Hallmark Cards announces voluntary job cuts - KansasCity.com

Hallmark Cards on Tuesday announced a voluntary job cut program which is expected to eliminate 300 to 400 positions.

The employee buyouts, prompted by disappointing financial results during the recession and slow recovery, are being offered to employees who are least 50 years old and have at least 15 years of vested service with the company.

For more, click the link below:

Hallmark Cards announces voluntary job cuts - KansasCity.com

Senators Want Employers’ Facebook Password Requests Reviewed

Excerpt from an article in

The New York Times

Monday, March 26, 2012

Senators Want Employers’ Facebook Password Requests Reviewed

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Two Democratic senators are asking Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. to investigate whether employers asking for Facebook passwords during job interviews are violating federal law, their offices announced Sunday.

Troubled by reports of the practice, Senators Charles E. Schumer of New York and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said they were calling on the Justice Department and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to begin investigations. The senators are sending letters to the heads of the agencies.

The Associated Press reported last week that some private and public agencies around the country were asking job seekers for their social media credentials. The practice has alarmed privacy advocates, but its legality remained murky.

On Friday, Facebook warned employers not to ask job applicants for their passwords, presumably so they could view applicant profiles on the site. The company threatened legal action against applications that violated its longstanding policy against sharing passwords.

A Facebook executive cautioned that if an employer discovered that a job applicant is a member of a protected group, the employer might be vulnerable to claims of discrimination if it did not hire that person.

Personal information such as gender, race, religion and age are often displayed on a Facebook profile — all details that are protected by federal employment law.

Not sharing passwords is a basic tenet of online conduct. Aside from the privacy concerns, Facebook considers the practice a security risk.

Negligent Employees Top Cause of Data Breaches

Symantec-Sponsored Ponemon Report Finds Negligent Employees Top Cause of Data Breaches in the U.S. While Malicious Attacks Most Costly

 

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. –Mar. 20, 2012 – Symantec Corp. (Nasdaq: SYMC) and the Ponemon Institute today released the findings of the 2011 Cost of Data Breach Study: United States, which reveals negligent insiders are the top cause of data breaches while malicious attacks are 25 percent more costly than other types. The study also found organizations which employ a chief information security officer (CISO) with enterprise-wide responsibility for data protection can reduce the cost of a data breach by 35 percent per compromised record. The organizational cost of a data breach was $5.5 million last year. The seventh annual Ponemon Cost of a Data Breach report is based on the actual data breach experiences of 49 U.S. companies from 14 different industry sectors.

Click to Tweet: Ponemon Institute report finds insiders pose greatest data breach threat: http://bit.ly/xoX1jv

“This year’s report shows that insiders continue to pose a serious threat to the security of their organizations,” said Francis deSouza, group president, Enterprise Products and Services, Symantec Corp. “This is particularly true as the increasing adoption of tablets, smart phones and cloud applications in the workplace means that employees are able to access corporate information anywhere, at any time. It is essential for companies to put the proper information protection policies and procedures in place to counterbalance these new realities.”

Additional key findings from the report include:

