How employers and employees can use nonqualified deferred compensation

More midsize companies are seeking to do something extra for a select group of employees, usually executive-level staff. Nonqualified deferred compensation plans, which are not subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, have no discrimination restrictions, so employers can choose to whom they offer the plan. The plans also have no restrictions […]

Don D'Ambrosio: Why factoring is a practice that can help any business save money

Working capital. Every business needs it, but at what cost? One path to obtaining affordable working capital is through factoring, a simple and easy concept to understand. Factoring companies provide businesses with working capital by purchasing their client’s outstanding receivables. Typically, a factoring transaction is an arrangement between three parties (client, factor and vendor) all […]

Be Well: When the customer is always right — even in health care

No matter what your life’s background might be — professional, technical, service-oriented or otherwise — one thing we all share is the customer experience. We have all had the experience of buying something, whether it is an object, a service or something more subjective, like advice. One thing is for sure: With each experience, we […]

Mal Mixon: Learn how to harness the power of teamwork and create a people force

Being promoted to a management position does not make you a leader or guarantee success in your position. Managers and CEOs frequently fail and are replaced. To be successful, one must learn how to harness the power of teamwork — to create a people force that will not be denied. Imagine the following story: A […]

How having better data will lead to better decisions and results

Subtle adjustments to the claim adjudication process have led to managed care organizations (MCOs) being asked to start collecting expanded data on new injuries. “An employer’s MCO plays a key role in initiating claims,” says Lance Watkins, AVP, Client Services, CompManagement Health Systems. All injury reports are routed through MCOs to ensure that the required […]

Toolbox for Economic Growth: Leveraging our intellectual assets

“In Cleveland’s heyday … proximity to water or rail mattered a lot. Today, proximity to a university campus matters a lot.” Tim Ferguson of Forbes said that, not at a recent high-tech conference, but 15 years ago and in the context of manufacturing. What was true at the close of the last century is even […]

Mark Tager: Why employees never stop studying you for clues about your business

We live in an era of decreasing trust in many organizations and institutions. Ongoing Gallup polls document the erosion of trust that people have in leaders of government, religion, military, health care and business. While fostering trust is always important, it takes on greater significance when the environment becomes unpredictable. In a predictable environment, people […]