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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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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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COVID-19 continues to be good for the planet — for now
Scott E. Rupp Waste Management & EnvironmentalWith the coronavirus raging, there's little that's not connected to the topic. The environment continues to be a bright spot among the bad news. It's a topic we've covered here before, but social distancing and the near-shutdown of the world's economy are having overwhelmingly positive impacts on the health of the planet. Manufacturing and most pollution-producing industries have ground to a halt due to the spread of the virus. Paul Monks, professor of air pollution at the University of Leicester, called it the "largest-scale experiment ever" regarding the reduction of industrial emissions.
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US employers shed 700,000 jobs, as unemployment rises to 4.4%
Seth Sandronsky Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementIn March, total U.S. nonfarm payroll jobs fell by 701,000 versus February's 273,000 new hires, according to a report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. March's unemployment rate rose to 4.4% from February's 3.5%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic included local and state orders to practice "shelter in place" and social distancing," as well as closing bars and restaurants. The leisure and hospitality sector accounted for 459,000 layoffs or 65% of March's total job losses.
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3 possible economic outcomes for the coronavirus pandemic
Lark Gould Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementSurviving the coronavirus is currently top of mind for the American public. There are many likely scenarios possible within the possible epidemiological trajectories of COVID-19 and the economic response to this crisis will also develop over the next few months, bringing a new set of struggles to consider. The Conference Board, a New York-based think tank on the economy and public policy, has developed three scenarios for the development of the U.S. economy through the remainder of the year.
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A healthier environment is an unintended consequence of the coronavirus
Scott E. Rupp Waste Management & EnvironmentalOne significant positive from the COVID-19 pandemic? As economies are crashing, industries shuttered, and people mandated to shelter in place, the beneficiary of this is the natural environment. The coronavirus is cutting global emissions faster than any previous climate legislation or negotiations. In fact, according to numbers researched by Lauri Myllyvirta at the University of Helsinki's Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, this is all because of the pandemic.
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Surviving coronavirus: Bravery, health, and strength
Michelle R. Matisons Civil & GovernmentBe Brave. Good Health. Stay Strong. These three (albeit optimistic) convictions grace childlike artwork pinned to an overturned wooden cable spool in an Albuquerque neighborhood near the University of New Mexico. As coronavirus spreads, a yard full of art reminds us to keep our convictions.
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Supporting student success through industry outreach
Sheilamary Koch Education"I learned early in my career that I alone did not bring enough to the table to ensure the success of my students," explains Mark Smith, an industrial arts teacher at Reed-Custer High School in Illinois. "I needed to develop relationships with people outside the education system that are passionate about educating the next generation of skilled employees." In addition to the six classes he teaches, Smith actively markets the work his students do — successfully bridging the gap between the classroom and industry. Over 20 years of consistent outreach has certainly paid off.
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Aviation outlook brings ‘fearless forecasts’ for 2020
Lark Gould Transportation Technology & AutomotiveWhile the world copes with the coronavirus, one company keeps a sobering forecast of the airline industry afloat with a vision that things will return to their more workable state in the near future. Based on pre-COVID-19 concerns, Avolon, an international aircraft leasing company headquartered in Ireland with offices in the United States, Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai, recently issued a 2020 outlook paper on the aviation industry with some clear insights.
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