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Report: Was there enough oversight for federal virus aid?
Seth Sandronsky Civil & GovernmentA new report on recipients of federal pandemic aid from the CARES Act asks if there was adequate congressional oversight before tax dollars went out the door as the economy closed to slow the spread of COVID-19 in March. "The revelation that tens of thousands of CARES Act recipients have records of misconduct — including some cases of a criminal nature — raises the question of whether the eligibility criteria for the grant and loan programs were strict enough," according to Philip Mattera, research director at Good Jobs First, a Washington, D.C.-based watchdog group.
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Retailer survival: 4 actions to take ASAP
Gail Short RetailThe coronavirus pandemic forced governments around the United States and abroad to temporarily close down their economies to contain the virus, resulting in jobs losses and disruptions to global supply chains. Because of the pandemic, many U.S. retailers had to shut down their brick-and-mortar stores temporarily while other stores that sold products deemed as "essential" remained open. Since reopening, some retailers have struggled financially. Some even filed for bankruptcy this year. But others saw their sales soar.
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5 key factors in e-commerce to adapt your digital marketing strategy to…
Lisa Mulcahy MarketingThroughout the COVID-19 pandemic, your marketing strategies for your brand have likely boiled down to two essential goals: stay alive and be profitable. Now it's time to start shifting the nuance of your approach a bit. In order to thrive and increase your brand's profits as your customers accept their "new normal," you need to read some tea leaves. Specifically, you need to understand how to navigate five crucial e-commerce conditions that will determine how well your messaging reaches your audience.
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Can the RESTAURANTS Act save the industry?
Bambi Majumdar Food & BeverageThe restaurant industry desperately needs help. Its millions of employees are looking at the RESTAURANTS Act to help them get through the coronavirus pandemic’s economic devastation. Locally owned restaurants across America have joined forces with the Independent Restaurant Coalition (IRC) to lobby for Congress' support on this legislation.
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US payrolls add 1.4 million jobs; unemployment rate drops to 8.4%
Seth Sandronsky Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementEmployers added 1.4 million nonfarm new hires in August, down from the creation of 1.8 million jobs in July, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. August’s rate of unemployment fell to 8.4% from July’s 10.2%. Driving such improvements were economic reopening and Census 2020 hiring. The number of unemployed workers on temporary layoff dropped to 6.2 million in August compared with July’s 9.2 million, according to the BLS.
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10 people you’ll meet during your next job search
Hank Boyer Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementIt is 2:12 p.m. on a Tuesday when your cellphone rings. Looking at caller ID, you see that it is the name of a company you applied to a few weeks back. Arrangements are made to speak in about a week, and now your mind turns to what lies ahead. You need to become an expert on this company… and on the 10 people you will meet during and preparing for your upcoming appointment.
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New Economic Policy Institute report looks at the effects of COVID-19 on…
Seth Sandronsky Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementCOVID-19 has revealed the economic and health crises facing Latinx workers. The stark details are in a new report from the Economic Policy Institute in Washington, D.C. According to the report authors, the distress of Latinx workers exceeds that of their white counterparts. In the 35-44 age group, for example, Latinx workers are nearly nine times as likely to die from COVID-19 as whites are.
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Study: Researchers search for better ways to nix inventory errors
Gail Short RetailYou log onto your favorite retailer's app to look for that must-have pair of sneakers you want to buy. The shopping site says shoes are in stock. But when you arrive at the store, an empty shelf says otherwise. Inventory errors like this frustrate customers and can eventually lead to dwindling customer loyalty and lost sales, says Rafay Ishfaq, Ph.D., the W. Allen Reed associate professor of supply chain management at Auburn University's Harbert College of Business.
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How to review — and improve — your brand’s social commerce metrics…
Lisa Mulcahy MarketingAs a digital marketer, you know all too well that communicating your brand strength during this ongoing pandemic is rife with challenges. Yet, there are still ways to make progress during this time and boost the bottom line. A key move to make now, and on a regular basis as the COVID-19 crisis continues, is to take a thorough measurement of your social commerce metrics.
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Fruit and veggie powders gain traction for consumers, companies
Amanda Ghosh Food & BeverageA diet rich in fruits and vegetables is one of the best ways to stay out of the doctor's office. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends that adults consume approximately five fruits and vegetables per day. In reality, the average adult eats about half the recommended amount. However, the tide is turning. Rising interest in optimal health is driving demand for convenient and nutritious ways to close the gap on 5-A-Day, and companies are taking note.
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