Don’t Overindulge at the Office Party

Tis the season for the holiday party.  Just a quick career reminder.  It is not too wise to get carried away with the egg nog  and HO HO HO  at the workplace party.  A recent poll conducted by Monster, the international job boards operator,  asked the following question of  3,699 visitors to their website, “Have you ever done something regrettable at an office party—-for example , consumed too much alcohol or spoken offensively to a colleague or superior?” The results:

*Extremely regrettable: I’ve been fired for office party behavior   4%

*Somewhat  regrettable : I’ve damaged my career/reputation    3%

*Mildly  regrettable: I’ve been embarrassed for a few days    10%

*No regrets: I’ve misbehaved , but with no ill effects    14%

*I’ve never done anything  regrettable at an office party   69%

Normal workplace etiquette and rules still apply. Look at the holiday party as an opportunity to  network and socialize  with those you do not normally come into contact with.

Long Island’s Foreign Born Increases

In the last decade  the number of foreign born on Long Island has increased. Today, nearly one out of four (21%) of Nassau  residents are foreign born and fourteen percent(14%) are foreign born in Suffolk.  Communities with a substantial percentage of foreign born on Long Island include:

 

Brentwood                             42%

Elmont                                    42%

Uniondale                              41%

Hempstead   Village             39%

North Bay Shore                    38%

Central Islip                           37%

Freeport                                  34%

Valley Stream                        33%

Huntington Station                27%

Hicksville                                27%

 

Source:  U.S. Census. The American Community Survey  2006-2010.

 

Challenges Facing LI Small Businesses

The American Communities Institute at Dowling College this December released the results from its survey of 159 small business owners on Long Island.  The most significant challenges threatening the growth and survival of small businesses cited were——

*Economic Uncertainty                               79.9%

*Decline in Customer Spending                61.1%

*Cost of Insurance Benefits                       46.5%

*State Taxes                                              39.0%

*Local Taxes                                              37.1%

*Federal Taxes                                          35.8%

High Utility Costs                                     35.8%

Regulatory Burdens                                 35.2%

Lack of Available Capital                        27.7%

Rental Space Costs                                   25.8%

This poll is part of a eight-month research study funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Long Island’s Richest Zip Codes

A compilation of the nation’s 50 wealthiest zip codes with 100 or more households, found five Long Island communities on the list.  Excluded from the listing were vacation home locales—-e.g. The Hamptons.  The list includes:

Rank      Zip         Place             Average Household 

                                                                Income

#2          11588     Old Westbury     $282,981

#15        11030     Manhasset           $252,281

#28        11797     Woodbury          $230,576

#42        11765      Mill Neck            $213,504

#45        11576      Roslyn                 $224,318

This survey was conducted by the Gadberry Group for Businessweek.com.