The American Genius | News for business & entrepreneurs in tech

Businesses trying to find a happy medium in hybrid work models

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Big changes are in the testing phase as far as the American workforce goes, and many of us are in for a long ride. While many companies are experiencing huge wins, like going forward with 4-day work weeks permanently, others are trying to figure out how many days to ask employees to come into the office.

Many business leaders are in a place of contemplation, as what they ultimately decide to do could either positively or negatively impact their workers. While some companies have gone fully remote forever and others require employees to work on-site, there’s a chunk that is going back to hybrid.

Many employers have decided on a hybrid solution as sort of a “happy medium,” but are getting more resistance than expected. Companies like Amazon and Starbucks recently announced new policies requiring workers to come in for a number of days a week, prompting backlash and protests.

Based on recent data, a lot of people prefer to work remotely, and having the choice stripped away because of “speculative observations” just doesn’t sit right with many. Over half of workers that could perform their jobs from home are now being asked to go into the office. In a study performed in NYC, the Partnership for New York City concluded that 82% of employers in Manhattan were either maintaining or adding on hybrid work policies in 2023.

Predictions are coming in, and based on many experts readings, the future is hybrid. It’s essential to know that hybrid works differently for every office, though. Many employers are looking at this as a “choose your own adventure” situation.

Because hybrid work looks so different for everyone, there’s no handbook that businesses can look at to determine how to go about this. We’re going to see a lot of trial and error and fluctuations in employee morale. With strict rules enforcing hybrid work, a lot of employees are back to feeling overwhelmed after many experienced a quick couple years of relief due to the remote work boom.

The worries of COVID are officially over for the majority of businesses. Let’s see how this plays out.

Setting up AI chat bots have never been easier with Algomo

Tech News

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May 13, 2024

Taylor Leddin, Staff Writer

Setting up AI chat bots have never been easier with Algomo

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Chat bots represent a necessary evil in the web commerce sphere: They may be a little buggy, and they’re definitely a pain to set up, but consumers respond to them and they take a few things off of your plate. Algomo, a generative AI tool, promises to address both of the aforementioned issues while requiring little to no input from you for the entire process.

Algomo has a major claim to fame right on the front page–a setup time of less than four minutes–though it also boasts statistics such as an 85 percent customer issue resolution rate and an average model accuracy of over 90 percent.

The premise is understandable: a chat bot that ostensibly requires no real setup or maintenance, has above-tolerable accuracy, and does all the things you’d feasibly want it to do. Algomo also claims to have quick responses, reducing customer wait times and thus increasing satisfaction. This core principle does seem to resolve a lot of the primary problems most people would realistically have regarding implementing a chat bot.

Additionally, should Algomo fail to answer or address adequately a consumer complaint or issue, it refers them to a real person as a matter of policy; however, the basic idea here is that the vast majority of customer requests are covered by the chat bot, freeing up time for your employees to focus on higher-order tasks.

Finally, Algomo supports multiple languages and an “omnichannel” approach that lets your response team connect with consumers via everything from the built-in Algomo inbox to Slack or external email services.

Algomo’s small team/startup plan runs $9 per month, with the Pro and Scale plans costing $49 and $499 per month, respectively. Each plan has a different threshold for the number of allowed conversations, language support, and other accommodations that theoretically adapt based on the size of your company.

If you’ve been holding off on incorporating a chat bot due to lack of time, resources, or know-how, Algomo seems to offer a strong option. It’s clear that AI-based responses are becoming the norm, and in an era of limited employee resources and remote work, having one less communication channel to monitor is a good thing.

5 ways to make your small business a bit more tech savvy

Opinion Editorials

Larry Alton, Columnist

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May 10, 2024

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5 ways to make your small business a bit more tech savvy

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Small businesses are notorious for stingy spending and tight budgets, and for good reason: As business owners navigate the cost of doing business, they must consider how they spend each and every penny.

This can make the concept of utilizing cutting-edge technology feel like a pipe dream. But it doesn’t have to be that way. There are many ways that enterprises of all sizes can incorporate technology into their business operations in the name of reducing costs, streamlining activity, and generally improving their companies.

Here are several accessible and affordable ways that small businesses can be more tech-savvy.

1. Improve Your Internet

It’s impossible to operate a modern business without the internet. Too many systems have become dependent on the need for an online connection.

Planning on becoming more tech-savvy in order to maintain an edge over the competition is wise. In order to do so, though, you need to ensure that your internet is up to the task.

A strong internet signal is a must. But you can also take things to the next level by getting a small business Wi-Fi solution like Plume WorkPass. This turns your router into a full-blown business intelligence platform. Along with a powerful signal that adapts to your internet needs, you also get a suite of other features, including analytics and enterprise-grade, AI-enhanced security.

By improving your internet connection, you can feed two birds with one scone. You can implement a new piece of innovative tech for your business and set the stage for other internet-needy tech to follow.

2. Address IT Early

Powerful, enhanced Wi-Fi is an excellent start. However, there are plenty of other ways that you can clear the path for a smooth entry of new tech into your company.

One of these is establishing dependable IT support. For larger companies, this involves setting up an IT department with multiple full-time salaried workers. This is a luxury that is far out of reach for most smaller companies.

Fortunately, there are other ways around your IT needs. For example, you can lean on part-time employees and freelancers to help you navigate new tech needs at a low cost.

In addition, look for tools that come with competent support from the manufacturers, update themselves, and ideally are cloud-based. That way you remove as much of the IT burden as possible from your operation.

3. Don’t Overlook Security and Analytics

Along with competent IT support and strong internet, you also want to consider security and analytics. If you’re using something like WorkPass, avant-garde cybersecurity and insightful data come right along with the deal.

If you choose to go another route, there are still many security options that you can turn to in order to keep your business safe. These can safeguard your individual devices and tools as well as your Wi-Fi as a whole.

Analytics are also important. They give you insight into countless areas of business. From marketing campaigns to time management, there are plenty of ways that analytics can impact your bottom line.

Most tech tools come with analytics built right into them these days. Your job as a small business owner is to figure out how to set up effective OKRs (objectives and key results) that utilize this information to better your company.

4. Streamline Finances

Finances are the life-blood of any business operation. They aren’t just the end goal in the form of profits and your bottom line. You also need to send and receive money throughout your company’s activities to keep things moving on a daily basis.

The good news is that there are plenty of ways to streamline your financial activity by using technology. For example, there are a plethora of cloud-based tech tools that can help you simplify your invoicing activity.

In addition, you can abridge payroll activity by using tech tools. Many of these aren’t just accessible to smaller companies. Some are specifically designed to meet the needs of entrepreneurs running startups.

