If it seems like the internet is changing every six months and throwing your online marketing efforts into flux, you’re not imagining things. Between rapid changes in homeowner behavior, the proliferation of new mobile devices, and Google’s always changing algorithms, it’s difficult for HVACR marketing teams to keep up.
Issues surrounding immigration have been a focal point for employers since the 1986 passage of the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA). The effects of that law and its requirements have made the hiring process a source of major concern for many employers.
Long before President Trump was elected in surprise fashion in November, the House Ways and Means committee quietly put together a plan to modernize our tax system. It was published June 24, 2016, and is known as “A Better Way: Our Vision for a Confident America”, which is available online for review.
Under the administration of Donald J. Trump, employers may be able to anticipate many changes in the regulatory and legal environment. In particular, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), which had been very pro-union under the Obama adminstration, may shift its focus.
Whether you focus on HVAC, plumbing, or another contracting specialty, you got into the contracting business because you wanted to be your own boss and love what you do. If you lose focus, worry about accountants, and stop thinking about what you are good at, you can fail. Adding effective habits will help you determine your strengths and weaknesses.
Do you hire other companies to complete jobs in your workplace? Did you realize that you could be liable for labor violations that the company commits while working there? There are two pending and one recently decided case that will alter how franchisees, general and sub-contractors, and other companies operate. These cases will impact whether employers are responsible as joint employers for violations that other companies may commit.
The theory behind chat is fairly simple — make it easier for potential customers to communicate with your company, interact with a greater number of potential customers, and schedule more service calls. Though the theory of chat for your company is simple, the practice of chatting professionally is difficult to execute. So, is it worth implementing in your company? What are the costs and the benefits of chat? Should you manage chat in-house or outsource the management of chat? What’s a budget-conscious way to get started?
In recent years, the EEOC has focused intensely on employers’ leave policies, alleging that many companies’ leave policies violate the ADA, and has filed numerous lawsuits over the past several years. In a press release following a large settlement with Verizon Wireless for $20 million, the EEOC stated, “an inflexible leave policy may deny workers with disabilities a reasonable accommodation to which they’re entitled by law — with devastating effects.”
A smart grid is an integrated system of utilities, consumers, and distributed-energy resources that allows for two-way communications throughout the grid. The smart grid market is expected to surpass $400 billion worldwide by 2020. As a result, the expertise of HVAC contractors will only become more important with the ongoing development of smart homes, smart devices, and home automation systems integrated by the Internet of Things (IoT).
During the presidential campaign, Trump made maternity leave a signature issue. Now that he is in the White House, Trump appears intent on pushing for paid leave for new parents who don’t receive time off from their employers.