A Democratic legislator serving on a commission studying Kansas' pension system questioned Wednesday whether Republican Gov. Sam Brownback has been improperly involved in its deliberations just before it recommended starting a 401(k)-style retirement plan for new public employees.

While many employers are expecting declining shareholder values in 2011, most still plan to pay executive bonuses that match or go above 2010s awards and fund bonuses at or above target levels, according to a survey by Towers Watson, a global professional services company.

Republicans who control the Michigan Legislature on Wednesday continued efforts to save money on retiree benefit costs related to state employees.

More than 40 percent of small- to mid-size businesses feel optimistic or very optimistic regarding their companies heading into 2012, even though 61 percent of those are having trouble in this economy and 50 percent are not meeting their 2011 business goals, according to a survey conducted by Zoomerang Online...

New York's second major income tax increase in two years will charge millionaires more, but give 4.4 million middle-class residents a rare break worth $200 to $400 a year.

According to new research from talent solutions provider Lee Hecht Harrison, social recruiting is expected to take on a larger role in how job seekers find new opportunities.

Some of the stress that small business owners feel around the holidays may come from employee issues.

A proposed rule announced Thursday by the Labor Department would require most federal contractors to set a goal of having disabled workers make up at least 7 percent of their employees.