Holiday diversity:

According to research from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), an increasing number of employers are offering floating holidays to accommodate religious observations by a diverse work force.

Fifty-one percent of employers offered floating holidays this year, up from 36 percent in 2000, according to SHRM.

— BenefitNews.com Connect, December 11, 2001

Number of women-owned businesses growing:

The Center for Women’s Business Research says the number of women-owned businesses continues to grow at twice the rate of all U.S. firms. A new report from the Center says the number of privately held, women-owned firms will grow 14 percent to 6.2 million in 2002, up 30 percent from 1997.

— BenefitNews.com Advisor, December 12, 2001

EEOC sets new goals:

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is discussing its goals under the Bush administration. The plan, dubbed the “Five Point Plan,” emphasizes preventing discrimination through education and technical assistance. Litigation will become a last resort. The agency wants to upgrade its data systems to find changing workplace and discrimination trends to better guide its outreach efforts. The plan also calls for increasing the use of mediators, which often speeds disputes along and can lead to lower damages, though some employers are still skeptical.

— The Wall Street Journal, December 18, 2001

2002 health cost prediction:

After surveying about 90 insurers, administrators and others, Buck Consultants Inc., New York, predicts rising health-care costs next year. For example, they predict costs for preferred provider plans will rise 14.9 percent.

— The Wall Street Journal, December 18, 2001

Indoor smoking rules:

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration pulls proposed rules on indoor smoking. This move is supported by anti-smoking groups because state laws since enacted diminish its need.

— The Wall Street Journal, December 18, 2001