Whatever happened to casual days at work?

By Eve Tahmincioglu
msnbc.com

Last week, a 43-page dress and grooming code at Swiss bank UBS was leaked to the media, and the rules included everything from touching up hair dye jobs to the quality of an employee’s underwear.


While there was outrage over the draconian nature of the guidelines, such appearance mandates are becoming more prevalent in the workplace.

Restrictions on the way workers dress and groom themselves have long been a contentious issue in the nation’s workplaces, but in most cases such guidelines have been found to be legal. And the rules governing employee appearance are only getting tougher thanks to the weaker economy.

“Dress codes are tightening up,” said Dick Lerner, author of “Dress Like The Big Fish.” “The takeaway from this recession is the reality most firms are doing more with less. For survival, there has been a lot of belt-tightening and companies look at every aspect of their business, and that includes who will keep their job and who won’t,” he said.

As a result, Lerner added, “Sloppy dress in the workplace is gone. Businesses can’t afford sloppy dress, sloppy work, sloppy attitude.”

Indeed, some firms are ratcheting up the fashion police.

UBS got a lot of negative publicity when its 43-page dress-and-grooming edict got out. The over-the-top rules included restrictions on the length of male employees’ nails; when female employees are supposed to put on perfume and how much; and they even mandated the color of worker underwear and said the undergarments should be “of superior quality textiles,” according to a report in the Christian Science Monitor last week. (UBS officials declined to comment for this column.)

Lindsey Sparks’ last job with a staffing firm in Oklahoma City had a restrictive dress code policy that required female employees to wear skirt suits and pantyhose at all times, even if they worked on weekends. And there was even a manager at the company that chastised workers for not wearing lipstick.

“Their dress code was so sexist I’m not sure why I put up with it as long as I did,” said Sparks, who left Express Employment Professionals in June after eight years with the company.

“Although I left the company amicably,” Sparks said. “I’m still appalled by the dress code.”

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Pittsburgh Unemployment Rate Drops To 7.9% in September

HARRISBURG (NOVEMBER 2) – The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the seven-county Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) was down three-tenths of a percentage point in September to 7.9 percent. The MSA’s rate was 1.1 percentage points below Pennsylvania’s rate (9.0%). The last time the Pittsburgh MSA rate was that far below the state rate was June 1978. The area rate was also lower than the national rate of 9.6 percent. The Pittsburgh MSA’s unemployment rate matched last September’s rate. This was the first time since November 2007 that the area rate did not show an over-the-year increase.


Unemployment rates decreased from August in six of the seven counties in the Pittsburgh MSA. Butler County posted the lowest rate in the MSA at 7.4 percent while Fayette County held the area’s highest rate at 9.6 percent. Among Pennsylvania’s 67 counties, unemployment rates ranged from 6.1 percent in Centre County to 14.3 percent in Cameron County.

In September, seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs in the Pittsburgh MSA declined 800 to 1,118,100. Jobs fell in nine of Pennsylvania’s 14 MSAs. Over the year, Pittsburgh MSA jobs increased by 4,800 (0.4%) and the state added 34,500 jobs (0.6%).
 
Goods producers added 800 jobs from last September. Mining & logging was up 500 jobs over the year (9.1%). Manufacturing continued to show an over-the-year decline, but it has been consistently shrinking since last September.
 
Service-providing jobs were up 9,300 from August. The majority of this increase was due to seasonal education-related gains. Education & health services, state government, and local government all added jobs as the new academic year began. Seasonal declines occurred in retail trade, professional & business services, leisure & hospitality, and other services. The federal government decline of 500 was due mainly to the census nearing completion.

Service providers had 6,200 more jobs than in September 2009. Education & health services and professional & business services experienced the largest over-the-year gains in the area.

Marsellus Shale Jobs And Much More Come To CONSOL Energy Center In Pittsburgh

Atlas Energy, Range Resources, EnergyForce, Express Energy Services and Duncan Land + Energy have signed up for the Pittsburgh Diversity Employment Expo on October 26th at CONSOL Energy Center bringing Marcellus Shale jobs to the Pittsburgh region. With positions such as land technicians, drilling engineers, geologists, roustabouts and many more available this is a great opportunity for Pittsburgh area residents to investigate job requirements and training opportunities as well as application processes and to make that first great impression. The job fair is free for all job seekers and open from 10:00AM to 3:00PM.


