Freelance, side hustles, and gigs: Many more Americans have become independent workers

In the working world, a full-time job with one employer has been considered the norm for decades, but this model fails to describe how a significant share of the US workforce makes a living. In the latest iteration of McKinsey’s American Opportunity Survey (AOS), a remarkable 36 percent of employed respondents—equivalent to 58 million Americans when extrapolated from the representative sample—identify as independent workers. This figure represents a notable increase since we estimated the US independent workforce in 2016 at 27 percent of the employed population. READ MORE

5 Reasons Startups Fail (and Why Each One Is Preventable)

Any entrepreneur knows that, in your early days, no one will hesitate to tell you that most new businesses fail. It's annoying, but they're right. However, what's usually missing in the message is the why. Instead, there's a sense of inevitability. Starting a business is hard, so of course, most of them fail, right?

But in my experience, there are specific reasons startups most often fail. Recognizing them and preparing for them dramatically shifts the odds in your favor. I've built my business around partnering with healthcare entrepreneurs to avoid these pitfalls — so far with a record of 6-0, with three new ideas coming to life. Here's what to watch out for: READ MORE

More proposals, less support: What to make of the 2022 proxy season

As GreenFin contributing editor Emily Chasan covered earlier this year, 2022 was the busiest proxy season ever. With the record-setting season in the rear view, what did the busy-ness deliver for ESG? 

First, some context. Stewardship and engagement are the primary tools the investment industry wields as its means to guide managed assets to net zero. The "why" for engagement is that it delivers on fiduciary duty by both preserving and enhancing the value of assets that an investor is overseeing on behalf of beneficiaries. READ MORE

Meet America’s Best Employers By State 2022

Ask employees at NASA in Florida what they love most about their employer and the most frequent answer is the pride that they take in working for America’s space agency. The same is true at Oklahoma Heart Hospital, and at Costco Wholesale in Nevada. Employees at the California Institute of Technology rank their employer highest for the salary and benefits they receive. Those working at the University of Minnesota, in contrast, most appreciate how the university embraces diversity. Oceaneering International of Texas, which mainly services offshore oil-and-gas clients, earned top scores for working conditions while employees at Google in Virginia gave their employer top scores across the board. READ MORE

Are you offering the benefits employees most want? Probably not, data finds

As the last two-plus years have proven, employer support—in the form of employee benefits, flexibility and regular communication—is vital in helping organizations address challenges, keep employees happy and boost retention.

But a new report finds that there’s a sizable gap in what support employees want from their employer and what organizations are actually offering—data that indicates employers may want to reevaluate what they offer and prioritize, especially in a tight labor market. READ MORE

5 ways to retain high-performing employees

The Great Resignation (also known as the “Great Reshuffle”) is still in full swing. It has become increasingly challenging to retain high-performing employees during this competitive time for talent. According to Gallup, replacing an individual employee can cost the employer from one-half to two times the person’s annual salary. As a result, now more than ever, organizations must prioritize the employee experience to avoid costly staff turnover, which lowers morale and negatively impacts the productivity of the team members left to pick up the slack. READ MORE

How To Prevent Team Burnout In The Important Moments Of A Startup

Many people or CEOs only talk about the business, their product or how to get more revenue. Still, few are asking questions about the people working for the product and getting that revenue. When working with people, you must understand that you’re also working with something fragile—a human—that can break into many pieces if you’re not paying attention to their needs, especially when building a startup. READ MORE

IRS faces online uproar over special agent job posting requiring ability to use deadly force 'if necessary'

An online job posting for special agents within the law enforcement branch of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is causing a stir on social media, as Congress prepares to pass a spending bill that would greatly expand the federal agency.

A link to a job posting for "Criminal Investigation Special Agents" appeared to have been briefly deleted on Wednesday, following online criticism of the posting's language, though it reappeared back online after a FOX Business inquiry to the agency.  READ MORE

Congress made a liar out of Biden with Inflation Reduction Act

President of Americans for Tax Reform Grover Norquist blasted Joe Biden, accusing the president of lying to Americans as the Inflation Reduction Act hits the middle class with taxes - contrary to his pledge not to raise taxes.

"If you tax a corporation, who pays for it? Workers in lower wages," he told "Mornings with Maria" on Tuesday, noting that consumers will be forced to pay more given higher prices will be a result of the legislation; investors in their 401(k) plans and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA) will be facing lower stock prices because of the bill. READ MORE

Smart Prep for the SEC’s Corporate Climate Risk Disclosures Rules

Climate risk is financial risk, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission, and publicly traded companies are on the precipice of having to disclose how they’re safeguarding against these challenges.

The agency aims to aid investors by helping them more clearly understand and quantify how companies are managing climate issues, and what impact those decisions might have on a company’s stability and bottom line. READ MORE