Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 14 November 2003 — Page 26

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THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2003

LOST

► Continued from Pa ing l**iggi'il down in four or wm. Losing a job, looking lor a job, and finding tlic next job is a process. Acknowledgeyour loss, your tear, confusion and worries, and then begin tochange gears to work on finding another job, maybe even a better job. I ( you Ye unexpectedly lost your job there are scvral things you can do to soften the immediate impact, according to romorrowsMoney.org and Ahorrando.org. two Bond Market Foundation Web sites designed to help you take control of your financial future. Some of the tips included on these sites include: l.xiting successfully No matter how shocked, angry, embarrassed, confused or worried you are upon getting the news, remember that there is one thingyou still have control over - your response. Mow you respond to finding out that you're out of work can affect your relationship with your soon-to-be-former em-

plover and what sort of support you re able to get as you exit your position. You don’t have much control over the sit nation, but you do have control over yourself and vou can try to choose how you deal with it, to try and act rather than only react. Think about what you might need duringyour transitional period while you're looking for another position. For example, if vour employer offers a severance package, review it before signing it. You may he in a position to negotiate with your employer about possible benefits before you leave. Fvcn if your company uses a pre-determined formula to set severance payouts, given the sudden natureofyour circumstances, think about whether or not you may be able to negotiate for additional benefits such as: • A longer transition period - for example, asking to be kept on with theorgani/ationforan additional period of time to finish or find a better stopping point for any key projects, to organize your

Linda Major

Manon Couniy Prosecutor Carl Unr/i has announced the promotion of Linda Major lo Supervisor of the office’s Domestic Violence Division "Linda is an accomplished trial attorney and a great advocate of domestic violence." said Bn/./i. "The Domestic Violence Division is in good hands." Major |oined the Marion Couniy Prosecutor's Office in 1996 as a deputy prosecutor in the Domesuc Violence Division. She became lead prosecutor in 1998 and special deputy prosecutor two years later. She is a graduate of the Umv of Michigan and earned her law degree from Wayne Stale Umv., in 1996.

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work and pack, with the understanding thatyou’re beginning the process of disengaging from your employer. • Allowing you to use your office (in an unpaid capacity) for a certain period of time while you look for another job. • Permission to apply for other jobs within the company, or, if circumstances make that impossible, ask if your boss will consideryou for future positions, temporary assignments, or consulting opportunities in your area of expertise. • A letter of recommendation or reference you could take with you to use in your job search (if you have a good relationship with the organization and with the person you're asking to be a reference), particularly since many companies areonly willingto confirm that you worked there for a specific period of time. • Use of office equipment such as fax machine, copier, Internet access, etc. while you look for a job. • Outplacement services that might include career counseling or coaching, training, and job search support including resume writing and interviewing techniques, paid for by your company. As part of your exit process, the human resources department should provideyou with information on your benefits, but in case they don’t, ask for: • Information on any financial benefits such as stock options, pension benefits, and your 401(k)

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plan and rollover options. • Information on how to access your credit union funds (if you had opened an account through your company) As you close out yourwork and pack up, makesure to take or make copies of any performance evaluations, samples of work you’ve done, and any awards or letters of commendation. Filing for unemployment Many people feel ashamed at the thought of claiming unemployment. It’s important to remember that unemployment compensation is not a government handout. Your employer paid money toward unemployment insurance while you were working. You have a right to receive those benefits. You can file for benefits by phone and should begin the process once you’ve formally left your job. You’ll receive your first compensation check approximately two weeks after losing your job, depending on whether or not you received any severance. You’ll need to call in once a week thereafter to keep your account active and to keep receiving benefits. You’ll receive your first claim check 2-3 weeks after filing. Maintaining health insurance coverage Even though you’re out ofwork and money may be tight, you don’t w'ant to risk being uninsured. You are legally entitled to maintain your health insurance under your company’s health insurance plan under something called COBRA (the Consolidated Budget Reconciliation Act). Although you 11 be able to maintain your insurance, you’ll now need to pick up the full tab for the policy. You may also be charged an additional 2 percent for administrative costs. You’re allowed to continue your coverage for up to 18 months. You might find that the premiums are too costly for you and that you can find a cheaper plan by shopping around. If you belong to any professional organizations or clubs ask if they provide member discounts on insurance. It’s important to maintain your health insurance not only in the event of a medical emergency, but also to maintain what’s referred to as “credible coverage” that may help make you eligible for your spouse’s plan if necessary.

