Hagel, in First Day on Job, Warns of Challenges Cuts Pose for the Military

Cliff Owen/Associated PressMr. Hagel after his remarks to military and civilian Pentagon employees.

Mr. Hagel did not speak at length about the budget, but the cuts, he said, are coming. “We need to deal with this reality,” he told an audience in the Pentagon auditorium.

Hours after being sworn in as the 24th defense secretary, Mr. Hagel struck a folksy tone in the roomful of both military and civilian Defense Department employees, with some of the military’s top brass populating the front rows.

Eschewing the lectern, he walked in front of the audience like a candidate at a town-hall-style meeting and played up his roots as an Army infantryman.

He called the United States a “force for good,” but said that it should not dictate its agenda to the world and must strive to build alliances among countries with common interests. “We must lead with our allies,” said Mr. Hagel, who most recently served as chairman of the Atlantic Council, a centrist foreign policy group.

On his first day, Mr. Hagel also received briefings on delicate intelligence and operational matters, met with the civilian secretaries of the armed services, visited the Pentagon’s Sept. 11 memorial, and spoke by phone to several members of Congress, George Little, the Pentagon spokesman, said in a statement. Mr. Hagel is also expected to make his first overseas trip as secretary soon.

Mr. Hagel, 66, a former two-term Republican senator from Nebraska, will be the first defense secretary in more than a decade to have to preside over deep cuts in the Pentagon’s budget, which has ballooned in the years since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Even if automatic budget cuts do not go into effect at the end of the week, Mr. Hagel will still have to find ways to slash billions of dollars in spending by September.

Pentagon officials have warned that they may have to furlough up to 800,000 civilian employees; sharply reduce training, including flying hours for pilots; and delay deployment of an aircraft carrier strike group that was bound for the Persian Gulf.

In addition to the immense budget challenges, Mr. Hagel faces a steep learning curve in mastering myriad foreign policy challenges facing the Obama administration, including deciding whether to increase aid to the Syrian opposition and confronting Iran over its nuclear program.

William S. Cohen, who served as defense secretary in the Clinton administration, said in a telephone interview that Mr. Hagel should “get ready to drink from the fire hose.”

“He’s got to demonstrate that he’s up on the issues and has a firm handle on them,” Mr. Cohen said. “The next few days, he’s going to be putting in 18- to 19-hour days.”

The Senate confirmed Mr. Hagel in a 58-to-41 vote on Tuesday, with only four Republicans supporting their former colleague. It was the smallest margin for a defense secretary since the position was created in 1947, according to Senate records. He succeedsLeon E. Panetta.

It remains to be seen whether the Senate confirmation battle — during which Republican senators accused him of not being tough enough on Iran and criticized past remarks that they said made him seem insufficiently supportive of Israel — has permanently crippled his ability to negotiate the cuts with lawmakers.

Mr. Cohen, a former Republican senator from Maine, suggested that over time, and with plenty of one-on-one meetings, Mr. Hagel could forge a working relationship with his critics on Capitol Hill.

“Personal animosities, to the extent they’re there, will be put aside,” Mr. Cohen said. “They won’t be best friends, but they also don’t want to see the country’s security compromised.”

Mr. Hagel said in his remarks that shortly after he was sworn in he visited the Pentagon’s memorial to the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks and “reflected a bit on what happened that day.” Recalling a phrase once used byWinston Churchill, he called the attacks “a jarring gong” that set in motion more than a decade of war.

As a senator, Mr. Hagel became a vocal critic of the Iraq war, and during his confirmation fight he was challenged by Republican senators about his opposition to the troop surge ordered by PresidentGeorge W. Bush.

Mr. Hagel did not raise this criticism during his speech on Wednesday, saying only that American foreign policy is fallible.

“We make mistakes,” he said. “We’ve made mistakes. We’ll continue to make mistakes.”

Mr. Hagel referred to his combat service in Vietnam several times during his remarks, and a soldier who introduced him pointed out that Mr. Hagel “knows the costs of war.”

“I’ll never ask anyone to do anything I wouldn’t do,” Mr. Hagel said at one point during the speech.

Mr. Hagel is the first defense secretary to have served in combat as an enlisted soldier, and he said that at times he still had the mind-set of an infantryman.

He joked that while the Army’s chief of staff, Gen.Ray Odierno, made him shake a bit, it was the sergeant major of the Army — its highest-ranking enlisted member — who “scares the hell out of me.”

A version of this article appeared in print on February 28, 2013, on page A17 of the New York edition with the headline: .

