Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: The quest for work life balance is a critical goal for workers age 45 – 74, but is more so among racial/ethnic minority workers. This is one of the major findings in Staying Ahead of the Curve: The AARP Work and Career Study, conducted by AARP in 2002. The telephone survey was conducted among a nationally representative sample of 1,500 employed respondents age 45-74 and over samples of 400 each among African Americans, Hispanics, and Asians.

Asians and Hispanics are most likely to agree they are seeking better balance between work and family (84 percent- and 82 percent- respectively). Three-quarters of African Americans agree they are seeking better balance, while 70 percent of whites agree.

Perhaps there is a greater desire for better work/life balance in the racial/ethnic minority community because more minorities than the general sample experienced major life changes over the past five years. While 29 percent of whites say they began caring for a parent within the last five years, the incidence is 36 percent among African Americans, 46 percent among Asians, and 51 percent among Hispanics. In addition, African Americans and Hispanics are more likely than whites or Asians to say that in the past five years they had an adult child move back home or began providing childcare on a regular basis.

This paper offers an overview of the results and focuses on ethnic differences in the pursuit of better work and personal life balance. As the working population ages, the implications for employers demand work place changes to help workers in their quest for balance between their work and family care giving needs.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: A national survey (N=774) of health journalists reveals that newspaper health journalists ascribe more importance to their professional roles than do health journalists working for other news delivery channels or newspaper journalists. Overall, health journalists earnestly strive to an educator role. This is critical considering the high stakes for translating scientific/medical details to help people lead more healthful lives. Personal characteristics, motivations, and workplace attributes are also examined as they relate to role conceptions.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Considering the enormous challenges independent record labels have to face, the treatment of this field seemed to be appropriate. On account of the wide range of companies and scenes in this important part of the market for recorded music, only a general consideration of the topic was possible.
To sum it up one may say that - based on an analysis of the competitive situation as well as the value chain - independent record labels will have to search for a clear strategic positioning in the market increasingly.
A key role in the strategies of independent record labels as differentiation focusers should play brand management. It offers Independents many opportunities to improve their competitive position that are contrasted by just a few threats. Long-term preferences should be build not only for the artists respectively their releases but also for the label itself, especially considering the fact that independent record labels seem to be predes-tined for branding. The added value of labels as brands must be commu-nicated. Simultaneously the branding measures have to be adjusted to each product personality. In this way the label as brand could be the stra-tegic key to marketing.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Today, most workers view full retirement as a myth. Seven in ten respondents in a nationwide study intend to work either part time or full time at “retirement” either for their mental and emotional well-being or due to financial need.

For most workers age 45-74 a working retirement is a welcome reality rather than a harsh one. Seventy-seven percent of Hispanics and 73 percent of African Americans say they plan to work during retirement for interest or enjoyment sake, while only 68 percent of whites and 67 percent of Asians plan to work for this reason. In fact, African Americans and Hispanics are most likely to say they plan to start their own business during retirement (28 percent- vs. 22 percent- respectively, compared to 8 percent- of whites and 10 percent- of Asians).

However, older workers perceive age discrimination as a harsh reality. Sixty-seven percent of respondents think workers face age discrimination in the workplace today. In fact, older workers perceive age and education to have the biggest impact on how older workers are treated in the workplace: education getting better treatment (according to 24 percent- of workers), and age getting worse treatment (perceived by 12 percent- of workers). Workers view age discrimination as more prevalent than race discrimination.

These are the findings from Staying Ahead of the Curve: The AARP Work and Career Study. A telephone survey was conducted among a nationally representative sample of 1,500 employed respondents age 45-74 as well as approximately 400 over samples each among African Americans, Hispanics, and Asians. Its purpose was to explore in-depth the work and career attitudes and behaviors of older workers age 45-74.

This paper offers a brief overview of this unique survey and focuses on racial/ethnic differences in work behaviors and attitudes.