Office News

Working too much has the potential to give a person unnecessary anxiety and stress. If you never take time for yourself on the weekends, you run the risk of depression, weight gain, anxiety and even a heart attack. Many industries are beginning to recognize the importance of promoting work-free weekends. A recently published Slate article indicated that even the investment banking industry has instituted work-free weekends for employees due to the manner in which they promote a worker’s health and productivity.

Promoting Productivity in the Office

Those who continuously work and fail to take time off of work are likely to suffer from burn out from their jobs. A two-day weekend gives a worker the chance to get away from his or her office responsibilities and recharge the batteries. After spending a weekend away from work, an employee can feel renewed and refreshed on Monday morning. An employee is able to focus on the task at hand and has increased levels of concentration.

Getting the Exercise You Need

The weekend gives many employees the opportunity to get in a good workout. During the week, some workers may find that it is nearly impossible to get to the gym. The weekend provides an employee with an uninterrupted period of time in which he or she can work out for hours at a time. Those who have to sit for extended periods of time may find that the weekend provides a welcome break from sedentary habits. Sitting for extended periods of time has been linked to serious health issues like heart attacks, death and cancer. Read More »

Highest and Lowest Tax Rates – 2014 State and Local Taxes

State and local retail sales tax rates can have an effect on an area’s population as well as its ability to attract businesses. There is a lot to be read from the tax data that is gathered around the country and there is a lot of important information that is revealed when you take a long look at how much others pay to live in an area.

What Does The Data Tell Us?

When we examine retail tax rates for any given state, it is incorrect to judge a state simply by its overall tax rate. There are tax laws on the books in many states that allow certain municipalities the right to create their own retail tax rate. For example, the retail tax rate in the state of New York varies from county to county and is a combination of the state rate and the local rate.

State and local tax data, when grouped together, will give us an indication of what the true retail sales tax rates are in an area. This can often be in great contrast to the numbers that are generated by only looking at state tax rates. Read More »

Looking for a new job provides you with the opportunity for a fresh start in many ways. You can choose a job based upon a location in which you know you will be happy. You can also search for jobs based on salary, lifetime earning potential, benefits, prestige, work experience and office culture. However, you may want to make the location of your job one of the priorities in your job search. If you choose a location in which you can happily live, work and play, you will be less likely to suffer from job burnout or dissatisfaction in the long run. Whether you are looking for a change of scenery or want to live in an area with a thriving economy, here are ten U.S. cities that should be on your list.

1. Dallas, Texas

Kiplinger ranks Dallas, Texas, as a top place for new graduates to live and work. The median salary for college grads is about $42,900 a year, and the average apartment rent is $799 a month. About 6.3 million people live in Dallas, and the unemployment rate in the area is only 6.3 percent.

2. Washington, D.C.

Washington D.C. is an excellent place for millenials to work, live and play. The city is thriving with job opportunities in the political and corporate worlds. The median salary for college graduates is about $46,100 a year. When you live in D.C., you won’t have to worry about saving funds for an entertainment budget. Many attractions, such as national museums and the National Zoo, are free of cost.

3. Minneapolis, Minnesota

Minneapolis is quickly turning into a popular city for workers due to its low cost of living, low rent costs, smoke-free regulations, gorgeous parks and beautiful lakes. Individuals can enjoy living in a metropolitan city and also have access to natural settings on the weekend.

4. Denver, Colorado

The downtown area of Denver is a major attraction for workers. The city-wide bike sharing program can help you cut costs on transportation. Denver also has plenty of restaurants, shops, casinos and nightlife attractions for your time off. You also won’t have a problem finding a great craft brew in the city, as Denver features many pubs and bars that have been instrumental in creating craft brews.

5. Boston, Massachusetts

Boston is known for being a center of business, finance, politics, shopping, theatre and great restaurants. The city is booming with job opportunities. With attractions like the Boston Marathon and major athletic events, you will always have something to do after work hours in Boston.

6. Anchorage, Alaska

Anchorage is becoming an attractive spot for job seekers due to its high median income of $47,600 and low rent costs. Alaska also does not feature a state income or sales tax. After work, you may enjoy activities like fishing, snowboarding and touring glaciers in the region.

