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New poll shines light on how small businesses classify new hires
Seth Sandronsky Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementLarge employers such as Uber have made headlines by using drivers laboring as freelancers in the "gig economy." Uber and other companies pay contractors and freelancers less in wages and benefits versus traditional employees. But does this math of the U.S. labor market automatically rule hiring decisions of small business owners? No, according to a recent poll by Manta, an online resource for small enterprises, which surveyed 2,216 owners of such firms to find out.
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Taking a step back from the Texas hog poison debate
John McAdams Recreation & LeisureNow that the dust has started to settle from the monthslong fight over Kaput, it’s worth taking a step back and examining where we stand with the feral hog problem in the Lone Star State. After all, the hog population did not go away or even slow in its growth while we debated the pros and cons of using poison as a hog-control mechanism. In many respects, we’re pretty close to where we started when Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller approved the warfarin-based poison commercially known as Kaput back in late February.
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Surround yourself with motivated, knowledgeable people to improve opportunities
Frank R. Myers Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityI recently had the privilege to be invited to participate in a military exercise as a role player/subject material expert. I was reluctant at first, but with encouragement from my wife and siblings, I decided to give it a try. My invitation came from a FEMA and U.S. Army Reserve team program director that I had worked with as a logistics specialist in the early 1990s. He had contacted several other retired members to create a selective group.
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What to do instead of making accreditation reports publicly available
Christina Thielst Healthcare AdministrationAccrediting organizations (AO) like the Joint Commission evaluate hospitals against established standards of care upon invitation and payment for services. State licensing groups and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) inspect hospitals for compliance with state regulations and Medicare's Conditions of Participation. There is a bit of duplication and overlap between the two types of surveys, and perhaps this led to CMS' decision to allow hospitals accredited by a CMS-approved accreditation program to substitute accreditation under that program for survey by the State Survey Agency.
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Emerging technologies in law enforcement
Bambi Majumdar Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityThe use of new technologies is imperative if the police are going to stay a step ahead of criminals. Along with advanced software, hardware and communications networks, enforcement and investigative tools are becoming increasingly mobile-centric. A quick look at the emerging technologies that are trending in this segment will help us understand what law enforcement agencies are looking for.
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Fundamentals of good governance
Robert C. Harris Association Management"Welcome to the leadership team." The purpose of the board is to govern. To familiarize you with governance, it has been dissected here into five high-level areas. Board discussions should be visionary and directors are considered as thought leaders, or people whose views are taken to be authoritative and influential based on global and environmental perspectives. It is not about personal gain, but rather advancing the statement of purpose to benefit our community.
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Should your office manager be exempt?
Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementDetermining whether a position meets the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for overtime exemption is fairly straightforward for most positions. However, executive assistants and office mangers — roles that so many leaders rely so heavily on — are often classified as exempt from overtime by the organization, but considered eligible for overtime by the federal government. Here is the good news and bad news about whether that office manager is really exempt.
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The importance of building a trusting school environment
Mark S. Miller EducationTrust is such a small word, yet so complicated. The word trust has only five letters, but has a multitude of interpretations. Throughout one’s professional and personal careers, many will be asked to "trust" or believe. Some will do so without hesitation; others will be apprehensive. Why is there such a wide response to such a small word?
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Would tax credits for organ donation violate federal law?
Chelsea Adams Medical & Allied HealthcareNew Jersey is the first state in the U.S. considering "no strings attached" tax credits for organ and blood donors.
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Insurer exits leave holes in the marketplace as uncertainty spreads
Scott E. Rupp Healthcare AdministrationAnthem health insurance plans will not be serving Ohio residents through the Affordable Care Act in 2018, the company recently announced. As a result, 10,500 Ohioans will lose their plans. According to reports, residents in 20 mostly rural counties will be without an option for buying individual coverage on the exchange unless another insurer decides to offer plans there in the coming months. The news might be tough to take for citizens in these rural areas, which already traditionally lack proper access to care.
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