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Employees searching for meaning at work? Corporate foundations may well be a response to this need. These structures serve the general interest in working relationship with associations, involve more and more widely in staff actions.

This is certainly one of the conclusions of the first barometer of corporate foundations, led by "IMS-take to the City" (*), ring exchange chaired by Claude Bebear, accompanying 230 companies to date in their "social commitment".

Eight out of ten foundations to offer and company employees to get involved. "We support only for projects likely to involve employees," said Severine Coutet, secretary general of the Fondation HSBC created in 2008 around the educational and environmental themes. "This involvement strengthens the sense of belonging to the company," she says. Ultimately 30% of the employees involved, which is huge.

The study also reveals that this patronage focuses on the causes that are related to the company's business (52% say this), with behind the idea, attractive to employees, the company and Foundation share similar values.

Review the social contract

Created two years ago, the fledgling foundation Monoprix, has directly asked his staff to define its field of action. Three were identified: the integration of young people, improving mobility and accessibility of elderly and disabled, the fight against isolation. "Things related to the mission that Monoprix is ​​to provide basic necessities and be a social city," says Catherine Ranieri, general delegate of the foundation, which speaks of "significant internal tool federation " pay day advance. It turns out that these problems are not unlike that of some of its employees, 80% are at the minimum wage

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Upon the establishment of the foundation Monoprix, the works council has also questioned the direction of the actions put in place for its own employees … The answer was quick to come with the announced creation of a social fund for employees. Foundations and would require companies to review their own social contract

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What about the causes supported by the foundation? The barometer reveals top education (59%), advocacy (58%), and employability (52%). Young people are the target audience (52%). And despite the crisis, companies are investing as much explains IMS: third has a budget of over 1 million euros.

Since the creation of foundation status of companies in 1990, 450 structures have emerged, the 2003 Act, concerning patronage (with 60% rate of tax deductions) having accelerated the movement.

(*) Quantitative study conducted in fall 2011 conducted among 68 foundations, supplemented by a qualitative study of 12 foundation leaders.

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It only took a month of discussions that management of TNT Express, a former subsidiary of the Dutch post, accept the proposed UPS. The American giant of more than 400,000 employees whose turnover in 2011 exceeded more than $ 50 billion has evolved its offering at a time when TNT Express through a bad patch. This has indeed posted a net loss of 270 million euros in 2011 against a profit of 66 million euros in 2010.

UPS approached by mid-February, leaders of TNT Express had rejected an offer that valued the company 4.9 billion euros. But to 5.16 billion euros, UPS was unanimous. This acquisition will enable the U.S. group found mainly across the Atlantic to catch up. In the business of courier, transporting small packages, UPS accounted for only 7.7% of the European market against 9.6% for TNT Express, Fedex and 3.3% to 17.6% for DHL, a subsidiary Deutsche Post, according to figures from Transport Intelligence firm.

While approaching, the two biggest names in express transportation become a European leader in size to cross swords with DHL and especially a world champion since their continental positions complement each other. An asset to get the green light from competition authorities even if Deutsche Post yesterday estimated that the European Commission would consider merging with caution.

The new group formed should weigh a turnover of $ 60 billion and 477,000 employees. By comparison, another U.S. giant, Fedex, achieved a turnover of $ 41 billion in 2011 and employs 290,000 people.

Target: 50% of international sales

The presence of UPS TNT in different regions of the world should stabilize as sales in the U.S. will increase from 74% to 64% UPS only for the new group and Europe will reach 22% after the operation against 14% for the only American group.

"Why TNT is it very attractive?" Asked Kurt Kuehn, UPS's chief financial officer, during a press conference in Amsterdam: "Because he manages operations in areas of the world that were unserved: Brazil, Australia, Middle East, the road and rail networks in Europe. "The objective announced by UPS is to reach 50% of sales overseas in the next five years against 26% at present. 

Financially, the acquisition should help to achieve one billion euros in savings, once the integration of TNT Express will be accomplished. Clearly, the group provides $ 400 to 550 million euros in savings per year from 2015 through improved efficiency of logistics platforms, an optimization of aircraft fleets, purchasing … However, the CFO UPS declined to answer questions on possible job cuts among the ranks of TNT. The transaction, which must be profitable within the first year, could be completed in the third quarter of the year.

