Some workers receive shopping spree as reward

The bosses of corporate America are well aware that employees wish they were paid more, but the moribund business climate is making it hard to address compensation issues. So some managers have begun turning to online shopping as a way to reward good work, according to Maritz Inc., a Missouri-based market researcher.

Taking a page from point redemption programs popularized by credit card issuers and hotels, some employers have begun awarding points for workers to spend on gifts — jewelry, vacation packages, hotel stays, event tickets, dining, sporting goods and the like, Maritz said in a July report.

Technology

Many companies expect to switch calling systems

Illustrating one of the dramatic changes in telecommunications, a new report predicts a big increase in companies that are slashing their phone bills by switching to Internet-based calling systems.

In-Stat/MDR estimates that while only 2 percent of U.S. companies are using Internet-based phone networks, the figure will reach 19 percent in just four years.

Internet-based networks, which convert voice conversations to packets of data sent much like e-mails, offer more features than traditional systems.

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My first store was opened by a pharmacist in Illinois in 1901 who differentiated me with wide aisles, bright lighting, friendly service and a broad assortment of goods, including pots and pans. I often amazed nearby customers who called in orders by delivering their goods before they hung up the phone. I soon began selling ice cream and hot foods, too. One of my proudest claims is having invented the milk shake. I had 500 stores by 1930, and today I’m the nation’s largest drugstore chain, with more than 4,000 units and annual sales around $30 billion. Who am I?