Category Archives: Jobs and the workplace

Commercial Real Estate and Big Business force out the Middle Class

25 Saturday Jun 2022

Posted by in aging, exercise, homelessnes, Jobs and the workplace

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Commercial Real Estate and Big Business force out the Middle class in Arizona.

Why are Americans choosing to live overseas? Can small business survive Amazon and Walmart?

Can an employee afford to live here? Why are Americans moving overseas? This is a chart of the number (estimated) of US citizens living abroad.

CountryNumber of Americans (estimated)
Mexico799,000
Canada273,000
United Kingdom171,000
Germany153,000
Hong Kong]85,000
Australia117,000
Israel77,000
South Korea68,000
France62,000
Japan58,000
Spain57,000
Italy54,000
Philippines38,000
New Zealand36,000

14 Countries With the Most American Expats: Updated: 05/31/2022

Expat Guide

Over 8.7 million non-military Americans live overseas.

However, where do most of them live? Well, the answer may surprise you.

Countries With Most American Expats

First off, this chart won’t include U.S. military personnel. Moreover, since governments collect information on immigration in various ways, there’s no way to provide factual information about the number of American immigrants in each country.

The chart was sourced from the U.N. International Migrant Stock at Mid-Year by Sex and Region, Country or Area of Destination, and Origin.

What country has the most rich and poor? Is this what is happening in the US? Are we becoming the land of the rich and poor? Why does it take two armed Country Sheriffs to guard the local Walmart store during the day?

Top 10 Countries with the Highest Wealth Inequality (World Bank Gini index):

  1. South Africa – 63.0%
  2. Namibia – 59.1%
  3. Suriname – 57.9%
  4. Zambia – 57.1%
  5. Sao Tome and Principe – 56.3%
  6. Central African Republic – 56.2%
  7. Eswatini – 54.6%
  8. Mozambique – 54.0%
  9. Brazil – 53.4%
  10. Botswana – 53.3%

South Africa’s income inequality has become worse over the years. The top 1% of earners take home almost 20% of income and the top 10% take home 65%. That means that 90% of South African earners take home only 35% of all income. ________________________________________________________________________

China, India and the U. S. are projected to retain the top three rankings as the countries with the largest middle-class populations, according to World Data Lab. Slow or negative population growth in some advanced economies will lead to a shrinking middle class in countries like Japan, Germany, Italy and Poland.chart(World Data Lab – Bloomberg).

(Note: The WDL study uses 2011 dollars at purchasing power parity.)

First Published: Fri, September 03 2021. 06:36 IST

GDP = Gross Domestic Product

And PPP = Purchasing Power Parity (per capita/per person on average)

CountryGDP-PPP ($)
Luxembourg126,569
Ireland111,360
Singapore107,677
Qatar100,037
Switzerland78,112
United Arab Emirates74,245
Norway69,859
United States69,375
Macao SAR67,475
Brunei Darussalam65,675
San Marino65,446

As you can see, The GDO and PPP (Gross Domestic Product and Purchasing Power Parity of the US: is 50% of that of Luxemburg and Ireland! Are we gradually slipping behind?

Commercial Real Estate owners in AZ own 25% of all property, private owners, 18% and the Federal government 43%. People also ask: https://www.fs.fed.us/rm/boise/AWAE/labs/awae_flagstaff/watersheds/basics/management.html

Bottom of Form   Public Land Management and Land Ownership in Arizona   Public Land Management and Land Ownership in Arizona There are 72.9 million acres of land in Arizona. Approximately 12.9 million acres, or 18%, in Arizona are privately owned. Approximately 9.6 million acres in Arizona, or 13 %, are managed by the State of Arizona. Approximately 20.1 million acres in Arizona, or 27 %, are held in trust by the United State Government for native Americans. Approximately 30.3 million acres in Arizona, or 42 %, are owned by the citizens of the United States. These public lands are managed by the USDA Forest Service, the National Park Service, military organizations, and USDI Bureau of Land Management

Search Resultshttps://chamberbusinessnews.com/2022/03/23/bill-to-lower-arizona-commercial-property-tax-inches-closer-to-passage/ As rents skyrocket, commercial owners seek to pay less tax. The meteoric rise of homelessness is clearly linked, in part, to rising rent prices.