7. Houston, Texas

A promising job market is a major attraction for those seeking a new career in Houston. Home values are also expected to increase in the upcoming years, and individuals can find homes for sale at competitive prices in Houston.

8. Ann Arbor, Michigan

Home to the University of Michigan, individuals can enjoy living in a city that is thriving with culture and things to do. New grads and job seekers can find high-paying jobs in this college town. University of Michigan is the largest employer in Ann Arbor. Free educational and entertainment events are consistently offered throughout the town.

9. Miami, Florida

Surrounded by gorgeous beaches, Miami is a great city for work and play. The city boasts a thriving economy and is also surrounded by other job-producing cities, such as West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale.

10. San Francisco, California

San Francisco is an attractive city for jobseekers due to its plentiful opportunities in the tech and finance industries.

As you look for the perfect city for work and play, you should consider what matters most to you. These top cities can give you a starting point for finding a job in a location where you will feel happy and satisfied.

Sources:
1. http://www.kiplinger.com/article/real-estate/T006-C000-S002-best-cities-to-live-work-and-play.html
2. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/15/top-young-cities-millennials_n_5152929.html

Most people would think that graduates from Harvard, Stanford or Brown Universities would get the highest paying jobs upon graduation. Interestingly these Universities all actually sit in 8th place on the Pay-Scale Ranking with salaries upon graduation at $61,300; $55,300 and $52,300 respectively. The mid-career median pay for all is $119,000.

The PayScale Ranking for 2013-14 reviewed more than 1,000 schools and 130 majors. According to their research the highest paying Universities were:

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Back in 2008, the Office Business Center Association indicated that of total revenue accrued, 7% was from virtual office services. Some locations reported over 10% of revenues came from virtual office services.

Since the inception of virtual office services and its implementation into the everyday interactions of many places and people, the percentage increase in usage has more than doubled.
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It is easy to take health and safety in the office for granted, until someone gets injured in an accident that could have been prevented. The Occupational Health & Safety Administration, also known as OSHA, has a comprehensive set of guidelines that every office can follow to keep workers safe.

When it comes to office safety, there are some key areas to consider. Your office desks, cubicles, and office accessories all need to be treated with the proper respect if you are going to avoid accidents and injuries. The worst mistake you can make is assuming that you are safe from danger just because you are in an office.

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Getting on the right career path can be one of the most important decisions you make. Since your career has such a huge impact on your future happiness and earning potential, it makes sense to look for careers that offer you the most potential. While not everyone has the same concept of a “perfect” career, there are a lot of great careers out there that could suit just about anyone. Here, you’ll get a broad overview of some of the most commonly sought-after jobs of the year. It’s a list so diverse that you’re bound to find something that catches your eye.

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Going to work each day can become a difficult task if you are constantly battling with illnesses. Staying healthy in the office is an important part of work, and there things that you can do that will help you stay as healthy as possible. A lot of employees become tired during the day or they may feel weak and lethargic. While these are common problems, there are ways to beat them. Following these tips may offer more insight to you regarding this subject, and this might help you with your battle of staying healthy in the office.

The Importance of Good Posture

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It’s easy to put the ‘sin’ in Sin City, even for busy corporate travelers in town for a convention or a meeting. But once you’re tired of the cocktails and card games, what else is there to see and do to truly get the Vegas experience?

1. See the whole world in less than an hour: Vegas is the only place where the Eiffel Tower is within walking distance of downtown New York. Travel the globe on a budget without leaving the Strip.

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When you’re in business, you learn the importance of saving money wherever you can. It’s a matter of stability and fiscal intelligence that cannot be overlooked if a business is to remain solvent. Even the smallest changes can result in huge savings over a long-term stretch of time. Nowhere is this ethic more applicable than the lowering of the utility bills in your office. Just a few small changes can help save your office a lot of money over time.

Efficiency

Any business owner who has performed research on saving money on utilities has heard one term repeatedly: efficiency. Efficiency is one of the most important factors when it comes to saving money on utilities. Efficient appliances use less electricity to produce better results. Efficient windows and insulation allow for lower rates of thermal exchange, saving business owners on heating and cooling.

Business owners should consider hiring an efficiency expert to perform an energy audit on the office. This audit will cover all of the usual energy wasters that can be found in any office around the world. The expert will then be able to provide an actionable list of steps that can be taken to create a more efficient office space. Read More »