Hurricanes, high gas prices, soaring office rents, stressful commutes. While telecommuting has been growing more popular in recent years, events of the last several weeks may prompt even more companies to jump on board.Technology businesses pioneered flexible work arrangements in the 1990s. Service firms, such as PricewaterhouseCoopers, followed. Now, wide use of mobile phones, broadband and wireless Internet access has made working out of the office even easier, and employees consider it an important benefit.

Created by the law that created the Social Security system, Unemployment Insurance is celebrating an anniversary. The Social Security Act of 1935 set up the federal-state partnership for the unemployment insurance (UI) program and Michigan was the first state to adopt their own UI law.“Citizens really need this program. There are thousands and thousands of workers all across the nation that depend on this program,” said Ron Macksoud, a public information specialist of the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations speaking with the Auburn Plainsman.

A website at www.KatrinaDisplacedJOBS.com dedicated to listing job openings specifically for evacuees of areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina, has been created by Ascent Business Systems, Inc. and Intelligent Netware. The web site will be available on Tuesday, September 13, 2005.

Efforts to modernize the University of Michigan’s Stephen M. Ross School of Business may cost it the Paton Accounting Center. The Center was built and dedicated to well-known accounting professor William Paton in 1976. Construction was financed entirely by former students and friends. Efforts to preserve the building are being led by Paton’s son, William Jr. who has a Ph.D.

Continuing professional education (CPE) courses are part of life for every Certified Public Accountant (CPA). They are stepping stones to successful careers and practices.

Investors of all ages believe they need professional help to manage their money, leading them to question the best way to find a skilled financial planner they can trust.A new survey shows half of “GenX” investors (26 to 40 years old), 46 percent of “Boomers” (41 to 59) and 45 percent of “Matures” (60 to 82) say they “need the help of professionals” in managing their investments.

The median annual income reported for Chief Corporate Financial Officers (CFO)in the manufacturing field is $130,032, but 10 percent make less than $87,414 and 10 percent make over $259,603. Of course, not all financial professionals working in the manufacturing industry are CFOs. Even among CFOs, pay varies widely with the fiscal size of the manufacturing firm. For example, CFOs in manufacturing firms with annual revenues of $10-$24.9 million have a median annual income of $111,916 vs.

The Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE) is offering a rare look into the compliance and ethics programs at some of America’s leading companies during the 4th Annual Compliance and Ethics Institute.

The Census Bureau reports that the number of minority and women-owned businesses have increased over a five year period between 1997 and 2002. Their Survey of Business Owners reveals that the total number of businesses increased at a rate of 10 percent or about 2 million. Minority and women-owned businesses have grown at an increasing rate. The number of businesses owned by Asians grew by 24 percent while African-Americans minority businesses grew by 45 percent. Hispanic minority businesses grew by 31 percent.