Business Up Front - October 2008

Business Up Front

Real Estate no Longer “Best” Long-Term Investment

50% of Americans thought real estate was the best long-term investment they could make. Five years later, that same percentage has fallen to 37%. Given this year's housing bust, just 27% of Americans maintain that real estate is the best long-term investment. As of April 2008 Gallup Poll Results:

• Savings accounts/CDs - 29%

• Stocks and mutual funds - 27%

• Real estate - 27%

• Bonds - 12%

“Presenteeism” Increasing in the Workplace

CIGNA HealthCare recently conducted a survey revealing that health and personal matters often keep U.S. workers from being fully focused while on the job. In fact, U.S. workers admitted to spending, on average, between 2 1/2 and five hours per week resolving personal issues while at work. The survey shows that “presenteeism”– a term that describes the phenomenon of employees being physically present at work, but unable to perform at full capacity due to illness or distractions – is widespread in the workplace, perhaps more than employers realize.

Key findings:

• 61% of workers have reported for duty while sick or coping with personal matters

• 46% were absent at least once in the last six months

• 22% of those missing work were absent for family matters, second only to actual illness.