More than 90 percent of data breaches worldwide involve small and medium-sized business organizations. Data breaches result in increased global economic debt — and the reality is, hackers attack anyone, with few to no exceptions. The governing body of the payment card industry (PCI) is the Standards Security Council that includes the major card brands, who addressed card … [More]
The Employer Shared Responsibility of the Affordable Care Act
After considerable fits and starts, the employer responsibility provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) are now in full play. While implementing regulations and related notices can be complex, business owners should understand the basics in order to avoid penalties, identify the best-suited healthcare solutions for their workforce and remain … [More]
Personalized Systems Enhance Fire Safety
Technology has advanced the fire alarm industry from blaring horn strobes to intelligent voice communication. The trend is to provide more information and give directions, replacing the traditional “make a lot of noise and flash some lights to drive everybody away from the fire,” says David Burns, production manager with Siemens, a multifaceted engineering company. A key … [More]
Avoid Salary Surprises with Federal Overtime Rule Change
The U.S. Department of Labor’s changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act scheduled to go into effect on December 1 raises the federal minimum salary level for overtime pay for FLSA-covered workers to $913 per week, or $47,476 annually. The rule change announced this past spring has many companies already making preparations; the following tips will help businesses ensure they … [More]
Politics in the Workplace: A Primer for Arizona Businesses
‘Tis the season for contentious conversations, as the 24-hour news cycle is in overdrive with Clinton, Trump, immigration policy, Black Lives Matter, LGBT rights and healthcare concerns, to name just a few. The proper handling of hot-topic politics in the workplace should be paramount for all employers during this fiery political season, as these emotionally charged political … [More]
Vote Like Your Healthcare Depends on It
Welcome to the Silly Season. It’s easy to get caught up in the hysterics of the campaign and forget there are real things at stake this election. Healthcare is one of the biggest. Arizonans in recent months have seen first-hand the massive changes occurring throughout our industry. The trend of hospital consolidation continues apace, and not always to the benefit of patients … [More]
Workplace Discrimination Dialogue Needs a Full Table
As is evident from any look at recent headlines, there is undoubtedly an immense amount of work to be done to eradicate bias and discrimination in America. Since this country starts and stops on economics, change in the workplace is fundamental if a national paradigm shift is to be achieved. One report by the Center for American Progress cites the fiscal damage of workplace … [More]
Congress Gives EPA More Authority to Regulate Chemicals
In June, President Obama signed into law the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, landmark legislation modernizing the decades-old Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the little-known but very important federal law that regulates chemicals in the United States. Approved by large bipartisan majorities in Congress, the Lautenberg Act addresses some of … [More]
Nonprofits and Elections Are Intertwined
In the middle of this noisy election season, I ask the question: What is the connection between elections and nonprofits? The answer, in short: They are intertwined. This may surprise many of you, so let me explain. First, I will explain what I don’t mean. You may have heard a lot about “dark money.” This is spending to influence elections that is not channeled directly … [More]
Employee Disengagement Underlies Saga of Sabotage
The recent arrest of a Mossack Fonesca employee in Geneva has called into question the motivations behind insider threats. Over the past four months, MF, a Panama-based law firm, has experienced two major breaches in data security. The first of these, dubbed the “Panama Papers scandal,” has broken records as the largest leak in history. In April of this year, 2.6 terabytes … [More]
PCHF Engages Business against Childhood Cancer
Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation is gearing up for a September fundraising program it designed with the business community in mind. First and foremost, of course, is the goal of $1 million to support the hospital’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders — a critical pediatric focus, considering that every three-and-a-half minutes a child is diagnosed with cancer yet only 4 … [More]
Yes, Responsible Companies Perform Better
Study after study shows that companies known for sticking to their values perform better on financial metrics. While this may be a surprise to some, it actually makes total sense that socially responsible investments do better. Several factors increase the likelihood that conscious companies perform well: Clean-hands companies don’t have to pay expensive lawsuit … [More]
Navigating Commercial Leasing to Medical Marijuana Dispensaries
Growing and selling marijuana may be the most controversial business in America, but, due to changing public opinion and the current political climate, it shows no signs of slowing down. Unless the Federal government decriminalizes the manufacture, sale and use of marijuana, it remains a very risky business, not just for the business owners but also for the landlords who lease … [More]
Rising Concern over Ransomware
There is a growing volume of ransomware victims despite increased efforts to prevent it, according to a recent survey by KnowBe4, a popular security awareness training and integrated phishing platform. The study, which surveyed 1,138 companies across a variety of industries, compares levels of concern over ransomware from 2014 to 2016. There was a huge jump in companies hit … [More]
Smoke-Free Gaining in Multifamily
A ban on smoking is an emerging trend in multifamily residential properties, gaining traction especially over the past two years, according to Bryan Fasulo, regional property manager for national multifamily management company Pinnacle, which manages Residences at Fountainhead, a development at Tempe Town Lake, and Proxy 333 in Downtown Phoenix. Support programs in Arizona are … [More]
Faces Matter
When a person is deciding whether or not to do business with your company, you might expect them to check all the key selling points. Price, benefits and features, brand reputation — these are all things that marketers anticipate customers will care about and, therefore, are the brand identifiers that receive the most attention when it comes to sales and marketing. However, … [More]
Zika Virus and the Workplace: A Primer for Arizona Businesses
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared Zika virus an international “public health emergency.” And while Arizonans have found themselves immune from many of the previously issued health alerts, Zika is striking closer to home. Currently, Zika is primarily concentrated in tropical and sub-tropical climates, and the concern is elevated in Arizona, especially among … [More]
Too Many Politicians Getting It Wrong on Trade
The idea of Global Chamber® started eight years ago when Barry Goldwater, Jr. stood up in a crowded public meeting in Phoenix and declared “foreigners need to be kept out of Arizona because they take our jobs.” It was a wrong idea then, and it’s wrong now. We want foreign investment, because while foreign companies employ 5 percent of the U.S. workforce, they account for 8 … [More]
