Job Applicant Rejection: A Dish Best Served Cold
A study at Ohio State University has found that the style in which a rejection letter is written makes a big difference to spurned job seekers. Subjects reacted most negatively to letters that buried the rejection after an upbeat beginning or tried to end on a positive note. The best rejection letters came right out with the bad news with no attempt to soften the blow.

Mass Transit Vouchers Proposed
In a move to reduce nationwide traffic congestion, Vice President Al Gore unveiled a plan to give tax credits to commuters who use mass transit rather than driving. The vouchers would be given directly to employers, who would pass them along to workers. The plan also calls for a telephone hotline for split-second traffic updates.

Chat at Your Own Risk
Defense contractor Raytheon is suing 21 workers whom they say disclosed company secrets in a Yahoo! chat room. The company claims the workers violated their confidentiality agreements, and has asked Yahoo! to reveal the identities of the offending chatters, who used screen names. So far, Yahoo has refused to disclose any user information.

Workers' Comp Can Be Delayed
The Supreme Court has ruled that an employee cannot sue a workers' compensation system for withholding payment for treatment while they decide if it's necessary. A group of injured workers had sued their Pennsylvania insurers, claiming that delaying benefits was a violation of their constitutional rights. The Court found that employers have a right to be sure medical care is reasonable, necessary, and not fraudulent before they pay up.