• Negligent insiders and malicious attacks are the main causes of data breach. Thirty-nine percent of organizations say negligence was the root cause of the data breaches. For the first time, malicious or criminal attacks account for more than a third of the total breaches reported in this study. Since 2007, they also have been the most costly breaches. Accordingly, organizations need to focus on processes, policies and technologies that address threats from the malicious insider or hacker.
• Certain organizational factors reduce the overall cost. If the organization has a CISO with overall responsibility for enterprise data protection the average cost of a data breach can be reduced as much as $80 per compromised record. Outside consultants assisting with the breach response also can save as much as $41 per record. When considering the average number of records lost or stolen, all of these factors can provide significant and positive financial benefits.
• Specific attributes or factors of the data breach also can increase the overall cost. For example, in this year’s study organizations that had their first ever data breach spent on average $37 more per record. Those that responded and notified customers too quickly without a thorough assessment of the data breach also paid an average of $33 more per record. Data breaches caused by third parties or a lost or stolen device increased the cost by $26 and $22, respectively.
• Detection and escalation costs declined but notification costs increased. Detection and escalation costs declined from approximately $460,000 in 2010 to $433,000 in 2011. These costs refer to activities that enable a company to detect the breach and whether it occurred in storage or in motion.
• More customers remain loyal following the data breach. For the first time, fewer customers are abandoning companies that have a data breach. However, certain industries are more susceptible to customer churn, which causes their data breach costs to be higher than the average. Taking steps to keep customers loyal and repair any damage to reputation and brand can help reduce the cost of a data breach.
• The cost of data breach declined. For the first time in seven years, both the organizational cost of data breach and the cost per lost or stolen record have declined. The organizational cost has declined from $7.2 million to $5.5 million and the cost per record has declined from $214 to $194.

“One of the most interesting findings of the 2011 report was the correlation between an organization having a CISO on its executive team and reduced costs of a data breach,” said Dr. Larry Ponemon, chairman and founder of the Ponemon Institute. “As organizations of all sizes battle an uptick in both internal and external threats, it makes sense that having the proper security leadership in place can help address these challenges.”

The U.S. Cost of a Data Breach Study was derived from a detailed analysis of 49 data breach cases with a range of nearly 4,500 to 98,000 affected records. It takes into account a wide range of direct business costs, including engaging forensic experts, outsourcing hotline support and providing free credit monitoring subscriptions and discounts for future products and services. Indirect costs include in-house investigations and communication, as well as the extrapolated value of customer loss resulting from turnover or diminished acquisition rates. The average cost of a data breach does not apply to catastrophic breaches (study excludes data breaches of more than 100,000 records) given they are not typical of those experienced in the United States. Companies analyzed were from 14 different industries, including finance, retail, healthcare, services, education, technology, manufacturing, research, transportation, consumer, hotels and leisure, media, pharmaceutical and communications.

Symantec recommends the following information protection best practices:

• Assess risks by identifying and classifying confidential information
• Educate employees on information protection policies and procedures, then hold them accountable
• Implement an integrated security solution that includes reputation-based security, proactive threat protection, firewall and intrusion prevention in order to keep malware off endpoints
• Deploy data loss prevention technologies which enable policy compliance and enforcement
• Proactively encrypt laptops to minimize consequences of a lost device
• Implement two factor authentication
• Integrate information protection practices into businesses processes

Companies can analyze their own risk by visiting Symantec’s Data Breach Risk Calculator. Based on seven years of trend data, the calculator takes into account an organization’s size, industry, location and security practices to estimate how much a data breach would cost on both a per record and organizational basis. It is available athttp://www.databreachcalculator.com.

About the Ponemon Institute

The Ponemon Institute is dedicated to advancing responsible information and privacy management practices in business and government. To achieve this objective, the Institute conducts independent research, educates leaders from the private and public sectors and verifies the privacy and data protection practices of organizations in a variety of industries.

About Symantec

Symantec is a global leader in providing security, storage and systems management solutions to help consumers and organizations secure and manage their information-driven world. Our software and services protect against more risks at more points, more completely and efficiently, enabling confidence wherever information is used or stored. More information is available at www.symantec.com.

News Release from Citrix Systems - HDFaces

Note to visitors: The Palo-Negro-Blog is no longer being actively maintained.  For current news and information, please visit:  http://JBK-BizTech.blogspot.com and http://JBK-Current-Events.blogspot.com

Collaborate in HDFaces Video from Your iPad with the New GoToMeeting App

Bernardo de Albergaria, VP and GM of Collaboration for Citrix, announced the new GoToMeeting for iPad app today in his blog.

3/8/2012 » Bernardo de Albergaria » I used to like Adele’s music – almost everyone likes Adele, right? – but I didn’t really love it. Then I saw a recording of her in concert, and everything clicked.

