use CGI qw|:standard|;
#my $firstname = $in{name};                                                   
my $firstname = CGI::param('name');

##</code><code>##

use strict; #<- get into the habit of using this
#...
my ($lastname, $date_first_employed, $annual_salary, $id ,
    $email_address, $home_phone_number, $emergency_phone_number);

while (($lastname, $date_first_employed, $annual_salary, $id,
$email_address, $home_phone_number, $emergency_phone_number) = $sth->fethrow_array())
#...

##</code><code>##

"SELECT lastname, date_first_employed, annual_salary FROM employees WHERE firstname = $qfirstname,                     
SELECT * FROM employee_contacts WHERE contact_id = $qcontactid")