Dec. 17, 2009 - As awareness of the direct link between unhealthy behaviors and increased health care costs continues to grow, a greater understanding of and appreciation for the value of a sophisticated corporate wellness initiative is motivating many firms to reassess their wellness strategies..

Dec. 3, 2009 - A sign of the times in Southeast Michigan is the number of experienced business professionals in the midst of career transitioning. Some are taking the intrepid step of tackling the job of CEO at a charitable nonprofit organization. This is potentially a real gain for the nonprofit sector and an important step for improving professionalism in the management of charitable organizations, but it is not without potential pitfalls.

November 5, 2009 - With Veterans Day upon us, we are reminded to take some time to thank a veteran for his or her service and to honor the memories of those who fought for our country and did not come home. But in the business community, we can do more than that, all year long, by bringing veterans into our organizations.

October 1, 2009 - Outsourcing has become a way of life in business. Small- to mid-size businesses often use external experts to manage their needs in areas such as accounting and law. However, many don’t realize resources are available to handle other such functions that are difficult and time-consuming to manage, including those in the human resources area.

September 17, 2009 - In many business settings the words “employee performance” strike a chord of discontent among supervisors and employees. Thoughts drift to the annual employee review, where numerous hours are spent completing paperwork, oftentimes at the final hour.

September 17, 2009 - Organizations are being forced to evaluate all options to reduce costs and operate more efficiently due to current economic conditions. These operational changes and cost reductions often lead employees to feel that things are being taken away from them and may result in lower morale.

September 17, 2009 - The pressures of the worldwide economic recession and the rising cost of health care have taken a toll on many employers. In an effort to stay financially sound, companies are scrutinizing their benefits packages with special concern and a renewed emphasis on cost control.

September 17, 2009 - It is not uncommon that the training budget is one of the first to go when times get tough. So while your company may not be putting too much effort into professional development right now, there are actually some very compelling reasons why training should be a part of your recession plan.

September 17, 2009 - As we experience the highest unemployment rates we’ve seen in nearly 30 years, most employers (and, truth be told, most employees) believe workers today should consider themselves lucky to have a job, and therefore employers don’t really have to worry about employee engagement and commitment. Nothing could be further from the truth.

September 17, 2009 - Strong internal communication is essential to most business interactions. Even more important is the communication that occurs between an employer and its employees. To keep employees informed at Prima Communications, Inc., the company publishes a bi-weekly internal company newsletter, The Chats, and the employee-profile publication, Who’s Who.

September 17, 2009 - Research consistently shows that companies that define a core purpose and embrace core values consistently achieve greater long-term success. But it’s a process easier said than done. Defining corporate values – in terms that resonate and stick with employees throughout an organization – can be challenging.

September 17, 2009 - Marriage – a union of two people who make a commitment to love, honor and cherish one another. This is the traditional way of thinking about marriage. However, in business, it can be used as an analogy for the professional relationship that exists between an employer and employee.

September 17, 2009 - Cultural competence becomes more important with each passing day in the United States, because with each succeeding generation, this country becomes more racially and ethnically diverse. Based on the 2000 Census, 25 percent of the U.S. population was considered non-Caucasian.