You can tailor these to the needs of your business, and they can scale along with you as you grow. Best of all, they take a huge part of the headache out of managing payroll through things like automation and letting your employees have a bigger role in managing their pay.

5. Utilize Productivity Tools

Productivity tools are another simple-yet-effective way to use tech to take your small business to the next level. There are countless options that address numerous areas of productivity.

For instance, there are little ways you can implement tech for your team, such as encouraging them to use time-tracking software or a productivity app.

You can also implement tech tools in a larger, company-wide setting. Workflow platforms like Trello and Asana are popular ways to help keep your team’s projects, assignments, and deadlines in a single location. You can access these both on-site and remotely and offer a repository for files and documents that multiple members of your team might need.

There are many simple ways that small businesses can incorporate tech into their operation. From finances to productivity and beyond, small businesses have many areas that can benefit from innovative tech tools.

The important thing is that you set the stage first. Set up a strong Wi-Fi network, create IT support channels, and make sure you have a firm grasp on security and analytics. If you can do that, you’ll be able to embrace newer tech that can streamline your operation and ultimately boost your bottom line.

You have an idea for a product: Now what?

Business Entrepreneur

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May 9, 2024

Macie LaCau, Staff Writer

You have an idea for a product: Now what?

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So, you want to invent a new product?

Okay, so does everyone.

Oh, you actually have an idea? One that’s feasible?

In that case, let’s talk about the steps that must be taken when inventing said new product!

You’ve already pushed through a barrier most don’t make it through, and that’s coming up with something that is (theoretically) fresh, needed, and possible to make.

Now, you’re at the point where you may be asking: “What’s next?”

The first thing you need to do is know the product like the back of your hand. Being able to answer the following questions is crucial: What is the product’s most fundamental use? Who needs this? What problem, specifically, does it solve? How does the product work? How do you describe it to others?

Imagine you’re talking to someone completely outside of your industry. How would you make them understand it?

Master that and you’re on your way to the next step.

After developing — and developing a full understanding — the idea, you have to take it to the streets. Well, not literally, but having a person-on-the-street understanding of who needs the product is key. In other words, determine your target market.

Alas, it’s time for more questions

Who are your target customers? What generation are they part of that might determine their other buying trends? What do they do for work? Why should they purchase such a product? Furthermore, why should they use it? Are there competing products available? How are those creators appealing to the target market?

The next step makes the product more real: you must create a model. Digital sketches and wireframes are a good place to start.

Figure out the design and dimensions, and any other information needed to create a prototype (which can be done after creating a model).

Have a detailed model that will lend itself to a prototype.

Once you have a prototype, you can move onto the next step: testing. Give it a try yourself, have trusted friends and colleagues give the product a whirl and then ask them for honest feedback. Note-taking will be key in this stage.

Once you have a prototype that works the way you want it, the hard part sets in: gaining the funds.

This can be done in a variety of ways, such as applying for a business/invention loan, going through crowdfunding, securing a venture capitalist, or finding a company that finances investors.

Once you hit your financial goal, you can then hire a manufacturer for mass production. This will require extensive research, and it’s helpful to determine: expenses (ask for a full breakdown), quality (not only quality of their other products but also any quality assurance they offer), and location of the facility (domestic versus international will make the difference for not only financial reasons, but possible legal reasons as well).

The most important step throughout the process is perseverance (and patience). Imagining the finish line (and your future bank account) can help maintain a positive attitude throughout a stressful ordeal.

Why investors aren’t going green, despite calls for sustainability

Business News

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May 9, 2024

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Why investors aren’t going green, despite calls for sustainability

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Ever wonder what the challenge is with going green?

During the first half of this year, ESG investing was one of the most cited phrases in earnings calls among companies using environmental and social factors. Unfortunately, problems like the recession, stock markets tanking, and US midterm elections have put sustainability efforts on the back burner for many companies.

The rapid increase in ESG fund investing has now stopped completely, according to a Refinitiv analysis provided by CNN Business.

ESG funds in September saw their largest outflow of investor cash since the beginning of the recession in March 2020. Additionally, these ESG funds saw assets under management go above $8.5 trillion in 2021. Now, they pool at under $7 trillion.

All of the issues, combined with a rainy forecast as far as the economy goes, have put efforts toward going green at a halt. A not-so-appealing mix of problems makes it hard for businesses to stay ESG-friendly.

Have you ever thought about the term “greenwashing?”

It’s a term that US politicians and business leaders use to accuse companies of making themselves look more environmentally friendly than they really are. This creates a false promise to consumers that they’re actually making sustainability efforts to gain trust and business. Firms like DWS and Goldman Sachs have lately been accused of using the ESG label under false pretenses.

The ever-so-publicized Elon Musk even made claims of ESG being a scam on Twitter, referring to Tesla being removed from an S&P ESG index, which has a documented history of damaging the environment.

On top of that, a growing movement of the political right in the United States has begun, steering away from asset management firms that invest and vote with ESG values in mind, entirely. Elected officials in red states have voiced their distaste for the “values” they claim these funds promote, claiming that they’re not what they claim themselves to be.

The debate over how to regulate ESG funds is also adding to this confusing picture. Experts say standardizing ESG criteria will alleviate investor hesitation, but the current fight to do so is actually making things more challenging.

The hurdles facing ESG investing prove that addressing this issue is easier said than done, especially with the looming difficulties business owners are facing.

The exploding to do list might finally be the thing that keeps you focused

Tech News

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May 9, 2024

The exploding to do list might finally be the thing that keeps you focused

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I’m a to-do list guy. I can’t remember the last time I started a day without one; indeed, an average day for me entails several to-do lists written on anything from scraps of yellow legal pad paper to my phone’s built-in Reminders app. There’s only one problem: I rarely make it through one list, to say nothing of the numerous one-offs I create as the day wears on.

According to Huffington Post, nearly 90 percent of people who make to-do lists doom their bulleted entries to the same fate—and, while many point to daily interruptions as the culprit, it’s clear that a sheer lack of urgency is the problem for anyone regularly struggling to check that last box (or ten).

But what if your to-do list…exploded? That’s a question that Exploding To Do wants desperately to answer for you.

Explosive urgency is the idea behind the company’s titular app. Citing decision fatigue as a major contributor to unfinished business, Exploding To Do seeks to cut down on your long-term planning in favor of manageable, daily tasks—and, even then, only the important ones.

After all, you don’t have much time. At the end of the day, your to-do list “explodes”, and while you can relegate entries to future dates or review combusted days of the past, the current day’s events are over; through this somewhat dramatic approach, Exploding To Do hopes to foster your “selective focus” so that you can make the most out of your day—and maybe finish a to-do list along the way.

