HEALTH INSURANCE costs are being shifted to employees. A weak economy and bigger premiums have forced employers to scale back health benefits and require bigger worker contributions. This year a worker's share for single coverage rose by $95, and family coverage increased by $283, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. (Source: The Foster Letter, from the AARP Bulletin, Oct. 2002)

THE PURPOSE-DRIVEN LIFE.  Rick Warren (banquet speaker at CMA California 2002 and senior pastor of Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, Calif.) kicked off one of the most ambitious book promotions in Christian publishing history this month for his book, "The Purpose-Driven Life," by beaming via satellite a sermon based on his book to an estimated 500,000 people in 1,500 churches worldwide. Advance sales of the book topped more than 500,000 copies before it hit retailers October 1, according to the Los Angeles Times.  Information: www.pastors.com. (Source: The Foster Letter) 

WORKER LOYALTY? Aon Consulting recently polled hourly retail employees about how much it would take to get them to take another job.  Ten percent said they would leave for a $1.00 per hour increase; another 30 percent would jump for $2.00 more. Ten percent of salaried staff would move for 10 percent more pay while 45 percent would do so for 20 percent more. (Source: The Foster Letter, from CBA Marketplace, Oct. 2002)

BEST CHRISTIAN PLACES TO WORK.  Reminder! Christianity Today magazine, Christian Management Association, and the Best Christian Workplaces Institute are inviting organizations to participate in The Best Christian Places to Work survey. Participating ministries will receive confidential benchmarking data comparing their ministries with other Christian organizations of similar mission and size. In addition, finalists will be honored at the Monday evening keynote session at CMA Colorado Springs 2003, Feb. 24, 2003, at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colo.  All surveys must be completed by Nov. 30.  For information: www.bcwinstitute.com or Helen Lee, project manager, Best Christian Workplaces Institute, Helen@bcwinstitute.com or phone/fax 781-207-7737.

AFTER ENRON.  Enron-related issues will be highlighted in the workshop tracks at CMA Colorado Springs 2003.  CFOs, controllers and finance managers have agreed that this workshop is one of the hot topics for 2003: "After Enron: The Expanded Role of Financial Accountability. What Quality Financial Reporting and Financial Transparency Means to Regulators, Auditors, Board and Finance Committee Members, and Senior Management."  See the sample listing of 2003 workshops at the end of this newsletter and register today at www.CMAonline.org.

MORE OLDER WORKERS BY 2010. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that by the end of this decade, workers 55 and older will comprise 20 percent of the workforce compared to 13 percent in 2000.  (Source: The Foster Letter, from the AARP Bulletin, Oct. 2002)

SOURCE FOR TODAY'S ARTICLES.  The Foster Letter,  info. http://www.garydfoster.com/