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Question: An employee requested an unpaid leave of absence to complete their last semester of college. Do we have to approve it? If we don’t but still want to, what should we consider before approving the employee’s request? Answer: A leave of absence for educational purposes isn’t covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act,
Question: Who should be responsible for delivering disciplinary action in response to performance or attendance issues? Answer: In general, disciplinary actions should be delivered by the employee’s manager. It’s the manager’s job to define what success looks like in the role, set performance and attendance expectations, monitor the employee’s work, offer guidance, coaching, and feedback,
Introduction Do you ever wonder if you might not be getting the full picture of something? It could be regarding your production floor data, customer satisfaction surveys, or perhaps the sources for images that a client wants to use, which were generated using artificial intelligence (AI). A military study from World War II provides some
Question: Can we have a mandatory retirement age? Answer: With a few exceptions, no, you can’t have a mandatory retirement age. Forcing an employee age 40 or older to retire at a certain age would likely violate the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. You could, however, offer voluntary retirement plans or various post-retirement benefits for
In December 2024, the US Government Publishing Office (GPO) announced that it had awarded $469.2 million in print procurement program contracts with private-sector printing companies in its fiscal year 2024, which runs (as do those of other Federal agencies) from October 1st of the previous year to September 30th. The stated goal of these contracts
By Sonali Shah As sustainability becomes a critical component of branding, businesses must avoid greenwashing — making misleading claims about eco-friendly practices. Greenwashing risks not only backlash but also regulatory action, damaging trust and losing customers. For the print and design industries, authenticity in sustainability initiatives is essential to resonate with audiences and create genuine
By Sonali Shah As environmental concerns continue to be our biggest human challenge to date, designers are increasingly embracing sustainability. From minimalist packaging to AI-driven design solutions, the industry is evolving to meet the demand for more eco-conscious practices. Designers have a unique opportunity to drive change, shaping a future where creativity and sustainability go
Question: If an employee puts in their notice, can we let them go that day instead of keeping them for the full notice period? Answer: Generally, yes, you can let an employee go that same day unless there is a contract or agreement to the contrary. While you aren’t required to retain an employee or
Introduction In 1821, a Scottish painter named Patrick Syme published a book of color samples called “Werner’s Nomenclature of Colours: Adapted to Zoology, Botany, Chemistry, Minerology, Anatomy, and the Arts.” Syme’s book was based on a classification system devised by the German mineralogist Abraham Gottlob Werner in the late 18th Century, and a book Werner
By Dr. Ralph Williams Jr., Associate Professor of Management, Jones College of Business, Middle Tennessee State University Dr. Greg Nagel, Professor of Finance, Jones College of Business, Middle Tennessee State University Our recent financial benchmarking surveys suggest that regional printing association members produce higher Earnings-before-interest-taxes-depreciation-and-amortization (EBITDA) than national industry averages (see our appendix). Indeed, our
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