From a presentation standpoint, Exploding To Do offers a fairly minimal presentation—something akin to a pen-and-paper approach—but the company behind it confirms that users will be able to track data, access to-do lists of days past, and create a back-log of ideas and actions for use at any time without having to detract from the day’s work.

Decision fatigue is a beast, especially in an age of neon lights and 60-hour work weeks. It’s refreshing to see something minimal and task-oriented grace the market—even if that product promises to explode daily.

You can sign up for Exploding To Do’s wait list on their website.

FBI report: Scammers stole over $3.4B from seniors last year

Business Marketing

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May 8, 2024

FBI report: Scammers stole over $3.4B from seniors last year

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A new report from the FBI sheds light on the scope of scams in the United States, especially on seniors. According to the Elder Fraud Report 2023, the total losses in 2023 were $3,427,717,654 from 101,068 complainants over 60 years old. The average dollar loss per person was $33,915, but over 5,920 people lost more than $100K. The figures represent an 11% increase from 2022. Sadly, it’s also reported that these figures may only be the tip of the iceberg for two reasons. First, not all FBI reports include the age of the victim. Secondly, not all victims report fraud.

Most common frauds targeting seniors

Although romance scams made the top 5 types of scams, it certainly wasn’t the most common. That honor went to tech and customer support scams. Criminals pose as tech or customer representatives, usually from well-known companies. While many of these scams occur by phone, they can also be through pop-up windows, emails and even online ads.

Scammers post ads to get their website/phone number to show up for customer or tech support, hoping that someone will call the phone number. Personal data breaches, non-payment or non-delivery scams, and investment scams round out the top five scams. But seniors lost more money in investment scams, more than $1.2B, when only about $600M was lost in tech support scams.

Scams – protect yourself, your business and loved ones

Many types of scams have decreased since 2021. Romance scams reported in 2021 totaled 7,658, in 2023, 6,740. Identify theft in 2023 reported at 8,902, in 2023, that figure was only 3010. Lottery scams were down to 1,771 in 2023 versus 2,607 in 2021. The growth of investment and tech support scams grew, so the actual number of scams increased.

Protect yourself against scammers by not clicking on links in emails or texts. In fact, don’t click on Google ads when trying to find customer service numbers. Never pay cash or use gift cards to make payments. Make sure your family, especially seniors, know how to protect themselves against scams by only using legitimate sites and apps. Go through the legitimate company’s app or website to find phone numbers. Report scams to the FTC or the FBI (or both).

Sanitation company fined $649K for child labor violations

Business News

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May 8, 2024

Sanitation company fined $649K for child labor violations

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Almost 200 years ago, Charles Dickens laid the groundwork for societal reforms pertaining to child labor and poverty in “Oliver Twist.” While most civilized people would like to think we’ve come a long way, the United State’s Department of Labor (DOL) might beg to differ. From FY2022 to FY 2023, there’s been a huge jump in the number of young workers employed in violation of hazardous occupations.

Fayette Janitorial Service LLC, a Tennessee cleaning contractor based in Somerville, is one of the newest contributors to those figures. The DOL’s Wage and Hour Division found the company employed at least 24 children, some as young as 13 years old, at two different meat packing facilities to provide sanitation and cleaning during overnight shifts. Fayette has entered into a judgment with the Department of Labor to pay $649,304 for violating the child labor provisions of the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA).

Children exploited to clean hazardous equipment

In February, the DOL obtained a temporary restraining order against Fayette in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa to stop the company from illegally employing children. Fayette agreed to comply with this order at all of its workplaces spanning across more than 30 states. As the investigation continued, federal investigators found several violations. Children were assigned to clean dangerous equipment with corrosive cleaners. At Perdue Farms in Accomac, Virginia, one child suffered severe injuries. The FLSA bans children under age 18 from being employed to provide hazardous duties in meat and poultry processing operations.

Violations of the FSLA can be costly

In addition to monetary relief of almost $650K, the court-approved consent decree and judgment includes provisions requiring Fayette to hire a third-party consultant to comply with the FLSA child labor laws. The company will also be required to review their current policies and update as needed and to provide training at all facilities. Fayette’s compliance will be monitored for at least three years. Management personnel will need to be held accountable, with suspension or termination, for any future violations after the date of the consent judgment.

Child labor violations have seen a 14% increase from FY22 to FY23. Even worse, the increase is 88% since FY2019. Wage and Hour Midwest Regional Administrator Michael Lazzeri said, “Every employer has a legal and moral obligation to make certain they are not employing children in dangerous jobs.”

FMLA non-compliance costs this Arkansas restaurant over $11k

Business News

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May 8, 2024

FMLA non-compliance costs this Arkansas restaurant over $11k

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An Arkansas restaurant finds itself owing $11,706 in back wages to a former employee who was terminated after returning from family and medical leave. Mi Casita Mexican Restaurant Inc., operating as El Lorito, based in Fort Smith, did not offer the worker the same or equivalent position after she returned from using the Family and Medical Leave Act. Although the employer did offer the worker a position at another location in another town several miles away, the worker refused to report to the restaurant, so the restaurant fired her. Here’s what other employers should know about the FMLA and how it’s enforced.

El Lorito to pay lost wages and tips to terminated worker

The Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division determined that the operator of the restaurants violated the FMLA, which protects a worker’s job for qualified medical or family leave. The leave is unpaid, but the worker has the right to return to their job following the leave.

Wage and Hour District Director Hanz Grünauer in Little Rock, Arkansas said, “an employer’s compliance with the Family and Medical Leave Act is never optional.” El Lorito will pay $11,706 to the employee for the loss of 5 months of wages and tips that was lost while the worker tried to obtain another job. In addition, the restaurant will pay $204 in civil money penalties for violating federal law.

Know the law to protect your business

Employees should be allowed to exert their right to use the FMLA and other federal laws to take leave without having to fear losing their job. The FMLA was signed into law in February 1993, more than 30 years ago.

Employers should take note of the law, because the FMLA has many specifications about who is eligible and who isn’t. For example, to use FMLA, workers must have worked 1,250 in the previous 12 months. Businesses with less than 50 workers may not need to comply with the FMLA, but many states have enacted provisions that apply to smaller businesses. It’s important for all businesses to understand how FMLA applies to their workers.

‘Translate’ legal documents into plain language with new AI tool

Business Entrepreneur

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May 7, 2024

‘Translate’ legal documents into plain language with new AI tool

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Legalese is an inherently exclusive dialect that affects a disproportionately high population–almost all of us–despite being actively read by relatively few; those few often come with hefty price tags, leaving most beneficiaries of legally binding agreements or documents with the difficult choice between scraping together the cash for an attorney or rolling the dice. DetangleAI bridges those choices with a third one, albeit with an asterisk.

