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3 takeaways from the recent Business Roundtable statement
Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementWhy should small businesses care about the recent statement from the Business Roundtable? After all, the lobbying group represents some of the largest and most powerful companies in America and thus is not necessarily representative of the thoughts, feelings and challenges of our country's smaller organizations. However, before moving on to the next headline, business and HR leaders should consider these three takeaways.
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HHS’ fight for drug pricing transparency continues amid unmitigated…
Scott E. Rupp PharmaceuticalThe Department of Health and Human Services recently filed an appeal in hopes of overturning a court decision from June that halted a rule to force drugmakers to list the prices of the drugs they advertise on television. HHS unveiled its plan to require listing the drug prices in direct-to-consumer TV ads last October and finalized the rule in May. The idea meant that pharmaceutical companies would have to include the wholesale acquisition price for a drug in their television ads if the drug cost exceeded $35 for a one-month supply.
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Safety issues and trackability in personal care product packaging
Michelle Pudlo RetailThere are already certain concerns we have about quality when purchasing personal care products, but there are also several safety concerns pertaining to the manufacturing and packaging of these products. Personal care products may be referred to as "cosmetics" by law, but they consist of much more than fragrance and makeup products. Cosmetics can refer to everything from body wash and shampoo to toothpaste and skin lotions. While millions of consumers use personal care products on a daily basis, there are certain safety measures that they often lack that put consumers at risk.
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Can you recession-proof your job?
Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementWhether you believe that Big Macs or RV sales predict recessions, it seems at least that the continued talk of a recession is certainly on the horizon. Yet, with more of us gainfully employed and the job market so seeker-friendly, should we care? Yes; just like how it is easier to find a job when we already have one, it is easier to plan for a recession when we are not in one. Here are a few things to consider when trying to recession-proof your job.
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Could 4-day weeks catch on in schools?
Brian Stack EducationImagine having the option to schedule your school weeks as four 10-hour days instead of five eight-hour days. Earlier this summer, We Are Teachers blogger Elizabeth Mulvahill reported that 25 states are currently testing four-day school weeks. What started as a logistical solution for rural school districts is now gaining popularity in both suburban and urban areas. According to Mulvahill, "Research by the National Conference of State Legislatures estimates 560 school districts...have at least one school with a four-day schedule. Leading the charge are Colorado (55%), New Mexico (43%), Idaho (38%), and Oregon (32%)."
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Legal fights come to factory farms as grassroots organizations push back
Scott E. Rupp Food & BeverageFood & Water Watch, an organization that focuses on creating grassroots movements to protect environmental resources, began legal proceedings against Tyson Foods this summer, claiming that the company focuses on environmental stewardship as a business philosophy. The organization says these claims are counter to how Tyson actually treats the land and water. Additionally, several conservation groups sued the Environmental Protection Agency in July for "overstepping its authority in exempting factory farms from pollution-reporting requirements essential to public safety, environmental health and animal welfare."
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Report: CEO pay increases 1,000% over past 40 years
Seth Sandronsky Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementWhat can small businesses make of booming CEO pay? First, we look at the numbers. Lawrence Mishel and Julia Wolfe of the Washington, D.C.-based Economic Policy Institute dove deep into the data on compensation trends in the U.S. over the past 40 years. What they found is that those at the commanding heights of the economy are enjoying larger slices of the pie, unlike everybody else.
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Exploring common — and uncommon — aspects of the gun control debate
Michelle R. Matisons Civil & GovernmentThe Parkland, Florida, school shooting in early 2018 incident politicized gun control in a new way, and recently, mass shootings in Dayton, Ohio, and El Paso, Texas, kick-started the conversation yet again. Many people talk about their desire for stronger gun regulations, especially after mass shootings, but there is little to show from these discussions. Rumors are circulating that a gun control proposal will be available from the White House next month. Reform activists aren't waiting. But this is not such an easy issue, either.
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Top senator: Rural health systems must be allowed to evolve, survive through…
Scott E. Rupp Healthcare AdministrationTelehealth is getting some additional mainstream backing again in a significant way as one of Washington, D.C.'s leading healthcare voices continues to place his support behind it — Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa. The reason for his doing so is because of the weakening of the rural healthcare community. These rural health systems face continual financial pressure, and many of them are facing closure. Thus, telehealth can help solve some of the many challenges confronting rural communities in maintaining access to care, Grassley says.
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3 steps to new employee success
Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementThe honeymoon period for new employees provides a prime time to set the stage for unlimited success. While some employers unfortunately also call this the introductory period and try to use it as an evaluation window within which to weed out new hires, we should look at it as a litmus test for our own success and a chance to invest in the success of an employee. Employees come in ready to make an impact, optimistic about the opportunity and eager to learn. Here are three steps to take to fan that flame of enthusiasm into a sustainable fire.
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