Recent Articles
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Manufacturing immiseration in the economy of essentials
Michelle R. Matisons ManufacturingThe Trump administration reluctantly employed the Defense Production Act (DPA), but it is now operative in an economic crisis routinely compared with the 2008 Great Recession and the Great Depression before it. What happens in the manufacturing sector is critical, as it faces a triple threat: climate change uncertainties; COVID-19 supply and demand chain disruptions; and routine overproduction and outsourcing. One analysis gaining traction is that advanced industrial economies, largely dependent on fossil fuel extraction, are downsizing and simplifying anyway.
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Where it all began: Wuhan Airport reopens after lockdown
Matt Falcus Transportation Technology & AutomotiveCOVID-19 emerged in Wuhan, a city in the Hubei Province of China. As the true scale of the virus and its potential was realized, the city’s Tianhe International Airport was one of the first to close as authorities sought to limit its spread. Now, 11 weeks after it was closed down, the airport has reopened to flights as China begins to see light at the end of the darkness. The first flight to arrive at Wuhan following the airport’s reopening was Xiamen Air’s MF8095 from Hangzhou shortly after 7 a.m. on the morning of April 8.
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Stimulus package leaves small businesses between reality, theory
Kevin Reynolds Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementThe normal cacophony emanating out of small coffee shops around the country has been diminished to a whimper these days. The usual customers, 9-to-5 workers rushing to get their fix of caffeine before heading to the office, are either not allowed in or are not coming at all. This is the reality for businesses, particularly small businesses, across America: diminished or nonexistent work, uncertainty and a race to stay afloat. But as weeks pass by, the effects of the stimulus package are still yet to be felt by small business.
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Could the pandemic mark the end of surprise medical billing?
Scott E. Rupp Healthcare AdministrationThe White House has said "no" to surprise billing for patients receiving treatment for COVID-19, and hospitals agreeing to accept money as part of the $2 trillion stimulus bill must agree not to engage in the practice. Surprise billing happens when a patient with health insurance is treated at an out-of-network hospital or when an out-of-network doctor assists with the procedure at the hospital. Bills for such services can range from hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars.
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Infographic: Giving during a pandemic
Brian Wallace Religious CommunityAs houses of worship sit empty, parishioners are still able to connect with their faith through live streams, television, radio, and more. This infographic outlines the economic impact social distancing is having on giving back and how we can still give back during these difficult times.
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Post-Easter activities to accomplish during the pandemic
Deborah Ike Religious CommunityWe just wrapped up the first virtual Easter. Let that sink in for a moment. Your team spent hundreds of hours planning, preparing, and setting up services in a way you never thought you'd need to just a few short weeks ago. So, first off — excellent work! The willingness to pivot and the ingenuity of church teams has been incredible to behold. That's something to celebrate. As your team recovers from a whirlwind of activity, here are a few actions to take in the coming days.
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Postpartum depression: When delight turns desperate
Lisa Cole Mental HealthcareWhat happens when your "bundle of joy" becomes that "baby from hell"? Our culture perpetuates the fallacy that once we pop a baby out, then it's smack dab back to normal. This mentality denies the difficulties associated with the "fourth trimester." The physical, mental, emotional, existential changes and challenges of this period don't just go away once you’ve delivered. Postpartum depression is only now beginning to get its due.
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The danger in believing it ‘won’t happen here’
Linda Popky Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementAn enemy like the COVID-19 pandemic recognizes no borders. Yet, the spread of the virus is not occurring at an even level from country to country, or even from state to state in the U.S. While some areas made aggressive, proactive moves, others have been slow to react. I call this phenomenon Won’t Happen Here (WHH) Syndrome. WHH is not limited to pandemics. We see this kind of reaction to natural disasters (including wildfires, hurricanes, or flood), to political unrest, and even to changes in technology or market conditions.
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How technology can help prevent workplace injuries
Terri Williams Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementA few months ago, we reported on workplace fatalities being at their highest levels since 2008, although workplace injuries are trending down. And now, the National Security Council recently released its first Work to Zero research report, "Safety Technology 2020: Mapping Technology Solutions for Reducing Serious Injuries and Fatalities in the Workplace." The report identifies the most relevant workplace hazards, along with technologies that can help to mitigate the risks.
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As COVID-19 cases swell, the trucking industry struggles to keep drivers…
Gail Short Transportation Technology & AutomotiveWhile many Americans are sheltering in their homes to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, long-haul truckers are traveling down the highways day and night delivering food, medicines and other essential goods to grocery stores, hospitals and pharmacies. But what happens if a trucker gets coronavirus or feels ill while on the road? While driving heavy or tractor-trailer trucks has always put drivers at a high risk for accidents and injuries, COVID-19 poses an added danger. But, as the pandemic rages on across the country, truckers, their employers, associations and others are working to keep them healthy.