What a performance! Her songs took on extra meaning when I saw the emotion in her face. She wasn’t just singing lyrics anymore; she was conveying a message. And I totally bought in. Even though there were thousands of people in attendance and probably millions watching the recording, I felt a bond with her. And now I probably hate the guy who broke her heart more than she does.

Isn’t it fascinating how much body language and facial expressions – a smile, a nod, an eye-roll – can affect how communication is received? Whether you’re a Grammy-winning singer or, more likely, a hard-working employee or entrepreneur, it’s safe to say that you convey your intended message much more clearly when you can supplement your voice with facial expressions and see your audience’s reactions.

That’s one of the reasons we added HDFaces video conferencing to GoToMeeting®. And that’s why we’re happy to announce that HDFaces is now part of our free GoToMeeting app for iPad. As “anywhere” work continues to trend and fuel success, this built-for business app brings a new level of rich mobile collaboration – in an easy-to-use, one-tap format – from anywhere. (See video demonstrating GoToMeeting for iPad)

Delivering HDFaces video conferencing through the new GoToMeeting app for iPad is just our latest offering in the two collaboration areas we’re concentrating on most: mobile and video.

The first rendition of the GoToMeeting app was released in April 2010 – since then it has consistently ranked in the top 10 free applications for business. It gives anyone with an iPhone or iPad the opportunity to attend GoToMeeting sessions when they’re away from a computer – and that makes scheduling meetings for GoToMeeting customers much more simple.

Meanwhile, our recently released HDFaces feature for GoToMeeting has drawn rave reviews from customers and the press alike. The picture quality is superb, and it just takes one click to turn on and off – we think that’s a big reason why GoToMeeting is the fastest growing major web conferencing service,according to Frost & Sullivan. It truly does change the way people work.

That leads us back to the newest version of GoToMeeting for iPad. Just like GoToMeeting on your computer, the app integrates up to 6 video streams, screen sharing and VoIP and phone audio options in one simple package. This app provides an easy way to stay connected and productive and opens the door for bold new ideas, like taking a meeting on a live tour of a manufacturing plant or doctors bringing in a collaborator via video to help diagnose patients.

Here’s what you can do with the app:

• Attend online meetings from wherever you are.
• Join meetings in seconds by tapping a link in an email.
• Turn on HDFaces video conferencing with one tap.
• Share front or back camera on iPad 2
• Activate talking webcam to see only the speakers video
• There’s a lot more. Check out an exhaustive list on the App Store.

As mobile work and the devices that support them continue to trend, this built-for-business app becomes more of a necessity.

Wherever work happens, you can meet in HDFaces video using the new GoToMeeting app for iPad.Download, enjoy and rest assured that we’ve got more up our sleeve.

Bernardo de Albergaria
VP and GM of Collaboration

News Release from JPMorgan - Strategic Partnership

March 8, 2012

JPMorgan Chase and AirPlus International Form Strategic Partnership
New Partnership Will Provide Corporations and Their Employees With Integrated Expense Management Solutions That Deliver Local Expertise With Worldwide Reach

NEW YORK - March 8, 2012 - JPMorgan Chase & Co. Global Commercial Card business (NYSE: JPM) and AirPlus International, a leading provider of corporate travel & entertainment expense solutions, today announced the formation of a strategic partnership to help multinational organizations optimize processes and strengthen control of their corporate card and travel expense management programs. The comprehensive offering will provide leading solutions to both business travellers on the road and their travel managers at home.

By integrating AirPlus' innovative approach and expertise in corporate travel payment with J.P. Morgan's strength in global corporate banking services, the partnership will bring powerful benefits to organizations around the world.  This arrangement will generate new and innovative solutions in the corporate travel payments industry.

