Week of April 1st, 2013

Monthly job numbers were released, and there are fewer workers in the workplace again, many of them leaving the job hunt discouraged. We talk to a discouraged worker about that choice. Plus, Bank of America is creating a new relationship between you and their ATMs — they’ll let you live chat with “tellers” who can assist you. All $1 bills for your $100 deposit? They can make it happen. At the top of the corporate food chain, corporate heads have been rolling this week, as boards punish poor performers. JC Penney cut their top executive’s pay by 96 percent. We try to figure out why he’s staying on with all the missing zeroes on his pay check.

EdX is launching a new free online service that grades papers and provides instant feedback on student essays.

Dismissive remarks. Cattiness. Talking behind people's backs. That kind of behavior doesn't end in junior high — it can make your life at work miserable, too. We've got advice on how to deal with a bitch at work. Plus, learn about the eight different types.

The jobs numbers are out and the work force is shrinking again. Why are people quitting their searches and what do they do once they've stopped? We hear from a discouraged worker.

Banks have pushed customers to ATMs and online banking for years. Now Bank of America is inviting people to come in, chat, talk with real bankers and tellers.

The March jobs report disappoints, with only 88,000 jobs added. Analysts point to the sequester as a reason for the drop after a strong February.

A growing number of U.S. homeowners are renting rooms to recovering addicts and turning their properties into so-called ‘sober homes.’ It's a hot but sketchy new real estate market.

What do the dirty dishes and moldy leftovers at your office kitchen say about you and workplace culture?

Think a job interview is all about answering questions? Most people do. And that's why they don't get hired, says business consultant Ramit Sethi.

Ahhhh, life on the job. First, we have tips on how to get one. Sound advice from a career counselor on how to ace your next job interview. Hint: choose your words carefully. Also, should your resume reveal your race? The hiring process can tread on some very sensitive ground. And, the crime scene better known as the office kitchen — what missing food and dirty dishes say about workers and management. Plus, how to cope with the office meanies and what monkeys can teach us about how to behave in the boardroom.

Season 6 of AMC's "Mad Men" premieres this Sunday. Fans are no doubt eager to catch up with the exploits of Don, Peggy and Pete — and businesses are eager to catch up with those fans.

The unemployment rate fell in March, but is that a good thing? For many, long-term unemployment gets longer. And Larry Summers tells us what's ahead for the economy.

From the organizations you're a member of to your educational background to something as simple as your name — advertising your ethnicity, sexuality, religion or gender on your resume can affect the hiring process.

Ever look at your work colleagues and think they're all behaving like monkeys? Believe it or not, some businesses are finding inspiration in the world of chimps and other primates — and taking what they learn back to the boardroom.

President Obama's new budget proposal — which will be formally unveiled next week — includes a move to slow payments to Social Security.

April is National Poetry Month — and also the month when most of us are scrambling to get our taxes filed. Send us your poems about taxes and Uncle Sam for a chance to have them read on the air.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the economy added 88,000 jobs last month, below analyst expectations. The unemployment rate fell to 7.6 percent.

Larry Summers discusses the state of the economic recovery, why the stock market is booming, and what's ahead in the coming months.

The Chinese are celebrating the annual tomb sweeping holiday, a day when people sweep the gravestones of their ancestors and burn money, paper villas, and cardboard consumer products in the belief that it'll comfort deceased loved ones.

Stephen Keppel, economic editor at Univision News, joins Marketplace Morning Report host Jeremy Hobson to explain how Brazil is working to attract foreign skilled workers from around the world.

Officials in China announced today that a sixth person has died from a new strain of bird flu. 14 people near Shanghai have been infected, and today authorities there decided to close all of the city's poultry markets.

Season 6 of the hit drama series ‘Mad Men’ starts on AMC this Sunday. As fans flock to TV screens to catch up with Don, Peggy and Pete, businesses are trying to catch up with those fans. Officials in China announced today that a sixth person has died from a new strain of bird flu. 14 people near Shanghai have been infected, and today authorities there decided to close all of the city’s poultry markets. And how is Brazil working to attract foreign skilled workers?

Legendary inventor and futurist Ray Kurzweil shares his thoughts on the way humans and technology are becoming more intertwined and an irony of the human mind.

Trendsetters, take note: sales of men's pajamas bottoms have jumped 15 percent in the last year.

Even as the U.S. economy is adding jobs, nearly five million people have been out of work for at least six months, and figures show their wait to return to the workforce is growing.

While some are calling Facebook's big announcement on Thursday 'the fanciest screensaver anyone's ever seen,' Farhad Manjoo at Slate Magazine thinks 'Home' will work for a lot of people, including teens.

We’ve been reporting this week that the federal government wants to spend $100 million to unravel the complex  of the human brain. Someone else who’s been thinking a lot about the brain is a guy we’ve wanted to speak with for a long time: The legendary inventor and futurist Ray Kurzweil. He’s done pioneering work in optical character readers, flatbed scanners, electronic keyboards for musicians and beyond. Kurzweil has thought a lot about the ways technology and human beings are becoming more intertwined. And his latest book is called ‘How to Create A Mind.’ He tells us about an irony: While the brain’s work is complex, it’s based on simple components. 