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A.F.L.-C.I.O. Backs Keystone Oil Pipeline, if Indirectly

And while some union leaders said the federation’s stance stopped short of an official endorsement, the nation’s building trades unions — eager for the thousands of jobs the pipeline would create — issued a statement saying the A.F.L.-C.I.O.’s stance was a clear endorsement of the Keystone pipeline.

The labor federation’s embrace of the pipeline, even with some ambiguity, will give President Obama some political cover as he weighs whether to approve the pipeline, which would carry more than 700,000 barrels of Canadian crude oil each day to refineries on the Gulf of Mexico.

But the A.F.L.-C.I.O.’s move is likely to strain the alliances that organized labor has sought to build with the environmental groups that are battling the pipeline.

Those groups oppose it because it would carry oil derived from tar sands in a process that, compared with other forms of oil production, is dirtier and releases more carbon dioxide.

Gathered in Florida for its annual winter meeting, the executive committee of the A.F.L.-C.I.O. said it supported a comprehensive energy policy that fostered energy security, created jobs and addressed the threat of climate change.

But two-thirds of its statement on energy policy focused on pipelines, with the labor federation singing the praises of pipelines, all without mentioning Keystone. Pipelines, the labor leaders said, “are a low carbon emissions method of transporting oil and gas” and “lower the cost of fuel they carry compared with other forms of transportation.”

Richard Trumka, the A.F.L.-C.I.O.’s president, acknowledged that the federation statement “can be interpreted in different ways.” Yet he voiced support for building the Keystone pipeline, saying that “there’s nothing environmentally unsound about the pipeline” and that what environmentalists opposed was opening up Canada’s tar sands.

He said that if the pipeline were not built, Canada would probably ship crude oil from the tar sands overseas by tanker, a more carbon-intensive means of distributing oil than pipelines.

Sean McGarvey, president of the labor federation’s Building and Construction Trades Department, said, “The U.S. construction industry has been mired in a depression for over four years now, and shovel-ready projects like Keystone XL and other energy infrastructure projects are badly needed.”

In addition to expanding “our pipeline infrastructure,” the federation said it favored “a much more aggressive approach to the repair of our more than 2.5 million miles of existing pipelines.” Such repairs, it said, would create tens of thousands of jobs over the next two decades.

Speaking about the A.F.L.-C.I.O. statement, Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club, which opposes the pipeline, said: “There have been tensions over this. The statement doesn’t resolve the tensions. But it is an attempt to reframe the debate to highlight areas where we can make common cause and create jobs and cut pollution.”

Mr. Brune said he spoke with Mr. Trumka before the labor leaders met. And he praised the unions’ call to do far more to repair pipelines, which would reduce leaks and pollution.

The Canadian government is likely to be angry if President Obama blocks the pipeline, which supporters say would reduce American reliance on oil from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

The proposed $7 billion pipeline would run nearly 2,000 miles to the Gulf of Mexico. It would be the longest oil pipeline outside of Russia and China.

The National Nurses United was in the minority among the federation’s 57 labor unions in opposing the pipeline, saying that building it and exploiting Canada’s tar sands would accelerate global warming and produce pollution that would endanger people’s health.

Leo W. Gerard, president of the United Steelworkers, said he would back the pipeline as long as the steel used to make the pipes was produced domestically.

Cecil E. Roberts, president of the United Mine Workers, also backed it, saying, “I believe the oil transferred from Canada is going to make it to some final destination no matter what we do in the United States. I think the brothers and sisters in the building trades in the U.S. should have the jobs.”

As for whether the A.F.L.-C.I.O. had actually endorsed the Keystone pipeline, Mr. Roberts said, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”

A version of this article appeared in print on February 28, 2013, on page B2 of the New York edition with the headline: .

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Outsourcing Your Payroll to Save You and Your Company Time and Hassle

If your business has gotten too large for you to do the payroll yourself, then it might be time to think about your options. You could hire someone specifically to do this or you could outsource it. Both have their negatives and positives.

When you think about hiring someone specifically to do the payroll and other financial issues, then you will probably want an accountant. The problem with hiring most accountants is that most likely the individual will want to work some of his or her side jobs during tax season. This is a definite negative for you, because it will take them away from help you. You would probably end up having to pay them more during that time of year in order to keep them at work.

Another consideration with hiring someone to do payroll is that it is a lot of information to have saved on just one computer at your business. There is much more security at a place that runs a business in doing various company's payrolls.

Hiring someone is also an issue because it will necessitate making sure he or she is trained adequately to do the job right. It is easy for someone who is not a professional to make a mistake.

A positive of hiring someone into your company is that he or she will know the company and will be right there if you have a question. That could add some convenience.

