The risks of out-of-state liability when doing business over the Internet
You run an Illinois-based business that sells products to customers in your retail stores in the state and online through your website. Although your company has no physical presence outside of Illinois, one of your online customers recently filed a consumer fraud action in Alaska against your business. Do you need to expend the time […]
How your employees can become better health care consumers
Most employers announce annual enrollment for health care benefit plans, give employees two weeks to decide which plan to enroll in, and then expect them to understand how the program works for the balance of the year, says Robert J. Dorsey, Vice President of Consulting at Benefitdecisions, Inc. Open enrollment is no longer just an […]
What your business needs to stay on top of changes in health care reform
Is the Affordable Care Act (ACA) working? That may depend on your political point of view, but based strictly on the numbers, it appears to be a success. About 8 million people have signed up for private insurance in the Health Insurance Marketplace thus far and as of February, another 3 million were enrolled with Medi-Cal, […]
Why today’s workforce needs liberal arts educated critical thinkers
Critical thinking is a major component of business for innovation, product services, manufacturing processes, business models and more, which all create value for customers. As a matter of fact, in a survey conducted by the Association of American Colleges and Universities, nearly all employer respondents said a demonstrated capacity for thinking critically is more important […]
How to consider what you’ll leave behind with a family-owned business
When you run a family business, you must make sure you’re considering the legacy you’ll leave behind for your children. That’s something Betty Uribe, Ed.D., Executive Vice President at California Bank & Trust, has firsthand experience with. She inherited a South American transportation business from her father, which she ran for several years from California […]
Sue Parks: Why you owe it to your team to help them be healthier
Are your employees on drugs? The answer: half of them are. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 50 percent of Americans use one or more prescription drugs. One out of 10 Americans uses five or more. The CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics Data Brief says cholesterol and pain medications are popular […]
Ronald Burr: Why the ability to adapt as your needs change can have a big impact on your culture
Knowing how to recruit the best talent is one mark of a good CEO, but a truly great leader will also understand how to shift staffing gears to accommodate company growth. As your company grows and evolves, staffing does, too. The talent you may require and attract when building a bootstrapped startup differs from that […]
Terry Heller: Why you bring your game face every day if you expect employees to do the same
Employees typically connect with your customers more often than ownership or upper management. But the reality is that ownership and upper management needs to have a close relationship with every employee at the company so that everyone shares the same vision, enthusiasm and passion for your product. When everybody is excited about the company they […]
Jay Colker: Take the time to learn what makes people tick and increase your odds of making a good hire
Substantial literature has been presented on the importance of alignment around leadership, strategy, structure, processes, systems, values, culture, people and skills. What leaders may often miss are the nuances involved with alignment, especially around people practices. Individuals come to work with a set of core beliefs and values about self and others. Organizations have expectations, […]
Steve J. Bernas: Why it's critical to vet anyone you pay to provide a service to your business
With the spring season finally here and quickly moving into summer, businesses just like homeowners are beginning to focus on improvements both inside and outside their facilities. And businesses are every bit as susceptible to building contractor scams as homeowners. While being the victim of a scam is damaging to anyone, it is especially true […]