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A new paradigm for older workers

Michael J. Berens Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Results of a recent Gallup study show that large numbers of baby boomers plan to continue working well past the current average retirement age of 61 and even the traditional retirement age of 65. This is both good news and bad news for organizational leaders: good because older workers are valuable employees, bad because many organizations don't know what to do with older workers as they seek to increase opportunities for talented younger employees.

Corporate asset protection: Shielding your business from lawsuits, threats…

David B. Mandell and Jason M. O'Dell Business Management, Services & Risk Management

As we discussed in Part I of this article, in attempting to protect an ongoing business against lawsuits and potential creditor threats, most businesses leave much to be desired. They may rely too heavily on insurance, have suboptimal corporate structures in place and even unknowingly miss out on significant tax advantages.

Your 2014 guide to financial risk in the construction industry

Scott Wolfe Jr. Construction & Building Materials

At the start of 2013, many construction industry economists predicted a "rebound" for the industry. While construction spending grew during the calendar year overall, it wasn't quite the rebound originally anticipated. We're now turning the page to 2014, and the industry is excited about lots of positive economic indicators. Are we really on the cusp of a strong market rebound?

Who comes 1st? Customers or employees?

Mel Kleiman Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Who comes first, the customer or the employee? Some argue that running a business is pointless without customers and that making the customer happy comes first. One expert believes that having customers is pointless unless you have employees who will do their utmost every time to create a positive experience for your customers, so making your employees happy comes first.

Net neutrality ruling is a net loss for many businesses

Jessica Taylor Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Remember back when there was no such thing as high-speed Internet? The only option you had was dial-up service and had to listen to that pesky dial tone for a several minutes before being able to access what you really wanted. Well, you might be going back to the slow speed you once despised.

Best practices are not the holy grail

C. Fredrick Crum Business Management, Services & Risk Management

In my travels I have heard many leadership teams tout with great pride that they are using best practices. So when I say, "You are using common practices," they always get a strange and puzzled look on their face. How can you dominate or lead in your market by implementing the same practices and solutions everyone else has adopted as best practices? The answer: you don't.

Don’t be an email jerk

Brie Ragland Communications

In my line of work, emailing is more common than actually speaking to another person. No, seriously. If you've actually spoken to me while conducting business, consider yourself a rarity. I can't tell you how many emails I send and receive on any given day. It's completely second nature to me at this point. With that in mind, I have to make a conscious effort to always seem cordial and accommodating in my written communications.

Why company culture is so important

Erica Cohen Healthcare Administration

Unless you've spent the last decade or so living under a rock, you've definitely heard the phrase "company culture" being bandied about. And while it's become the center of attention in many discussions about how to build a successful company, I have to wonder if everyone who talks about company culture actually understands what it means and how to create and maintain an authentic one. Let's consider the definition of company or organizational culture and why it matters.

Be careful when using unpaid interns

D. Albert Brannen Business Management, Services & Risk Management

The federal Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has become much more aggressive in identifying and seeking damages against employers who fail to pay interns for the work they perform.

How to mitigate risks in your supply chain

Sasha Viasasha Distribution & Warehousing

If there were no risks, there would be no rewards. Yet customers do not pay for explanations. They demand a steady supply of goods no matter what your individual risks are. Although risk is just part of the equation when it comes to logistics, successful companies are able to minimize risks by planning for the unexpected. From weather to world events, there is a great deal of volatility at every step along a complex supply chain. Here is a breakdown of how to identify those risks before they arise, how to assess their impact and ultimately how to overcome them.

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