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Amazon scraps plans for HQ2 in New York City

Michelle R. Matisons Civil & Government

Amazon, which reported $11.2 billion in profits last year while paying no federal taxes, pretty much does what it wants, doesn't it? Well, not quite. In November, when the company announced its expansion plans, known as HQ2, to include Long Island City in Queens, residents, community activists, and those taking on Amazon immediately mobilized opposition. In the end, local character and vehement opposition to corporate welfare won. Amazon announced last week that it was no longer considering New York City as the location for its grand headquarters expansion.

What every leader needs to know about goal setting

Roberta Matuson Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Have you ever had a goal that you thought was unattainable? How’d you feel? Demoralized is the word that comes to mind. Yet companies continue to set what they call "stretch goals" thinking that if they set the target slightly out of the reach of an employee, employees will miraculously muster up the energy to hit these targets. This sort of thinking is entirely wrong. If you’re like most people, you look at a task that seems like a stretch and think, "I stand a better chance of reaching the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro than I do scaling this goal. Why bust my butt on something I know is out of my reach?"

Do candidates really accept job offers based on an employer’s brand…

Terri Williams Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Companies often search a job applicant's background before deciding to extend a job offer. A less than favorable background has caused many employers to shy away from an applicant. However, the results of a reputation management study by MRINetwork reveal that job candidates are also checking an employer's background. According to the study, 59 percent of job candidates believe that an employer's brand strength is either important or very important. Compensation and opportunities for advancement are seen as positive factors influencing the employer's brand.

Study: How to drive more sales on Instagram

Emma Fitzpatrick Marketing

Eighty-three percent of people are looking to discover new products or services on Instagram. But that's just the start of the buying process. A nearly equal number of people (80 percent) use Instagram to research products and decide if they're going to buy them. The only question: Are you delivering the right content to help them make those decisions? Doing so could be the difference between increasing sales and exposure or just "getting the word out" about your business. Read on to see if you provide the information people want before purchasing on Instagram.

Do college career centers really help students find jobs after graduation?

Julie Anne Wells Education

From the minute the last cap hits the ground at graduation, the pressure is on for college students who aren't on the grad school track to become full-time employees. But some of them are finding their job hunt a little bit easier than others. The question is: are colleges offering enough support to help them succeed in the professional world? For many American students, the hefty price tag of college tuition is an investment in a better future. Yet, according to the McGraw-Hill Education's Future Workforce Survey, only 4 in 10 college students feel "very" or "extremely" prepared for their careers.

Getting ready for and managing an on-site visit by OSHA

D. Albert Brannen Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Employers subject to an on-site inspection by OSHA or one of the state agencies that regulate workplace safety and health should take preventive steps to prepare for such an inspection and have a plan for handling it and any follow-up that may be necessary. This article outlines best practices for getting ready for and managing such an inspection.

Don’t let wrong assumptions ruin your business

Simma Lieberman Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Everyone has some kind of bias. Our biases are based on how and where we were raised, what we heard growing up, and images and depictions of different groups in the media. I've spoken countless times on how to prevent or break through conscious and unconscious bias. Too many people still believe we can't do anything about them, but we can. Once we become aware of our biases, the next step is to reframe our internal messages and look at people and situations in different ways.

Will someone leave the light on for us?

Linda Popky Facilities & Grounds

PG&E, the largest utility in California, recently announced its CEO would be resigning as the company declares bankruptcy. The utility has been beset with liability claims from wildfires started or fed by defective or malfunctioning electrical equipment. PG&E is being held responsible for 17 major fires in 2017, and likely is at fault for at least part of the Camp Fire that killed nearly 90 people in Paradise, California, last fall. The current situation presents a conundrum for California utility regulators and legislators.

Avoid these tricky but common nonexempt traps

Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Can't we just make everyone exempt? It would be so much easier! Employers would not have to worry about overtime budgeting or the details of whether their employee is on or off the clock when they make a request. And most employees would happily trade in their time card for a set salary, schedule flexibility and just the ability to be considered exempt. It seems everyone wins. However, the Federal Labor Standards Act is pretty clear on what type of position can be exempted from overtime rules and many of us our pushing those guidelines to their limits. Here are a few common traps and tips for how to avoid — or rectify — them.

5 ways to increase employee retention

Roberta Matuson Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Are people leaving your organization faster than you can fill jobs? If so, you're not alone. But that doesn’t mean it's OK! Steady, unwanted employee turnover leaves you in a constant state of recruiting, encouraging those who've stuck around to remain, plus training and re-training. Not to mention the exorbitant cost of employee turnover. A recently published report by Tinypulse pored over data collected from more than 25,000 employees around the world and found five main reasons why employees were flying the coop. Here are five key takeaways from the report.

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