According to the BusinessWeek article, there are several questions to answer when researching an employer:

1. Will this company be able to take care of me in retirement?
2. Is the 401(k) program loaded with lousy funds?
3. Will I keep getting stock options?
4. Does the company snoop on its employees?
5. Is the company able to cope with all the new regulatory scrutiny?
6. Is turmoil at the top likely?
7. What is the company's hidden culture?
8. Is the company as family-friendly as it claims?
9. What's the (real) travel and expense policy?
10. Is the company in good financial shape?

Stone reminds job seekers that asking a potential employer these questions in an interview would be "impolitic" and gives tips on how to "ferret out the information you need." For instance, follow the company and its industry in the news, read the company's annual reports, and talk to people who work there.

The full article, "10 Employer Secrets Worth Cracking," is available at www.businessweek.com.