Recent Articles
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Infographic: How legendary companies make money
Maggie Kimberl Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementMany companies are excited for and know their top-line revenue numbers very well. Legendary companies take themselves to the next level by paying attention to what so many have come to ignore: their existing customers. See how you can improve customer retention with this infographic.
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The impact of shrinkage in grocery stores and how to fight it
Andrew Hoeft Food & BeverageAccording to industry surveys, retail shrink ranges from 1.7% to over 3% of total sales, with grocery stores operating on the highest end of that range according to FMI’s 2019 Food Industry Speaks study. Beyond direct inventory dollar costs, grocers also experience increased labor costs and lower customer satisfaction as a result of shrink. The COVID-19 pandemic has delivered a temporary Band-Aid to grocers as the sales surge masks underlying root causes and symptoms. However, in time, the pandemic will pass and grocery shrink will rise north of 3% again, unless today’s profits are invested into preventative, long-term shrink savings strategies and technologies.
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The ultimate WFH guide: Everything you need to create the perfect home…
Terri Williams Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementWorking from home is the new normal for millions of Americans. In the past, you may have occasionally worked from home — which typically involved balancing a laptop on your knee or creating some space on your kitchen countertop. But now that you’re working from home on a regular basis, neither is a viable option. However, creating an effective (and comfortable) work-from-home office space includes various components. We rounded up a variety of interior designers, organizers and other experts, along with some of the coolest WFH items, to create the ultimate home office guide.
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How to choose a health insurance plan for a small business
Amanda Kowalski Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementRunning a small business has a lot of demands, including everything from perfecting your products to fixing an overflowing toilet. But one of the trickiest parts can be finding the right health insurance for you and your employees. Under the Affordable Care Act, companies with 50 or more full-time employees or the equivalent in part-time employees have to provide health insurance to employees and their dependents or pay a fine. Smaller businesses with fewer employees, however, are exempt. So, should your small business provide insurance? That depends on several factors.
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Top 10 American ghost towns
Dave G. Houser Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementAbandoned towns — or ghost towns as they’re most often called — are not as rare as you might think. According to GPS fleet management company Geotab, which has extensively plotted ghost towns in the U.S., there are more than 3,800 of them scattered across the country. A few ghost towns have survived the elements, looters and vandals to experience boom times once again as popular tourist attractions. So, for those seeking a glimpse of what life was like during the gold rush days, here’s our list of the top 10 American ghost towns.
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A signed commitment to serve
David Aaker and Bob Harris Association ManagementIt is not unusual to hear a volunteer leader say, "I was told you won’t have to do anything when you get on the board." It’s a hoax. Board service is an honor and opportunity. With it comes fiduciary duties to represent member interests, protect and build resources, and advance the mission. Should board orientation be mandatory? Do board members sign a commitment form?
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Ensuring progress and knowledge retention among ESL students
Douglas Magrath EducationAs they prepare for and move on to college life, students undergo many transitions. The most important are the social and academic changes that new students will face in addition to dealing with a new language if English is their second language. Students need to make connections that will help them adjust to this new life. International students especially may feel isolated as they are far away from home, and the initial excitement may wear off quickly.
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No federal deal yet: What are the consequences of no stimulus?
Seth Sandronsky Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementDiscussions for a new relief/stimulus bill fell apart this week, apparently. It began with tumult, as President Trump, infected with COVID-19 and taking a cocktail of drugs, tweeted on Oct. 6 that federal aid for the economic harm from the pandemic will resume after the Nov. 3 election. He then reversed that position, muddying the waters. Meanwhile, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin discussed a stand-alone bailout of air carriers facing financial distress and making thousands of job cuts.
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TikTok: How a kids’ social media platform became a huge cybersecurity…
David Lukić Science & TechnologyTikTok is a huge online social network based around short videos, often contains funny content, and is very popular among children. This popularity among a younger generation has made it a target for a lot of different scams. It’s prone to security issues, but this is not helped by the fact that people suspect the brand's parent company of spying on people.
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Coming to your workplace soon: Legal protections against hair discrimination
D. Albert Brannen Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementEmployers routinely try to control employees’ professional appearance at work through personal appearance policies in their employee handbooks. Now, unwitting employers risk claims of discrimination based on hairstyle under a new type of law or legal theory that is taking hold across the country. Last year, California passed the CROWN Act, short for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair, which prohibits discrimination based on natural hair style and texture. That law has become a model for similar legislation in other states, counties and cities.