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Are you ready for these payroll changes in 2020?

Grace Ferguson Business Management, Services & Risk Management

As we embark upon 2020, numerous payroll changes await. Among them are FICA taxes, Form W-4, state taxes, employee benefits, minimum wage, overtime, paid sick leave, and the quadrennial leap year. For example, in 2020, employers and employees must each pay Social Security tax at 6.2%, up to the taxable wage base of $137,700 — increasing from $132,900 in 2019. Furthermore, at least 20 states are expected to undergo minimum wage hikes in 2020.

Should you take a new job in 2020?

Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Many of us have faced Monday mornings that inspire us to surf LinkedIn jobs on an incognito tab by Monday afternoon. At year-end, we often see an uptick in job searches, terminations and overall employment changes. For those facing the prospect (or dream) of a new job in 2020, here are a few questions to consider before making the move.

The stock market was supposed to crash. What happened?

Patrick Gleeson Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Perhaps the most basic truism about the stock market is that it's cyclical — first it goes up, then it comes back down, sometimes landing relatively softly and at other times with a loud crash, wiping out trillions of dollars of investor wealth. 2019 was the year one of the longest bull markets on record was supposed to come to an end — because "everyone said so." Instead, by Dec. 1, the market had gained well over 20%, or about twice its yearly average. How could so many knowledgeable market watchers have been so wrong?

Achieving the promise of reduce, reuse, recycle with chemical recycling

Kate Gaertner Waste Management & Environmental

There’s no consensus yet on whether chemical recycling is the silver bullet for the growing plastic pollution problem. What is clear, however, is that a solution needs to be found — and fast. Plastic and the use of plastic are not going away anytime soon. For the foreseeable future, companies will remain bound to plastics in their production cycles. This article will look at how industry can reduce the environmental impact of plastic, reuse material already circulating in the economic value stream, and create a circular recycling mechanism is at the heart and promise of chemical recycling.

Beware of chasing counterfeits

Anne Rose Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Have you ever wanted something so badly that you overlook any possible negatives and focus solely on the positives you perceive? It doesn’t matter if it’s a person, a job, a career choice, or even a food — the desire for that can consume you and impair your judgment. You elevate the benefits of that one thing and either overlook or blindly ignore any other qualifying attributes. I remember early in my professional life I really wanted to work for a particular company. I had gotten it in my head that that workplace was perfect for me. I did get hired, and it wasn’t long before the reality set in.

The skinny guide to office gift-giving

Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk Management

No one needs any more coffee mugs, motivational calendars, or Panera gift certificates. However, neutral, non-offensive, somewhat practical tokens are what office gift-giving is all about! Instead of stressing over whether to buy everyone the same thing or opt-out of exchanging gifts entirely, check out this skinny guide to office gift-giving. For example, when buying gifts for co-workers, one of the best things to do is pick a price and a theme.

One more time: Why we hate performance evaluations

Hank Boyer Business Management, Services & Risk Management

They are the subject of jokes, disliked by employees and employers alike, deemed "untrustworthy," and yet they continue to be a staple for how people are managed. As I work with employers and employees across North America, I hear horror story after horror story about how much people dislike the annual ritual of performance evaluations. Here are my unofficial top 10 reasons why people loathe performance appraisals and what must be fixed to make them effective.

Infographic: The history of headphones and their productivity benefits

Brian Wallace Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Headphones have come a long way since the electrophone was invented in Britain in 1895, allowing subscribers to listen to live musical performances over phone lines. Today, Americans typically spend more than 32 hours weekly listening to music, almost equivalent to a full-time job. Seventy-eight percent of people say music improves their productivity at work, and 46% of people wear headphones at work to avoid conversation. This infographic outlines the history of headphones and explains the productivity benefits of using headphones at work.

New year, new opportunities for improvement

Robert C. Harris Association Management

As the 2010s end, we now face opportunities associated with transitioning to a new decade. This is a time to reflect on the past and plan for the future. Tawni Phelan, CAE, CMP, executive director of the Oklahoma Society of Association Executives, offers a positive outlook, "2020 is a new year and decade. Seize the opportunity to make the past a resource and the future a world of possibilities." Most association staffs are busy putting out fires, answering questions and meeting deadlines. Make time to discuss with staff or officers how to make enhancements in the organization.

The office holiday party plus-one mystery

Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Holiday parties can range from black tie to alcohol-infused harbor cruises. From low-key shindigs to high-brow extravaganzas, holiday parties can be as fun as they are challenging. While it may seem like a great time, parties can be fraught with awkward decisions, especially when it comes to who is attending. Here are a few tips for handling the plus-one on the invite.

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