HUD

► Continued from Page 1 ies showed that African American and Hispanics continue to face illegal discrimination when attempting to rent apartments or buy homes. At the same time, persons with disabilities still face a critical shortage of housing that meets their needs. In particular, Peoples discussed how' lending discrimination, especially predatory lending is placing hundreds of families in danger of losing the homes they worked so hard to purchase. As a result of these challenges, according to Peoples, HUD is placing greater emphasis on educating the public about their fair

MEDIA

► Continued from Page 1 export jobs to other countries. “These policies cause people to lose their jobs, their health insurance, their homes,” she said. Cummings and Pelosi were especially vocal about how astronomical unemployment is impacting teen-age African Americans. “We are swamped at Congressional Black Caucus Job Fairs when thousands of young people come to us literally begging for jobs,’’ said Cummings. Pelosi said politicians have forgotten how “families piece together survival” beginning with the young people “who contribute to the economic viability “of the family. Bather than favoring the rich and wanting to abolish overtime pay through legislation, she said, they should be offering

DRRI ► Continued from Page 1 plans, so why not a strategic plan. A lot of companies build a strategic plan and it just sits on the sejf and collects dust.” This beginning stage evaluates the company as a whole and what functions should take place in a work environment. Kellam discussed the importance of implementing diversity in the early stages of training. But in order to train, a diverse staff is required. “Many employers complain that ‘we would like to hire minorities but we can’t find them’ but these same companies are not looking in the right places,” said Walter McKinnie of DRRI. Recruiting at Historically Black Colleges and Universities is where a large amount of minorities are concentrated. “Internships are the best, you can not find a better way to analyze and find out about a recent graduate than offering them an internship,” McKinnie said. A management team should reflect the company staff and employees - a diverse management staff plays into a diverse workplace. “Analyze those who

are performing the interview. Companies know who should not be on this panel. Train managers to hire adequately,” McKinnie emphasized. At the Indianapolis Urban League headquarters, where the seminar was held, DRRI representatives spoke on the importance of domestic benefits. These benefits are put in place to “attract and retain talented and productive employees, commitment to diversity and fairness to equal employment principals.” The Indianapolis Urban League, founded in 1965, is a nonprofit organization that works to improve race relations and to uphold diversity in a community sector. Baker&Daniels is a local law firm that has a sector of their company that tackles labor and employment law. This team has over 40 members and is the largest of its kind in Indiana. B&D Navigator is a sector of the law firm that address workplace diversity including business management, employee relations, union management and policy and manuals.

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Morgan re-elected chair of Vincennes University Board of Trustees Stewart & Irwin P.C., an Indianapolis law firm, announced that Roderick H. Morgan has been re-elected to lead the Vincennes University Board of Trustees. Morgan, a partner in the municipal/public finance group at Stewart & Irwin P.C., has served since 1999 as first vice chair of the VU Board of Trustees. An Indianapolis native and graduate of Arsenal Technical High School and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., Morgan earned his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. He is a retired Army Judge Advocate General (JAG) Officer who has served as an associate professor of law at the U.S. Military Academy and as a visiting professor of law at

the Judge Advocate General School in Charlottesville, Va. Dollars for new buses The Indianapolis Public Transportation Corp. (IndyGo) announced that it has acquired 24 inch "low floor" buses manufactured by Gillig Corp. IndyGo’s new fleet now features state-of-the-art vehicles that are fully accessible, quiet and environmentally friendly. Also, the new buses have a variety of amenities such as enhanced lighting, noise-dampening insulation and wide aisles that will make transit commuting an enjoyable experience for passengers. The new Gilling fleet will replace a group of buses that have transported passengers for as long as 15 years. Funding for the $5.8 million purchase was obtained from a grant from the Federal Transit'Administration and IndyGo’s operating budget.

housing rights, including what someone should do if they believe they have been discriminated against. HUD is also taking enforcement action when warranted, in faster, more efficient ways. In addition, HUD is making more of an effort to work with the housing industry to create more housing for persons with disabilities and remove barriers to minority homeownership. Anyone who believes they have experienced housing discrimination should call HUD’s Housing discrimination hotline at (800) 66.9-9777or visit HUD’s fair housing Web Site at www.HUD.gov.

job training programs and more tax incentives for the working poor. The Labor Department reported that payroll jobs grew by 126,000 last month in areas such its technical services, temporary employment firms (temps), health care, social work,and retail. New jobs havebeen added to the economy for the third straight month. Pelosi pointed on*, however, that some 2.5 million jobs have been lost since George Bush assumed office. “He’s lost the most jobs than any president since Herbert Hoover,” said Pelosi. And, its a counter to the three months ofjob growth, Cummings saitl 50 percent of unemployed African Americans have been out of work “for 27 weeks or more.”

HOLIDAY ► Continued from Page 1 going to give gifts. Spouse, children, parents, other close relatives and friends. Everyone does not have to receive a gift and for many people a nice card or holiday letter will do. (3) Allocate your gift budget, starting at the top with your closest relationships. (4) Develop your gift list and try to think of something the person really needs. If you don’t know, then ask them. It is better to give them something they need than to surprise them with something they have no use for. (5) Power shop. Stick to you gift list and budget. If possible, use cash, check or debit card. If you must use a credit card, remember that you will face the hill in January. (6) Keep your receipts. After your shopping is completed, total up how much you spent. Did you complete your list and most importantly did you stay within your budget? The holiday season can be a wonderful occasion to spend time with family and close relations. Th is holiday season, avoid getting drimk on the holiday spirit and instead observe the true meaning of these times by planning and organizing your family’s holiday celebration. Michael (». Shinn, CFP, registered representative and advisory associate of and securities otl'ered through Financial Network Investment Corp., memher SI PC and SIA. Visit www.shinnruuincial.com for more information or to send your comments or questions.