Expert Advice
Why Recession-Driven Job Cuts Were Long Overdue
By Ira Wolfe Tuesday Apr 6, 2010For almost two decade beginning with the "War for Talent" paper released by consulting firm McKinsey and Company, a shortage of skilled workers has been forecast. This crisis is by no means unexpected. Beginning in 2001 and accelerated by the Great Recession, job creation models were shattered. Outsourcing and automation became a fact-of-life for many organizations.
In New Health Law, Not all Small Businesses Treated Equally
By Bruce Phillips Tuesday Apr 6, 2010Until I looked into it, I didn't realize just how complex the new health care law really is — on both the cost and benefit sides. Yes, it will be both expensive and complex. Many small business owners will receive tax benefits from starting health plans; others will pay more for keeping existing plans, contrary to rhetoric. Here's a look at how small business owners will be impacted differently. (The chart below, courtesy of The Tax Foundation, sums up the major revenue sources for the bill).
3 Rules for IT Managers to Live by
By Kevin Beaver Tuesday Apr 6, 2010James Champy of Perot Systems coined one of my favorite IT-related quotes: “Many executives are insulated from reality and consequently don’t know what the hell is going on.” I still see this more than I ever imagined I would early on in my career and I'm sure you've witnessed and been subjected to it as well. Executives with their heads in the sand aside, here's a good video snippet of Mr. Champy talking about IT innovation. Two things he mentions really stood out:
IT Security Is All About Common Sense
By Kevin Beaver Monday Apr 5, 2010Best practices - everyone loves to use that term but most are hard-pressed to actually define what they mean. There's a good book, "Hard Facts," that small business leaders — especially those in IT - can benefit from in terms of using "best practices" to run their businesses. Its description on Amazon.com sums it up best:
Small Business Owners Ask, 'What Jobs Recovery?'
By Bruce Phillips Monday Apr 5, 2010Data showing that the economy generated 162,000 jobs in March had may pundits predicting that the long-awaited jobs recovery has begun. But try telling that to small business owners, the ones who historically lead the economy out of recession. Why might this time be different? Because the loss of both sales and confidence in many small business sectors over the last three years has created a different kind of environment — a longer downturn with losses of sales, confidence and permanent positions with benefits like health care.
Why Emotional Employees Are Good for Companies
By Jay Forte Monday Apr 5, 2010I speak and write regularly about firing up! and activating the passionate performance of employees. But to address this, I generally have to introduce the significant changes that have happened in our workplace requiring this change in thinking.
Jobs Report Affirms New Reality: Jobs Return but Unemployment Stays High
By Ira Wolfe Monday Apr 5, 2010For the unemployed, the road back to employment seems to be getting longer and longer. Worse, it seems to be filled with bumps that will never end.
Insider Threats to Your Small Business
By Kevin Beaver Friday Apr 2, 2010Even when an employee passes a background check and has good references, that doesn't mean he won't do bad things with your computer systems.
Video: Gray Ceiling Casts Shadow on Millennials
By Ira Wolfe Friday Apr 2, 2010The unemployment rate for young adults has skyrocketed to more than 16%. For teens (ages 16 to 19) the rate exceeds 25%. Slow job growth and delayed Baby Boomer retirement is erecting what I’ve called the “gray ceiling,” the inability of the next generation of employees (Generation X) to move up and the inability of the youngest generation to enter into their first career jobs. In addition, many Baby Boomers who retire from one job don’t stop working. They “pick up” entry-level jobs formerly reserved for young adults to keep busy or supplement their income.
Your Copier May Pose a Security Threat
By Kevin Beaver Friday Apr 2, 2010I just heard consumer advocate and fellow Atlantan, Clark Howard, talking about a recent story that WBZ TV in Boston did on a not-so new security threat, but one that's been getting more and more attention lately.