It is likely that the competitor UPS, Fedex, will not thwart the hostile bid. Especially since the competitor UPS does not have $ 3 billion in cash.

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17 billion euros in investments, 164,000 jobs directly and 97,000 indirectly. Which to house the mammoth project? Madrid against Barcelona: the contenders are the most powerful cities of Spain … and two eternal rivals, in politics as on the football field.

A funny clásico, fanned by a singular trophy: the U.S. company Las Vegas Sands wants to establish in Spain's largest casino complex on the Old Continent. "Eurovegas" must be the European version of the world capital of the game Six casinos, 36,000 hotel rooms, three golf courses, a 15,000-seat auditorium

.

The figures, astronomical, are salivating entrepreneurs and politicians, while the country is mired in negative growth and an unemployment rate near 23%. The real estate engine "miracle" Spanish is down. Regions and municipalities in crisis seek relays create jobs and tax revenue.

In desperation, local politicians are suitable for all investors games. Left to take a project still vague for a real growth driver. Leaves to forget that five years ago, a similar idea had generated the same enthusiasm in Aragon, before developers do not suddenly reverse.

Barcelona or Madrid? Sheldon Adelson, owner of Las Vegas Sands, hesitates. After a year of study and 7.6 million euros spent, however, the decision must fall rapidly before the summer, the billionaire promises.

Rebates and exemptions

His communications director, Ron Reese, said the two cities "are tied." The project, said Reese, who will go to that show the more "flexible". The list of requirements is long Adelson as a letter to Santa. His company is seeking exemptions from social contributions and tax rebates. She wants the standards against money laundering to be relaxed to facilitate, she said, remittances players. Besides other applications wackiest, like creating a MBA in the gaming industry, or the lifting of the ban on smoking in rooms.

These requirements seem exorbitant to upset any politician. In Barcelona, ​​we recall that the project needs to attract 11 million visitors. "Quality tourism" believes the President of Catalonia, Artur Mas.

In Madrid, the figure of 260,000 jobs dizzy: it represents half the number of unemployed in the region. The president of the autonomous government, Esperanza Aguirre, has promised to make "all necessary legal modifications, as they do not violate [its] principles."

Demonstration in Madrid

Thousands of people rallied Sunday in the streets of Madrid to the appeal of unions, against labor reform implemented by the government the right to fight against unemployment, the mobilization test before a general strike scheduled for March 29.

The two main Spanish unions, UGT and CCOO, have called for demonstrations in 60 cities in Spain, to protest a reform they deem "unfair and ineffective" and "defense of public services".

Carrying red flags and placards with the words "no budget cuts", "No to social regression", shouting "we will not pay their debts with health and education", thousands of protesters stormed the center Madrid. 

The Conservative government of Mariano Rajoy adopted on February 11 for further reform of labor market flexibility, including lower redundancy payments and measures to stimulate youth employment.

And if the MBA was also a way for women to break the glass ceiling that still separates them from the highest leadership positions? This is certainly what some have program managers, for which women and men have access to essentially the same functions and to pay out of the MBA. However, these formations are still far from parity show.

"An MBA is between 23 and 35 years, staff in terms of timing may be more complicated for women than for men. They have perhaps more confidence in risk-taking than their female colleagues, "said Caroline Diarte-Edwards, director of admissions at Insead.

More exposure

Still, promotions tend to feminize more. Many have now surpassed the 30%. Their recipe? "A program midway between competition and cooperation, in which our participants say they feel comfortable," suggests Bernard Garrette HEC. Professional networks of women in the alumni associations have also developed, giving them more visibility.

ESCP Europe, Audencia, EM Lyon announce fellowships dedicated to women for the next school year. "The financial aspect is not longer a barrier for women than for men, but by creating a scholarship, we are sending a message to women that we can support them in their career," says Chantal Poty, in charge of the Executive MBA from the Lyons school.

Emmanuella Renac, participant in the Executive MBA from ESC Rennes

Within weeks, Emmanuella Renac deliver his memory, a step that will sign the end of his Executive MBA, started 20 months earlier paydayloan. With the relief of having completed training "demanding, very involved, during which we soon learn to sleep less, to better organize and optimize their time." But also the satisfaction of having learned everything she had come to seek. After 10 years of experience in purchasing and product marketing of electronic components, it feels the need to broaden its horizons, discover new work environments and meet new people.

