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The King’s Speech—The Key Employment Implications

Quick Hits The King’s Speech of 17 July 2024 detailed the UK government’s upcoming priorities and proposals. This includes the Employment Rights Bill and draft Equality (Race and Disability) Bill. Among the proposed policies were several significant employment-related bills, and we have set out below the key proposals. If enacted, together these proposals would constitute the most significant reform in UK employment legislation in decades. We set out the key…

  • Post category:Ogletree Deakins
  • Reading time:3 mins read
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Why taking your pension as a lump sum could leave you with a huge tax bill

Taking a lump sum out of your pension could provide you with more financial freedom. Yet, it could also land you with a large and unexpected tax bill. Read on to find out what you need to know about tax and withdrawing lump sums from your pension. Your pension withdrawals may be liable for Income Tax You can take up to 25% (up to a maximum of £268,275 in 2024/25)…

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Technological Cooperation Between Russia and African Countries

Cooperation between Russia and African countries in the field of cloud technologies seems quite promising. The fact is that in Africa there is a great need for such cloud technology solutions, since today many government agencies in African countries are forced, for the most part, to use Google’s cloud services, which do not guarantee data confidentiality, in order to organise effective collaboration with files and documents. In this regard, an…

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Out of Sight, Not Out of Mind: Employee Disengagement in Remote Work (And 5 Strategies to Overcome it)

Remote work is here to stay and has completely changed how we do our jobs. While offering the flexibility and convenience that many employees love, it also brings its challenges. One of the biggest could be employee disengagement.  Since this is a hot topic online, we thought we’d dive into it.  Gallup’s 2024 research report states that fully remote workers are more lonely than those fully on-site (25% versus 16%,…

  • Post category:Civility Partners
  • Reading time:6 mins read
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How to Become a Better Ally: Three Priorities for Leaders

Nick Purser/Ikon Images Recent pushback against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives has caused many leaders to focus on the broader topic of allyship. These leaders want to be better allies and encourage their teams to do the same. In politically charged environments, however, leaders may find the mountain of advice on how to be an effective ally conflicting, confusing, polarizing, or overwhelming to apply. Without a clear decision-making framework,…

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Demystifying the Corporate Transparency Act for Tax-Exempt Organizations – Part 1: When to File a Beneficial Ownership Information Report

The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) took effect on January 1, 2024 and some U.S. nonprofits and tax-exempt organizations are still debating how the CTA applies to them. This article provides newly-formed and existing nonprofits and tax-exempt organizations with a general overview of their CTA compliance obligations and exemptions. For information about the CTA compliance obligations and exemptions applicable to subsidiaries of tax-exempt organizations, please see Part 2: CTA Compliance for…

  • Post category:Seyfarth Shaw LLP
  • Reading time:10 mins read
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OSHA Slated to Deliver Proposed Workplace Violence Prevention Standard for Healthcare Industry in December 2024

Quick Hits OSHA announced that it intends to release a proposed rule for a workplace violence prevention in healthcare and social service facilities in December 2024. The proposed rule will most likely apply to work performed in hospitals, medical centers, residential treatment centers, nursing homes, mental health centers, and private homes where home health aides or social workers visit clients. The agency is expected to publish a final rule in…

  • Post category:Ogletree Deakins
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Village Global joins forces with Microsoft to propel AI startups through Velocity program

At Microsoft for Startups, we are dedicated to empowering the next generation of AI startups. We understand the significant capital and resources required for AI development. That’s why we’ve partnered with Village Global to offer up to $350,000 in Azure Credits to startups participating in their Velocity program. These credits grant access to Azure’s state-of-the-art AI infrastructure, including high-end GPU virtual machine clusters, allowing Velocity startups to train and fine-tune…

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Why tuning out political speculation may help you stick to your financial plan

In a historic victory, the Labour Party won a majority in the 4 July 2024 general election. After 14 years of Conservative government, you might be wondering what the change means for you and your financial plan. Since Keir Starmer took office, a day has barely passed without headlines speculating about the changes Labour will enact. The news can affect your emotions and spur you to make decisions that don’t…

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Different Shades of PLG: Free-Trial or Freemium?

In evaluating what type of go-to-market approach to use in introducing a new SaaS product to potential buyers, a founder likely will look closely at whether product-led growth (PLG) is the most effective strategy. If that’s the choice, a founder will then have to decide between two PLG pricing models: free trial and freemium. In this blog post, we will examine both models and offer real-world use case examples. We’ll…

  • Post category:Battery Ventures
  • Reading time:9 mins read
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M&A Insights and Outlooks in Packaging and Industrial Industries

To help businesses, investors, and deal professionals better understand the evolving M&A market, Robert Connolly – a partner in and leader of LP’s Corporate Practice Group – shares a series of conversations with M&A experts. Below is his conversation with Brett Kornblatt, who is Managing Director of Industrials-Packaging at Stout, a global advisory firm that specializes in corporate finance, accounting and transaction advisory, valuation, financial disputes, claims, and investigations. Brett…

