Don’t forget -- Daylight Savings Time ends Sunday, Nov 5th: Daylight-saving time will end on Sunday, November 5, 2017, when clocks will be set back one hour at 2:00 a.m.  For a copy of the reminder poster, click here.

IRS issues 2018 retirement plan contribution rates:  The contribution limit for employees who participate in 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans, and the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan is increased from $18,000 to $18,500. The income ranges for determining eligibility to make deductible contributions to traditional Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs), to contribute to Roth IRAs, and to claim the saver’s credit all increased for 2018. For single taxpayers covered by a workplace retirement plan, the phase-out range is $63,000 to $73,000, up from $62,000 to $72,000. For married couples filing jointly, where the spouse making the IRA contribution is covered by a workplace retirement plan, the phase-out range is $101,000 to $121,000, up from $99,000 to $119,000. For an IRA contributor who is not covered by a workplace retirement plan and is married to someone who is covered, the deduction is phased out if the couple’s income is between $189,000 and $199,000, up from $186,000 and $196,000. For a married individual filing a separate return who is covered by a workplace retirement plan, the phase-out range is not subject to an annual cost-of-living adjustment and remains $0 to $10,000. The income phase-out range for taxpayers making contributions to a Roth IRA is $120,000 to $135,000 for singles and heads of household, up from $118,000 to $133,000. For married couples filing jointly, the income phase-out range is $189,000 to $199,000, up from $186,000 to $196,000.  Source:  IRS Notice 2017-64. 10/27/17

Millennials have no problem discussing their pay with others: Roughly a third of U.S. workers ages 18 to 36 say they feel comfortable discussing pay with their co-workers, more than any other age group and about four times the rate of baby boomers, ages 53 to 71, according to a survey of 1,000 employees conducted by personal finance firm Bankrate Inc.’s TheCashlorette.com.  Nearly half of the millennials surveyed say they talk about compensation with their friends, compared with 36% of Americans overall. Managing a generation of young people inclined to share relationship statuses and meal photos on social media requires employers to adjust the way they approach compensation, experts say.  “Pay and promotions are not secretive topics anymore,” says Mary Ann Sardone, who consults with large employers on compensation issues and leads the workforce-rewards practice at benefits consultant Mercer. The attitude shift has put greater pressure on employers to explain why some workers are paid more than others and to formalize compensation and promotion practices, says Kristina Launey, a partner at law firm Seyfarth Shaw LLP.  Source: The Wall Street Journal 10/25/17

Navy to use Xbox controllers on submarines:  Submarine sailors requested that the controllers be made easier to use.  So the navy did just that – they are switching over to Xbox controllers.  There are a few valuable reasons they’re making the switch:  Cost-effective: The old controllers cost about $38,000, while an Xbox controller goes for $30; Business continuity: If a controller breaks, it’s simple to run to the store to buy a new one; and Familiar technology: It brings aboard a technology that younger sailors are comfortable with, requiring much less training.  The Navy solicited feedback from their sailors to come up with this solution.  The Navy asked their younger men and women what their pain points were. They listened when they said that the controllers were clunky, confusing and heavy.  Second, the Navy recognized the opportunity they had with a new generation who may think of things completely differently. Ultimately, this was a huge win for the U.S. Navy because not only did they simplify a process that will ultimately save thousands of dollars, but they also listened to their people, thus gaining trust and creating an atmosphere where their employees feel appreciated.  Maybe  your child’s video game skills will pay off some day.  Source: Forbes.com 10/24/17

40% of all workers ages 25-54 earned less than $16 per hour:  On average, low-wage workers worked fewer hours each week, were more highly concentrated in a few industries and occupations, and had lower educational attainment than workers earning hourly wages above $16 in 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2016, according to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) analysis of Census Bureau Current Population Survey (CPS) data. The percentage of low-wage workers in the U.S. workforce also was relatively constant over time, according to the report, which found that about 40% of the U.S. workforce ages 25-64 earned hourly wages of $16 or less over the period 1995 through 2016. The low wages and few hours worked combined to compound the income disadvantage of low-wage workers and likely contributed to their potential eligibility for federal social safety net programs.  Source: CCH 10/25/17

Being beautiful can be an obstacle to getting hired:  A study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology finds being beautiful is a liability when it comes to seeking out less desirable positions. The researchers found people interviewing and hiring for these jobs favor unattractive candidates because they perceived attractive candidates would be less satisfied with the pay and the work. The findings are based on a series of four experiments that involved more than 750 people. The researchers showed the hiring managers profiles that included photos of potential candidates (one attractive and one not so much). The researchers asked the hiring managers a series of questions that were meant to assess their perceived attractiveness. They also asked the participants which candidate they were more likely to hire for the low-paying positions that included warehouse worker, customers service representative, and housekeeper versus more appealing jobs such as manager, project director, and an IT internship. The researchers found surprisingly that the hiring managers' decisions were driven by their belief that the nice-looking candidates would be unhappy and unsatisfied with the menial jobs and potentially less likely to do the work.  Previous research has shown that attractive people always have an edge with employment.  Not with these jobs.  Source:  Newsweek 10/24/17