 “Arizona commercial property makes up roughly one-fifth of the property owned in the state, and yet we pay around one-third of the total cost incurred by property taxes,” said Tim Lawless, the president of CREED, Commercial Real-estate Executives for Economic Development .Mar 23, 2022

18% property privately owned

42 % owned by Federal government

25% commercial real estate

 85% of all property 

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Every resident in the state needs to know that commercial real estate investors are not your friends. They are not your neighbors, they won’t be your neighbors, it is unlikely they will ever live here. They don’t care about the city, the state, the wildlife or the schools. They are here for one reason only and that is to make money. They will then take the cash and live in very expensive and exclusive places (maybe New Zealand or some small island) and leave the residents to deal with homelessness, gangs and crime.

The residents of AZ need to curb the influx of commercial investors of properties that turn us all into the rental poor with no hope of ever buying a home. If the influx cannot be stopped (or we don’t want it to) the people of the state need to put a lid on the rapidly escalating % of rent increases that are happening all over the state. If this does not happen, the middle class drain out of the state will continue and increase. We will be left with a situation that is occurring in California where the cities are becoming composed of the rich, the poor and the gangs.

This state, much like what has happened in California, will not only become not affordable, it will become unlivable. I clearly recall a story told to me from a California transplant. She sold a nice home in Victorville for a loss because the homeless had become so aggressive around the grocery stores, middle-aged housewives were carrying guns in their purses. That is starting to happen here and we need to stop it.

Cew 7/22

Rental Poverty

17 Friday Jun 2022

Posted by in Jobs and the workplace, money, stress

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Rental Poverty 

How much of your monthly income should go to rent?

https://www.chase.com/personal/banking/education/budgeting-saving

In the days when I lived and worked in the LA area, I lived in ‘The Valley’ (San Fernando Valley) and commuted into the ‘city’ to attend meetings, hearings, speak with people, so on. Part of my beat was Beverly Hills, Century City, Belair, West Hollywood, etc. All the very exclusive areas. I mostly used the 405 freeway, sometimes the 101 and some side streets. The commute to the city would start before 8 am and the commute back from the city began at about 2 pm. In all this stop and go traffic, I began to observe certain things.

What I began to see (when I paid attention) was the large number of pickup trucks, driven by men, with various tool boxes and gear in the back. I would see the trucks going south in the am and see the same type of vehicles going back north in the pm. Back ‘north’ was the Valley and then further north, Santa Carita, Canyon Country and further north, Victorville. I began to realize that the middle class folks, to include the butchers, bakers, and candlestick makers, could not afford the ‘city’ and were migrating north to affordable housing. In that commute, they were taking their skills with them.

It appeared that the 45 minute to 2 hour drive (depending on the time of day) was adequately offset by their work compensation so, they kept doing it. I began to realize something else. In Beverly Hills and neighborhoods of the like kind, the people who could afford to live there were the rich, the people who cleaned their toilets and washed their cars. No one else.

What happens when the housing is so expensive that no amount of commuting will offset the cost? There are areas in California now like Oakland, Santa Cruz, places in the Silicon Valley, where the cost of living is so great, they cannot attract workers. I was at the swimming pool recently and a young man shared that he had just taken an engineering job in that area. I know that he must be making pretty good money, however, he indicated the price of rent was ‘eating his lunch.’ I wonder how long he will last?

Three and a half years ago I left California, my home state, to come to Arizona. It had become  impossible to live on retired pay plus part-time jobs with the cost of living. When I came here my rent was a comfortable 26% of my salary. Now in just 3.5 yrs, it has jumped to an uncomfortable 34% of my salary. During the same time period, my salary cola increases have been 3%. That plus the rising cost of gas, I am having to check the fridge to see if I have enough food.

Who does this benefit? Well, the landlords of course. But what happens when the cost of living drives out your middle class and you don’t have anyone to fix your expensive houses, expensive cars and teach your children. Who wins? Try no one.

Greed has its price. One that I don’t think our society has even begun to calculate.

