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Remodeling activity expected to slow in third quarter

Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & Fixtures

Having held relatively steady during the first half of the year, growth in home remodeling and renovation activity is expected to decrease somewhat in the months ahead. Fewer existing home sales and supply-side challenges such as a lack of skilled labor and rising costs have lowered demand for new projects. Unless those conditions improve, analysts say, the long-range forecast predicts a significant reduction in annual growth in 2020.

3 things that make it hard to fire someone in any industry

Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Terminations are stressful for everyone. While there are challenges unique to firing specialists in any industry, there are a few things that make it hard to fire someone regardless of industry. Here are some common challenges around terminations and strategies for addressing them. For example, documentation is one of the most common issues with terminations. In some cases, we do not have enough documentation.

EPA approves bee-killing pesticide use as populations of the insect crater

Scott E. Rupp Food & Beverage

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in June approved the use of a bee-killing pesticide and, more recently, the White House said it would stop collecting data on declining honey bee populations. Those who follow such developments say this move could make tracking the effects of the chemicals on bees impossible. The Department of Agriculture's Honey Bee Colonies report, compiled annually since 2015, had been designed to help scientists and farmers assess the decline of honey bees, which are responsible for pollinating one in every three bites of food taken by humans.

Workers put spotlight on Amazon’s less-than-‘Prime’ labor…

Michelle R. Matisons Distribution & Warehousing

Amidst the hustle and bustle of Amazon Prime Day, which began July 15 and ran through the following day, laborers' voices are also being heard. This is because the world's largest and wealthiest online retailer continues to report massive earnings that do not trickle down to all workers. That has led many to organize at Amazon Fulfillment Centers globally. While Amazon's full-time wage increases place it on par with other, more solid $15 per hour wage positions, employees are reeling from what’s called the "rate." This is the expected working pace of a job, and Amazon offers a uniquely high-tech way to tell workers they are falling behind: a machine that surveils and warns them.

Farms try to stay afloat amid troubled financial, commercial waters

Seth Sandronsky Food & Beverage

Farm cash flow is down, along with loans from big banks, as the China-U.S. trade war widens, Reuters is reporting. Beijing’s soybean tariffs are hurting American farmers, and spring flooding propelled in part by climate change is making bad matters worse. As farm cash flow slows, "JPMorgan and other Wall Street banks are heading for the exits," according to an analysis of the farm-loan holdings reported to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

Travel2020: Facial biometrics put travelers, criminals under the microscope

Lark Gould Travel, Hospitality & Event Management

While facial recognition technology gets tested at U.S. airports, controversy over its legality is brewing on the public front and in hearings on Capitol Hill. Officials with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) testified last week before a House panel regarding the government’s use of facial recognition. Congress is moving toward legislation that would curtail the use of the controversial technology or at least offer some acceptable parameters. Surveys show air passengers love the new technology, which measures facial characteristics against a database of targets with lightning speed.

3 ways AR and VR are reshaping efficient work

Joseph Zulick Science & Technology

Some people believe that the entire concept of "work" will be reimagined and reexamined in the near future. In fact, "work" is already changing, and augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are playing a significant role in that change. There are already large corporations and small businesses that are preparing for this shift, too. Here are some of the ways in which AR/VR will change the way work gets done in the near future.

Airports across the US to benefit from $495 million in infrastructure grants

Matt Falcus Transportation Technology & Automotive

U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao has announced a major round of infrastructure funding to airports across the United States to help with much-needed rehabilitation and construction projects. In all, 358 grants have been awarded to 327 airports around the country in 46 states and several island territories. These range from smaller regional and general aviation facilities to large hub airports like Dallas-Fort Worth International, George Bush Intercontinental, San Diego International, and Las Vegas McCarran.

A guide for facilities decision-makers on going solar

Scott E. Rupp Facilities & Grounds

Implementing a solar energy project has many legs and can move in many directions. However, guidance, development of the project, the site, and goals need to be set well before actual work can be done. Planning can help a facility carry out the solar implementation project, but facility managers should also look for innovative ways to aggregate procurements to benefit from economies of scale and to reduce transaction costs. Federal agencies, for example, are moving toward solar power capabilities, as are private organizations. But no matter the agency or sector, interest is there for generating solar plans.

Does location impact your interior design business?

Lloyd Princeton Interior Design, Furnishings & Fixtures

Recently, a client approached me with an intriguing business dilemma. They felt their firm could be commanding higher fees and earning more revenue if they moved to a more prosperous location. They wanted to know if I could help them determine where that location might be. It turned out that while there is not information about specific businesses, there is data showing some interesting patterns that firms may want to take into consideration when determining their location and evaluating how well they are performing.

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