"He holds a university degree, the MBA has an international recognition that seemed interesting. It was also a process for a senior position because as a woman, you must demonstrate more things a man, "she says. Surprisingly, she discovers the only French woman of her class and encourages her peers to engage in an MBA. Training for which it has borne fruit. Supported by his chief and his HR, although the company did not fund the training, Emmanuella Renac wins quickly after the start of training a sales manager position. "Follow the MBA gave me a status in the eyes of superiors who had an MBA and became interested in my studies. Everyday, I was also entrusted with new missions, in judging me capable of carrying them out ", says she.

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This is the flagship of Nicolas Sarkozy proposal for education: pay 500 euros a month more teachers willing to work 26 hours per week instead of 18 hours. The president-nominee wants to fund the measure, in colleges and high schools, by 208 million of savings related to the pursuit of non-replacement of retiring in two in the public service.

To balance the accounts as well, should not more than 58,000 teachers choose to work 26 hours, calculated the Institute of the company, under Debate & Co. 58,000 teachers is 13% of … Still, the UMP did not specify whether all or only new teachers may opt for these 26 hours.

The Institute also evaluated the gross cost of the measure, before taking account of "one in two," using assumptions Directed Study (2 or 4 hours per class per week) and replacement overtime. The cost ranges from 148 to 295 million per year. In the primary, the institute estimates that, by their status, teachers will supervise the study hours without being paid more.

Institutional autonomy would cost it 330 million if a new package of € 30,000 was granted to institutions, or nothing if the budgets were redeployed. Finally, the institute says he can not quantify the cost of the provision of an office for each teacher.

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Record! Go Sport last year recorded the largest net loss in its history. At 20 million, the third largest sportswear in France is worse than in 2008, when he posted 15.9 million euros loss. Since 2004, Go Sport, owned 72.9% by Rally, has accumulated losses of 73.6 million. The group experienced only a year in profits (12.9 million in 2007), with a gain of 23.1 million euros on the sale of the store premises.

Despite these cons-performance rehearsal, Rally is also a shareholder qu'endurant persevering. The company controlled by Jean-Charles Naouri, also main shareholder of Casino, has decided to guarantee a capital increase of EUR 30 million for group Go Sport, scheduled for the second quarter.

"It is a sign of confidence and support of our principal shareholder, welcomes François Neukirch, group managing director, who also holds the Courir. This will allow us to strengthen our financial structure and to give ourselves margin for maneuver? THEREFOR. "

2011 was a bad year for Go Sport, who missed both the January sales, the summer season and the winter, "because of unfavorable weather conditions," says François Neukirch. During these periods, sales of Go Sport France fell by 10%. Over the full year, those seasonal items (skis, anoraks, bathing suits?), Higher margin, plunged by more than 30% Same day payday loans.

Good start to the year 2012

"It is a paradoxical year, said François Neukirch, because we also had great commercial success. Footwear sales rose 5%, and those of non-seasonal fabrics of 3%. "Above all, the new store concepts and Go Sport Racing give satisfaction to its leaders. Part, the amount of which is kept secret, the 30 million euros raised on the stock market is also devoted to home improvement stores.

The group's leaders want to believe that the disappointments of last year are due only to the injustice of climate, and do not intend to change strategy. They stress that since January, sales of Go Sport show a double-digit growth, as if the weather was trying to redeem himself?

Asked about the prospects of return to equilibrium, François Neukirch stated that "the sooner the better." A view shared by patients shareholders. Darty, which owns 12.1% stake in the group, will announce its decision whether to participate in the capital increase on the occasion of the General Meeting of April 20.

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Wolfgang Schäuble has opened the way for the adoption, on Monday, a second plan with the European Union and the International Monetary Fund, amounting to 130 billion euros. But it is not private to lecture on the Greek government, while ensuring the Greek people of his compassion for the conservation measures that strike.

