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Proposed California plastics law could be a game-changer for fighting pollution
Seth Sandronsky Waste Management & EnvironmentalCalifornia is the most populous state in the U.S. and the world’s fifth biggest economy. If enacted, the proposed California Circular Economy and Plastic Pollution Reduction Act could be a game-changer in reducing plastic production and promoting a clean recycling economy. "The legislation will establish a comprehensive framework to address the pollution and waste crisis, and sets a statewide goal that manufacturers reduce the waste generated by single-use packaging and products by 75% after 2030," according to a statement from state Sen. Ben Allen, D-Santa Monica.
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The one thing you can do today to bring in talent
Roberta Matuson Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementNo doesn't always mean no. Here's what I mean by this. You're probably hearing a lot of "no's" these days when extending job offers to candidates, given how hot the market is for talent. Most of you have accepted this and moved on. This is a huge mistake and one that can be easily rectified. Keep this in mind: "No" isn't forever. It's no, for right now. Let's say you made a job offer about a month ago and the candidate declined. These days, it's easy to reach out to people through LinkedIn's In-mail with a, "Hey, how's your new job going?" message, followed by, "Any chance we can grab a coffee?"
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Taking a vacation when you don’t have enough vacation time
Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementSummer is a great time for a new job. From new grads looking to put their foot in the door to seasoned professionals just waiting for the summer to move their family across the country for an amazing opportunity, summertime is a great time to transition. Unfortunately, it is also a great time to take a vacation. For new employees at any level, this can be a challenge. Here are a few things to consider when trying to take a vacation without enough vacation time.
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Observing the latest hospitality tech from HITEC 2019 in Minneapolis
Linchi Kwok Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementI was in Minneapolis recently for HITEC 2019 (Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition & Conference), marking the third time I attended the conference's exposition. This time, I paid special attention to the new technologies and products on the exhibition floor, such as those using facial recognition or AI in providing robotic services. I was unable to recognize any revolutionary innovations at the exposition, but I believe two of my observations may warrant some discussion.
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Falling mortgage rates lift home sales
Michael J. Berens Construction & Building MaterialsProspective homebuyers took advantage of a drop in mortgage rates in May to scoop up available inventory. Entry-level and lower-income buyers were especially eager to lock in a purchase in anticipation that lower rates will cause home prices to creep upwards again. It was only the second time this year that sales of existing homes increased month-over-month. New home sales, on the other hand, plummeted for the second month in a row.
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Get more eyes on your company’s blog today
Mashaal Ryan MarketingYou've got the website, logo, and blog designed for your company. Congrats! The more you update your website with top SEO keywords, the higher you show up in Google's search algorithm. Now comes the next step — you've written some articles or had freelancers write them for you, and you've posted them. You are waiting eagerly for those hits, comments, shares — but you aren't seeing them and it's been months. How can you get more eyes on your company's website and blog?
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Manufacturing slowdown sparks new political strategies
Michelle R. Matisons ManufacturingThe White House's official optimistic manufacturing narrative has been seriously disjointed from real-world production and employment issues in the very important and inherently political manufacturing sector. President Trump hung his hat on increased manufacturing jobs to get elected, but a persistent trade deficit haunts his administration — increasing by $100 billion under his watch. Now that this harsh reality can’t be ignored, we see some politicians initiating new strategies to address the slowdown.
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A net loss: Why focusing on Net Promoter Scores can hurt your business
Linda Popky MarketingNet Promoter Score (NPS) is a customer loyalty metric introduced in 2003. It scores customer loyalty based on a single question: "On a scale of 1-10, how likely is it that you would recommend our company/product/service to a friend or colleague?" Customers who respond with a 9 or 10 are considered Promoters. Anyone scoring below 6 is considered a Detractor; those who answer 7 or 8 are considered Passive. The NPS score is calculated by subtracting the percentage of customers who are Detractors from those who are Promoters. It's an interesting methodology. The problem is it isn't necessarily right much of the time.
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Don’t confuse perks with company culture
Terri Williams Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementWe've all heard of companies that offer fun and trendy perks like free food, pingpong tables, a gym, and a policy that lets workers bring their pets to work. Many organizations believe that incorporating these types of perks will create the right type of desirable workplace culture and result in uber-productive workers. But here's the problem. Perks and benefits aren’t the same as corporate culture and they don't necessarily incentivize employees.
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The best way to wrap up the board meeting
Robert C. Harris Association ManagementWe all like to hear, "We have completed our agenda, so I move that we adjourn the meeting," at the board table. Upon adjournment, the directors scatter. Volunteers dart out the door. But there are some techniques to improve the success of the meeting. Before adjournment, somebody should ask an easy question, "What’s next?" It gives the chair or executive director a chance to recap what was decided and the ensuing steps.
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