Regarding your employer pushing their stock on their employees, it's been my experience that the harder they are selling the stock the more worthless it is. I would suggest keeping your retirement funds in cash. Sure, %2 interest sucks, but it sucks less than losing %50 or more of yoour money, like so many have.
I've gotten into the habit of taking note of which stocks are being hyped on the TV talking heads shows. Invariably these stocks are in the dumpster two months later. It cracks me up. I remember this guy pumping SEBL a couple of months ago, when it was around $30 a share. Last I saw it was around $13 and change. Such a deal! Buy more!
BigMack