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()) #...