Article: Chase Bank

Ideally, your monthly rent payments should leave you with enough money left over for bills, groceries, a bit of non-essential spending, and even savings. Here’s how you can figure out how much of your income should go towards your monthly rent.

What percentage of income should go to rent?

The 30% rule

A popular standard for budgeting rent is to follow is the 30% rule, where you spend a maximum of 30% of your monthly income before taxes (your gross income) on your rent. This has been a rule of thumb since 1981, when the government found that people who spent over 30% of their income on housing were “cost-burdened.“

Under 30%

The 30% rule is a general guideline that renters can follow, but they should also take into account other expenses and factors. For instance, if you have credit card debt or student loans to pay off, consider finding an apartment with rent below 30% of your monthly income, so you can put more of your budget toward reducing your debt.

Why you shouldn’t spend over 30% of your income on rent

If you have to spend over 30% per month on rent, you’ll have less money left over for bills and important purchases, making it more difficult to build savings. Make sure that your monthly rent payments don’t prevent you from paying off credit card debt or loans: your rent shouldn’t cause you to fall deeper in debt.

If 30% doesn’t work for you

The 30% rule does not always perfectly align with your budget. When determining how much you can reasonably pay in rent per month, there are some other things to consider before you say no.

Try the 50/30/20 rule

The 50/30/20 rule is a popular method to follow when determining your expenses in your monthly budget. The rule entails spending 50% of your monthly income on essential expenses such as rent, monthly bills, and groceries, spending 30% on non-essential purchases such as going out to eat, and putting 20% into your savings account. If your rent pushes above 30% of your gross income, by limiting your monthly bills, you may be able to keep rent + bills less than 50%.

Work down loans and debt

When you have considerable debt to pay each month, putting 30% of your income towards rent may still be too much. While finding a cheaper place to live can help you afford all of your essentials, consider working through debt reduction programs to shrink your monthly debt payments so you can put more money towards where you live.

Tidy up your spending habits

If you frequently eat out at restaurants, spend money on entertainment, or travel, consider how these expenses affect your monthly budget. If you would rather live in a more spacious apartment or more appealing neighborhood, cutting back on these extras can help you afford your new space.

Think about where you live

If you live in an expensive area, you may have to spend more than 30% of your monthly income on rent. To maintain a balance in your monthly budget, find ways to decrease your spending in other areas to live comfortably or find other areas to live in for less.

How to calculate 30% of your available income for rent

To find your gross monthly income, take a look at your most recent paycheck and find the line calling out “Gross Pay” (what you’re paid before taxes, health insurance, 401k, and any other benefits are removed from your pay).

Calculate your monthly Gross Pay

If you receive a paycheck every two weeks: Multiply your Gross Pay by 26 (to see your 52-week Gross Pay) then divide that number by 12 (to see your monthly Gross Pay).

If you receive a paycheck twice a month: Multiply your Gross Pay by 2 (to see your monthly Gross Pay).

Does 30% work for you?

If 30% of your Gross Pay is more than you’re currently paying each month in rent, then you’re at a safe level for housing. If 30% of your Gross Pay is less than your monthly rent, many financial professionals would suggest that you find a more affordable home

How to reduce your rent to 30% or less of your income

Split the rent with roommates

Sharing an apartment with roommates can help bring down the monthly rent costs per person. If you can find one or more roommates to comfortably share an apartment with, you immediately save a bit on your rent.

6/17/22 Courtney Webb

WORKPLACE SABOTAGE

11 Thursday Aug 2016

Posted by in Jobs and the workplace, Uncategorized

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I had a teaching job recently where I had to go through an extensive background check where the employer hired a firm to do the check. The firm literally called old employers and verified I had worked there and what kind of person I was. When that paperwork was done I had to do a group presentation in front of 30 people and answer their questions. That presentation was after several one-on-one personal interviews. Imagine how delighted I was to have jumped successfully through all those hurtles to and to get the job. Wonderful!

The first night I taught I met my co-worker (assistant?). It was the first time I had laid eyes on her. What followed was my co-worker, who had worked at the school several years, left class on a regular basis to go into admin and complain about me and what I was not doing right. For whatever reason, administration felt they had to appease this woman and give her whatever she wanted. When the co-worker began to criticize me and pick me apart in front of students the whole situation went into the toilet.