DetangleAI is an AI-powered tool that can interpret and rephrase legal documents–a process the creator affectionately refers to as “detangling”–using more common language in an effort to make them more understandable to an average consumer.

The tool works in a straightforward manner, allowing the user to select a document from a URL, an uploaded PDF, or copied-and-pasted text as the input. Once DetangleAI successfully interprets the document, it will take the user to a checkout page where they can pay based on the length and complexity of the document. DetangleAI notes that most “3-5 legal docs” cost around $25 to detangle.

Naturally, you should always have a legal representative look over any impactful documents, and DetangleAI is clearly not a substitute for legal advice or representation. AI-generated content is still a relatively new frontier, and it’s very possible that your detangled document could have some important stuff missing. However, this tool could be vital in democratizing legal documents for people who speak English as a second language or simply cannot afford an attorney.

DetangleAI also points this out, surmising that one would be better off using the service to “inform conversations with actual lawyers”–a noble goal in and of itself considering the potential for time-saving in an already very expensive meeting.

Secondarily, concerns about the privacy of one’s documents would be completely reasonable, and one might argue that no price is too great to pay for the preservation of one’s security. Thankfully, Detangle addresses these concerns right next to the tool itself.

“You’re obviously uploading sensitive documents here. We’re fully aware of that and take the security of those documents very seriously,” reads Detangle’s security disclaimer. “In addition to industry-standard encryption and security, all documents and their summarizations are automatically deleted 24 hours after upload.”

DetangleAI is available for use now. An array of example detangled documents are listed below the tool for prospective users to investigate prior to committing to the service.

The clamor for AI solutions spikes as developers rush to provide

Business News

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May 7, 2024

The clamor for AI solutions spikes as developers rush to provide

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The demand for artificial intelligence as a supplement to daily operations has spiked in the last year. Per Yiwen Lu, writer for The New York Times, this demand has resulted in a mass rush to create generative AI solutions — as well as increase the security of those same products.

AI has served in many varying capacities since its inception, but the most common contemporary use is as a tool that complements, rather than replaces, the more arduous functions of a given employee. According to Lu, Mark Austin—VP of data science at AT&T — implemented a chatbot called Ask AT&T that cut the time employees spent on filling out forms from hours to minutes.

Lu further writes that “developers who used the chatbot increased their productivity from 20 to 50 percent.”

However, using AI as a tool isn’t as straightforward as throwing a chatbot at all of your administrative tasks. One of the primary concerns with AI support is that AI models often use data from the questions and feedback they receive to train future iterations of said models. This isn’t a huge problem when working with the public, but many companies use private or sensitive data; as such, using AI to help with paperwork or coding solutions could result in a leak.

Salesforce’s AI Cloud, a suite of generative AI products, includes some protections that address these concerns, primarily focusing on preventing storage of user data and thus prohibiting retraining of the AI with said data; Salesforce would similarly not be able to view user input. While not perfect, this is a solid step toward securing these kinds of services.

AI has also been known to propagate false information, leading some to wonder about the wisdom of using chatbots to fill out consumer information and similarly administrative tasks. This is compounded by a lack of clear policy or regulation in the industries using AI, though Lu points out that most generative AI use is restricted to lower-risk industries “with a human in the loop”, citing Beena Ammanath, who is the executive director of the Deloitte AI Institute.

Whatever the case, it is clear that the demand for generative AI necessitates stronger regulation, while companies that have yet to adopt such technology should prepare to implement it in the near future.

Employee fired for requesting religious accommodations

Business News

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May 6, 2024

Employee fired for requesting religious accommodations

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The Justice Department filed a lawsuit against the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) for allegedly denying an employee’s reasonable accommodation request to wear a head covering as part of her religion. This violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said,

“This lawsuit is a reminder to all employers of their clear legal obligation to offer reasonable religious accommodations. In our country, employers cannot force an employee to choose between their faith and their job.”

Religious accommodations denied

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, contends that Franches Spears, a non-uniformed clerk who worked in administrative building, requested that she be allowed to wear a head covering in accordance with her religious beliefs. Other employees were allowed to wear hats and other non-religious head coverings.

Spears wore her head scarf to work for about a month without incident. One morning, she was asked to report to human resources. The HR specialists she met with informed her that she was in violation of TDCJ’s uniform and grooming standards. Spears did not have any direct contact with inmates except for a few inmates who were granted access to her building. Her job was strictly clerical.

During the meeting with the HR team, Spears explained that she wore her head scarf in accordance with the beliefs of her Ifa religious practices. She went on to explain some of the basic tenets of her faith. One of the HR specialists scoffed and said, “basically, you pray to a rock.” Spears was asked to fill out the “Request for Religious Accommodation Form,” then told she could either remove her head covering or go home without pay until her accommodation request was decided on.

Spears declined to remove her head covering, so TDCJ put her on indefinite paid leave. The Director of the Correctional Institutional Division could have verbally approved the accommodation temporarily, while the formal request was making its way through the process. Spears was denied temporary accommodations, nor did any other discussion take place to find alternatives that could allow her to continue working while abiding by her religious beliefs.

After Spears returned the written form, TDCJ informed her that they would need to further research her religion. TDCJ was not convinced her religious beliefs were sincere. Spears was told by the HR specialist that it was not normal practice to research religious practices. After some research, RDCJ requested more information, not from Spears herself, but from her religious leader. Ten (10) days after Spears submitted her request for accommodations, she received a letter to return all her work-related items to TDCJ, which she understood to mean that she was terminated.

Would accommodation cause undue hardship for TDCJ?

TDCJ never brought up safety or security concerns pertaining to Spears’ request. Spears never had a problem removing her head covering at the security checkpoint. She also allowed security officers to pat down the covering. TDCJ’s religious coordinator confirmed that other employees had been allowed to wear head coverings for religious purposes.

According to the lawsuit, TDCJ did not try to find any other options to accommodate Spears. In addition, they did not show that Spears’ request would have caused undue hardship in the workplace. Instead, they terminated her. The Justice Department seeks monetary compensation for Spears, both in the form of lost wages and compensatory damages for pain and suffering.

Simple profitable entrepreneurial ideas for introverts

Business Entrepreneur

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May 6, 2024

Simple profitable entrepreneurial ideas for introverts

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Running a business is hard work, and it usually requires a lot of facetime–something at which your average introvert will balk–but that doesn’t mean that only neurotypicals and gregarious personalities can exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit. Per AM Business, here are some ideas for how you can tap into the job market without needing to exhaust your social battery.

Writing is a mandatory skill for pretty much any entrepreneurial endeavor, so being good at it is something that you can market quite easily. Business writing generally takes a tone that the average introvert will find enjoyable for several reasons–it’s reliably consistent, it espouses simple but robust concepts that are easy to dive into, it doesn’t require a ton of back-and-forth workshopping–and there are a lot of possible genres to tackle.

