Safety Rules for Home Manufacturing but Not Telecommuting
Health and safety violations in the homes of telecommuters are not the responsibility of employers, the Labor Department has declared. However, employers can be held liable for dangerous manufacturing work done in a worker's home -- such as assembling electric components or manufacturing fireworks. The announcement comes after a flip-flop by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration on whether there should be federal safety regulations for all home workers.

Clinton Proposes New Retirement Plan
President Clinton's State of the Union address proposed a new program of retirement savings accounts for low-income workers. Under the plan, the government would provide a 2-for-1 match for the first $100 contributed by each person. A worker who participated for 40 years could accumulate over $266,000.

Sexual Harassment Official Accused of Sexual Harassment
An affirmative action officer in Falmouth, Massachusetts -- whose job it was to enforce the town's sexual harassment policy -- has been fired for sexually harassing a town employee. The official, Jayme Dias, was in charge of promoting and enforcing fairness in hiring and employment practices. Dias was hired in 1990; the female victim says the unwanted sexual advances have gone on for six years.

Coke to Let 6,000 Go
The world's largest soft drink maker will eliminate 6,000 jobs, its largest layoff ever. The cuts will affect 2,500 workers at Coca-Cola's Atlanta headquarters, 2,700 overseas and 800 more around the U.S. The company said that laid-off workers will be offered severance packages, outplacement and counseling.