-
US economy adds 130,000 new hires as unemployment rate holds at 3.7%
Seth Sandronsky Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementIn August, U.S. nonfarm payrolls added 130,000 total new hires versus 164,000 in July as the unemployment rate held at 3.7%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. There were 6 million unemployed workers in August compared with 6.1 million in July. In August, there were scant or no changes to the jobless rates for men, women, blacks, Hispanics, whites, adults and teens from July. The employment-to-population ratio rate edged up to 60.9% versus 60.7% in July, the BLS reported.
-
How do you help staff climb a career ladder when there isn’t one?
Anne Rose RetailOne of the issues that concerns small retailers is staff turnover. Human resources is the largest expenditure a retailer has to contend with, and when you add the cost of training and a less-efficient employee during training, you want to do everything you can to reduce turnover. But turnover is especially problematic when your staff consists mostly of entry-level employees earning minimum wage or close to that: cashiers, stockers, floor clerks, etc. What career ladder is there to motivate a cashier to stay cashiering at one store?
-
Should employers provide food at work?
Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementWork trends in Silicon Valley tend to get broadcast as the new standard, even when the space, budget and intent surrounding them are unrealistic or out of line for most companies. The good thing is, by the time those ideas make it to us on Main Street, they have been filtered through reality. As businesses look more at ways to attract and retain employees in a competitive market, food can seem like a no-brainer. Whether you have a fully stocked breakroom or a lonely coffee pot, here are a few things to consider about providing food at work.
-
3 takeaways from the recent Business Roundtable statement
Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementWhy should small businesses care about the recent statement from the Business Roundtable? After all, the lobbying group represents some of the largest and most powerful companies in America and thus is not necessarily representative of the thoughts, feelings and challenges of our country's smaller organizations. However, before moving on to the next headline, business and HR leaders should consider these three takeaways.
-
Can you recession-proof your job?
Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementWhether you believe that Big Macs or RV sales predict recessions, it seems at least that the continued talk of a recession is certainly on the horizon. Yet, with more of us gainfully employed and the job market so seeker-friendly, should we care? Yes; just like how it is easier to find a job when we already have one, it is easier to plan for a recession when we are not in one. Here are a few things to consider when trying to recession-proof your job.
-
What does Target’s new in-store food brand mean for retail?
Bambi Majumdar RetailExperts say that retailers should be looking at the writing on the wall and go lean. It’s said that only the biggest guns like Costco and Walmart have the resources to weather the Amazon storm. So, Target's announcement that it is launching a new grocery brand, Good & Gather, came as a surprise. Confident projections that it will also be a multibillion-dollar brand by the end of 2020 raised eyebrows as well. Good & Gather is based on a better-for-you groceries model and includes over 2,000 items ranging from fresh salad mixes, organic snacks and frozen meals.
-
Legal fights come to factory farms as grassroots organizations push back
Scott E. Rupp Food & BeverageFood & Water Watch, an organization that focuses on creating grassroots movements to protect environmental resources, began legal proceedings against Tyson Foods this summer, claiming that the company focuses on environmental stewardship as a business philosophy. The organization says these claims are counter to how Tyson actually treats the land and water. Additionally, several conservation groups sued the Environmental Protection Agency in July for "overstepping its authority in exempting factory farms from pollution-reporting requirements essential to public safety, environmental health and animal welfare."
-
3 steps to new employee success
Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementThe honeymoon period for new employees provides a prime time to set the stage for unlimited success. While some employers unfortunately also call this the introductory period and try to use it as an evaluation window within which to weed out new hires, we should look at it as a litmus test for our own success and a chance to invest in the success of an employee. Employees come in ready to make an impact, optimistic about the opportunity and eager to learn. Here are three steps to take to fan that flame of enthusiasm into a sustainable fire.
-
Compete on others’ weaknesses, not their strengths
Anne Rose MarketingWhen your niche is responsible for your success, why would your company abandon that winning strategy to compete against other companies' strengths? A chain of hardware stores that owes its success to its niche of providing personal customer service, advice, and DIY knowledge has recently considered competing against big online stores to deliver products in one day. Does that make sense to abandon your core competency and spend inordinate money to expand in an area that another has already locked up?
-
The best and the worst of America’s airports
Matt Falcus Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementA new study is gaining a lot of attention as it gives travelers a ranking of the best and worst airports in America. The study published by The Points Guy (TPG) is now in its fourth year, and this time it ranks the top 50 airports in the country. Naturally, the airports at the top and bottom of the pile are receiving plenty of attention. They are San Diego in the top spot and Chicago Midway trailing in last place. While any ranking like this is largely subjective, this year the website made much more use of reader feedback, rather than solely the experiences of its own staff.
All Food & Beverage Articles