Retention rules: How to keep your top employees

How four companies are keeping their best during tough times.

1. Start a talent agency
Yum Brands started a Talent Scout program last year to recruit outsiders. Selected top performers nominate at least 25 people; they get cash when a recruit is hired. Global talent VP John Kurnick says 25% of the finance team's 2009 hires came from the program. While it wasn't designed for retention, "it's been the most gratifying for the scout," says Kurnick.

2.  Change up bonus time
In 2009 software maker Intuit moved its annual restricted MORE

2011 Kia Sportage: Worth the price?

Kia has graduated from upstart to established commodity in the American auto market, but are consumers ready to pay close to $30,000 for one of its vehicles?

At this late date, nobody should be surprised when Kia lands in a popular segment like compact crossovers that is dominated by towering competitors like Toyota and Honda -- and immediately delivers a credible competitor.

So the merits of the 2011 Sportage when stacked up MORE

Bonomo's Turkish Taffy returns

Just in time for the baby boomers' second childhood, the Bonomo candy bar is back on store shelves.

By Scott Cendrowski, reporter

At the National Confectioners Association's expo in Chicago -- the annual sugar rush for the country's candy makers -- the surprise hit last spring wasn't the new chocolate-and-pretzel M&M from Mars. Nor was it the extra-miniature version of Reese's peanut butter cups. What really got the candy cognoscenti excited was MORE

2011 Ford Explorer: Makeover for an aging star

Amid declining sales and a shifting auto market, it looked like Ford had lost faith in the Explorer, one of the company's most successful models. But Ford has given the Explorer a revise and a new lease on life, perhaps at the expense of another member of its family.

Ford doesn't do everything right. Back in the day when SUVs were the hot thing going, the Explorer was the hottest of MORE

Profile of a troubled economy

The numbers below explain why the economy is going to be under the weather for quite a while. 1 Homeowners have less equity and borrowing power. 2 Shareholders have smaller retirement accounts and less confidence. 3 There are fewer jobs. 4 Meanwhile, although industrial companies' cash holdings are at record levels, they're not rushing out to add U.S. workers.

How will Obama get things done?

By Tory Newmyer

I'm not going to pretend to predict the final outcome of the November elections. But I can tell you this: A lot of Democrats are going to be replaced by Republicans. And that means President Obama is going to have to figure out some creative ways to get things done.

Insiders are already digging out their old Clinton administration playbooks to figure it all out. Here's how it could MORE

Road Warrior: Nick Jones

The founder of hotel and club chain Soho House caters to jet-setters and celebrities around the world. But his own travel approach is no-nonense.

By Richard Siklos, contributor

Nick Jones founded Soho House in London in 1995 as a members-only hotel and restaurant club. In 2008 he sold 80% of the company to Richard Caring, a London-based clothing and restaurant mogul; now Jones is exporting his brand of exclusivity around the globe MORE

David vs. Goliath: 3 little companies that took on the big boys

Dolls, guitars, and chips:  See how these three small companies got an edge on their giant competitors.

By Jessica Shambora, reporter

Kahn Lucas vs. American Girl

The challenge: More than 18 million American Girl dolls have been sold since being introduced in 1986. Is there room for another "dress like your doll" company?

What they did: Kahn Lucas, a 121-year-old girls' apparel company in Lancaster, Pa., last year launched a new line MORE

Andrea Jung on selling Avon overseas

By Nin-Hai Tseng, reporter

Avon CEO Andrea Jung, right

iPods don't have much to do with lipstick, but longtime Avon Products (AVP) CEO Andrea Jung said she thinks she brings a global perspective as well as her knack for innovation and design to Apple's (AAPL) board of directors.

"It's been a phenomenal experience working with Steve and the Apple team," said Jung, speaking at Fortune's Most Powerful Women Summit, which ended on MORE

Hillary Clinton: No interest in being VP

The top diplomat discussed rumors of her next job, how the recession impacted diplomatic efforts, and the media's limited coverage of foreign policy.

By Tory Newmyer, writer

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton forcefully rejected speculation that the White House is considering a plan to have her switch places with Vice President Joe Biden for the 2012 ticket.

Taking the stage for the final day of Fortune's Most Powerful Women's Conference, Clinton said she MORE