Working remote has truly come to mean working from anywhere as employees have started to move to their favorite vacation spots, closer to relatives and out of state to lower-cost areas, so long as there is dependable internet. Remote working is now coming to be viewed as a potential perk to offer employees. However, this initial reaction of allowing work from anywhere may be … [More]
The Ongoing Role of COVID-19 Testing
An unexpected, unwelcome and unpredictable guest arrived in 2020 threatening our personal lives and business livelihood — SARS-CoV-2, or what is commonly known as COVID-19. Information regarding this virus shifts daily as world health and government leaders tackle issues related to its transmission, diagnosis, treatment, eradication, et cetera. Top infectious disease … [More]
Reduce Healthcare Disparities among Employees
Over the past year, especially during the pandemic, we’ve seen an increased number of employers interested in having conversations about health equity and disparities in care. And everyone needs to have those conversations … even if they’re uncomfortable. A recent white paper by the Health Action Council and UnitedHealthcare, “Finding the Uncommon,” finds companies that … [More]
Arizona’s Surge Line – A Case Study of Success
A year ago this month, Central Logic, the industry innovator in enterprise visibility and tools to accelerate access to care, announced a first-in-the-nation statewide agreement with the Arizona Department of Health Services to power a new Regional Access Center, leveraging Central Logic’s technology. The Access Center has been successful in ensuring all the state’s patients … [More]
Stop Meeting and Start Co-Creating
It’s been almost a year since the pandemic triggered broad restrictions and shutdowns throughout North America. It’s time to take stock, to gauge what we’ve been through and learned. The constraints forced upon us ranged from draconian at times to occasionally inconvenient. Yet despite the hardships — or because of them — COVID’s impact has also been enlightening. It has … [More]
Make the Workplace Safe for Open and Honest Dialogue about Mental Health
When a crisis strikes in the workplace, the first question that’s typically asked is whether or not there were signs of mental health issues at work. The answer is almost always yes, and, even more concerning, not much is typically done to address it. Now more than ever employers are taking mental health seriously and providing resources that help employees who may be … [More]
Phoenix and COVID Recovery
The city of Phoenix made a $14 million investment to keep its small businesses operating. The city offered four grants for restaurants, small businesses with fewer than 25 employees, microbusinesses with five or fewer on the payroll and airport concessionaires. Phoenix was one of the few cities in the U.S. to include help for gig-economy workers and home-based businesses. The … [More]
Adapting Content Strategies to Grow Employee Happiness
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how many businesses work, but the need to retain talent is here to stay. With so many people working from home or on a modified schedule, many employers are finding their employees have new, unexpected needs and the requests to match. When it comes to dodging these frustrations and keeping employees happy, tapping into the creativity of an … [More]
Communication Tips to De-escalate Conflict in the Workplace
It’s inevitable. No matter what kind of work environment you’re in, there will be conflicts. The key to managing interpersonal conflicts in a workplace setting lies in the communication skills you use to defuse the situation and de-escalate people when things get heated. Everyone handles conflict differently. Some shy away, avoiding a confrontation at all costs. Others face … [More]
Three Ways to Revamp SEO in 2021
Search engine optimization (SEO) is essential for creating online relevance and being digitally relevant in search engines. The coronavirus pandemic magnified how significant digital presence is these days. People are relying heavily on online information versus real-time in-person interactions. They want the latest information on hours of operation and how businesses are … [More]
Outdated Video Training Puts a Business at Risk
Businesses risk loss of revenue, loss of employee commitment and increases in key employee attrition. One solution is here for us to embrace: the new rules of engagement in training videos. Millennial and GenX value contribution, learning and challenge above financial gains. Businesses that deliver training in an outdated format or style can suffer from all three of the … [More]
2021 Marketing Trends Foster Meaningful Connections in a Digital World
There’s little argument that adaptability is critical for a business’s survival today. Even with hope on the horizon, 2020 taught us to expect the unexpected. Businesses must continue to ride waves of uncertainty and evolving consumer sentiment throughout this year to deliver value, support their people and churn a profit. And while accustomed to life during a pandemic, many … [More]
Rounding Up Hearts in February at Steak 44, Ocean 44 and Dominick’s Steak House
The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc around the globe, leaving a trail of broken hopes and dreams in its path. Restaurants have been among the hardest hit industries. It’s estimated that 2.2 million restaurants worldwide will never reopen. This problem is especially severe in the U.S. where the Bureau of Labor Statistics just released data that points to a 3.4-million … [More]
How Mental Health Impacts the Workplace
A new year brings new hope as businesses continue to navigate the pandemic. As we head into 2021, we are facing what may be the most severe mental health crisis in recent American history. How business owners handle the next three to six months is pivotal to maintaining a healthy and productive workforce. The pandemic is taking a physical and mental toll on nearly everyone … [More]
Arizona Skills Gap in Trade Industries Is Everyone’s Problem
The skills gap is real, and now may be the perfect time to start fixing it. The “skills gap” is defined as a mismatch between the skills that employers rely upon in their employees and the skills that job seekers possess. This mismatch makes it difficult for individuals to find jobs and for employers to hire appropriately trained workers. Unfortunately for the HVAC … [More]
COVID-19 Accelerates the Demand for Digital Innovation
COVID-19 has had an unprecedented impact on people’s lives and the global economy, impacting nearly every industry, including traditional and digitally native sectors. But the pandemic has not slowed innovation — in fact, it’s accelerating digital innovation to historic levels as organizations seek new ways to connect with and serve customers. The global disruption has required … [More]
Skills-based Volunteering: The Business Case
The last year has been marked by an unprecedented combination of challenges: a pandemic, economic downturn and devastating racial injustice, all of which have affected individuals as well as public and private-sector organizations. At the same time, pervasive social issues such as unequal access to healthcare, housing, food, education and workforce development remain. Making … [More]
Female Founders Succeed Despite Sexism
Historically, a lot of business has transpired in social settings, high on the list of which is the golf course and private men’s lounges. Hence the term “the old boys’ club.” Transactions may or may not be brought to agreement in such settings, but certainly connections are facilitated that ultimately lead to business agreements. This is not news, but it is the reason women … [More]
