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Just because some of the latest graduates to enter the workforce have had to resort to asking their parents for rent money doesn't mean they don't still have high standards for their employers. "We may be stuck working for your organization and be unable to hop to the next company willing to buy us a company iPhone, but that doesn't mean we have to like it," Phil Jones writes in the Echodemic blog, written by Gen-Yers who know they are on the track to replace retiring Boomers."Keeping us happy, especially as your lackeys and entry-level professionals, will make your lives easier by creating more positive employees who aren't just showing up to work every day and hating their jobs like some Office Space reality show."Even though this Gen-Yer knows he doesn't have a sea of options available to jump ship, he knows that the companies need employees like him as much as those employees need a paycheck.Jones offers three simple and inexpensive tips to improve relationships with younger workers.*Let them have fun—this could entail nights out to bond together or "goofy office challenges."*Recognize them for their work—just a compliment is fine, no money needed.*Interact with them."No man is an island...unless his manager is never there," Jones writes. "We're used to having attention, receiving constant feedback and being told exactly how to succeed. In a recession, we know you get busy. However, we still would like to have you talk to us, buy us a cup of coffee, and tell us jokes.To read the full blog, click here.

Two New York City-based CPA and business advisory firms, Josephson Luxenberg & Kance CPAs PC, and Maybaum & Maybaum CPAs PC, have merged, effective immediately.

Regional accounting firm Schenck Business Solutions has created a Financial Crisis Response Team to help companies challenged by the recession.

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin will have to pay taxes on $16,951 in travel allowances that she billed the state for days she worked from home in Wasilla.

The stimulus bill signed into law this week includes significant tax savings of up to $1,000 per year for workers who commute by mass transit.

Tax return examiners at the Internal Revenue Service often select the wrong prior or subsequent year’s tax return when looking for inconsistencies with the current tax return.

Here is some advice from the Internal Revenue Service about reporting gains and losses on tax returns:

Despite tightening their wallets, Americans are now further from achieving their retirement goals amidst the weakening economy. That’s the word from Bank of America in its new 2008 Retirement Savings Survey which says that a growing number of Americans are concerned that the current economic crisis is threatening to leave them further behind on their retirement plans. This survey finds that 60 percent of Americans are spending less than they were three months ago as a result of the current economic climate and more than half (51 percent) of the general public and 40 percent of affluent Americans are also saving less than they were, also three months ago; in fact, one in five say it is “much less.” Although the majority of respondents (69 percent) with at least one retirement account say that they have not withdrawn assets from their account(s) prematurely, recent economic conditions have caused 18 percent to withdraw assets prematurely. The leading reasons for these early withdrawals are near-term financial obligations, such as credit card debt (26 percent), and mortgage payments (22 percent), with an additional 22 percent citing recent job loss. Keep in mind that these numbers may increase significantly if the economy worsens because many more people will be dipping into their retirement savings and that could have profound implications for the country’s economic well-being. Moreover, this study shows that many Americans now (a nice 43 percent) believe they face more years in the work force than they expected just a year ago. By the same token, 36 percent of affluent respondents said that the current economic conditions have pushed back their own expected retirement age. The survey also confirms what many of us in the financial planning area already suspected: Americans need better guidance and education regarding how best to plan for retirement and manage their retirement assets. Actually, 59 percent of the general public and 52 percent of affluent Americans don’t know or don’t even have a good idea of how much they’ll need to save in order to maintain their current standard of living in retirement. That’s where the financial planner can enter. Taking it a step further, the findings point out that 47 percent of retired Americans currently do not believe or are unsure if their retirement assets will cover their financial needs throughout their lifetime. And, they are already retired. That’s frightening! So, the bottom line on this latter subject is that many individuals may not be receiving the financial guidance necessary to fully realize the opportunities that retirement presents. Need I say more?

Just because some of the latest graduates to enter the workforce have had to resort to asking their parents for rent money doesn’t mean they don’t still have high standards for their employers.

The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy is urging the Securities and Exchange Commission to withdraw its proposed roadmap for transitioning to International Financial Reporting Standards.