Building Construction

Manage people carefully during rough times
Times are tough. The media is constantly blasting bad news, recession is the word of the day, your company is trying to do more with less, and that increases the stress level for all concerned – including you. You didn’t cause the problem, yet the problem is yours to manage, and the problem affects your people. How do you manage people in these tough economic times?

Bigger tax breaks for energy efficiency
Homeowners who make energy-efficient improvements to their home in 2010 can take a 30 percent credit as a result of tax changes made in the economic stimulus package. The law increased the credit from 10 percent to 30 percent and extended it to include 2010 improvements. The maximum cap was also extended to $1,500 from $500 for all property placed in service in 2009 and 2010.

Look for warning signs in buyer's market
There are three often overlooked areas for real estate bargains: short sales, foreclosures and REOs (real estate owned by lenders). But -- as always -- let the buyer beware.

Nonprofit Organizations

Keep close eye on employee expenses
One of the easiest ways to steal from an organization is through expense reimbursements. More than 13 percent of all fraudulent disbursement schemes investigated involved expense reimbursement fraud, according to the most recent report by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.

The Web can shine light on nonprofits
While most nonprofits post information about their missions and programs on their Web sites, significantly fewer disclose other key information on the Internet, according to a transparency review conducted by GuideStar, a watchdog group for nonprofit associations.

Do you watch your third bottom line?
Nonprofits have an advantage in achieving the newest management standard, the triple bottom line. Two of the bottom lines – social and financial sustainability – have always been foundational to measuring nonprofit success. Implementing the third – ecological sustainability – is a natural extension that can magnify the impact of the other two.

Manufacturing

Many CFOs skip vacations
Nearly one in three chief financial officers are forgoing vacations in these tough financial times to stay at work and tend to business, according to a new survey by Robert Half International.

Change is inevitable: How to handle it
It is not always as simple as it may seem to evaluate whether a change had the expected results or if it needs modification. Here are some questions to consider to help you review a change made by your company.

Preventing employee injuries pays off
Back injuries account for nearly 20 percent of all injuries and illnesses in the workplace. They cost the nation an estimated $20 billion to $50 billion per year, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The average cost of a low-back-associated workers’ compensation claim is nearly $8,500. Clearly, anything you can do as an employer to reduce these risks among your employees is well worth the effort.

Wealth Advice and Financial Planning

How to reduce wedding costs
Having a beautiful wedding doesn’t mean breaking the bank. Tips from pros can help you cut costs for your or your child’s wedding without scrimping on the elegance of the special day.

Spot wash-sale rule conflicts
With the stock market seemingly engaged in an endless cycle of ups and downs, you may be tempted to try to capture an occasional tax loss in your investment portfolio. The tax advantage of selling securities at a loss may offer a bit of a silver lining in an otherwise dark cloud on your investment horizon. But, be careful that you don't run afoul of the tax law's wash sale rules.

Credit card rules begin soon
If you have a credit card, you now have a bill of rights. Many rules that apply to credit cards change under the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility Disclosure Act of 2009, also called the Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights. Most provisions take effect in late February 2010.