Nominate Your Workplace as One of Atlanta's 101 Best & Brightest Companies to Work For

/PRNewswire/ -- The search is on for Atlanta's Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For the first time ever, Atlanta, GA will host the 101 awards event that identifies and honors organizations that display a commitment to excellence in their human resource practices and employee enrichment.

The event will honor 101 companies and present 11 elite awards at the first annual "Atlanta's 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For" symposium and awards celebration on June 20, 2011 at the Atlanta Marriott Century Center. The event will feature best practice workshop sessions that precede an awards brunch hosted by Monica Pearson of WSB TV 2.

An independent research firm will evaluate each company's entry based on its communication, community initiatives, compensation and benefits, diversity and multiculturalism, employee education and development, employee engagement and commitment, recognition and retention, recruitment and selection, small business and work-life balance. A basic assessment of each nominated company's overall ranking in each category will be provided.

Nominations are being accepted online at www.101bestandbrightest.com. Anyone can complete the online entry form. Nomination forms are also available by calling 866-321-1822. The nomination deadline is Dec. 1, 2010.

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Working Alcoholics Cause Headaches for Companies

/PRNewswire/ -- April is Alcohol Awareness Month and one way companies are getting involved is with public awareness campaigns about workplace alcoholism. The cost of alcoholism and other drug addictions in the U.S. workforce exceeds $100 billion a year, according to the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI). Part of Alcohol Awareness Month is educating companies in identifying the signs of an alcoholic and help problem drinkers.

"Most people wrongly assume that if an alcoholic employee does not drink at work there is no harm to the company since the abuse takes place on his/her own time. But damage does occur because alcoholics have reduced mental function, distorted perception, poor judgment and performance, even during work hours when they are not drinking," explains Arthur Jackson, author of "Raise the Bottom: How to Keep Secret Alcoholics from Damaging Your Business."

"A job masks the problem since a common myth is that the typical alcoholic is unemployed. Yet studies show over 85 percent of active alcoholics are functional and employed. Alcoholism in the workplace is hidden in plain sight, virtually affecting every business. Because of the stigma of alcoholism, people prefer to see the cause of problems as competition, cash flow, bad management, weak economy -- anything but alcoholism," Jackson says.

Alcoholism is progressive and work performance declines in the middle and later stages of the disease. That is why it's important to know how to identify alcoholics early to protect the business. "Once alcoholism takes hold, the alcoholic has less and less control over his willpower and behavior. He doesn't understand what is happening to him," says Jackson.

Jackson says that alcoholic behaviors to watch for include:
-- Frequent tardiness and absences, excuses for missing work.
-- Sloppy work, missed deadlines, declining performance.
-- Strained relationships with coworkers and confused thinking.
-- An inability to admit mistakes.
-- Avoiding certain people, including managers and supervisors.


"Employers are in a unique position to help the possible alcoholic employee. They must make sure problem drinkers fully experience the consequences of their behavior so that not drinking looks like a better approach to life," says Jackson. The threat of a job loss is one of the strongest leverage points that can influence an alcoholic to seek treatment.

"The first thing we can do to help an active alcoholic is to stop enabling," said Jackson. "Since alcoholics are often receptive to help when there is an accumulation of negative consequences -- a bottom -- then we do them a favor by letting them fully experience those consequences. This helps to raise the bottom so they seek recovery sooner."

Recommendations for dealing with an employee with signs of alcoholism include:

-- Make and keep the possible alcoholic accountable.
-- Don't "lower the bar" for him or her by shifting responsibilities or
assigning tasks to others.
-- Don't do for the alcoholic what he should do for himself.
-- Don't put favorable spins on situations. Don't lie, cover up, or make
excuses for the alcoholic's behavior or results.

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Aflac Named America's Best Managed Company for Insurance Industry by Forbes.com

/PRNewswire/ -- Aflac has been named to the Forbes.com list of America's Best Managed Companies for 2008. The insurance giant was also included in Forbes's list of the 400 Best Big Companies, based on sales and earnings growth, debt to total capital, earnings outlook and stock market returns. Editors rate companies on one- and five-year data, considering both long-term success and latest performance. Guided by these rankings and other data, one company is chosen as the best managed for each industry.

"It is an honor to be recognized by Forbes.com as one of America's best managed companies. It illustrates management's commitment to the company's core values and the financial strength of the company," said Aflac Chairman and CEO Dan Amos.

This year marks the ninth time that Aflac has been included on the Forbes.com list of 400 Best Big Companies. The list of 400 Best Big Companies and America's Best Managed Companies is available at www.forbes.com.

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Dillard's, Inc. Reports December Sales Results

Little Rock, Arkansas, January 10, 2008 -- Dillard's, Inc. (DDS: NYSE) ("Dillard's" or the "Company") announced today that sales for the five weeks ended January 5, 2008 were $1,167,314,000 compared to sales for the five weeks ended December 30, 2006 of $1,223,755,000. Sales declined 5% for the five-week period in both total and comparable stores.
Sales for the combined November and December period, the nine weeks ended January 5, 2008, were $1,726,586,000 compared to sales for the nine weeks ended December 30, 2006 of $1,773,807,000. Sales declined 3% for the nine-week period in both total and comparable stores.

Sales for the 48 weeks ended January 5, 2008 were $6,769,660,000 compared to sales for
the 48 weeks ended December 30, 2006 of $7,012,382,000. Total sales declined 3% for the 48-week period. Sales in comparable stores declined 4% for the 48-week period.

During the five weeks ended January 5, 2008, sales in the Central region were above the Company's average sales performance trend for period. Sales were slightly above trend in the Western region and below trend in the Eastern region.

During the five weeks ended January 5, 2008, sales in shoes were significantly above trend. The sales trend in the juniors' and children's apparel category and cosmetics was significantly below trend.

Dillard's, Inc. is one of the nation's largest fashion apparel and home furnishing retailers.

The Company's stores operate with one name, Dillard's, and span 29 states. Dillard's stores offer a broad selection of merchandise, including products sourced and marketed under Dillard's exclusive brand names.