Love birds of a feather flock together in the workplace, research shows.
Out of the 31 million dual-income married couples living in the United States (39 percent of all working households), 4.3 million, or 14 percent, are composed of couples who work in the same industry or occupation, according to the Washington-based Employment Policy Foundation.
Two million, or 6.4 percent, of dual-earner couples work in the same occupation, according to the analysis of population data.
Husbands and wives who work in elementary or secondary education top the list of dual-earners in the same industry. Runners-up include hospital, agriculture and livestock workers, real estate sales agents and farm workers.
The foundation’s also found that nearly 1 in 15 employed spouses work in the same occupation as their sweetie pie. Common pairings are couples who work in the service sector as managers and administrators; sales supervisors or proprietors, farmers, managers of food or lodging establishments, janitors or cleaners, and lawyers or judges.
Farmers are the most likely to marry someone of the same occupation. Nearly one-third of farmers is married to another farmer, according to the foundation.
SHARING THE PAIN
MAZDA EXECS TAKE PAY CUT
Mazda Motor Corp. directors are taking a 10 percent pay cut to show sympathy for the 1,800 workers being asked to take early retirement next month, said Mark Fields, Mazda president.
Mazda has been trying to cut its work force of 22,000 by 8 percent through voluntary retirement by white-collar workers. Earlier efforts to reduce the workforce haven’t worked because workers wouldn’t volunteer to quit. But this time, several hundred employees have agreed to retire, said Hisakazu Imaki, senior managing director of business logistics.
TALENT SEARCH
JOB FAIR BREAKS NEW GROUND
The Chicago Area Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce is hosting the Midwest’s first gay and lesbian job fair on Feb. 21 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in GAR Hall at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington Blvd.
The chamber has teamed up with more than 40 companies that are not only supportive of gay and lesbian lifestyles, but believe there is an abundance of untapped talent in the gay and lesbian community.
“We want to bring together supportive members (of the chamber) and non-members where it’s not an issue if you’re gay, lesbian or transsexual, but just good workers,” said Lauren Verdich, sales director for the chamber.
Gay and lesbian workers can encounter problems in workplaces where their lifestyles are not accepted, she said.
“It can create issues at work if you’re not comfortable being who you are,” Verdich said.
The job fair is free for prospective employees. Companies or organizations wishing to host a booth should call 773-871-4190.
HAIRY ISSUE
DO BLOND WORKERS EARN LESS?
There’s no proof that blonds have more fun. But, according to an Icelandic study, blonds earn less than co-workers with other hair colors.
The Reykjavik Commercial Workers Union found that blond employees earn 10 percent less than colleagues with light brown hair. People with very dark hair came in second followed by red- and gray-haired people.
Men and women taller 5 feet 9 inches earned more than those 4 to 6 inches shorter. Who earns the least overall? Short blonds.
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— T. Shawn Taylor, staylor@tribune.com
