Some $50 billion a year is being spent on developing leaders worldwide, but it’s not viewed by company leaders as being effective, according to a report released in July by global talent management consultancy Development Dimensions International and The Conference Board. The 56-page report titled “Global Leadership Forecast (GLF) 2014|2015, Ready-Now Leaders: Meeting … [More]
Employee Cynicism: The ‘In’ Attitude that Hurts Business
In an age of cynicism and irony, Northwestern Mutual is a throwback to a more innocent time. The company is the antithesis of “cool.” It has the kind of culture in which people embrace plain suits and sincere handshakes, take pride in wearing achievement ribbons, kick off conferences with patriotic music. It’s the very portrait of wholesomeness and earnestness — the Boy Scout … [More]
Chip and PIN Advances Card Reader Technology
Use of Chip and PIN technology is expanding in the United States as an alternative to the familiar credit/debit card “swipe,” allowing customers greater acceptance rates when traveling and security with reliable transactions both locally and internationally. “The EMV/chip in the card uses a dynamically generated string of data with each transaction that makes chip cards … [More]
Technology: Marketing
Technology is giving merchants a newer, slicker, 21st-century way to offer customers reward/loyalty programs, signaling a shift away from those wallet-clogging buy-ten-get-one-free punch cards. Indeed, merchants of all kinds are signing up for tech programs that enable them to keep tabs on their regulars and reach out to new customers while the customers pile up reward points … [More]
Fraud Is Big in Online B2B Sales
Fraudulent Online Product Inquiries The impact of fraud is felt unevenly. As fraudsters succeed against businesses in an industry, they beget copycatters who continue to target that industry. Percentage of Inquiries that are Fraud Attempts Percent of Businesses Affected 75% … [More]
Even in the Matrix, Labor Does Have a Price
Matrix teams — formed by bringing together under a new project leader people who already report to another supervisor — is a common method of staffing projects. This is one alternative to outsourcing a project when a business has no team already available that has the requisite skill set. Matrix teams have their benefits and their challenges. There are pitfalls, however, that … [More]
The Power of the PAC Can Aid Businesses
Dozens of local political action committees (PACs) are up and running in this election season, and local businesses as well as major corporations are finding them a viable vehicle for influencing public policy and supporting candidates who best represent their industry or interests. “Being able to be involved in the political process through a political action committee is … [More]
Fees Due from Employers of Self-Funded Health Insurance Plans
July 31 is the upcoming deadline for insurers and sponsors of self-insurance health plans to pay the annual Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund fees (usually referred to as PCORI fees for the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute they fund). Fees are due for plan years that end on or between October 1, 2013 and September 30, 2014, inclusive. They are imposed on … [More]
High Voter Turnout in Primaries Critical to Sound Election Process
There are several things I can already tell you about Aug. 26 of this year. It’s a Tuesday. The average high temperature will probably hover around 104 degrees. And it’s primary election day. I can also tell you that, historically in Arizona, only about 28 percent of the people eligible to vote will actually vote in the primary. In Maricopa County, that number drops to a little … [More]
Cost and Effect of Employees’ Bad Internet Behavior
Information technology managers report a high incidence of troublesome habits among office workers using company computers, according to a U.S. survey recently released by TeamViewer, a leading provider of remote control and online meetings software. The survey was aimed at determining how big an effect common “bad behaviors” have, both on the IT department and on the company’s … [More]
Drugs and Work Safety Liability
Drug and alcohol abuse costs business multiple billions of dollars in workers’ comp accidents, increased healthcare costs and productivity, including theft to fund the habit. Says Julie Pace, partner at The Cavanagh Law Firm, “There are all kinds of reasons why employers should care about having a good drug and alcohol policy, making sure they test on it, [because of] its … [More]
How Healthcare Strategies Impact the Employer’s Bottom Line
While debate swirls on healthcare as a political issue, companies must deal with it as an element of being in business. Decision makers factor in the different options available and how different choices affect the company’s profitability — making cost the central focus. This leads to the most commonly heard question, “How do we control it?” But to David Berg, M.D. — whose … [More]
Comply or Deny? Businesses Deal with Healthcare Mandates
Four months since the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act took effect, many Arizona business owners and managers are still struggling to understand how to comply with the law and embrace it in a way that makes sense economically. It continues to be a confusing time for employers, particularly since the Federal government has changed the deadlines and rules several … [More]
Health Insurance: Balancing Benefits
Healthcare coverage requirements on small businesses is a hot topic, no less so with the recent extension on the start date for employers to provide health insurance to their employees. For some, health insurance is an unwelcome expense that cuts into company profits. For others, it’s an investment in company productivity. And in some cases, through changes that have … [More]
The Sickness and Workplace Mix
While employers deal with issues of healthcare coverage and employee benefits, the workplace environment is also impacted by the actions and attitudes of the work force. Study after study supports the belief that productivity is impacted by employees’ health; that healthier employees are more productive. But do employees consider the effect of their healthcare choices on their … [More]
Tap into Big Data for Profit
Big data is capable of making a big impact on the bottom line of businesses. The term describes the exponential growth and availability of data, which businesses are eager to exploit. But this overwhelming abundance of data is important to businesses only if they are able to accurately analyze it in a timely manner, which can lead to more confident decision making. The term … [More]
Cyber Security: Liability and Evolving Standards for Business
Data breaches at major corporations like Target and Michael’s become high-profile news, but it’s a risk that every company with an Internet-connected computer should be worried about, according to Jason Weinstein, a partner in the law firm of Steptoe & Johnson LLP whose practice specialties include cyber crime. “Cyber criminals are interested in getting into the systems of … [More]
Mindfulness and Values-Clarification in the Workplace
Over the past decade, there has been an explosion of interest in mindfulness-based training programs. The impact of the mindful movement can be seen across the fields of psychotherapy, stress management, coaching and sports performance. In the workplace, mindfulness is being hailed for its potential to help employees and leaders stay in contact with present moment … [More]