Over 60 companies and schools are expected to attend offering 100's of jobs in a wide variety of experience levels and industries. Pittsburgh's largest public job fair in over 4 years will also offer jobs in Banking/Finance, Customer Service, Retail, Sales, Healthcare, Nursing, Social Services, Manufacturing, Drivers and much more. Job seekers can pre-register here (pre- registration is not required but offers faster job fair entry). Sorry, no backpacks or strollers allowed.


Other companies and schools attending include:
84 Lumber
Aerotek/Allegis Group
Aldi's
All-State Career School
Aramark CONSOL Energy Center
Arc Human Services
Army National Guard
Atlas Energy
Baptist Homes
Bradford Child Care / Tender Care Learning Centers
CBCInnovis
CBCS
Cardworks Servicing
Community College of Allegheny County
Cintas
Citizen Care, Inc
City of Pittsburgh
Concordia of the South Hills
Dollar Bank
Duncan Land + Energy
EnergyForce
Everest Institute
Express Employment Professionals
Express Energy Services/ EES
Face 2 Face Sales Solutions
First National Bank of PA
Gallagher Home Health Services
Geneva College
Glade Run Lutheran Services
Goodwill
Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council
HVL Douglas, LLC
Institute for Transfusion Med./Central Blood Bank
Kaplan Career Institute
Life Pittsburgh
Lifesteps, Inc.
Mainstay Life Services
Medix Staffing Solutions
Mercy Behavioral Health
Stonemore Partners/Mt. Lebanon Cemetery
New Horizons Computer Learning Center
Parkvale Bank
People's Natural Gas
Pittsburgh Job Corp Center
Pittsburgh Tech. Institute-PTI
PRC Corporation
Primerica
Prudential Financial
Quest Diagnostics
Range Resources - Appalachia
RAS Delivery Services
Reliance First Capital LLC
Renewal, Inc
Sanford Brown School
SMG Management
South Hills / North Hills Beauty Academy
Southwestern Pa Commission CommuteInfo
Southwood Psychiatric Hospital
The Academy
Three Rivers Center for Independent Living (TRCL)
Transitional Service Inc
US Army
U.S. Liner
US Navy
Vector Marketing
Waste Management, Inc
Westin Convention Center


Companies who want more information on attending the job fair please email pittsburghjobs@gmail.com

Pittsburgh Diversity Employment Expo Moves to CONSOL Energy Center

After dozens of successful job fairs over the past 10 years at Mellon Arena, Heinz field and PNC Park, the Pittsburgh Diversity Employment Expo is moving to CONSOL Energy Center with the next event slated for Tuesday, October 26th, 2010.

Produced by the Pittsburgh office of EmploymentGuide.com, in association with The Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, Over 30,000 job seekers have attended the events with more than 10% getting job offers! Other partners include the Veteran's Affairs burough of Allegheny County and AARP Foundation WorkSearch.

The job fair is free for all job seekers and will be open from 10:00AM to 3:00PM.  Entry is through the Trib Total Media gate then up the escalators to the right.

More than 35 companies and schools are expected to attend and include sales, customer service, hospitality, Healthcare and Nursing, social services, manufacturing, banking/finance and more.

A list of companies and schools attending will be published here about two weeks out from the event.

Pittsburgh Loses Jobs In July (but fewer than in "typical" July)

The July unemployment figures just released show that Pittsburgh lost just over 15,000 jobs in July. On the surface this is bad news. However, when looking at historical numbers, Pittsburgh ALWAYS loses jobs in July as teachers and other government workers are laid off for the summer (with census workers adding even more to this number than usual). Pittsburgh lost fewer jobs this July than the past five year July average.


The good news is that this is the first month in over two years that Pittsburgh had more jobs (4,400 more) than the year ago period. Particular strength was seen in Education and Healthcare (+2,300), retail (+1,700) and Leisure and Hospitality (+1,400).

For more detail visit http://bit.ly/bwnvBS

Pittsburgh Metro Sees Unemployment Rate Drop and Jobs Increase in June

For the long term unemployed in the Pittsburgh Metro area the June unemployment report is bittersweet. For our area, the unemployment rate dropped from 8.6% in May to 8.3%, while adding 7,700 jobs. The good news is this represents almost 4,000 more jobs than one year ago.


While good news for area economists, who see the Pittsburgh Metro getting better through the rest of the year, it is little help to the more than 100,000 residents who couldn't find work. Our sense here at EmploymentGuide.com is that employers are beginning to increase their recruitment activities.

While summer is normally a slow recruitment period in good times, this summer has seen a steadily (albeit slowly) increasing number of job postings as well as inquiries toward near term recruitment plans. Our job fair held recently at Mellon Arena attracted 40 local employers which was the most in two years.

