The U.S. economy is a lot like Monopoly. Spending. Saving. Do Not Pass Go. Navigating the board game is part strategy and roll of the dice. So, when it comes to the economic outlook for the year ahead, there is always room for chance. Here, Penn State Behrend professors Ken Louie, Ph.D. and Val Vlad, Ph.D., economists at the Economic Research Institute of Erie (ERIE), examine the statistics and trends that may impact the economy...
While the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), formerly known as NAFTA, addresses a variety of trade issues, one thing that’s still left unattended are the U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum. Here, David Taylor, president and chief executive officer of the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association (PMA), shares his expertise and his insights on the Trump administration’s recent trade policies and the impact on employers in 2019. The PMA is a statewide trade organization that represents the manufacturing...
WAYS TO KEEP YOUR TEAM ENGAGED, MOTIVATED DURING THE HOLIDAYS Although the holidays can be a hectic time for employers trying to wrap up deadlines and balance busy schedules, it can also be a good time to pause and reflect on the achievements of the past year by showing appreciation for your team while also finding ways to keep them engaged and motivated for the year ahead. According to experts, here are some ways to...
Integrating Leave of Absences, Employee Assistance Programs Jim Kinville, M.A., is the senior director for Life Solutions EAP. Linda Croushore, M.Ed., is the senior director of Disability Services at UPMC. A 2013 study by the Integrated Benefits Institute (IBI) reported that the prevalence of depression among workers is close to 20 percent and that more than 60 percent of these depressed employees go untreated. At the same time, 97 percent of employees who file a...