Primarily, business writing will take the form of content creation. Despite the proliferation of AI content, most clients still prefer the real thing. Social media posts, blog entries, and SEO maintenance are all fairly common styles of content creation, but writers can find themselves branching out to formulate website copy, email templates, and other more creative endeavors.

If content creation is your jam but you’re not really into writing, graphic design and interior design are two alternative routes that provide a similar amount of creative input while still fitting the criterion of relatively quiet work. Again, AI may have a bit of a foothold in these areas, but nothing that can replace a living, breathing human.

AM Business also posits that freelance podcasting–something that is becoming more popular in the age of widespread content distribution–is a decent path for anyone looking to focus on creative endeavors that involve limited and controlled socialization.

Of course, there are plenty of other options for less-creative introverts looking to work remotely. Anything regarding coding–software development and backend support, for example–is increasingly in demand, as is consultation and education. Simply marketing your skills as a tutor, an assistant, or an expert in your field can be enough to net you enough work to build a successful practice that still keeps your facetime throughout the day at a minimum.

What employers need to know about workers’ compensation

Opinion Editorials

Larry Alton, Columnist

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May 6, 2024

What employers need to know about workers’ compensation

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Please note that the following is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice. Every business situation is unique, and laws vary by location. We strongly encourage all business owners to consult with their own attorney to ensure they are fully informed about the legal aspects of worker’s compensation relevant to their specific circumstances.

You’ll need a great deal of employment law knowledge when the time comes to expand your business from sole trading to working with employees. You have a team of people who rely on you to protect their rights. At the same time, you’re also trying to protect your own business.

However, there’s more to learn than payroll costs and taxes alone. You also need to familiarize yourself with workers’ compensation insurance. Here are some of the most important things you need to know about this insurance type:

Employees Can’t Sue You

Employees can hire workers’ compensation lawyers from law firms like Montagna Law to help them navigate workers’ compensation claims. This can be important if an insurance company has declined a claim or refuses to pay full entitlements. Lawyers can negotiate with insurance companies on their behalf.

However, workers’ compensation insurance means employees can’t sue employers if they have a work-related injury or illness. The trade-off is receiving medical benefits and wage replacement if they’re unable to work due to their injury or illness.

Employees Receive Compensation

As an employer, you have to make workers’ compensation insurance payments to ensure adequate insurance coverage for your employees. If they are injured or experience a work-related illness, they can be compensated for medical care and lost wages. If someone dies at work, their families may receive death benefits. However, employees would likely not receive compensation if their injuries were self-inflicted or they were participating in a voluntary activity off the clock.

Not All Employers Need Workers’ Comp Insurance

While workers’ compensation insurance is required for most businesses, it may not be for all. Refer to your state laws to know with certainty. Workers’ compensation isn’t always required for seasonal workers, farmers, or volunteers. However, don’t just assume your business falls into one of those categories. Consult a lawyer or refer to your local employment laws for information.

There Are Strict Reporting Requirements

Being a business owner can be stressful when you have a full to-do list. However, a workers’ compensation claim should be your main focus when your employee is injured or becomes ill. You are required to report injuries and illnesses to your insurance carrier and the most relevant state agency. If you don’t meet their deadlines, you may face penalties.

Encourage your injured or unwell employees to report their incidents immediately. Doing so can help you get the filing process underway quickly. You may then avoid serious repercussions.

Costs Can Vary Across Businesses

Business owners chat with other owners to compare operations and get advice. Workers’ compensation costs can sometimes be a topic of conversation. This is when you may notice that your costs are unique to your business. Many factors can influence your premiums, including your payroll, industry, and work safety measures.

If you have safety programs and maintain a safe working environment, your insurance premiums may be lower. This is because more safety measures can sometimes mean a lower accident risk. Insurance companies can often view this favorably.

It’s only natural not to know much about workers’ compensation before you hire employees. However, if the time has come to officially launch your business, now’s the right time to educate yourself on workers’ compensation insurance and all it entails.

OSHA holds home care agency liable for visiting nurse’s death

Business News

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May 3, 2024

OSHA holds home care agency liable for visiting nurse’s death

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Last fall, Joyce Grayson, a visiting nurse working for Elara Caring, died at the hands of one of her patients. Grayson, a 63-year-old behavioral health nurse, walked into a halfway house for sex offenders in Willimantic, Connecticut to give medication to a resident. Police later found her body in the basement.

Her patient has been named the main suspect in her killing and was arrested in April on charges related to her death. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has charged her employer with exposing home healthcare workers to workplace violence. Elara Caring now faces $163,627 in penalties.

Workplace safety is every worker’s right

Elara Caring, based in Dallas, Texas, has over 200 branches in 17 states. They are considered one of the nation’s largest home-based care providers. Following OSHA’s investigation, Jordan Health Care Inc. and New England Home Care Inc., DBA as Elara Caring, were cited for a willful violation not protecting employees from the serious hazard of workplace violence.

Nurse were not given adequate protection from potentially aggressive patients, nor were they informed about the nature of their patients. According to one report, chaperones or police escorts were once available, but due to budget cuts, it was no longer a possibility.

Workplace violence for healthcare workers on the rise

According to an article from AP News, from 2011 to 2018, non-fatal violence against health care workers increased by over 60%. There are groups that have been pushing federal legislation for several years to require health care agencies to have comprehensive workplace violence prevention plans.

Elara Caring said it did have safeguards in place to protect workers, but the company cannot comment due to the ongoing investigation and medical privacy laws. Elara Caring told USA Today that the company would be disputing OSHA’s findings.

OSHA Area Director Charles D. McGrevy in Hartford, Connecticut said, “Elara Caring failed its legal duty to protect employees from workplace injury by not having effective measures in place to protect employees against a known hazard and it cost a worker her life.”

EEOC sues for amputee denied a position they qualified for

Business News

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May 3, 2024

EEOC sues for amputee denied a position they qualified for

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Reliable Maintenance Solutions, Inc. (RMS) finds itself involved in a lawsuit with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) after it refused to hire a well-qualified worker with a right-arm amputation. Reliable provides industrial and quarry services in Georgia. According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, an applicant applied to work for Reliable as a dump truck operator in March 2021. Although the applicant was told that his status as an amputee would not hinder his hiring, Reliable let him go after he successfully completed safety training. The EEOC contends that this behavior violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Don’t refuse to hire individuals with disabilities

When the applicant applied to Reliable, he was working as a dump truck operator. Reliable interviewed the applicant and found him qualified to do the job. The applicant successfully completed safety training. According to the lawsuit, Reliable claimed that one of their clients was “uncomfortable” because a truck operator was an amputee.

