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Fair trade? China-US tariff tensions rise

Seth Sandronsky Civil & Government

Take the world's two biggest economies. Then, increase trade tariffs, or taxes, as a policy to solve disputes. President Trump said on Sept. 17 that tariffs on $267 billion of China’s imports to the U.S., its top buyer, will begin on Sept. 24 (10 percent) and rise in 2019 (25 percent) if Chinese concessions to Washington are not met. In response, officials in China have announced retaliatory tariffs of $60 billion on U.S. imports. Wilbur Ross, the commerce secretary, downplayed the economic impacts of the U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods to American businesses and consumers.

How to improve your organization’s telecommuting policies

Lisa Mulcahy Business Management, Services & Risk Management

For many employees, there's no greater perk than working from home. Workers appreciate the opportunity as well: a University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign study found that remote workers often go above and beyond what's expected of them, and are "good citizens" in an organization — positive, cooperative and friendly to their peers. As a manager, it's helpful to re-examine your telecommuting philosophy from time to time for a few important reasons. You want to make sure your remote workers can always receive the info they need, feel fully engaged as part of your organization, and stay as productive as possible.

Sacrificing service on the altar of efficiency

Anne Rose Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Few companies like to see wasted effort, loss of productivity, and wasted resources. Efficiency is hailed as the end goal of every organization. But sometimes customer service is sacrificed in this quest for efficiency. Even small businesses use automated voicemails to route phone customers to the right department. Press 1 for store location and hours. Press 2 for new orders. Press 3 for existing orders. Press 4 for accounting. Sure, you haven’t wasted a real employee’s time to route that call, but in the meantime, you've possibly alienated a customer who just wants someone to give him a tracking number for his overdue order without it taking 15 minutes to get a live person who can look up the information.

Do active workstations benefit employees?

Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & Fixtures

Most of us engage in much less daily physical activity than our parents or grandparents did. Some individuals, such as office workers, students, educators and administrators, spend a great deal of the day seated, whether working, studying or in meetings. Over time, this can lead to serious health problems. Proponents of active workstations claim they promote increased physical activity throughout the day and improve wellness. Research, on the other hand, suggests the benefits can vary depending on the individual, the type of workstation and how it is used.

What to do when you don’t trust a colleague

Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk Management

If everyone was professional, we would not need HR. While that is not exactly true, it is true that employee relations issues can take a lot of time to address for both managers and HR teams. In many cases, neither managers nor HR have the bandwidth to help resolve issues of trust. The bottom line is trust is a tricky thing to prove or disprove. Here are a few actions to take when you do not trust a colleague.

8 qualities interviewers wish their candidates possessed

Hank Boyer Business Management, Services & Risk Management

An informal survey of HR professionals, hiring managers and recruiters identified eight attributes they most wished their candidates would prove in an interview. Truth be told, most employers hope that the first two or three candidates they see will all be A-players, eminently qualified, and hungry for the job. That way they can fill the opening with an A-player and move ahead with the next opening. With this in mind, here are the characteristics employers wish their candidates possessed or demonstrated during the interview.

Welcoming Gen Z into the workplace

Linchi Kwok Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Gen Z, also known as the iGen or post-millennials, has grown up. Born between 1996 and 2010, Gen Z makes up 32 percent of the world's population. They are young, they are energetic, and they are driven. They are now joining other generations in the workplace. As Gen Z is different from the previous generations, their expectations may or may not align with other generations, especially millennials. With what they want in mind, companies must adjust their recruitment strategies in attracting the top talents in Gen Z.

Changes ahead for facility managers as more is demanded of the workplace

Scott E. Rupp Facilities & Grounds

In the near future, major changes are coming to what workers will demand of their organizations and how they are able to interact with their work environments. These changes are being fueled by demographics, use of technology and social changes, which are shifting people's expectations of the workplace, a new report issued by real estate adviser CBRE says. The report, which identifies the major trends in facility management, says that people want to "choose where and when" they work.

How to best serve our male clients at the spa

Elizabeth Donat Retail

Let's face it, men probably make up the minority of the clients at your spa or medical spa. Unless you are running a facility that caters to this demographic exclusively, chances are you probably have about a 10 percent male clientele, at best. But just because these gentlemen clients comprise the minority doesn't mean that we should be unprepared to serve them well. After all, many men are extremely invested in their appearance and are seeking out professional-grade products and services in increasing numbers.

Why your business should embrace the Christmas creep

Emma Fitzpatrick Marketing

Now that summer’s over, it’s time to start dreaming of what the rest of the year holds. For most people, that means thinking about the holidays. After all, Christmas is only about 100 days away! However, some people simply can’t wait that long! More than 10 percent of internet shoppers surveyed by eMarketer said they start their holiday shopping before September. While it’s easy to write them off as enthusiasts, you may be surprised that nearly half of those shopping on the internet (40 percent) start purchasing before November.

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