Facebook reveals a way to turn your phone into a direct extension of your Facebook account.

What's a beef shoulder top blade steak? How about a bone-in pork loin chop? The meat industry's worried you don't know and is rolling out a new labeling plan

Film unions flex muscle in efforts to expand production tax credits

A new study says only a fraction of people know they can sign up in October for the insurance exchanges that are key to President Obama's health care overhaul.

Michigan’s right-to-work law recently took effect. It’s the latest blow to U.S. organized labor.  But there is one industry where union membership is actually growing. We take a behind-the-scenes look. Plus, the politics of the Keystone XL pipeline are heating up again. A recent spill in Arkansas has environmental activists saying, we told you so. Meanwhile, opponents in the President’s own party are donating big money to oppose the pipeline. And what’s the difference between a bone-in pork loin chop and a pork loin top loin chop? The meat industry doubts you know … or care. In an effort to increase sales, it’s about to roll out a new labeling system.  

Smartphone maker Samsung announces it's opening a branded store of its own — inside the big box retailer.

Europe's debt crisis started in Greece. Now, residents in the tiny countries of Luxembourg, Slovenia and Malta are worried they're the next stop.

The Government Accountability Office is releasing a new report on the so-called 'political intelligence' industry — a growing arm of investment research.

The latest oil spill in Arkansas has environmentalists up in arms over how Big Oil transports their product.

Japan central bank hopes a bold bond buy will solve an old problem. The high costs of Dementia are rising. And what is Mark Zuckerberg's donation to Newark public schools doing?

Global outplacement firm Challenger, Grey & Christmas reported that employers cut 49,000 jobs in March, down 11 percent from February. Despite the month to month decline, job cuts for the first quarter were their highest since 2011.

A report in the latest issue of the New England Journal of Medicine says the U.S. spends more on treating dementia than any other disease including cancer and heart disease.

Japan is fed up with deflation and a sluggish economy, and its central bank is getting aggressive. Today, the Bank of Japan launched a sweeping bond-buying program to pump money into the economy.

Power costs in Jamaica are among the highest in the Caribbean. Many poor people have devised ways to get their supply free and illegally. Now the utility company is cracking down on this theft.

National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Francis Collins says government funding is the best way to support large scientific enterprises and fundamental health advances.

40 years ago the cellphone was invented by Martin Cooper at Motorola, much to the dismay of a competing team at AT&T's Bell Labs.

A promising new technology aims to store electricity for the power grid on the cheap.

A new report finds 90 percent of Americans don’t know they can start signing up for insurance through health exchanges in October. Japan is fed up with deflation and a sluggish economy, and its central bank is getting aggressive. Today, the Bank of Japan launched a sweeping bond-buying program to pump money into the economy. And a check in on Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s $100 million donation to Newark public schools.

Most of the $100 million donation has been spent on brokering a new teachers contract that creates performance-based pay and opening new schools.

Literature and art help us explore the mysteries of the human mind. But understanding the minute circuitries of the human brain takes science, technology and according to the Obama Administration, quite a bit of federal money. You may have heard the administration is pumping $100 million into getting a detailed understanding of the brain, with the hope of treating or eliminating diseases such as Alzheimer’s. But what you haven’t heard about is the tech involved.

Many companies have learned how to use social media as a useful marketing tool, but some have made some major faux pas along the way.

President Obama is worried that the nascent housing recovery is leaving too many people, including young people, behind. His administration is moving to increase lending to homebuyers will risky credit. But the question is, should those homebuyers be part of the housing recovery. Also, rumors of a Facebook phone have early adopters interested. Facebook had struggled with mobile in the past. And finally, tax season is upon us, so we talk with Stephen Dubner about the Freakonomics of taxes.

Reed Hastings landed in hot water for sharing info about Netflix on his personal Facebook page. Now, the SEC says, companies can share, tweet and Facebook, as long as investors know where to look.

The federal government wants every doctor to have electronic records by 2015. But the high cost prevents some rural physicians from moving away from paper records.

Jay-Z’s move into sports management adds to the rapper's business portfolio and help baseball.

Facebook may be introducing a smartphone soon.

According to a report in the Washington Post, President Obama's administration is worried that the housing recovery is leaving too many people, including young people, behind.

A new study from Pew on economic mobility examines how unemployment affects black and white families differently.

April 15 is less than two weeks away and Stephen Dubner has found some new ways to convince Americans to pay their taxes.

The SEC gives a thumbs up to social media, Bitcoin continues to spike in the wake of the crisis in Cyprus, and Monsanto targets Latin American agriculture.

The payroll processing company ADP reported this morning that 158,000 private sector jobs were added last month, falling below analyst expectations.

In a move that could change the way companies communicate with their investors, the Securities and Exchange Commission has ruled that company executives can use sites like Twitter and Facebook to release market moving news.

Whenever there's a big economic crisis, investors usually flock to the safety of gold or U.S. government bonds. But when things got crazy in the last couple weeks in Cyprus, it was something called Bitcoin that surged in value.

