Beginning in March 2012, HARP 2.0 becomes available.  HARP 2.0 is for distressed homeowners who are extremely underwater in their mortgages, to the tune of more than 125%.

If you weren’t given a mortgage modification under HAMP, and you aren’t eligible under HARP, there may be additional federal legislation coming this year.  In the meantime, it’s all about making smart decisions and budgeting for your business and your personal finances in a responsible way.

Share your loan modification and refinance stories here!

Legitimate listings for Telecommute Jobs

Go get em!  Don’t forget a resume and cover letter.

Part-Time Bookkeeper – Telecommute

Medical Coder, United Health Group – Telecommute

Conference Sponsorship Sales Manager – Telecommute

First-line supervisors have a difficult job. The first-line supervisor is the first person employees approach to solve technical and social problems. During tough economic times, supervisors may be dealing with a personal pay cut or impending layoff, as well as managing employee stress. Constant stress wears away at individual employees, as well as office morale. Managers who recognize the importance of keeping first-line supervisors positive will realize the larger benefits to employee morale and productivity.

1. Acknowledge Supervisor Stress

Recognize that supervisors are people too. Good managers regularly check in with first-line supervisors about their own morale, not just to ask about how employees are doing.

2. Mentoring New Supervisors – Share Struggles and Offer Support

When mentoring newer supervisors, explain personal challenges and share stories of what has worked during previous tough economic cycles. Offer a glimpse into personal habits and share tips that work. Then offer support through employee assistance programs for supervisory counseling and stress management. Simply referring supervisors to outside resources or counseling does not have the same personal touch. During tough economic times, a personal touch makes all the difference because people place a value on caring.

3. Building a Strong Management Team – Generate Solutions Together

Much like good supervisors ask employees to develop solutions, good managers encourage supervisors to brainstorm solutions. Simply asking supervisors to go brainstorm a solution and come back with a plan may not have the intended effect when supervisors are already frustrated and low on morale. Instead, set aside specific time together once a month to generate ideas on how to increase employee motivation and morale. Consider extending the invitation to supervisors in other workgroups.




4. Motivate Supervisors With Praise

Praise helps supervisors know they are moving in the right direction and goes miles towards keeping motivation high. In a tough economy when pay is cut and morale is low, supervisors are looking for the value of the job beyond the monetary benefits. Offer verbal praise and consider giving gifts of appreciation. Don’t underestimate the power of appreciation and the positive trickle-down effect. Employees pay attention to how supervisors are treated, just as employees pay attention to how co-workers are treated by management.

5. Increase Supervisor Morale With Humor

Management can set the tone for the whole office, including supervisors. Keep the atmosphere light as much as possible, even during times of high workload. Use humor when appropriate to lighten the mood. Good moods are infectious, and will trickle down from supervisors to rank-and-file employees.

6. Reduce Stress With Offsite Meetings

Nothing recharges batteries like getting out of the stressful office environment, even if only for a lunch. Regularly get managers and supervisors together to talk about non-work items. Building relationships is always a good idea, but often overlooked. Administering or explaining pay cuts, layoffs and program reductions puts strain on managers and supervisors. Solid relationships between managers and supervisors is crucial in a tough economy. Offsite meetings can start building those solid relationships.

Recognizing signs of stress in supervisors and offering support is one of a manager’s most important jobs. During tough economic times, supervisors are faced with personal pay cuts or impending layoffs, as well as concerns of individual employees. Being a proactive manager will keep communication open and recognize and reduce stress.

I found some work at home job opportunities and wanted to share the list with you. There are so many listings, I’ll split them into separate posts.

Tonight’s Installment:

1-800-Flowers – Hiring Temporary Help for Valentine’s Day. Read more and apply

Sylvan Learning Center – offers on-site and work at home opportunities. Read about Sylvan.

Researchers found that mortgages owned by lenders were 26 to 36 percent more likely to be renegotiated than very similar mortgages that the original lenders sold to other companies, which turned them into securities. Read more!

Step 1: Get out that box of receipts.
Step 2: Check the mailbox for tax documents
Step 3: Search furiously online for new tax laws
Step 4: Fret and pull hair out
Step 5: Turbo Tax
Step 6: Relax

We’re not out of the woods yet.  Inflation is still a major concern.  And some still worry about Europe’s influence, as they take a longer path to economic recovery.