Noteworthy. .

• Position: Stress.

Americans are more stressed out now than at any time since immediately following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, indicates Jay Segal, a stress and anxiety expert at Temple University, Philadelphia. "There are people who are almost at a panic. But the problem is they're worried about things they have no power to prevent and that aren't likely to happen." He suggests that the government do away with its policy of involving the public whenever the threat of terrorism changes and also work at giving people a better perspective on the threat.

Regulations alone will not stabilize climate or curb global warming, argues Howard Herzog, a researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Laboratory for Energy and the Environment, Cambridge. "To reduce greenhouse gas emissions from our energy systems while maintaining energy prices at comparable levels to today will take revolutionary change as opposed to evolutionary change."

People with low self-esteem are more likely to suffer bouts of depression as a result of losing their jobs, as compared to individuals with high self-esteem, says Jay Zimmerman, a psychologist at Ball State University, Muncie, Ind. Depressed workers in their 40s and 50s have an increased risk of suicide, he warns, while women, especially single mothers, often feel trapped.

The morale of the U.S. workforce is at an all-time low, claims Gary Blau, professor of human resource administration, Temple University, Philadelphia. With the U.S. Department of Labor reporting an ongoing rise in claims for unemployment benefits and a weakened economy, "There is much uncertainty across many occupations in the workforce, and more people are insecure about their jobs than ever before."

Paying higher salaries than competitors do is still the best way to attract top talent, according to a survey by Robert Half International Inc., a staffing service specializing in the accounting, finance, and information technology fields. However, nonmonetary perks can be almost as effective, with one-third of the respondents stating that flexible hours and telecommuting options carry the most appeal with prospective employees.

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