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Green-collar jobs in the spotlight
Michelle R. Matisons Facilities & GroundsWhen referring to occupations, the word "collar" usually refers to class/income or gender designations. "White collar" is used for professional jobs, "blue collar" for manual labor/working-class jobs, and the phrase "pink collar" is used for fields predominantly occupied by women, such as teaching and nursing. But there’s a new collar color on the horizon that cuts across these class and gender distinctions. "Green collar" jobs include any occupation related to environmental issues: the category encompasses lower-wage solar panel installation positions all the way up to high-paying research and executive positions.
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What the 2019 Skytrax World Airport Awards mean for US airports
Matt Falcus Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementThe much-anticipated Skytrax World Airport Awards have been announced for 2019 and yet again there is little change among the world’s best airports, with no U.S. airports in the top 10. For the seventh consecutive year, Singapore Changi Airport has taken the crown as the world’s best facility. Denver is the top-rated airport in the United States. It credits five consecutive years of passenger traffic growth as the reason for its popularity. Yet, with Denver at position 32 in the global list, why are America's airports again so far behind those in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa?
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Tax credits, jobs slashed as GM adds new electric SUV plant
Michelle R. Matisons ManufacturingAuto giant General Motors has announced it will begin manufacturing a new electric vehicle (EV), with the news coming shortly after previously reported plant closures took effect. Meanwhile, the IRS has confirmed that an electric car subsidy is now being phased out. Layoffs from the plant closures have been a thorn in the side of the Trump administration's spotlight on Rust Belt manufacturing jobs. Despite monthly reports, the U.S. manufacturing sector faces attrition that can't be obscured by political machinations, and the GM controversy proves this.
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6 tips to get through your midday slump
Eudene Harry, MD Medical & Allied HealthcareWe have all felt it. After lunchtime, you're lethargic, tired, and constantly checking the clock waiting for the day to be over. But fear not! Your day will no longer be ruined by the afternoon lull. Here are some quick tips to avoid the midday slump and end your day rejuvenated.
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Climate change and the price of being poor
LeRon L. Barton Waste Management & EnvironmentalIf you were to ask most people in low-income communities where climate change would rank in degree of importance, I would wager that it would be pretty low. This is not to say that folks living in these neighborhoods don't care or have no knowledge about the issues that affect the environment, it's just that paying the rent or mortgage, getting to work, and the stress of living in poverty take precedence. However, in 2019, there may be a change in how climate change is viewed, due to new legislation, research, and outreach.
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Supreme Court rules on controversial Alaska waters case
Michelle R. Matisons Recreation & LeisureAfter 12 years of legal battling, the U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled in a controversial Alaska public lands case. Sturgeon v. Frost is resolved for now, but this does not mean that the issues of federal vs. state regulations concerning Alaska's public lands, including navigable waterways, are settled. In 2007, the National Park Service confronted moose hunter John Sturgeon for hover-crafting on Alaska’s Nation River. This activity is not allowed by the NPS because of its impact on waterways, and Sturgeon reacted that he had the right to hovercraft there since the waterway is regulated by the state, not the NPS.
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Facilities managers and spring cleaning: The time is now
Scott E. Rupp Facilities & GroundsThere's something about the spring that motivates us to clean. The end of the internal hibernation of winter is no different for facilities managers. As the days get longer and warmer, there's no better time than now to evaluate the building you manage to ensure it survived the brutality of winter and is ready for the coming dog days of summer. For those professionals who have been in the facility management game for a bit, the following information likely is routine. For newcomers, there's no better time than the changing of the season than to make spring cleaning and maintenance routine.
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When should the commercial lease end?
Dale Willerton and Jeff Grandfield RetailChoosing a commencement date for your commercial lease can be easy enough; however, stating a specific expiration date may be more difficult. That's fair enough, as it is impossible to forecast what the future will hold. Will you be successful at your chosen location? Will an anchor store in the commercial property move out and leave you needing to relocate? Will your own health affect your business operations and result in your selling your business? The short answer is for you to choose your lease term's expiration date based on what's best for you and your business.
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More affordability lifts home sales
Michael J. Berens Construction & Building MaterialsAs the cost of buying a home has begun to come down, home sales have begun to go up. The economics are not complicated, but they do speak to the tension between price and what buyers are able to pay that has constrained the housing market for the past year. For the moment, the factors behind that tension appear to be easing somewhat, which should encourage more buyers to enter the market in the coming months. After two months of declines, sales of existing homes catapulted 11.8 percent in February over January’s figures. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) said it was the largest month-over-month gain since December 2015.
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7 common mistakes business owners make and how to avoid them
Roberta Matuson Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementI've been in business for over 20 years and have seen my share of mistakes made by business owners — many that certainly could have been avoided. Here’s my list of common mistakes business owners make, along with advice on how to avoid following suit. For example, think about a job that you worked in that didn't work out. Was it because you didn't have the skills to do the job, or was it because your values did not align with the organization's?
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