Armed forces provide benefits, not big wages

While the armed forces draw many volunteers, it’s often not the paycheck that attracts them.

Privates with a year of service have an annual base pay of $15,480, while a corporal with three years of service has a base pay of $19,980.

Enlisted men and women, however, receive an array of benefits, including health care and college education money.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, six occupations averaged less pay than a first-year private: woodworkers, butlers and housekeepers, child care workers, theater ushers and crossing guards.

The research was conducted by Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc., a Chicago-based outplacement company.

Survey: Women say workplace leaves little extra time

The bank, the post office, the Laundromat — do you ever see these places on a weekday?

Many women say their long hours have destroyed their ability to get any personal errands done during the regular workday. In a survey of 300 women, 75 percent said they either work late or take work home. And after work, the demands of children often supersede time for their own needs.

And if work duties were less demanding? About half those surveyed said they would run errands, 48 percent said they would have lunch with a friend, 46 percent said they would exercise and 19 percent said they would shop for clothes.

Women make up nearly half the U.S. work force, 47 percent, and 34 percent of those women have children younger than 18, according to the Labor Department.

The online survey was conducted Feb. 27-March 2 for Jones New York, a women’s apparel maker.

Motley Fool: Name that company

I was born in 1976. I’m known today for my women’s and men’s fashion apparel and fragrances. My brand names include Axcess, Bora Bora, Crazy Horse, Curve, Dana Buchman, Elisabeth, Emma James, First Issue, Laundry by Shelli Segal, Lucky Brand, Mambo, Marvella, Mexx, Monet, Monet 2, Russ, Sigrid Olsen, Trifari and Villager. I’m also licensed to produce and sell clothing under the following names: DKNY, Kenneth Cole New York, Unlisted.com and Reaction Kenneth Cole. My wares are sold in more than 26,000 retail outlets worldwide. I rake in nearly $4 billion per year and recently agreed to acquire Juicy Couture. Who am I?