For more details on the job numbers go to the Post Gazette and the Tribune-Review.

July 13th, the Last Public Event at Mellon Arena – Ever!

EmploymentGuide.com® and The Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh partner to sponsor the “2010 Pittsburgh Employment and Career Education Expo”

We all know what the first events at the new Consol Energy Center will be. We now know what the very last event at Mellon Arena will be. Appropriately hundreds of Pittsburgh area job seekers will benefit!

As the local economy begins to recover from the worst local downturn since the collapse of the steel mills, EmploymentGuide.com and The Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh and have combined efforts for the sixth consecutive year to bring jobseekers together with companies who seek their talents.

On Tuesday, July 13th, from 10:00AM to 3:00PM at Mellon Arena more than 35 Pittsburgh area employers and schools, featuring career opportunities from HCR Manorcare and the all new Fairmont Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh, will meet and interview hundreds of job seekers at the 2010 Pittsburgh Diversity Employment and Career Education Expo.

Attendance is expected to exceed 1,000 Pittsburgh area residents seeking a new career. Last years 3 events attracted over 4,000 total job seekers and resulted in more than 450 job offers. Job Seekers will enter through gate 10. Attendance for job seekers is free.



The 2010 Pittsburgh Employment and Career Education Expo is part of EmploymentGuide.com’s “Hire Commitment” Job Fair Series, taking place in more than 50 cities across the country throughout 2010.

Participating employers will seek to fill entry-level to management level positions and represent industries such as healthcare, nursing, customer service, hospitality, sales, skilled trades, banking/finance, security and more. Also in attendance at the job fair are associations interested in supporting their members including: the AARP Foundation WorkSearch and the Allegheny County Department of Veteran’s Affairs.

Pittsburgh Metro Sees More Jobs But Higher Unemployment In April

The Pittsburgh Metro gained 7,300 jobs (seasonally Adjusted) in April; the highest month to month gain since 2001. At the same time, the unemployment rate increased from 8.4 to 8.5% as more job seekers entered/re-entered the job market in the improving economy.


Within the Pittsburgh MSA (metro survey area), five of the counties’ unemployment rates decreased, but the two that increased were enough to make the overall rate edge up. Unemployment rates in the MSA ranged from 7.8 percent in Butler County to 10.2 percent in Fayette County.

Goods producers in the Pittsburgh MSA totaled 143,000 jobs in April, up 5,800 from March. This was the second largest monthly increase for goods-producing industries on record, eclipsed only by a gain of 6,300 in April 1998. All three goods-producing supersectors increased, but the majority of jobs were added in construction due to warmer weather.

Month to month strength was seen across the board, but in particular, in construction, hospitality and business services. A major job index has named Pittsburgh one of the top five stable markets in the country based on the diversity of job makeup that is not relying on only one or two industries to supply a large portion of the metro’s jobs. For more details click here: http://bit.ly/b2l1G2

Over 500 Summer Jobs Available For Pittsburgh City Youths Age 14 to 21

From the Pittsburgh Post Gazette;



Applications for around 555 summer youth jobs available through the city of Pittsburgh will be accepted starting today, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's office announced Tuesday.
City residents ages 14 to 21 may apply to the Pittsburgh Summer Youth Employment Program. Paid for with federal funds, the program places young people in outdoor work improving parks or vacant lots, or indoor internships with area businesses.


The jobs pay $7.25 an hour for as much as 30 hours per week, from July 6 through Aug. 13.
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10132/1057425-53.stm

Goodwill Seeks Volunteer Mentors

Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania is looking for adult volunteers who want to help young people overcome disadvantages and avoid delinquency. The effort is part of a new national mentoring program known as Goodwill GoodGuides(tm), designed to help teens finish school and transition into productive careers through the guidance of trusted adults.


Currently, over 50 at-risk youth throughout the area have been identified and are waiting on support from the GoodGuidesTM program. Because of this, there is an urgent need for volunteers to offer help for these young people.

"Goodwill has a long history of helping people find work," said Michael J. Smith, Goodwill SWPA President / CEO. "A crucial part of that history is making sure that families are strong. Adults who become Goodwill GoodGuides(tm) will help keep youth who are at-risk get on the right path, stay away from trouble and prepare for a better future."

The program targets youths between the ages of 12 and 17 who are at risk for dropping out of school, facing legal troubles, or at risk for delinquency due to issues such as abuse, disability or drug or alcohol dependence. Its overall goal is to help potentially troubled young people build career plans and skills by providing structured and supportive relationships with trusted adult mentors. Specific goals are improved school attendance and academic scores, high school graduation, career exploration, job shadowing, service learning and financial literacy.