Tensions rise on the Korean Peninsula as North Korea blocks South Korean worker access to an industrial zone along the border of the two countries.

Monsanto reports earnings and a lot of the company’s growth is based on Latin America.

When it comes to your email, how soon are you expected to reply? And when is it ok to delay?

An IMF delegation arrives in Cairo today for talks with the Egyptian government on a $4.8 billion loan. Tensions rise on the Korean Peninsula as North Korea blocks South Korean worker access to an industrial zone along the border of the two countries. And with tax day less than two weeks away, we give you some tips to avoid an audit.

A New York City start-up called Tactonic Technologies has revolutionized the computer touch sensor, making them tough enough and cheap enough to turn an entire floor, maybe an entire gym or theme park into a surface that senses footsteps.

One was voluntary, the other was not.

They say the walls have ears. But what if the floors could feel where you are walking and how you are walking? A New York City startup called Tactonic Technologies has revolutionized the computer touch sensor, making them tough enough and cheap enough to turn an entire floor, maybe an entire gym or an entire theme park into a surface that senses footsteps. 

Commissioner Bob Bowlsby runs the Big 12 and sees major changes in college sports ahead.

After losing $166 billion in four years, Fannie Mae just reported a $17 billion profit for 2012 — a record. Some supporters are saying it’s a real improvement for the behemoth mortage lender; critics say it is just a sign of how widely-exposed the agency is to housing market swings. Plus, as Washington continues to review differing budgets and budget priorities, one key overriding concern is how much to spend on the social safety net. Most of us would say we know what the phrase ‘safety net’ means — but few of us know where the name came from. To find out requires a search for who came up with the term in the first place. (Hint: It wasn’t FDR.)

How did that phrase — the safety net– become a household term for social programs in the first place?

Michael Bloomberg says he can't be bought by special interests, but a cozy relationship with Miss Piggy suggests he may bow to 'festive interests.'

Did you know you're missing out on some great reads? Journalism that never sees the light of day because, well, one person decides it's just not interesting enough to publish.

Key figures in the Atlanta school cheating scandal admit to the practice, but did we learn anything about incentives?

Moleskine, the Italian maker of notebooks modeled on those used by famous artists, goes public in attempt to both buck — and embrace — the digital age.

After losing $166 billion in four years, Fannie Mae reported a $17 billion profit for 2012 — a record.

Carmakers kick it into high gear in March. The sequester hits, but unevenly. And H1-B visa are a hot ticket item this week.

The only thing better than a captive audience is a friendly one. So it makes sense that ahead of the new Star Trek movie, there will be a message from America's real life space explorers.

The 'big three' automakers — Chrysler, GM, and Ford — are reporting sharp gains in sales for the month of March. Chrysler says the latest month was their best since 2007.

The NRA reveals its plans to protect schools from shooters like Adam Lanza. What are the plans? And who bears the costs?

Want a sign that business is hiring? For the first time since 2008, federal officials expect the 85,000 visas for foreign skilled workers will be snapped up in just a few days.

If the Obama administration's fuel efficiency standards, which are set for 2025, were enforced today, how much less money would each American driver spend per year on gasoline?

The jobless rate across the 17 counties that use the euro currency rose to 12 percent in January and February of 2013, adding to signs that the region's economic slump may not be over.

As a multi-billionaire, Michael Bloomberg has governed New York free from debts to special interests. But there's another side to that independence.

Some government contractors take cuts in stride, others struggle.

It helps to be up on the latest tech if you want to be a registered nurse. This week the National Council of State Boards of Nursing is rolling out a new update to its nurse licensing exam.

It's especially a hot commodity in Europe.

Lindsey Turrentine, editor-in-chief of CNET Reviews joins Marketplace Tech host David Brancaccio to discuss what a Facebook smartphone would look like and why it might sell.

Today the National Rifle Association releases its proposal for placing armed guards in all public schools. The unemployment rate in the 17 countries that use the euro has hit a new high — 12 percent.  And as New York City Michael Bloomberg serves his final year in office, we take a look at whether his personal wealth has protected him from political interest groups.

Facebook is only saying that it will have a ‘significant mobile-focused announcement’ on Thursday. Published reports suggest a custom mobile phone that comes in one flavor — Facebook — is on the way. But will the device be made in partnership with HTC, as is rumored? Or will it be something else?

The sequester officially “kicked in” one month ago, today. At the time, dire media warnings made it sound like we were going to hit an economic brick wall, but that hasn’t happened. Why haven’t the doomsday predictions come true? Also, April 1 is the deadline for most colleges and universities to let applicants know whether they’ve been accepted for admission. The tuition check is coming due. On top of that, there’a whole host of other costs that applicants have to pay nowadays.

Weight loss plans like Slim-Fast and Weight Watchers are competing hard against free options like calorie-counting apps on smartphones.

A bankruptcy in Stockton, Calif., could have reverberations for other municipalities around the country.

Key business and labor groups have agreed to a temporary worker plan that may result in political compromise. The deal hinges on paying a "prevailing wage."

One month to the day after the sequester supposedly kicked in, the housing market and stock market are driving an economic recovery.