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What small businesses need to know before filing tax returns
Seth Sandronsky Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementWhat does the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, perhaps President Trump’s signature legislative achievement, mean for businesses? We turn to the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center (TPC), located in Washington, D.C. "TCJA allowed businesses to deduct the full cost of qualified new investments in the year those investments are made (referred to as 100 percent bonus depreciation or 'full expensing') for five years," according to the TPC. But this is not a permanent change to the tax code.
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Seek and you shall find: 3 tips for setting negative interactions straight
Candice Gottlieb-Clark Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementYou often find what you seek. In my years of helping teams resolve conflicts and build better communication, I've seen this simple truth to be an underlying component in countless circumstances. I believe it's why we inevitably have strong opinions, and it's how we end up attracting the exact energy and outcomes we assume to be right and true. Consider for a moment how this occurs in a workplace setting.
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Don’t get fooled by the manipulator
Anne Rose Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementAll manipulators are the same. Just the circumstances and the victims change. You hire an employee who seems to be an asset. She’s friendly and easy-going. Always has a smile. She frequently takes the initiative to create projects and implement them. Wow, what a go-getter, you think. But perhaps after a couple of months, it begins to dawn on you that while she’s great at thinking up fun little projects to keep herself busy, she’s doing everything and anything except the work you assign her to.
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Why transparency is vital for an association
Bob Harris and Karim Shaaban Association ManagementTransparency is a fundamental concept of good governance. It is frequently adopted as a principle to guide board and staff discussions and decisions. Members of an association expect a sense of openness. They want to trust that the board is making good decisions on their behalf. The opposite of transparency in an association is a secretive organization, unwilling to share reports with members and hiding key issues.
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What to know when the only constant in today’s world is change
Linda Popky Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementThere’s an old Chinese curse: May you live in interesting times. We are certainly in the midst of interesting times right now. On a global perspective, we have the coronavirus pandemic that started in China but has spread around the world. There’s Brexit, which will cause considerable disruption in the European Union. Then there's the lengthy presidential election process in the U.S. and ongoing political turmoil in other countries. Here are a few things to consider as you navigate the new normal.
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How leaders can stop loneliness and create community at work
Simma Lieberman Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementAccording to an article in Scientific American, loneliness in the U.S. and other parts of the world has reached epidemic proportions. Former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said that loneliness is a significant health issue and has the potential to shorten a person's life by 15 years. Loneliness affects people of all ages in different ways. When people feel lonely, they feel disconnected and disengage. It becomes a cycle and can be hard to break alone. However, there are many solutions.
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US employers add 273,000 jobs; unemployment drops to 3.5%
Seth Sandronsky Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementIn February, total U.S. nonfarm payroll jobs increased by 273,000 after January's growth of 225,000, while the unemployment rate dipped to 3.5% from 3.6% the previous month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The jobless rate has been 3.5% or 3.6% since September. In February, nearly all major groups of workers had scant change in the rate of employment versus January's figures. Meanwhile, wage growth remained rather tepid.
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Understanding sexual harassment: Why isn’t it obvious?
Sarah Beaulieu Business Management, Services & Risk Management"Shouldn’t this stuff be obvious to people?" At a recent kickoff meeting for a company-wide sexual harassment training, a CEO expressed frustration that he had to explain — and keep explaining — the basics of sexual harassment to his employees. Though I didn't mean to, I laughed, and then noted that he probably had more experience understanding behavior, boundaries, and relationships than the average employee. When organizations fail to recognize that people have various levels of experience with sexual harassment, they approach training through a one-size-fits-all lens.
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The power of the career development discussion
Hank Boyer Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementWith overall employee disengagement levels over 60% and many millennial employees already looking for their next employer, career development discussions have become a critical tool in attracting, developing, focusing, and retaining talented people. Career development discussions are not new, though they have recently become a rising star among best practices across all employment sectors for retaining talented people. The biggest challenge is that most managers do not know where to start in having an effective career development discussion.
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State-run retirement plans are becoming more popular
Grace Ferguson Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementA huge retirement savings shortfall is underway — and many are calling it a crisis. Consequently, some states are launching their own retirement savings programs for private businesses and workers. Some states have passed legislation which require employers to offer a qualified retirement plan — such as a 401(k) or SIMPLE IRA — either through the state-run program or the private market. A few other states have developed voluntary programs for private-sector businesses and workers.
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