"AirPlus has developed a leading edge solution in helping corporations better manage their global travel spend," said Andrew Pilkington, President, Global Commercial Card, J.P. Morgan. "Together, we are delivering a compelling alternative to traditional corporate card programs. We will offer clients a complete suite of travel & entertainment payment solutions that provide world-class technology, travel expense management expertise and local service and knowledge. This partnership fully supports our strategy of delivering innovative yet practical solutions to drive a first-class client experience on a global scale."

"J.P. Morgan's strength and depth of experience in the cards business is an excellent fit with our know-how in international corporate payment solutions, and we are delighted to form this strategic partnership," said Patrick Diemer, Chairman of the Executive Board, AirPlus. "The partnership will form the basis for continued and sustainable growth of our global market share and bring us ever closer to our goals of becoming the preferred global provider of business travel payment solutions."

The features and benefits that the new J.P. Morgan and AirPlus partnership will bring to market will be announced in the coming months.

Employee Theft

Former Cessna Employee Sentenced to 18 Months for Stealing Parts from Airplanes

U.S. Attorney’s Office March 05, 2012

District of Kansas (316) 269-6481

— filed under: Intellectual Property Theft, Press Release, White-Collar Crime

WICHITA, KS—A former Cessna employee has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for selling stolen aircraft parts on eBay, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today. He also was ordered to pay $130,000 restitution.

Diego Alejandro Paz-Teran, 35, Wichita, Kansas, pleaded guilty to one count of interstate transportation of stolen property. In his plea, Paz-Teran admitted he stole aircraft parts from Cessna and sold them on eBay. According to court documents, the investigation began in November 2008 when an employee of a Rockwell Collins Company distributor saw a Collins AHC-3000 Attitude Reference Computer offered for sale on eBay for $9,000. Knowing that the part was valued at more than $45,000, he contacted the seller and asked for serial numbers. Cessna tracked the serial numbers to a part that was removed from an XLS Plus aircraft while it was being painted.

Investigators found other stolen aircraft parts being sold on the same eBay account and followed records on the account to Teran at his home in Wichita.

Grissom commended the U.S. Department of Transportation-Office of Inspector General, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster for their work on the case.

IRS e-News for Small Business; Feb 1, 2012

Issue Number:  2012-3

Inside This Issue

1. Reporting 1099-K income for 2011
2. IRS compliance directors discuss top priorities and challenges
3. Upcoming phone forums from Employee Plan phones
4. Recent IRS announcements  

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  1.  Reporting 1099-K income for 2011

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IRS.gov has information for reporting the amount from Forms 1099-K, Merchant Card and Third-Party Network Payments, on tax returns including Form 1040 Sch. C, Sch. E and Sch. F; and Forms 1065, 1120 and 1120-S.

Report all gross receipts on the line indicated in the instructionsand enter zero on the "Merchant card and third party payments" line.

Related links:

• Understanding Your 1099-K
• Third Party Reporting Information Center

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  2.  IRS compliance directors discuss top priorities and challenges

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The recent webinar, Small Business Tax Compliance Priorities for 2012, is now available on the IRS Video Portal.

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  3.  Upcoming phone forums from Employee Plans

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IRS is offering two free phone forums on retirement plan topics:

• Feb. 23, Funding-Based Benefit Restrictions
• March 6, 401(k) Questionnaire Interim Report

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  4.  Recent IRS announcements

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• Tax Tip 2012-16, Tax Tips for the Self-employed
• Tax Tip 2012-17, Online Tax Center Offers Tools and Resources for Small Businesses and Self-Employed
• IR-2012-13, Identity Theft Crackdown Sweeps Across the Nation; More than 200 Actions Taken in Past Week in 23 States
• IR-2012-11, On Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day, IRS and Partners Launch Outreach Campaign to Low- and Moderate-Income Workers

Sweeping Changes in Store for Unions and Employers

Remember the proposed "card check" legislation a few years ago?  Many of the proposed changes of that legislation are being implemented through the rulemaking process.  See the linked article for details.

http://djcoregon.com/news/2012/01/05/sweeping-changes-in-store-for-unions-and-employers/