Ribbon Cuttings: Embracing Community by Taryn Crayton, Director of Member Engagement If you take a look at the Chamber’s event calendar you will notice that we have a good number of events happening at the start of this year.  You will also notice that there is a fair number of ribbon cuttings. Without question ribbon…

15 Tech Tools to Elevate Your Work Life Balance Mastering time management and prioritization through technology enables focusing on vision, innovation, and growing the business. Tools like Trello, Asana, and Slack help create clear schedules and facilitate team collaboration. Doist and Evernote help prioritize and categorize tasks efficiently, while LastPass securely stores passwords and sensitive…

The Benefits of Prioritizing Employee Well-being Prioritizing employee well-being is a strategic move for any business looking to successfully develop their business and enhance their competitive edge among their peers. Companies that demonstrate to employees that they are valued and supported as important individuals within the organization are more likely to develop a workforce that…

Changes in R & D Tax Provisions Threaten Growth Source: US Chamber of Commerce Congress has a short-term window to act on a key tax provision that can increase research and development (R&D) spending in America. Zoom out: For nearly 70 years, businesses have been able to immediately deduct 100% of their R&D expenses, which…

Amping Up Productivity with the “Quiet Protocol” Employees are constantly interrupted in today’s hyper-connected world, disrupting productivity The “Quiet Protocol” allocates solid chunks of uninterrupted time for employees to focus on important work Pioneering research highlighted how interruptions negatively impact productivity; dedicated distraction-free periods saw productivity surge 65% Employers should draw clear boundaries for quiet…

PA Chamber Comments on Troubling DOL Overtime Proposal Alex Halper, Vice President of Government Affairs at the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry recently submitted a letter to the editor of the Philadelphia Inquirer commenting on the proposed changes by the Department of Labor in overtime calculations. See Alex’s letter and information on the proposed changes…

Ignite and Empower Your Team with Verbal Feedback Verbal feedback empowers and encourages employees, creating an atmosphere where they feel valued. Praise achievements to show appreciation and highlight the effort and outcome of a job well done. Be specific in your words. Appreciate the individual beyond their performance. Focus on their traits, talents, and leadership…

Spring Management and Leadership Certificate Program Open for Registration The program developed to help people build basic management and team leadership skills. This five-module management and leadership certificate program is appropriate for existing leaders, managers, and supervisors; or those who are new or emerging in any business sector. Professional course materials include assessments, activities, and…