ARTICLES

When a recession hits, it may be tempting to slash departments and costs seen as nonessential. Marketing comes to mind. So do research and development. After all, who knows if your R&D investments will ever pay off once they do make it to...

Employee stock ownership plans – ESOPs – are tax-advantaged employee benefit plans designed by Congress to allow the purchase of private company shares to encourage employee ownership. ESOPs work well for companies to encourage employee ownership...

Am I allowed to monitor my employees’ off-duty behavior and fire an employee because of it? Chances are that most managers have wondered about some form of this question. The behaviors might include drinking, smoking, working for a political party...

Manufacturers attempting to optimize investment and profit created the concept of lean manufacturing. Going beyond the definition of waste as excess or ruined materials, lean manufacturing evaluates process flow and the productivity of people and...

The main reason good product ideas fail is that they get stuck between conception and development, often in processes that inhibit breakthrough innovation, according to a new study by CGT magazine and Sopheon Corp. Nearly 60 percent of...

In December 2011, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued an informal statement of opinion that employers who require a high school diploma for a job, without clear business necessity, may be violating the Americans with Disabilities Act...

Shiftwork – defined as working either a night shift or rotating shifts – is hard on people. They usually don’t sleep as well, which can lead to a host of issues, including fatigue, impaired concentration and problem-solving ability, stress and mood...

The dollar rises and falls measured against other currencies, with some short-term volatility. But there is an overall trend. Apex can help when it comes to planning for the future of your business with a weak dollar. Reach out to our Business...

Paid sick leave is a double-edged sword. Some employees consider it like vacation – extra paid days off. Paid days off are one of the most costly employee benefits offered by companies. The employee is paid but did not work. Therefore, no revenue...

Who is to blame when workers’ comp insurance premiums spiral out of control because of fraud? It’s a hotly contested issue. There are compelling arguments made by those who believe employees or claimants are solely responsible, while documented...

Smokers cost businesses significantly more than nonsmokers for healthcare and disabilities claims, according to the Action on Smoking and Health group in Washington, D.C. Smokers also have higher absenteeism and lower productivity – the average...

One area of business that the federal government has stayed out of is lunch and other breaks. Companies are left to make their own policies in this area – unless a state or municipal law applies. So it is critical that companies know the local laws...