The Trump Blog

Could you get much work done if there were babies in the cubicles all around you?

Apparently, that’s not as odd as it sounds. I read a story in USA Today that said at least 80 companies across the nation right now allow babies in the workplace. It’s an extreme - and somewhat controversial - example of how employers are trying to help their workers strike a balance between home and office.

Many of the companies allow parents to bring their babies to work until the children are old enough to crawl. They don’t leave the infants in office daycare centers, however. They keep them right at their desks. So the babies are there when the employees are talking on the phone with clients or meeting in the boardroom with managers and coworkers.

Many of those coworkers who don’t have babies are often not too happy about the practice. I imagine it’s not the most professional environment when there’s a baby crying or dirty diapers in the office. Plus, there’s always the fear that people with babies are getting preferential treatment.

I love children. But I can’t imagine a lot of work getting done if there were babies in the boardroom of the Trump Organization. It’s just not going to happen.

Whether or not you believe we’re in a recession, a lot of people are taking a hit to their wallets and bank accounts and have to deal with it in some relatively old-fashioned ways.

For one, moonlighting seems to be back in style. But it certainly isn’t because people are testing the waters of new careers or trying to expand their horizons beyond their boring day jobs. Now, when people work two jobs, it’s almost always motivated solely by financial need - either they really need the funds now or they’re afraid they’ll lose their primary source of income.

According to the Department of Labor, the number of Americans who work a full-time job and have a part-time job on the side has risen to more than 4 million. It’s being called “moonlighting by fear” and is most prevalent among workers in industries that are struggling.

Some people are getting second jobs not just to stay afloat but to keep up the supersize lifestyle so many Americans have grown accustomed to. If they want to keep the big house, the fancy cars and all the trappings, in today’s economy that often requires a second job.

If you’re going to moonlight - for whatever reason - be smart how you go about choosing that second job. Either find something that can help with your real career or take a job that you’d enjoy. And by all means, get a job that pays enough for all your trouble.

In any case, be careful that your second job doesn’t jeopardize your main job or you’ll be defeating the purpose of moonlighting in the first place. I know it’s not easy. The country’s in a major recession and everybody has to do what they can.

Of course no one likes to think about it, but if you were laid-off from your job tomorrow how would you fare financially? With today’s volatile economy and job market, unfortunately it’s something you have to consider.

I saw a recent online poll on CNN.com and was shocked at the results. Nearly 100,000 people had logged in their comments and about half said that if they were laid-off now, their savings wouldn’t last more than a couple of weeks.

That’s unbelievable to me. It’s hard for me to imagine that people are that unprepared for financial hardship today, especially knowing how unstable everything is right now.

I know it can be hard to save money when you have a mortgage and car payments and credit card bills but take my advice and try to save just a little bit from every paycheck. Put it in the bank - somewhere you can get it if you need it but where you won’t be tempted to touch it. The same principle applies to me. I don’t care how much you make or how rich you are. You have to save money.

That way if the unfortunate happens and you lose your job, it’s there when you need it until you’re back on your feet. In today’s unsteady economy, it’s the smart thing to do.

Not that long ago, the leaders of AT&T announced that they were going to return 5,000 customer service jobs to the United States that they had outsourced to India.

But now, two years later, the head of that top U.S. phone company says it’s having trouble finding enough skilled American workers to fill those positions.

So far, not even one-third of the jobs have been returned to the United States out of the 5,000. The company still hopes to fill all those jobs here but it hasn’t been easy.

In some U.S. communities, for example, the high school dropout rates is as high as 50 percent, so it makes it really hard to find skilled workers to fill positions.

That’s why, they say, it’s so much easier to outsource the jobs to India where often workers are more educated and more plentiful.

I commend AT&T for continuing to stick with their resolution to bring those jobs back to the United States when it seems like it would be so much easier - and cheaper - to keep those jobs in India. It shows a strong commitment to the American economy and the American workforce.

Even with the bad economy and weak job growth, there are still several fields that will survive - and possibly even thrive - during hard times.

The analysts at CareerBuilder.com say that at least five industries keep expanding their hiring so if you’re looking for a job, here are some that are relatively recession-proof.

• First is education. No matter what happens to the economy, schools will always need great skilled teachers and administrators.

• The energy industry will also continue to grow. There will be plenty of jobs related to alternative and renewable energy, as well as oil, gas, and even nuclear energy.

• With so many companies “going green,” the environmental industry is also creating many new jobs as they look for engineers and scientists to develop eco-friendly technology.

• Nearly half of the fastest-growing jobs are in the health field, including medical assistants, physical therapists and home health aides.

• Finally, in today’s world, there will always be a need for security - whether in airports, at U.S. borders or in corporations.

So don’t give up if you’re job hunting. There are plenty of fields where the opportunities are still out there.

Many companies are cutting jobs, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a lot of jobs out there.

As more workers from the Baby Boomer generation retire, millions of jobs are becoming available in a variety of industries and managers are having trouble filling those positions.

Many times, it’s because today’s young professionals are more focused on careers that require critical thinking and computer skills rather than jobs that require working with their hands. Often, it’s just a lack of qualified candidates.

In any case, according to Manpower Inc.’s Talent Shortage Survey, some of the jobs most in need of qualified workers right now include sales representatives and teachers, accountants and management executives.

For people who like manual labor, there are lots of openings for mechanics and freight truck drivers, machine operators and construction laborers, delivery drivers and engineering technicians.

So, yes, it’s a tough job market out there, but not if you know where to look.