Reliable did not hire the applicant, even though they originally qualified him to perform the job. The EEOC maintains that this behavior discriminated against the applicant due to his disability. If there were safety concerns about his disability, those should have been worked through with the applicant to determine if those concerns were validated or just stereotypes.

The ADA ensures Americans with disabilities have equal access to employment

Darrell Graham, district director of the Atlanta office, said, “The ADA requires employers to remove barriers to employment for qualified individuals with disabilities — not create them.” The EEOC filed a lawsuit after attempting to settle the case through its administrative process.

The court case has not been decided yet, but the EEOC typically seeks monetary damages for employees who are discriminated against. It could be an expensive lesson for Reliable.

Get more information about disability discrimination from the EEOC.

How these business practices can help your business last forever

Business Entrepreneur

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May 3, 2024

April Bingham, Senior Staff Writer

How these business practices can help your business last forever

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Keeping a company afloat in 2024 is its own intensive challenge, so it’s no surprise that the internet is full of sensationalist responses to the question, “How do I prevent my business from dying?” While there is no one right answer, Entrepreneur’s Chris Savage has a few salient take-aways, all of which fall under the heading of slowing down and planning effectively so that your busy months turn into successful years.

Savage opens by addressing his own burnout, admitting to a certain amount of buy-in to hustle culture. “I was in back-to-back meetings all day. I loved the dopamine hits of putting out fires, but I was in a frenzy. I was operating in survival mode,” he writes.

Instead of working in this fashion, Savage recommends settling for “good-enough” when delegating so that you can slow down a bit and focus your attention where it matters most.

“If someone can do something 80% as well as you, delegate it. Spend your time only on those things you can uniquely do,” he adds, exemplifying the concept that “slowing down” doesn’t necessarily have to mean ceasing operations or lowering output.

Savage also advocates for a “less is more” policy–so long as quality and consumer responsiveness is part of the “less”.

“Companies that put the majority of their focus on things they can uniquely do are companies that win,” he explains. “By focusing on fewer initiatives — specifically those proven to work and impact the customer — teams can focus on the activities that create a flywheel effect and drive exponential growth.”

Identifying the sole reason why someone would feasibly want to spend time with your company–something that can be brutally introspective, but absolutely worth the investment–is a good place to start if you’re looking to scale back and zero in on what actually makes your product or service competitive.

The implied message here, of course, is that you do have to be unique in a way that matters. Plenty of companies go under simply because they end up serving as nothing more than less impressive copies of another business’ ideals; if this is the case for you, it’s probably time for a recalibration.

The final advice that Savage offers is to adjust the way you look at failures. “Teams that celebrate failure are teams that win in the long run. They see hitting a brick wall as feedback, not a block, then adjust and course-correct quickly to move in the right direction,” he writes.

This is more of a mindset tweak than an actual business practice, but it’s a good step; businesses that learn from their mistakes–plenty of which will occur–stand to move forward in a mature and measured way, while those that speed past their failures will most likely repeat them ad nauseam.

Savage’s advice is only the tip of the iceberg, but it’s a great start if you, like most small business owners, are worried about keeping your head above water in the coming months.

What does an Ethical Startup Structure look like in sustainability?

Business Entrepreneur

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May 1, 2024

What does an Ethical Startup Structure look like in sustainability?

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Are startups incompatible with sustainability by nature?

I don’t mean greenwashing this time—I mean sustenance of a business structure. Ultimately the only real goal in mind is to become a bigger company, The Very Hungry Caterpillar style, or become PART of a bigger company male anglerfish style.

Whether a plucky new company intends on selling up/out or simply becoming too big and established to be called a startup anymore, that’s the endgame every time—get bigger and bigger, lest you die.

Figuratively.

Probably.

Haje Jan Kamps of TechCrunch said it like this:

“The moment [a company] becomes a bona fide, repeatable business, it’s not a startup anymore. Everything changes overnight — and quite a few startups seem to forget that. Once you find that business model, it becomes a game of acceleration and execution.

On the darker side of this moon, if our brave little startup can’t make the magic happen, it’s curtains.

In fact, the startup might hawk its brainy bits to some bigger fish or get “aqui-hired,”…And so, the startup vanishes, either gobbled up or just gone.”

The finest point is added with this summation,

Startups are designed to be shooting stars: brief, bright, and destined to either blaze a trail or fizzle out. This relentless turnover is the lifeblood of the tech ecosystem.

Under such a framework how can any structure be maintained? Sometimes changes could be good—the harried content creator becomes the balanced video editor as more people are hired to do more work. Other times those changes are bad, like a newbie content creator replacing a video editor, copywriter, VO artist, and photographer amongst layoffs prompted by insistent investors.

Jan Kamps went on to cover a new model touting its flouting of the go fast and break things model as it pertains to organization. Amit Paul and Nils von Heijne got the Swedish government behind their Regenerative Community Organism paradigm—a structure that proposes a standard for both saving the earth and increasing a business’s accountability.

“By drawing parallels between natural systems and organizational structures, the RCO model advocates for businesses to emulate the resilience, adaptability and regenerative capacity of living systems. This involves creating efficient and adaptable business operations that can contribute positively to the ecosystems and communities they interact with.”

A triad of components forms the RCO model: The Constitution AKA the Goal, the question the company aims to answer. The Association, a safekeeper of purpose that keeps the business on track towards The Constitution. And the idea of the Life Cycle that permeates all aspects of the business, as something that lives and grows, but doesn’t wreak havoc as it shifts.

Along with the implementation of better tech (though that remains undefined, by us all) RCO calls for:

“Designing with purpose: Businesses must redefine their purpose to align with regenerative and circular principles, ensuring that every aspect of their operations contributes positively to the environment and society.

Creat[ing] holistic value: The RCO model emphasizes creating value across the economic, environmental, and social dimensions. This involves rethinking the business model to optimize for sustainability and resilience.

Adaptive governance and leadership: The RCO model necessitates adaptive governance structures and leadership styles that are responsive to changing environmental and social conditions.

Engagement and collaboration: Success under the RCO model relies on engaging stakeholders and fostering collaboration across sectors and industries. By working together, businesses, governments and communities can drive the transition toward regenerative and circular economies.”

So basically, stay high-minded, love Mother Earth and change without being changed. ‘Don’t end up like Apple and Google’, essentially.

It’s a nice concept, if a little nebulous. But can it actually be done? And furthermore, should it?

“If an RCO could potentially block an exit opportunity (say, if a less scrupulous company wants to buy the startup), that could prove to be a poison pill for potential VC investment,” Jan Kamps notes.