Outsourcing your payroll to another company might save you time and hassle. Since you would have to hire someone anyway, you will not be wasting money. You will have the convenience of leaving it in the hands of someone else who is just a phone call away. You will not have the convenience of having someone right there, but in some ways that could end up being a hindrance. If things were not handled correctly, you could end up with security issues that would be more difficult than having to make more phone call than you like to make. All in all, outsourcing may be your better option.

All things of course depend on the individual company that needs the payroll support. Some companies might still be small enough to handle doing this on their own without even having to hire someone. It may not be long though before you might need that extra help, and you will need to make a decision between in-house or out-sourced help.

New Orleans payroll can save your companies. Visit http://www.payrollrx.com for more information.

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5 Reasons for Small Businesses to Outsource Payroll

Small business owners are a unique class of citizens. They are ambitious, intelligent, quick on their feet, perceptive, and are generally great problem solvers. They also face a very unique set of challenges. Unlike mega-business moguls who have endless corporate reserves to pull from when the time comes to make something happen, small business owners are mostly on their own. They make the choices, they do the work, and it is up to them to make the most of what they have to work with... which is EXACTLY why they would benefit from the opportunity to outsource a task like payroll out to another company.

The internet and the business sector have given birth to many different payroll outsourcing options over the last few years. As a small business owner, you actually have more options in this area than ever before. But is it worth it? Is it worth it to outsource such a vital component of your business, or is the risk greater than the payoff?

Here are 5 reasons for why you SHOULD outsource the payroll responsibilities of your small business. I am pretty sure that you will find that these reasons make a lot of sense, which is EXACTLY why more small business owners are outsourcing this vital task than have ever before!

1... It Will Save You Money
In the old days, you would have needed to have someone on payroll to do your accounting work. If you didn't have someone, then you would have had to figure out how to do it yourself. While hiring someone is not always a bad thing, it can hurt you if you don't want to spend more money on a full-time person, JUST to do payroll! Outsourcing is much cheaper, and accomplishes the same thing.

2... It Will Save You Time
Outsourcing payroll will keep the problem off of your shoulders. After all, if you don't have an employee to do it, you might have to fill the roll... which will seriously cut in on your own time. As a business owner, you have important things to do, and you might not be able to afford the time it will take you to figure out payroll each week.

3... It Will Keep The Books Accurate
Payroll is definitely not easy! While those who have done it for a while can get used to it, there are a lot of numbers and figures to keep straight. If you do something wrong, it could come back to haunt you later in the form of an IRS audit, and that is definitely something that you will want to avoid! Outsourcing this roll to a professional service, however, will keep you in the free and clear when it comes to taxes, fees, reporting, and wages.

4... You Have A Lot Of Options
Outsourcing payroll is definitely easier now than it has ever been... and one of the reasons for this is due to the incredible number of options at your disposal! A lot of bookkeepers and enrolled agents have payroll and tax services. These options make payroll easy and hassle free! With so many inexpensive options, you would be amazed at how much of a load this could take off of your mind!

5... It Will Help You To Move Forward
As a business owner, you need to keep moving forward. Being stuck on payroll is definitely not something that is going to be conducive to getting more accomplished. If you don't do something to get this task taken care of, it is going to eat up more and more of your time. Eventually, you are going to HAVE to do something... and outsourcing the task now can be a great way to set yourself up for more efficiency later on.

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How Payroll Services Can Help Business Orgnaizations?

Although professional payroll services can actually be performed by an employee most medium or small sized companies have increasingly been opting for an outsourced professional firm. Normally the company identifies the most suitable professional payroll firms available and within their budget and hires them for a particular task over a given period of time. Though it might seem similar to just hiring a permanent individual to do these tasks most people have realized the numerous less obvious advantages that come with this type of an arrangement.

Some of the most popular advantages linked to this type of an arrangement include the savings made in costs. In most cases hiring a full time permanent employee comes with many costs that may end up cutting into the overall profits especially in the long run. However with one of these outsourced professional services the company can essentially save lots of money as they only hire them on a need to basis.

Some of the most common extra costs that come with hiring a permanent employee include health benefits. Given the highly competitive nature of the modern workplace employers have to offer many more perks and benefits to their employees if they hope to acquire the best brains in the market. Indeed a comprehensive health cover including risk allowances has become synonymous to the corporate world.

Vacations are another relatively recent expense that most employers have had to contend with if they intend to keep their high caliber employees and thus guarantee the profitability of their firms. As such if a company can avoid this particular expense by hiring outside professionals who are likely to deliver these services at the required time and within budget then they are bound to opt for it.

Other less obvious costs that come with a permanent employee include additional mostly expensive working space and appliances that this employee needs to be fully productive. However with the professional payroll firms hired outside the company this might not be an issue since they can work from their own offices or can be housed for a limited amount of time thus cutting down on these costs.