According to the Süddeutsche Zeitung, the idea of ​​establishing an escrow account for the interest payments on Greek debt, which was the German Government, should be held tonight in Brussels by the finance ministers of the euro area. Unlike that of a commissioner to oversee the implementation of rigor, to which Germany has given up against the outcry. However, in an internal report, the German Ministry of Economy casts a very negative effect on the progress of reforms in Greece and openly doubt it will be able to avoid bankruptcy. This will certainly complicate the ratification of the new aid plan by the Bundestag, scheduled for February 27.

Critical or pessimistic statements of German officials on the situation of the country have moved the Greeks and sharpened their sense of being imposed a European tutelage. Greek President Karolos Papoulias has himself condemned what he thought of "teasing" the German finance minister's struggle to stay in Athens for the euro area no fax payday loans.

"In front of aid, there is always someone who wants to get help, found Wolfgang Schäuble. We remain available for some time to help the Ministry of Finance officials to build a Greek tax system efficient. So far the offer has not been entered. "

"Compassion"

The German minister, who had been strongly criticized in Athens after claiming he had "serious doubts" about the validity of elections in April in Greece, he assured "sympathize" with the Greeks. "The vast majority of those affected by the reforms and austerity measures – and let me express once more my great respect for them – are nothing to do with the slow pace of reforms, the loss of competitiveness or inefficient use of budgets in the past, "he says.

And remember that the Greek minimum wage will be at the future "at about the same level as in Spain."

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To tout its cars to French consumers, Renault has found nothing better than to tell them all the good we think of the Rhine: "The Germans had never worn if the colors of the Renault group," proclaims a full-page advertisement inserted recently in several major newspapers. And a huge flag Germanic, where the yolk was replaced by the orange Renault, is quoted the testimony of three magazines giving high marks to the products of the firm to diamond.

In a completely different note, our brother Le Monde has published a major survey of its specialist art entitled "The German art is greater" (sic).Dealing with three exhibitions held this fall in Paris (Baselitz, Lüpertz and Richter), journalist and university Philippe Dagen highlights the quality of their training, the dynamism of their collectors and regionalization of their art centers, ensuring competition . After having watered three centuries of sublime music, will they outdo us again?

The admiration of Germany has become the national sport on the left bank of the Rhine. "It will take time to go to a joint work, we must move towards a common retirement age, it will move towards convergence of economic and social organization of our two countries," recommended last month François Fillon, in a speech at Matignon.The Prime Minister handed "the price of creative audacity!" The finger of suspicion towards the merger, given the respective performances, 150 billion trade surplus with them, 75 billion deficit at home, 6.9% unemployment there, by 9.2%. And then this terrible figure, which summarizes and explains its own precedents: from Munich to Hamburg, we continue to manufacture 5.3 million cars, with no change in recent years, while French car production fell by 3.2 2 million in five years.

Our guide would rather "fear of the police"

For their part, manufacturers are Germanic full of praise that they braid.Witness the latest ad Opel France on the radio on the bottom of a thundering speech in the language of Goethe, this comment means voice-over: "No need to understand German to know that Opel is German quality. "

Narcissism which the Germans, like all people, are tempted to succumb long history. Just remember the famous phrase of Richard Wagner: "To be German means to do something for herself." Taste for work well done. The composer of Bayreuth, revered by the French intellectual circles of the second half of the nineteenth century despite the defeat of 1870, speaking at a time when industrialization took off in all Europe bad credit personal loan lenders. Wagner wanted to stigmatize the mercantile spirit and the Anglo-Saxon capitalism. The industrial Germanic still close artisans described in his opera The Maîtrbaes Singers, the contrary does not care that the quality of its products.National competition of capitalism was raging. So much so that London had mandated in 1887 to register the trademark "Made in Germany" on products from Berlin. It was a way to deter British consumers to buy them. In vain, because they had quickly perceived the letters as a synonym for excellence.

Reforms "imposed" in Brussels

Our current debates on the tropism of both industrial and financial capital of others have nothing new. It is tempting to attribute the course to specific national cultural roots. The philosopher and sociologist Theodor Adorno, hardly suspected of complacency vis-à-vis the countries that had pushed him into exile, invoked "the great German ideas that celebrate independence with excitement, the purity of the things that the we only for themselves. "

The French seem all the more admirable that such principles are totally foreign. Our guide would rather "fear of the police" that the search for autonomy. Our drivers are less concerned about road safety control radars. Our governments are concerned with reducing budget deficits to meet the rating agencies and the "Maastricht criteria". The reforms we are "imposed" in Brussels, says it for ages. The euro was sold to the public as a "shield" and not as an instrument of independence, etc..

