Biztips
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MANAGEMENT
Survey reveals troubling signs on workplace ethics
5/13/26
TROUBLING WARNING SIGNS about the state of workplace ethics in America are revealed in a nationwide survey commissioned by the law firm Outten & Golden LLP. The survey reflects employees' widespread fear of retaliation and persistent pressure to compromise ethical standards.
Among the most concerning findings is that 22% of respondents report witnessing unethical or illegal conduct at work, yet one-third say fear of negative consequences would stop them from reporting it.
The inaugural report, Trust @Work: Is the American Workplace Facing an Ethical Crisis?, draws on responses from more than 1,000 Americans and highlights a growing disconnect between employee values and workplace realities.
MANAGEMENT
Customers HATE those bots
5/13/26
PEOPLE WANT TO TALK TO REAL PEOPLE. Frustration is growing with impersonal AI-driven customer support services.
A recent survey by AnswerConnect, a provider of business services and software, found that 85% respondents would rather speak to a real person than AI when contacting a business. A third say they would hang up if connected to AI.
The 6,000-person study shows declining trust in AI, rising frustration, and an increased preference for speaking to real people.
"Businesses are racing to automate, but customers are pushing back," says Natalie Ruiz, CEO, AnswerConnect. "What we're seeing now is a clear shift. People aren't just frustrated by AI, they're actively rejecting it in favor of human interaction.
"These findings suggest that while AI may promise efficiency, it is increasingly creating friction, damaging trust, and driving customers away."
AI isn't failing because of the technology, it's failing because it removes what customers value most: being understood," Ruiz says. "When businesses replace people with bots, they risk losing not just satisfaction, but loyalty and revenue."
Submissions open for consulting companies' "Best Firms" award
4/17/26
CONSULTING MAGAZINE, part of the Arc network, has officially opened survey submissions for its 2026 Best Firms to Work For program, the annual ranking that identifies the consulting profession's top employers based entirely on feedback from their own professionals. The submission period runs through June 4, 2026.
The 2026 honorees will be recognized across four size-based categories:
- Boutique firms: 20–50 billable personnel
- Small firms: 51–249 billable personnel
- Midsize firms: 250–999 billable personnel
- Large firms: 1,000 or more billable personnel
To qualify, firms must employ a minimum of 20 full-time, billable consultants and have at least 10% of those consultants complete the survey. Consulting firms interested in participating may begin the survey process at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/F3KGDKM.
The nomination deadline is June 4, 2026.
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MANAGEMENT
How to become a security expert and avoid disasters for your business
SECURITY BREACHES and data leaks can spell disaster for businesses, jeopardizing finances and eroding customer trust. Whether you're part of a multinational corporation or a burgeoning startup, ensuring your Salesforce instance is fortified against malicious cyber threats is crucial. Salesforce Security: An Admin's Guide is your comprehensive and lighthearted roadmap to secure your implementation—and your customers’ data.
Dive deep into the realm of cybersecurity with this engaging guide, where you'll unravel powerful concepts like the CIA triad and the Zero Trust model. Discover how to configure Salesforce settings for optimal security and use artificial intelligence to code securely, practices that will keep your implementations safe and scalable.
This book equips you with the skills establish yourself as a security expert, designing scalable sharing models, implementing the principle of least privilege, encrypting sensitive information, and selecting robust authentication systems. With detailed, step-by-step instructions, you’ll learn to manage users efficiently, control record access meticulously, and optimize permissions through profiles and permission sets—all while establishing standard operating procedures for audits that are both effective and straightforward.
Dive deep into the realm of cybersecurity with this engaging guide, where you'll unravel powerful concepts like the CIA triad and the Zero Trust model. Discover how to configure Salesforce settings for optimal security and use artificial intelligence to code securely, practices that will keep your implementations safe and scalable.
This book equips you with the skills establish yourself as a security expert, designing scalable sharing models, implementing the principle of least privilege, encrypting sensitive information, and selecting robust authentication systems. With detailed, step-by-step instructions, you’ll learn to manage users efficiently, control record access meticulously, and optimize permissions through profiles and permission sets—all while establishing standard operating procedures for audits that are both effective and straightforward.
RETAIL
Consumers prefer cash back to rewards points, but both boost sales
Rewards drive loyalty, shape behaviors, and deliver emotional benefits that influence how people shop and pay, according to a new study by Reach3 Insights, in collaboration with PayPal.
In fact, 81% of consumers say rewards impact their shopping and payment behavior.
"Rewards drive real behaviors, and when executed well, they can drive loyalty in a meaningful way," says Sean Campbell, senior vice president at Reach3 Insights.
Among the key findings:
● Cashback beats out reward points. 68% of study participants said they prefer cashback rewards for their simplicity and instant gratification, compared with 32% who prefer points.
● Rewards drive behavior and emotion. 81% make shopping choices based on rewards; 33% said that thinking about rewards gives them feelings of satisfaction and joy.
● Rewards influence loyalty. 63% say rewards make them feel more valued as a customer, and nearly half (49%) are more likely to recommend a brand because of its rewards program.
MANAGEMENT
Treat your staff right and you will never have to fire anyone, author says
TWO SIMPLE core beliefs underpin anyone's ability to lead, according to Mark Morgenfruh, author of Never Fire Anyone.
• In every situation teams desire to do great things and all they need are clear direction and knowing someone cares. When they fail, it's because there is a lack of trust and empathy in the leader and possibly the larger corporate culture.
