make sure they have a sound 12- to 24-month financial plan and to explore alternatives to touching the retirement money. Find out if you're saving enough for retirement and get more financial advice on DiversityInc.com. Also check out Malveaux's latest DiversityInc column: Black History Month: Celebrating Economic Progress.
Can't Afford College? Brown Cuts Tuition for Middle Class
Brown University joined other Ivy League schools and eliminated tuition for students whose families earn less than $60,000. The Providence, R.I., university said Saturday that it also plans to substitute grants for student loans in the financial-aid packages of students whose families earned less than $100,000 a year, reports The New York Times. "Since 2001, Brown has made financial aid for our students one of our highest priorities," Brown President Ruth J. Simmons said in the statement. "Today, we take another major step forward to ensure that our nation's best students from lower- and middle-income families can attend Brown and graduate without the enormous burden of college debt." Earn up to $180,000 a year? Find out how you can afford to send your kid to Harvard.
What Makes a Sick-Leave Policy Work?
One year after San Francisco rolled out its new sick-leave policy, which required employers to give sick employees paid time off, city business owners and officials say the program has worked better than many expected, reports National Public Radio (NPR). "We haven't heard of any ramp in paid-sick-leave abuse. We also haven't heard that the cost of paid sick leave has been anything that employers couldn't manage," Donna Levett, who oversees the city's office of Labor Standards enforcement, told NPR. Now some dozen states and the District of Columbia are watching San Francisco as they consider whether to adopt similar policies.
How can you help your employees balance work/life? Check out the March 2007 issue of DiversityInc magazine to find out "the truth about family-friendly companies."
Why Do Nearly Half of Americans Change Religions?
The U.S. religious marketplace is extremely volatile, with nearly half of American adults leaving the faith of their upbringing to either switch allegiances or abandon religious affiliation altogether, reports The Associated Press (AP). More than one-quarter of American adults have done so, according to a Pew Forum study on religion and public life released Monday. "The American religious economy is like a marketplace--very dynamic, very competitive," Luis Lugo, director of the Pew Forum, told AP. "Everyone is losing, everyone is gaining. There are net winners and losers, but no one can stand still. Those groups that are losing significant numbers have to recoup them to stay vibrant." The study also found that one in four adults ages 18 to 29 claim no affiliation with a religious institution. For more on managing religion in the workplace, check out the Nov./Dec. 2007 issue of DiversityInc magazine.
Tight Race for Texas Latino Vote
One week before Texas voters cast their primary ballot, many Latino voters are torn between two candidates who state politicians say both "have strong platforms." Recent polls have found Sen. Hillary Clinton's double-digit lead over Sen. Barack Obama among Latinos--an estimated 25 percent of the electorate and some of her most steadfast supporters--is narrowing, reports The New York Times. With the Texas primary so close, political pundits are reluctant to predict how things would ultimately play out among Texas' Latino voters. Why are some experts saying Puerto Rico might have the final say?
Obama Ahead in National Polls
While the Texas primary is still up for grabs, a new poll conducted by The New York Times and CBS shows most democrats feel Obama is best able to beat Sen. John McCain, the likely Republican nominee, come November, reports The New York Times. For the first time in a Times/CBS poll, Obama moved ahead of Clinton nationally, with 54 percent of Democratic primary voters saying they wanted to see him nominated, versus 38 percent who preferred Clinton. A USA Today/Gallup Poll released Monday showed a similar result: 51 percent for Obama to 39 percent for Clinton. Similarly, Obama's support among those with household incomes under $50,000 rose to 48 percent from 35 percent since December. His support among moderates rose to 59 percent from 28 percent. In contrast, Clinton's strength among Democratic men dropped to 28 percent from 42 percent in December; her support among voters in households making less than $50,000 held stable. Get all your Election '08 news on DiversityInc.com.
More News Digest >>
Send Your Comments About This Article Now
©DiversityInc. Reproduction in any format is absolutely prohibited.
|
|
digg this | 
mixx! | 
reddit
del.icio.us
Newsvine | 
| 