What were her motivations? Probably many and all along the lines of ‘less for you and more for me’ kind of thing. I was unhappy with that experience for sometime until, guess what, it started to happen all over again in another school. Having learned to not take sabotage sitting down; I immediately went to the  boss on two occasions and explained, carefully, exactly what had happened and how this affected the class and the students. I didn’t hear much back from him about the co-workers but suddenly (!) their attitudes changed completely and I was worthy of respect once more. It is a hard lesson that we have to be ever vigilant with individuals like this, but thoughtful review of past jobs shows I have been dealing with people like this a long time and just didn’t know it. Here is a good article on the subject.

How to Guard Against Workplace Sabotage

Falling prey to an unscrupulous saboteur in the workplace can sting, especially if the offender wants your job, credit for your ideas or to make you look incompetent.

The good news? “You’re never too young or too old to learn ways to deal with (saboteurs),” said Rebecca Weingarten, a New York-based executive, corporate and career coach. Below the experts advise how to effectively deal with workplace sabotage:

Know what you’re dealing with:“Workplace saboteurs come in a lot of shapes and sizes,” said Mary Hladio, president of Ember Carriers Inc., an organizational effectiveness firm. “What spurs these behaviors can be small or it has been their modus operandi for their entire career.” Saboteurs include gossipers and rumor mongers, finger pointers, slackers, people pleasers, avoiders, belittlers and downright bullies. With unemployment on the rise, a new kind of saboteur has emerged: one who, out of fear of losing a job, has taken on the attitude of “better you than me, so let me help that along,” warned Weingarten.

Don’t be naïve: Be cautious about to whom you complain, confide and tell your ambitions. The person you’re talking to might become intimidated, jealous or fearful for his/her position.

Check yourself: Once confronted with a possible sabotage, first look in the mirror and carefully consider the unpleasant possibility that you’re the problem, suggested Hladio. “If you’re unsure, consult with a trusted colleague. If you are not the problem proceed.”

Defining the Various Saboteurs

According to Mary Hladio, president of Ember Carriers Inc., one way to combat saboteurs involves understanding them.  What motivates them? What personality type are they? You can generically categorize them in three ways:

  • �Situational: a specific situation or circumstance makes this person difficult.  Stress becomes a huge factor with someone situationally difficult.  Find out what is going on in his or her world (professionally and personally) that could impact behavior.
  • �Deliberate: some people believe that being unreasonable or mean results in effectiveness.  Because no one has ever successfully cut off their behavior and results are achieved, they feel vindicated.
  • �Difficult: they have always been this way.  Their ingrained behavior is a part of their personality. Only a life-changing event or therapy can correct this trait.

Don’t get angry: Dealing with difficult people presents emotional challenges, so first take a deep breath and try to neutralize your emotions. Pause before responding and do not stoop to their level. The more you can get your emotions in check, the more control you possess.

Confront the saboteur: Conduct a brief, but pointed discussion with the saboteur. Ask why he or she chose to behave as such. “You’ll get the best results by being straightforward, direct and persistent,” instructed Hladio.

Go up another level or two (or three): If your manager seems unconcerned regarding a workplace saboteur, go to his or her boss. Be careful not to complain how the sabotage affects you; rather address how it affects job production.

Leave a paper trail: A paper trail of your work makes it harder for someone to claim a work idea/concept/project as his or her own. Sally Haver, senior vice president of the Ayers Group, said, “It is of paramount importance to archive relevant e-mails, back up your databases, etc. so, in the case of controversy, you’re covered.”

Find a new job: If all attempts to deal with workplace sabotage fail, sometimes leaving becomes your only option, said Patricia Donovan, a grievance chair at University at Buffalo. “If you do, do not do so without telling whomever in charge why you are leaving. Be calm, reasonable, honest and direct. … Be as professional, informed and intelligent as they say you aren’t,” she advised. “Then smile and vayamos. You’ve got better things to do with your life than shorten it by working with (saboteurs).”

By Larue Novick

LIVING MAGAZINE