Sunday, April 5, 2026

Remote Work Puts Geographic Pay Policies In The Spotlight

Fri, 09 April 2021  |  workplace employment 

Geographic pay policies, a.k.a. localized compensation, are in flux. Of the 62% of organizations with existing geographic pay policies, 44% are considering modifying or have recently modified their policies due to the increase of full-time remote work, according to WorldatWork's Geographic Pay Policies Study. With 67% of employees expecting their compensation to reflect their location, geographic pay is a critical issue for employers 1) striving to improve the workforce experience and 2) recruiting/retaining top talent. Pay policy prevalence, geographic pay philosophies, determinan... Read More

Gen Z Least Likely To Return To Old Behaviors After Vaccination

Thu, 08 April 2021  |  retail travel 

According to the findings of a new global consumer study released by IBM's Institute for Business Value (IBV), respondents surveyed are mostly confident in the safety, effectiveness, and distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines and indicate a desire to return to 'normalcy' after being vaccinated. But different rules, personal preferences, and social norms formed during the last year means that key industries like retail, travel and transportation may need to provide more seamless, personalized marketing and client experiences, to help remain competitive and successfully engage customers.Read More

15% of U.S. Stock Market Investors Got Their Start in 2020

Thu, 08 April 2021  |  investing 

Amidst a global pandemic, economic uncertainties and market volatility, a new generation of investors was born: 15 percent of all current U.S. stock market investors say they first began investing in 2020, according to a new Schwab survey. And they’re not all young and focused on the next hot stock. Looking ahead, these new investors are more bullish about their financial prospects and the market than those who began investing before 2020, and they’re ready to invest and plan for their futures.

“We’ve seen tremendous growth and engagement among individual investors ove... Read More

Work From Home Drives Employee Happiness

Thu, 08 April 2021  |  pandemic workplace 

A new workplace study form Hibob shows a majority of U.S. workers' job satisfaction is back to pre-pandemic levels. With ongoing remote work, the allowance of flexible work schedules, the ability to be autonomously productive, and time saved without a commute are contributing and shaping the next normal where a hybrid working model leads the way. The study also showed that with strong job satisfaction while remote, the rollout of the vaccine will not prompt employees to run back to the office five days a week. Some even say an obligation to return to a physical workspace would push them to ... Read More

Aspiring Business Owners Increasingly Confident

Thu, 08 April 2021  |  small business 

Entrepreneurs who agree or strongly agree that "now is a good time to start a business" grew in March to 69.3% of respondents, the highest recorded since February 2020, before the pandemic became headline news. FranchiseInsights.com compiles monthly the Small Business Startup Sentiment Index™(SSI) of individuals who have recently inquired about businesses for sale.

The most recent Startup Sentiment Index^™ survey was conducted March 25-30, 2021, as news of accelerated vaccination timelines was t... Read More

U.S. Retail Sales Grew 26.3% Year-Over-Year in March

Thu, 08 April 2021  |  consumers spending 

U.S. retail sales growth rates increased by double-digits in March as we hit the one-year mark since the first Covid lockdowns impacted retail sales. According to Mastercard SpendingPulse™, U.S. retail sales excluding automotive and gasoline increased 26.3% year-over-year in March, and online sales grew 56.8% compared to 2020. Mastercard SpendingPulse measures in-store and online retail sales across all forms of payment.

Retail sales benefited from the infusion of stimulus payments, coupled with broader reopening across the country. This is particularly evident when looking at... Read More