DO YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO'S LOST HIS OR HER JOB?

There's no denying the fact that the country is in aneconomic downturn that is affecting both small and largebusinesses. It's hardly surprising, then, that a staggering 75% ofthis week's poll respondents claim to know someone who's lost theirjob recently. Ten percent of that were people who are nowcollecting unemployment themselves. The remaining quarter of ourrespondents claim not to know anyone who's recently received a pinkslip. Ken Schier, managing partner of IS&L Architecture in FairLawn is one of that lucky minority. He talks about how his firmmanages to remain successful, even in trying times:

"No, I don't know anyone who's lost their job. We read thepapers and see that people are losing their jobs, although I don'tknow that New Jersey is being hit as hard as other areas. I read anarticle this morning that talked about how New Jersey was unique inthat it doesn't have a large presence of sectors such asmanufacturing and construction, where jobs are being lostnationally. We have employment in other sectors that aren'texperiencing as much loss.