Personally, I prefer the idea of cutting out VC altogether. But I also realize that’s not always practical, or even possible, and as much as the idea of ‘Line must go up, exponentially, and forever’ is entirely rotten, change is going to be incremental regardless of my opinion.

If your business is the first pebble in a rockslide though, I salute the commitment to gravity.

AI is everywhere: how can your small business take full benefit?

Business Entrepreneur

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May 1, 2024

AI is everywhere: how can your small business take full benefit?

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AI is everywhere now, and that isn’t likely to change anytime soon. While there are a plethora of tasks that benefit from direct human input–and can even be harmed by AI intervention–the fact remains that you could probably streamline a few things if you delegated them to artificial intelligence. AllBusiness’ Neil Hare breaks down actionable ways in which your small business can benefit from using AI.

Hare’s premise is simple: artificial intelligence tools can help fill the gaps in day-to-day operations, allowing you and your employees to focus on the work that matters most. It can also relieve some of the stress associated with HR tasks, such as scouting and hiring, that have become more arduous in the wake of COVID and the resulting normalization of remote work.

Citing a report by SBEC, Hare explains that “…25% of small businesses said rising labor costs led them to AI tools; 19% said they moved to AI to augment the skills of existing workers or because they were unable to find skilled workers,” showing a direct correlation between the current job market and AI adoption.

For small businesses, even using a modicum of AI support to account for a missing employee or role can be the difference between profit and a sinking ship.

There are other reasons to use these tools, of course; not everything needs to be a response to a hiring crisis. Hare provides an exhaustive list of AI tools that cover everything from content generators to meeting and calendar assistants, all of which can fill the relatively minute role of taking over ground-level administrative work while you direct your attention to things that only a human can do.

Again, the premise here is fairly straightforward: Using artificial intelligence to supplement employee tasks can help them ascend to higher-order work, meaning you’re getting more out of your day. In a small business, maximum productivity is a must; AI simply takes more things off of your plate, allowing you to reload that same plate with all of the necessary work.

Obviously, there are some notable downsides to AI use–increasingly tight regulatory measures, a general rejection of AI-generated content by both consumers and tech giants alike, and the propensity of AI to make mistakes all come to mind–so consider any AI implementation an additional tool rather than a magic solution.

Do you really need an assistant or just better time management?

Opinion Editorials

Veronica Garcia, Staff Writer

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May 1, 2024

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Do you really need an assistant or just better time management?

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Almost every entrepreneur dreams of having a personal assistant, but will a PA bring enough value to your professional life to make it worth hiring one?

Maybe you can re-allocate your tasks to save the money needed to hire someone. Or maybe you really do need an assistant.

Risk and reward

Hiring an assistant, or any employee for that matter is not an easy decision. You go from being a sole proprietor to being a boss. Managing another person takes energy, time, and money.

You have more risks to deal with, ranging from privacy, taxes, and injuries. Here are some things that you should think about before becoming an employer.

What would you have your assistant do?

Before hiring any worker, you should have a good idea of what you need done. There’s no sense in paying someone to sit around while you figure out the tasks they should do. Pretend you have an assistant for a week. Write down every job that person could do for you.

Don’t think too much about the tasks, just put them down on paper.

After you’ve tracked the tasks for at least three days, sort them into categories. Some suggestions, errands, busywork, tasks that only you can do, tasks that could be automated, and tasks which don’t really need to be done. This helps you take a look at what you’re doing that isn’t vital to your life. I think this is where you can really decide if you need to be more productive and efficient or if you really need help.

What’s the value of your time?

Take the tasks you want an assistant to perform and time them out. Total up the amount of time the tasks should take. What would it cost to hire someone to do those tasks? Be realistic about what it would cost to pay someone.

Don’t forget to include taxes, workers’ comp insurance, and other expenses in that figure. (Please check the law before hiring someone as an independent contractor.)

Can you afford an assistant? Does it free you up enough to generate more revenue or bring you more joy? Are you willing to trust someone with your email accounts, social media pages, and clients? Do you have time to train a person as to your expectations and system?

Your data can be tracked even when you fully opt out, here’s how

Tech News

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April 30, 2024

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Your data can be tracked even when you fully opt out, here’s how

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It’s no secret that websites track our data. Advertisements that pop up and appeal to our fashion styles, hobbies, and vacation destinations are no coincidence. These curated ads are created by the information that is fed through a website’s data tracker and third-party cookies. To try to get a sense of privacy, we all rely on private web browsers to block trackers. And we install ad blockers to minimize website snooping. However, this doesn’t guarantee we aren’t completely being watched over our shoulders.

So, how do we shine some light on the dark invaders we cannot physically see? Well, The Markup is a nonprofit newsroom that will investigate for us. Their web-based tool, Blacklight, is a “real-time website privacy inspector”. Anyone can run a privacy check on any website using this tool. To do this, all you have to do is visit their site. You enter the URL address of the website you want to inspect in the tool’s website bar field and click “Scan Site”.

This “opens a headless web browser”, and the tool visits the homepage and randomly selects pages on the site to investigate. In the background, the tool’s custom software “monitors scripts and network requests to observe when and how user data is being collected.”

There are seven different tests the site performs to investigate and identify specific methods of surveillances. Blacklight looks at:

Third-party cookies
Advertising tracking companies use cookies to profile users based on their internet usage.
Ad trackers
Advertising tracking technology loads Javascript code or small invisible images to either build a user’s advertising profile or identify a user for ad-targeting.
Key logging
This captures the text you type into a web page before you hit the submit button on a website.
Session recording
This technology allows a third-party to monitor and record all of a user’s behavior on a webpage. It tracks user mouse movements, clicks, taps, scrolls, or even network activity.
Canvas fingerprinting
Even if you block all cookies, this group of techniques tries to identify your browser without setting a cookie.
Facebook tracking
Facebook pixel is a piece of code Facebook creates to allow other websites to target their visitors later with ads on Facebook.
Google Analytics “Remarketing Audiences”
As the most popular website analytics platform today, this tool enables user tracking for targeting advertisements across the internet.

All of these tasks sound daunting, but Blacklight scans for all these types of privacy violations in less than a minute. Then, it returns a “privacy analysis of the inspected site.” The report doesn’t only give you a long text of jargon you might not understand. It details what every result means. It even gives you information about the ad-tech companies the website has interacted with and provides you helpful links to resources to provide more information.

To test it myself, I entered a random website and quickly received the report. Reading through it, it was very creepy to see what kind of information is being collected. But, I shouldn’t be surprised. The Markup’s website states, “Big Tech Is Watching You. We’re Watching Big Tech.”

Out of curiosity, I also looked up https://themarkup.org to see what all they are watching. Shockingly (not really), everything returned with positive results. Interesting, huh?