"Goodwill can readily identify many young people who can benefit from this program because of our extensive work with individuals and families with various disadvantages," Mr. Smith said. "Our challenge is to find enough qualified adults who are willing to make a commitment to serve as mentors and to engage at-risk youths in promoting their career development and life skills."

GoodGuides(tm) volunteer mentors must be 21 or older, submit to a background check, and agree to a one-year commitment. They will receive mentor training and be required to communicate weekly with the youths, spend six to eight hours a month with them, and communicate monthly with the Goodwill mentoring specialist.

Mentors from the business community will be asked to share insights into the working world and to help youths explore career challenges and opportunities.

For more information about becoming a volunteer mentor or to suggest a youth who might benefit from this program, please contact Jackie Abel-Stavropoulos, Program Manager with Goodwill SWPA, at 412-390-2308 or Jackie.stavropoulos@goodwillswpa.org.

EmploymentGuide.com and The Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh Help Pittsburgh’s Job Seekers For Sixth Year in a Row

Pittsburgh, PA, 3/22/2010– As the local economy begins to recover from the worst downturn since the collapse of the steel mills, The Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh and EmploymentGuide.com have combined efforts for the sixth consecutive year to bring together jobseekers with companies who seek their talents.


On Tuesday, March 23rd, from 9:30AM to 2:00PM at Mellon Arena more than 30 Pittsburgh area employers and schools, featuring career opportunities from Bettis Labs, and 100's of employment opportunities from the U.S. Census Bureau, will meet and interview hundreds of job seekers at the 2010 Pittsburgh Diversity Employment and Career Education Expo. Attendance is expected to exceed 1,000 Pittsburgh area residents seeking a new career. Last years 3 events attracted over 4,000 total job seekers and resulted in more than 450 job offers. Job Seekers will enter through gate 10. Attendance for job seekers is free and no pre-registration is required.


Co-sponsored by The Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh and EmploymentGuide.com, the 2010 Pittsburgh Employment and Career Education Expo is part of the “Hire Commitment” Job Fair Series, taking place in more than 50 cities across the country throughout 2010. The job fair series allows jobseekers to have personal contact with perspective employers.


Participating employers will seek to fill entry-level to management level positions and represent industries such as health care, engineering, IT, customer service, hospitality, retail, office/clerical, sales, skilled trades, and more.


Adding to the success of this new job fair series is support from associations interested in supporting their members including: the AARP Foundation WorkSearch and the Allegheny County Department of Veteran’s Affairs.


A Partial list of current employers and schools includes:


Bettis Labs
U.S. Census Bureau
All-State Truck Driving School
Aramark Mellon Arena
Army National Guard
Barber National Institute
Callos Companies
CCAC North Campus
CCAC/MOST
CitiGroup Financial Services
City of Pittsburgh
Cintas
Colonial Life Insurance Company
Everest Institute
Geneva College
Goodwill
H & R Block
Kaplan Career Institute
Life Pittsburgh
Lifesteps, Inc.
Mainstay Life Services
Pittsburgh Job Corp
Pittsburgh Multicultural Cosmetology Academy
Sanford Brown Career School
SMG Management, Mellon Arena
Southwestern Pa Commission, CommuteInfo
Transitional Services, Inc
UPMC
US Army Reserves
US Navy
Valvolene Instant Oil Change Centers

Pittsburgh YWCA Hosting Microenterprise Symposium 2010 at Carnegie Mellon University

The YWCA of Greater Pittsburgh's 2nd Annual Microenterprise Symposium is the premier gathering for small businesses in the Pittsburgh tri-state area. For a second year, entrepreneurs and business professionals from this area will come together at conference to participate in in-depth workshops, educational sessions, panel discussions and networking activities.

The symposium provides a way for small business owners and budding entrepreneurs to meet and explore strategies for providing support and mentoring opportunities. Connections are made by sharing experiences and real life stories about their common challenges; techniques and creative tips will be shared to help participants continue to grow their businesses.


A Micro-enterprise by definition is a business with five or fewer employees, small enough to require initial capital of $35,000 or less. According to the Association for Enterprise Opportunity, one out of six U.S. private sector employees’ works for a microenterprise.

This year’s symposium will take place on February 20, 2010, at the Tepper School of Business, Carnegie Mellon University. The symposium will have more than 15 concurrent sessions in which experienced professionals will make presentations and lead discussions about technology, marketing, finance, and other related topics for small business development. Join them on February 20, 2010 and look ahead to the future of growing micro enterprises to million dollar businesses.