Renault advertisers are part of a powerful ideological trend in France when they refer to the standards of the Rhine. That Germany is a reference-ministerial in Paris, it is called "benchmark" – is obvious, considering its size and its results.That we should draw on the successes of others is also clear. But can we trace our tax on Germany not adjust the level of public spending (over 10% of GDP at home)? Lack of guiding principles, we simply stack the remedies indiscriminately. "Against unemployment, we tried everything!" Claimed pathos with François Mitterrand. One wonders if Wagner had not just right when he treated the French as "monkey people" (1864).

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Many station controllers have spontaneously stopped Thursday afternoon to work after the announcement of the aggression of one of their colleagues in a Corail train earlier in the day. Traffic TGV, Corail and TER is still very upset that Friday morning * and should remain "at least the morning," according to the SNCF, which does not give details. It invites customers to delay their trip or take alternate means of transportation. Ticket holders whose train was canceled can do exchange or refund.

Good news however for users Transilien (train network in the Île-de-France), the Thalys and Eurostar.Traffic on these lines should be "near normal" according to SNCF.

Transport Minister, Thierry Mariani, Thursday criticized the work stoppage of workers, finding that it was not "appropriate response" to the extent that he believes "it is not an act delinquency, this is a person who clearly has mental problems. " "This is not stopping the trains that they stop the insane," he said. The President of the SNCF, Guillaume Pepy, is on the same line. "This is a rare occurrence, an attack of such violence.It would serve no purpose to penalize travelers simply because a dangerous madman attacked controllers, "he said in Besançon, where the controller was assaulted in hospital.

No train service on the night of Thursday to Friday

The strike controller led Thursday the cancellation of all trains at night, and created a big mess all over the country. Some passengers were stranded at the station waiting for a hypothetical train.

Board trains at the Gare Saint-Charles in Marseille. Photo credits: GERARD JULIEN / AFP

Lefigaro.fr – messaging has it become a stress factor?

François Fatoux – Yes, definitely. The study we just completed, 38% of users receive over 100 emails per day. With the massive use of email, employees are saturated with information, most often to treat in an emergency. Because the immediacy of information has sometimes a perverse consequence: we are given less time for reflection. Faced with the constant flow, it is not uncommon that the employee feels outdated, it has the feeling of doing wrong. A situation even more difficult to live as e isolates, by discouraging physical conversations.

There are, as a result of addiction to e-mails, as measured by the researchers, maintains that stress.65% of users say they check email every hour, but actually do every five minutes! And smartphones, which allow employees to access their e-mails anywhere, increasing still potentially stressful situations. Have a blackberry was once a privilege to lead. It has become the door open to requests cascade.

Finally, the electronic mail increases, or harm their productivity?

It is very difficult to make a full and final conclusion. The mails are also many beneficial effects on work organization. In reality, everything depends on how a company and its employees use it. Very different practices coexist. All managers not only send such emails in 23 hours. But it is true that this is a very time consuming activity.More than half of the users spend more than two hours daily to manage their mailbox freecreditscore. The stress is relentless. When we know that an employee is 64 seconds to regain his train of thought after receiving an email, we have a sense of loss of concentration occasioned by email.

Another of his perverse priorities is to disrupt. The urgency tends to take the place of hierarchy. The employees work is undeniable, but spend more time on tasks accessories. Productivity is affected.

How to fight against these negative effects?

It is important for companies to seize this issue and are considering the use it makes their mesagerie mail. Should we encourage the use of mails to professionals outside the office? Should we require employees to respond instantly? The rules must be defined.

As for employees, a few simple rules can help minimize these adverse effects. Set the parameters so that every email that arrives is not reported, for example. Or take the time to reflect before answering. Or consider before each shipment: would it be more effective to pick up the phone? Is it necessary to put this or that person a copy? In terms of dependence on the tool, the answer seems to me, however, not individual but collective. Is to leaders to lead by example.

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