Deciphering spending habits across the recent generations

Business News

Macie LaCau, Staff Writer

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April 30, 2024

Deciphering spending habits across the recent generations

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According to a recent report, there’s a notable and expanding generational divergence in spending habits. Older Americans are increasingly indulging in travel and dining out, while younger consumers are directing more of their funds towards housing and essential items.

Based on internal data gathered from Bank of America account holders, a significant disparity in spending behaviors has emerged between working-age adults and retirees. The study revealed that both baby boomers (roughly ages 59 to 77) and traditionalists (ages 78 to 95) in all income brackets are outpacing their younger counterparts in expenditure. Notably, a considerable portion of these increased expenses is focused on leisure activities, particularly travel and hotel stays.

David Tinsley, senior economist at the Bank of America Institute, pointed out the significant gap that emerged in spending patterns between the older and younger generations.

He suggested that one possible reason for this division could be a change in spending behavior following the pandemic. Older Americans, being more vulnerable to the risks associated with travel during the pandemic, might have been cautious and hesitant to venture out until now.

Some of the resurgence in travel could be attributed to the release of pent-up demand. He further explained that people might be indulging in these activities as a way to make up for the experiences they missed during the pandemic. Notably, there has been a significant increase in cruise bookings among travelers in their 60s, 70s, and 80s.

Bank of America credit card data reveals that spending on airlines and hotels among younger adults experienced a 5% decline in April compared to the previous year. However, the data also shows a contrasting trend among older adults, as their spending in these categories actually increased. This boost in spending suggests that older adults have grown more at ease with the idea of venturing out and engaging in travel-related activities.

The increased spending among older Americans is partly fueled by larger Social Security payments. These payments saw a significant rise of 8.7% this year to compensate for inflation, contributing to the growth in their overall spending.

Steve Barrera, a 56-year-old software engineer residing in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, expressed the challenges he faces in saving extra money. With the burden of paying for his son’s college education and the escalating costs of essential items, there is little room for substantial savings. As a result, his family of four has had to curtail their travel plans, including local trips and beach vacations.

In contrast, Steve’s retired father and stepmother, both baby boomers enjoying pensions, lead a different lifestyle. Unburdened by college expenses and facing fewer financial constraints, they can afford a more lavish approach to leisure. They take advantage of their retirement by embarking on two cruises annually and recently experienced a vacation in Iceland.

The escalating prices of essential items such as food, housing, and other daily expenses have posed challenges for numerous families in maintaining their usual spending patterns. While inflation has moderated since its peak of 9.1 percent the previous summer, prices still remain 4 percent higher than they were a year ago. These persistent cost increases have put strains on household budgets and made it difficult for families to maintain their pre-inflation spending levels.

Despite the challenges presented by rising costs, a significant number of Americans have managed to increase their savings compared to a few years ago. Thanks to pandemic-era stimulus funds and reduced spending on travel and other services, median household savings and checking account balances have surpassed pre-pandemic levels for all generations, as reported by Bank of America. The combination of financial assistance and decreased expenditure has helped individuals and families bolster their financial reserves, providing a buffer during these uncertain times.

Even though, as a whole, we’ve saved more, the longstanding wealth disparities are still growing. Federal Reserve data reveals that as of the end of last year, baby boomers possessed approximately $73 trillion in wealth, which is eight times more than what Millennials held. This stark contrast translates to an average net worth of $1.7 million for baby boomer households, while millennials’ average net worth is considerably lower at $214,000.

These numbers highlight the significant gap in wealth between the two generations, emphasizing the ongoing challenges faced by younger individuals in building substantial financial assets.

How to instill a more robust culture in a fully remote team

Opinion Editorials

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April 30, 2024

How to instill a more robust culture in a fully remote team

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As more companies ponder the future of remote work, it’s going to be important to keep remote teams engaged with your business and brand. For the past 6 years, I’ve been a part of BKA Content, a award-winning company based in Utah, that has maintained a good reputation among its writers for creating an excellent remote working environment and known for its high standards.

According to Matt Secrist, co-founder and COO, BKA has over 600 independent contractors and 20 employees, all of whom work remotely. Over 200 of those writers have been with the company for two or more years. About 30 writers have been with the company for more than 6 years. It’s not easy to keep freelancers on board that long without some strong ties to the company.

Communication
Secrist states, “I think frequent communication…(makes) a huge difference.” I concur with this statement. BKA sends out a weekly newsletter to all its writers. After six years, I still enjoy reading it because it always gives relevant information. Their culture comes through in the newsletter. It’s not preachy. Sometimes, they have fun games and contests that create camaraderie and give us fun things beyond writing. The newsletter also keeps us up to date with AP grammar and other industry items. But it’s never a newspaper, so it’s quick to read. We also have a Facebook group in which we can interact. The leaders are committed to keeping the remote teams engaged.

Organized processes
Starting with the training modules, BKA creates a strong culture through organization and clear goals. Their strong onboarding process set standards right away. Their writers were not left to their own device. I worked closely with one person for the first few pieces I turned in, which is core to their success in keeping excellent writers. Their business has grown so much that they have created teams for certain accounts. Secrist estimates that they have more than 150 individual teams. I deal with one account manager for each team, which strengthens the bonds between people. We aren’t just email accounts, but real people working together.

Clear goals and standards
I believe one of the keys to BKA’s success is that it is transparent with its goals and standards. Writers are required to turn in a certain amount every week, which means it needs to be part of our routine. Every account has a style guide with detailed instructions for writing for that brand. We are encouraged to contact the account manager with questions. The account managers always respond in a timely manner with professionalism. The culture of BKA is positivity. Even though missed deadlines can have consequences, there is grace and flexibility. In six years, I can say that they have always dealt with me fairly, which is a core value of the company.

Transparency
The leadership is always transparent with the writers. When we’ve had a hiccup with payroll, the CFO has always addressed it head-on and not prevaricated. It’s always been fixed as quick as possible. I had lost over $200 over a period of four months because one payment amount had gotten changed to $0 in the system. When I discovered it, the account manager had it corrected that day and added the amount to my next deposit. Dealing with issues, especially financial issues, quickly is key to keeping remote workers engaged.

Remote work is here to stay
Secrist supports my own insights by saying, (BKA has) “worked to build an online community where people feel valued and heard. Being kind to, invested in, and interested in the people we rub shoulders with in a virtual setting has created an atmosphere of mutual respect.”

We may be seeing an end to the pandemic, but workers want remote work. Regardless of how that looks in your company, you have to address how to keep your remote teams engaged while giving them flexibility. Looking at other companies and how they do it can help you create a solid team who are on the same page.

Williams-Sonoma to pay record $3.17M for Made in USA mislabeling

Business Marketing

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April 29, 2024