Workplace Briefs

TECH FIRMS CREATE APPRECIATEAMERICA.COM

Five tech companies have joined forces to encourage an online expression of patriotic hope through a new Web site, AppreciateAmerica.com.

Electronic Data Systems Corp. of Plano, Texas, ZOOM Marketing Corp. of Palo Alto, Calif., Conxion Corp. of Santa Clara, Calif., Microsoft Corp. of Redmond, Wash., and Vignette Corp. of Austin, Texas, launched the site and are encouraging Americans to:

*Meet for dinner with family and friends, share their thoughts about recent terrorist acts and talk about what they cherish about the United States;

*Sign on to AppreciateAmerica.com as a group or as individuals and relate the evening's experiences to a worldwide community.

Everyone, whether or not they have attended a group dinner, is invited to contribute material, including anecdotes, poems, photos and drawings. The site will accept material through Nov. 30.

"We hope millions of individuals throughout the United States and around the world get a chance to visit the site and communicate how they feel about America," said Doug Frederick, president of EDS' Information Solutions line of business.

EDS designed and manages the Web site. Conxion provides hosting services. Vignette supplied the content management software, and Microsoft provided database software. ZOOM provided management consulting and public relations services.

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EMPLOYEES WELCOME TERRORISM DISCUSSIONS

Workers are giving their employers high marks for communicating with them and addressing their fears about safety and their anxiety about business prospects after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, according to a new national survey of more than 1,000 men and women.

The survey, conducted for the New York-based Council of Public Relations Firms by RoperASW of Princeton, N.J., also found workers were more worried about job security than personal security.

Fifty-nine percent of employees said their company's communication with them about personal concerns and the outlook for the business had been excellent or good, while 21 percent said it had been fair. Only 7 percent said there had been no communication from their employers.

The survey also found 20 percent of workers are worried about being laid off, and 11 percent are concerned their company may go out of business. Only 16 percent said they are concerned about their physical security on the job.

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EDS, WOMEN IN GOVERNMENT LAUNCH ONLINE HEALTH CARE FORUM

Electronic Data Systems Corp. of Plano, Texas, and Women in Government, a Washington-based bipartisan organization of women policy-makers, have created an online community for state legislators, Medicaid directors, governors and other officials to discuss health care and ultimately shape policy through legislation.

"Without leaving my office, I have a voice in the process through access to an ongoing, free exchange of ideas," said Ray Hanley, director of the Arkansas Division of Medical Services.

Through the Aging Face of Healthcare Online Community, members discuss issues such as managing pharmacy costs and balancing government-funded health care program needs and state budgets. Members also can access industry news and health care legislation.

The community removes geographical boundaries for policy-makers and, with EDS' sponsorship, removes ideological boundaries and provides a neutral environment for the exchange of information that can lead to answers to the most pressing health care issues, said Joy Newton, executive director of Women in Government.

Applications to join the community are reviewed by Women in Government. Applications are available at www.eds.com/aging.

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TECH, CONSULTING FIRMS THE BEST PLACES FOR WORKING MOMS

Working Mother magazine named 13 government IT contractors and consulting firms to its 16th annual list of the "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers," which appears in the October issue.

The magazine evaluated companies on how widely available their benefits are to working moms and dads, the percentage of women in the work force and the advancement of women. The magazine also evaluated companies' child care support, flexible schedules, leave for new parents and work and life balance.

Among the top 10 on Working Mother's list are IBM Corp. of Armonk, N.Y.; PricewaterhouseCoopers of New York; and Texas Instruments Inc. of Dallas. Also on the list are Booz-Allen & Hamilton Inc. of McLean, Va.; Cisco Systems Inc. of San Jose, Calif.; Computer Associates International Inc. of Islandia, N.Y.; and Hewlett-Packard Co. of Palo Alto, Calif.

Also making the grade were Lucent Technologies Inc. of Murray Hill, N.J.; SAS Institute Inc. of Cary, N.C.; Sun Microsystems Inc. of Palo Alto; TRW Inc. of Cleveland; Verizon Communications Inc. of New York; and Verizon Wireless Inc. of Bedminster, N.J.

Best-in-class awards were given to IBM for child care, HP for flexibility and Booz-Allen for advancing women. The best-in-industry award for tech and information services was awarded to Texas Instruments.