Cybersecurity training for employees, as well as the purchase of cybersecurity solutions/services (61% each), are the most popular IT investments among US businesses this year, according to the newest research by NordLayer, a network security solution for businesses. The majority of US companies (67%) have in-house cybersecurity specialists to take care of that, while 24% … [More]
Commercial Chapter 11 Filings Increased 68% in the First Half of 2023
The 2,973 total commercial Chapter 11 bankruptcies filed during the first six months of 2023 represented a 68 percent increase over the 1,766 filed during the same period in 2022, according to data provided by Epiq Bankruptcy, the leading provider of U.S. bankruptcy filing data. Individual Chapter 13 filings increased by 23 percent during the same period. Overall commercial … [More]
Gather, GROW and Refill Your Team’s Energy Tank with These Four Steps
There’s never a perfect time to pause your day-to-day work and focus on the internal team, but when you do make the effort, the dividends are immediate. Setting aside an hour, a half-day, a two-day retreat or anything you can manage as a team will provide the opportunity to gather together, grow as a team and refill your collective energy tank in order to bust out of service … [More]
The Hidden Costs of Hiring
Hiring a new employee is an essential but costly process for any business. Beyond the initial salary negotiations and contract signings, there are numerous hidden expenses that can significantly impact a company's resources and time. According to a report by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the average cost per hire in 2022 was $4,700. This figure, however, … [More]
An Ugly Firing Isn’t Inevitable: How to Turn Things around with a Problem Employee … Starting Now
The warning signs are all there. Your employee (let’s call him Jeremiah) is calling in “sick” a lot more than seems plausible. He’s missing performance goals. Even worse, more than one customer has complained about his attitude. To your dismay — because letting someone go is one of the most painful tasks a leader ever must do — it’s starting to look like an ugly firing is … [More]
Housing Market Slowdown Across U.S. Starting to Affect Upscale and Western Markets More Than Others
ATTOM, a leading curator of land, property, and real estate data, today released a Special Housing Impact Report spotlighting how the recent downturn in the U.S. housing market is starting to affect counties around the nation, based on key measures from the first quarter of 2023. The report shows that the Western region and other more-upscale areas around the country are … [More]
How to Build Resilience Instead of Chasing Zero Errors
Wildland firefighters. Air traffic controllers. Flight deck crews of Navy aircraft carriers. Operators of nuclear power plants and the national bulk electric grid. These are among the safest and most reliable work teams in the world. And they don’t try to eliminate all errors and surprises. Decades of experience have shown that the crusade to eliminate every error is both … [More]
Bridging the Cloud Skills Gap: Six Recommendations for Employers
Roads are likely to buckle and fail if they cannot handle a growing number of motorists. In online terms, more and more remote IT workers, fueled by the global pandemic, are finding they lack in-house skills to handle more than half (60%) of their current operational tasks. Even more important, this deficiency is making it difficult for employers to build and maintain resilient … [More]
Amplify Business Value by Amping Up Your Brand
Branding is not what you may think. When executives consider branding, especially those with strong financial experience and limited marketing exposure (a classic CFO), they often see an expense with questionable ROI. They see a logo, tagline, website and marketing materials and equate those with the brand. While these are tools for delivering and building the brand, they are … [More]
Phoenix Is Tops in Manufacturing Leasing Activity for Emerging Markets, Says Report
Over the past few years, industrial markets have grown dramatically. Several markets like Phoenix have emerged as growth markets, and they are becoming strategically important for operations, as well as attractive opportunities for industrial investors. Cushman & Wakefield recently examined national industrial leasing statistics from 2020-2022 to see which markets, outside … [More]
‘Vacation Just Isn’t Worth It’ If Your Employees Are Saying (or Thinking) This; Here’s What to Do
Vacations really matter. They reduce stress; help prevent burnout; and keep people healthier, happier, more motivated—and yes—more productive. Research on the positive health benefits and increased performance from regular paid time off (PTO) practices is indisputable. What this means for leaders is clear: Encouraging people to take their vacations isn’t only in their best … [More]
Arizona Is 10th ‘Most Improved’ State for Retirees, Says Study
Seemingly vying to appeal to the highest number of retiring individuals, each passing year presents a fresh ranking of the most desirable states for retirees. Recently, however, the landscape has fluctuated, with states gaining or losing allure based on various criteria including quality of life, affordable housing, reasonable healthcare costs, safety, and low … [More]
Renters Show Increased Interest for the Valley at the Beginning of the Rental Season
The Rental Activity Report is a comprehensive top of the 150 U.S. largest cities ranked based on the behavior of renters’ themselves. The millions of interactions on RentCafe.com do just that, providing data of their intent to move, which we compile in a monthly report. In June, Chandler and Glendale are the rental hotspots in Arizona, but, in fact, most large cities caught … [More]
Their Take: Arizona’s Water Future Depends on New Water Supplies
None of us has a crystal ball, but we can be certain that our water future will require a variety of adaptive changes. We must adjust to reduced availability of Colorado River water and adjust to enhanced regulation of groundwater uses. This regulation will come in various forms. For the first time in decades, additional groundwater basins have been designated for … [More]
Arizona Chamber Celebrates Legislative Wins for Job Creators, Economic Development, and Pro-Business Climate
The Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry is proud to announce a host of legislative wins this session that will pave the way for further economic development, preserve Arizona’s pro-growth business climate, and protect our citizen initiative process from out-of-state special interests. The Chamber is particularly grateful for the passage of HB 2809, priority … [More]
As the Legislature Adjourns Again, Much Has Been Accomplished
The 2023 Legislative Session has recessed and is expected to come back again July 31. Much has been accomplished focused on keeping the Arizona economy moving forward with investments. The legislature and Governor Katie Hobbs created new laws related to Transportation, Economic Development, Water, and Education. Unlike prior years, each legislator was given a sum of money to … [More]
There Are Nearly 40% Fewer Homes for Sale Now Than Pre-Pandemic, Says Report
The total number of U.S. homes for sale dropped 6% from a year earlier during the four weeks ending June 11, the biggest decline in 13 months. That’s according to a new report from Redfin, the technology-powered real estate brokerage. New listings dropped 23%, continuing a 10-month streak of double-digit declines. Those add to the deepening post-pandemic inventory … [More]
