Resources

Seattle recently adopted the nation’s highest minimum wage, raising an employee’s pay to $15 an hour. This represents a 60-percent increase from $9.25 and more than double the national average. Hold on – before anyone packs their bags to head to the Emerald City, finish reading.

As baby boomers reach retirement and generations X and Y tweet their way into the workforce, manufacturers face a shortage of skilled workers. No surprise there. Now, if only a small consensus of manufacturers were affected, a simple fix would get the job done: a little less social media and a lot more elbow grease. Unfortunately, the problem is more than hashtag-deep. (#FirstWorldProblems)

When HR and financial executives are in sync then operations run more smoothly and there is opportunity to advance the bottom line. CFOs are concerned with cost and HR handles a companies’ biggest budget item… its people, so doesn’t it make sense that these two work hand-in-hand? Let’s face it; we’re all in this together. But how do you foster this type of relationship? Where do you begin?

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has already or will drastically impact employers with 50 or more full-time employees; however, the IRS announced it will be expanding incentives – in the form of a tax credit – to small employers who offer insurance through the exchange to its employees.

If you are considering owning your own business or franchise, then listen closely. Today, the oldest baby boomers are well into their 60’s and according to “The History Channel” about one in five Americans will be older than 65 by 2030. Today there are about 78 million American baby boomers and as the oldest of them hits retirement age many will have additional medical needs. People age 65 and older make up 12 percent of the population but they account for 38 percent of all Emergency Medical Service (EMS) trips and 90 percent of nursing home use. Here’s another staggering statistic; 60 percent of baby boomers have been diagnosed with at least one chronic medical condition.

Are your employees struggling to stay motivated? Are they longing to be outside, on the beach? Are they lacking in engagement and productivity because the only thing on their mind is the warm summer breeze? If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, chances are your employees are experiencing the Summer Time Blues.

“Wage theft” was coined by the Interfaith Worker Justice, a network of people advocating for improved wages, benefits and conditions of workers. It is an epidemic sweeping across industries, regions and firms of all sizes. Wages should warrant the work put in on the job, and yet many employees are finding out that their pay is not so fair after all.

The harsh reality is you may pay more in fees than what is in your retirement! This is the unfortunate reality many are facing, as the Department of Labor estimates 77 percent of 401k plans are out of compliance. To be deemed “qualified,” a 401k plan must satisfy the requirements listed under the Internal Revenue Code Section 401(a). If a plan fails to meet these requirements, then the plan is deemed “disqualified” and favorable tax benefits may be lost.

Power can be transformative and yet destructive depending on how it is handled. Take Adolf Hitler for example, he used power to control and abuse the lives of innocent human beings – not the type of power you want to see. Then there’s Abraham Lincoln who used his power to bring integrity, respect and honor back to the lives of many who were living as slaves - an honorable achievement.

How much power can one sign hold? The answer: #insurmountable. The hashtag has become a revolutionary icon in businesses worldwide. From reporting purposes and gaining followers, to finding out who is talking about your company or what is popular within your industry, this sign — heretofore known as the pound sign on your phone or an empty tic-tac-toe grid waiting to be played — is arguably the Internet’s most popular icon.

On the eve of Independence Day, I want to take a moment to look at a unique comparison between our country’s founding fathers and the people who have helped create jobs for you and me: the American entrepreneur. Although separated by time, the two have something in common in the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The federal government’s controversial legislation has our founding principles and entrepreneurial spirit on the proverbial pins and needles.

A simple smile, an act of gratitude and supporting others all go a long way in the workplace. In fact, these attributes help to build an atmosphere of positivity. The human mind is the most powerful tool in the world; within this device lives an arena of positive and negative thoughts battling for control of your psyche. Each mindset is contagious, so which would you rather have ruling your office? My bet is on positivity, because with it, your team has more potential to accomplish its goals, develop resiliency and improve psychological prosperity.