Given the fact that a payroll professional is only needed at specific times of the month or the year most employers usually choose to outsource these services in a bid to save on time and especially money. Further a payroll professional from outside the firm is likely to be more efficient as they usually tend to be objective and have a fresh perspective that regular employees might be lacking. These among other reasons have created a huge demand for the relatively new entrant in the business world and by the look of things they are here to stay.

If you are looking to take help of Payroll Services UK, choose none other than Berkeley Hamilton LLP as they are experts in providing Outsource Payroll Services.

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The Ins And Outs Of Umbrella Companies For Contractors

If you're venturing into the world of self employment for the first time or you're a contractor who is used to working for a variety of different employers, you may be about to come across an umbrella company for the first time. Designed to help recruitment agencies and clients employ people for specific jobs while simultaneously reducing their liability, umbrella companies are very popular in industries where short term contracts are common.

An umbrella company is an intermediary step between you and the person providing the contract. It will process a PAYE payroll, meaning that you'll get paid via the umbrella company rather than straight from the company who originally supplied your contract. Essentially, the umbrella company acts as a sort of employer for people who have already been contracted to undertake a specific assignment.

You're most likely to find yourself in need of an umbrella company when you're picking up contracts from a third party, such as a recruitment agency. This can be very useful for the agency, helping them keep on top of a huge number of different contracts, and useful for you too, as you will have a company contact that is dedicated to making sure you get paid for the work you are contracted to do.

Although it will typically be the employer who suggests the use of an umbrella company, it will often be down to you to find one. This should be very easy and once you have chosen your preferred company, all you will need to do is provide information about the client or agency you are contracted to work for and some details about yourself. You should only be asked to provide proof you are who you say you are and any information needed to make sure you get paid, for example, your bank details or home address.

One handy thing about using an umbrella is the fact that you'll be issued an employee status. You'll get paid by handing a timesheet into the company, which will then be confirmed with the recruitment agency or client you've been working for. The umbrella company will then receive your payment and then pay you through PAYE, enjoying the chance to offset some of the income by claiming business expenses.

You'll also find that being paid through PAYE and being counted as an employee rather than a sole trader could potentially help you be more efficient about your tax. For example, you could have the chance to make the most of childcare schemes or pension plans. It also allows you access to a variety of professional and health insurances that can prove invaluable to busy contractors and entitles you to a wide range of employment rights, including minimum wage and holiday and sickness pay.

Using an umbrella can be beneficial when it comes to doing your self assessment taxes, as you will be provided with a P45 for each contracted job and you will also get a P60 at the end of the tax year. Gain the freedom to take on contracts from recruitment agencies and clients who prefer to work with the help of an umbrella company and enjoy a variety of associated benefits for yourself too.

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Why Going With A Novated Lease Presents A Win-Win Situation

Novated lease- the term does not sound like something you'd want to get familiar with, but it is to your own detriment not to look deeper into its meaning. If you're an employer who wants to win over the best people as well as offer extra perks to your current staff, you'll do well to find out how novated leases can help you inspire loyalty from your staff as well as boost your bottom line.

What exactly is this kind of lease and how does it work? Despite the unfamiliar term, it's actually quite common in Australia. Basically, it allows the employer to make lease payments for a motor vehicle on behalf of an employee. The usual practice is for the employer to make payments from the employee's pre-tax income. This effectively equates to the employee paying less taxes and receiving a pay increase. Since the lease is under the employee's name, he or she is responsible for all other obligations such as service and maintenance, but in the event that the employee leaves the company, all financial obligations go back to him or her.

Most novated leases are worked into companies' salary packaging solutions. A salary package involves an agreement between an employer and an employee stipulating that the employee is forgoing part of his or her salary in exchange for the employer providing non-cash benefits, hence its other name "salary sacrifice." Car leases number among the common benefits that figure into these packages.

Novated leases benefit employees in such a way that they have a wider range of options when choosing cars to lease. Company cars are usually limited to certain makes and models, so the flexibility that novated leases provide is understandably more appealing to people who want to use cars that suit their lifestyle. Also, changing employers does not require them to give up that lease.

As for employers, novated leases mean that they are able to provide more employee benefits at little to zero cost. They also do not have to cope with the bother of providing, insuring, and maintaining company cars. Besides these, allowing employees more freedom when it comes to their vehicle choice presents employers in a better light, making them more endearing to their staff.

Clearly benefiting all the parties involved, novated leases are understandably a common provision in salary packages offered by Australian companies. It is but expected for an option that allows everybody to win to be very popular. If you want to be able to hit many proverbial birds with a single shot, novated leases are definitely something you should look deeper into.

Get the best deals not only for your company but for your employees as well. Check it here- simplygreen.com.au

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