AP - New claims for unemployment benefits dropped slightly last week, while the number of people continuing to receive benefits reached its highest level in more than 25 years, the government said Thursday.

S.E.C. Judge Says Pequot Case Wasn?t Mishandled
The report from an administrative law judge at the Securities and Exchange Commission on the investigation into possible insider trading at the hedge fund Pequot Capital Management is at odds with other findings.


If you have a strict attendance policy, you probably track absences and tardiness. In it, you must list facts and back up the rationale for dismissal. It also can reveal the types of future workers who will fit well into your workplace. However before you dismiss him, document the terminating incident like the previous warnings. Just thinking of firing that person and placing an extra load on her or him can be bothersome, even if you know the jobholder should be fired.

Failure to attend work without calling in is for the most part cause for immediate termination in most positions. But at times, a supervisor will tell his worker, "resign or be separated." This is clearly an involuntary resignation. It's a good idea for all employers to have guideline separation procedures in place. But, you must prove that you tried to train this person. According to our firm policy, I'll be placing a copy of this written warning into your permanent employees file.". (By the way, if the employee asks to read it over before signing, this is acceptable. If the employee believes the problem you're having relates to his or her disability, you should address it now. Despite what you may think, you can't use employee dismissal to rid yourself of a worker with an alcohol problem. According to our firm policy, I'll be placing a copy of this oral warning into your permanent workers file.". Explain what items the worker should return to the business such as business identification, business credit cards or debit cards, and equipment provided to the employee, such as a laptop or a cellular phone. If you offer them the respect of an honest assessment, they will be less likely to place blame elsewhere and fail again in a similar circumstance.