Good timing may help get you a raise
Don't ask for a raise on a Monday or Tuesday, according to a new study. The beginning of the week is set aside by employers for unpleasant or negative tasks, such as firings. You're better off holding off till Wednesday, which is considered a more "thoughtful" day.

Home Workers to Get Safety Rules -- But Not Yet
After an onslaught of criticism from lawmakers and corporate leaders, the Labor Department withdrew a proposal that said that companies have the same safety responsibilities for employees working at home as they do for office workers. The safety regulations would have been impossible to enforce, critics say. Still, Labor Secretary Alexis Herman says that home workers are entitled to some protection, and says she plans to set up a task force on the issue soon.

Job Seekers Keep a Positive Outlook
A telephone hotline set up by Challenger, Gray and Christmas found an optimistic mood among job seekers. Fifty-one percent of callers said they expected the economy to stay hot, while 27% said they worried corporations were going to keep downsizing. Keeping job skills up to date while looking for a position was a major concern for 23% of callers.

The Future of Work: Service Industries, Say Researchers
A new study by the Urban Institute predicts that the demand for workers in service-oriented industries will increase by 2% or more annually. Over the next eight years, the researchers say, the demand for employees in business, retail and health services will outstrip the need for industrial workers. The greatest decline will be in the electrical, petroleum and textile industries, which are predicted to decline by 2% each year.