• Lead uniquely. Lead like you never thought possible. Trust. Empathy. Love. Tough love to be sure. Transparency. Candor.
Morgenfruh is founder and president of GetHRready
SMALL BUSINESS
How to find funding for your start-up
FINDING FUNDING for your startup may be more complicated than you think. Before you launch your business, it's critical to evaluate how much funding you'll need—and how you can realistically access it. Check out this advice from SCORE to help you on your way.
SOFTWARE
Webroot rated top choice for fast threat detection by Software Experts
A NEW INDUSTRY ANALYSIS released by Software Experts has identified Webroot as the top-performing platform for fast threat detection and lightweight PC security.
The findings address growing concerns about malware, phishing risks, and system slowdowns that continue to affect home and small office users. As cyber threats expand in speed and complexity, demand has increased for tools that provide continuous monitoring, faster scanning, and effective protection without heavy system impact.
The Software Experts evaluation examined real-time detection speed, cloud-based scanning, system resource usage, and the effectiveness of identity and browsing safeguards.
The report concluded that Webroot's cloud-based threat intelligence and behavior monitoring delivered consistent results across all key categories tested. The platform demonstrated strong performance in identifying new and evolving threats and aligned with current cybersecurity trends.
MARKETING
The marketing crisis you didn't see coming
Traffic and visibility are vanishing for many businesses as traditional search strategies are breaking down, according to SOCi's 2025 Consumer Behavior Index. For marketers, this is a wake-up call: adapt to this fragmented reality now, or risk becoming invisible, irrelevant, or untrusted in the eyes of today's digitally fluent consumers.
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Beats Studio Pro with AppleCare+ for Headphones (2 Years) - Black
This book will make a great coffee-table book for your reception area
The 135 ads in Awesome Automobile Ads: 1930s Edition are a fascinating view of the cars of those days that any lover of cars will will appreciate. Can be read over and over again; there is always something new to discover in its pages.
MANAGEMENT
Are you overlooking your best talent?
NEURODIVERGENT EMPLOYEES, such as those suffering from autism, ADHD and dyslexia, make up nearly half of the creative industry’s workforce, but face increasing challenges that hinder their performance at work, according to a new study. Your business can benefit enormously from these people who are so often overlooked.
MANAGEMENT
Use AI in your business and your profits will grow, study reveals
COMPANIES ARE REALIZING a 136% spike in return on investment (ROI) from AI in financial technology. Savings exceed $1.36m for every $1m invested over a three-year period, according to a global survey.
Amid economic turbulence, fueled by tariffs and global trade disruptions, AI is being tied directly to enterprises' financial performance.
The findings were revealed in Basware's AI to ROI report, conducted by independent research firm Financial Times Longitude
The survey found that companies investing in AI are able to tackle more efficiently their biggest challenges—data accuracy, fraud detection, and process delays. Three out of four companies report that AI enables its employees to focus on strategic activities instead of repetitive manual work.
It's not solely about saving money but funding the ability to accelerate growth," says Jason Kurtz, CEO of Basware.
MANAGEMENT
Adopt these 10 hiring practices if you want to stay ahead in a competitive field
THE HIRING LANDSCAPE is evolving quickly. Companies that refuse to adapt will continue to fall behind if they don't make a change, says Jeremy Jenson, CEO of Encore Search Partners. He suggests 10 hiring practices businesses should adopt to stay ahead of competitors.
Affordable signs for your office
Custom signs make your office look official, neat, and communicate your message more effectively than a hand-written note that looks amateurish.
MANAGEMENT
American business reputations with consumers are slipping over prices and value; steps you should take
Many companies are failing to fulfill consumer needs as inflation has shifted America's focus and priorities toward seeking value and spending more carefully. According to The Axios-Harris Poll 100 Rankings on Corporate Reputation this failure is the reason Trader Joe's ranked first—followed by other value-prioritizing brands like Toyota and Arizona Beverage Company—among the top 10 most reputable companies in the country this year.
SMALL BUSINESS
Small businesses need to sell online to capture younger customers, study finds
TO CAPTURE CONSUMER SALES, small businesses need to sell online. Businesses with a brick-and-mortar store need to sell both online and in-person. That is the conclusion in a new survey of shopping habits in the latest GoDaddy Consumer Pulse* survey of 1,500 U.S. consumers polled in March.
MARKETING
Study offers advice for business as consumer sentiment turns deeply negative
MORE THAN HALF of all Americans plan to cut non-essential purchases as tariffs take effect, according to new findings from Trade Winds, an ongoing research initiative designed to track consumer sentiment and behavior in real time. Many are already changing their spending behavior. How you should react.
MANAGEMENT
A short course in how to choose a domain name
IN HONOR of the humble domain name turning 40 this month, a new survey by GoDaddy asked consumers to spill the tea on what they consider red and green flags when it comes to a business's domain name. Although different generations had varying opinions, they all agreed on two things: size and spelling matter.
MARKETING
Most consumers mark emails as spam at first glance—what you should do to build engagement
ALMOST ALL CONSUMERS check their emails daily, but eight in 10 mark messages as spam based solely on appearance, according to a new survey from ZeroBounce. For brands and marketers, this growing skepticism poses a major challenge. Even well-intended emails might never be opened. We look at what you can do to to get your emails read.
BIZADVICE
MORE EXPERT TIPS
Check out these earlier advice items from our archives