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Retailers’ climate road map: Charting paths to decarbonized value chains

As companies in all sectors work to shrink their carbon footprints and hit their decarbonization targets, the path to reducing Scope 3 emissions is often anything but straightforward. For some, decarbonizing Scope 3 emissions can be more like navigating a particularly byzantine maze. Such is the case for retailers. For the average retailer, Scope 3 metrics capture emissions generated upstream and downstream within the value chains of every SKU it…

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Scientists discover entirely new wood type that could be highly efficient at carbon storage

Scientists from the Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University and Jagiellonian University, Poland made the discovery while undertaking an evolutionary survey of the microscopic structure of wood from some of the world’s most iconic trees and shrubs. They found that Tulip Trees, which are related to magnolias and can grow over 100 feet tall, have a unique type of wood. This discovery may explain why the trees, which diverged from magnolias when earth's atmospheric CO2 concentrations were relatively low, grow so…

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The Ethnography of Organizational Change

Q: What are the key questions guiding your work? A driving interest for me is how organizations can change for the better—to be more effective and desirable places to work. I’ve completed several research projects that look at how people who have expertise and knowledge, but not formal authority or positional power, can have their ideas heard and acted upon to improve how their organizations function. I’ve also done research…

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The Chevron Doctrine Is Dead. What Are the Implications for Business?

A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling gives companies more opportunities to challenge regulations, but they may face more regulatory uncertainty as well. David Zimmer July 30, 2024 Reading Time: 6 min  Brian Stauffer In June 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the long-standing Chevron doctrine, fundamentally altering how businesses interact with federal regulations. The decision will almost certainly make it easier for companies to challenge agency regulations and other agency…

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Incidence of heart attacks and strokes was lower after COVID-19 vaccination

The study, published today in Nature Communications, showed that the incidence of arterial thromboses, such as heart attacks and strokes, was up to 10% lower in the 13 to 24 weeks after the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Following a second dose, the incidence was up to 27% lower after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine and up to 20% lower after the Pfizer/Biotech vaccine.The incidence of common venous thrombotic events…

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How central bank communication affects the economy

31 July 2024By Stefan Gebauer, Thomas McGregor and Julian SchumacherCentral banks choose their words very carefully. And rightly so – policy makers’ wording can move markets and, eventually, the economy. This ECB Blog post shows how unexpected changes in communication influence growth and inflation.Central banks need to communicate clearly. This helps the public understand the rationale behind monetary policy decisions and shape market expectations. Their statements sometimes provide explicit forward…

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Greek shipping: Success factors and opportunities

Greece has held a prominent place in shipping for many decades. What makes this more significant is that the country’s considerable role on the international maritime stage is disproportionate to its size. The capacity of the Greek merchant fleet, at more than 5,000 vessels, makes Greece the largest shipowning nation, and its shipping sector (including ships that are Greek owned and Greek managed) collectively accounts for 20 percent of global…

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Eurasia’s Security System: The Economic Aspect

Speaking at the Russian Foreign Ministry on June 14, 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed the key principles of the security architecture of Eurasia. The idea itself was voiced in the president’s message to the Federal Assembly on February 29. It is highly likely that it will become one of the supporting structures of the new Russian vision of security on the continent. The principles revealed by the president indicate…

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When Taxpayers Cover Marketing Costs

Promoting business location sounds good to many. However, what the Confederation means by this may be surprising to some. After all, the primary focus is not on improving framework conditions to increase Switzerland’s competitiveness. Instead, a large proportion of the funding goes towards tourism and regional development. Parliament has allocated a total of CHF 429 million for the years 2024–27 – a 15 percent increase compared to the subsidies in…

  • Post category:Avenir Suisse
  • Reading time:5 mins read
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Wesco CEO John Engel on beating the odds with a merger of equals

John Engel says his tenure as CEO at Wesco International has been bookended by crises. After joining Wesco in 2004 as COO, he stepped into the CEO role in 2009 during the Great Recession. He says the company managed well through that period and has now come through one of the most challenging periods in human and business history with the COVID-19 pandemic. As an essential business, Wesco continued to…

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The Perfectly Imperfect Start of Disruptive Innovations

Topics Column Our expert columnists offer opinion and analysis on important issues facing modern businesses and managers. More in this series subscribe-icon Subscribe Share Otto Steininger/Ikon Images “Is such-and-such innovation disruptive?” It’s a question I’ve been asked countless times. At a recent workshop, for instance, a participant I’ll refer to as Sue asked about “cultivated meat,” a broad term for meat that is produced in a laboratory. Some analysts have…

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Into the Breach Podcast – Episode 34: New Opportunities in Contingent Risk

Into the Breach is the first law firm podcast exclusively devoted to reps and warranties insurance and the transactional risk markets. Hosted by Seyfarth partners Bryan M. O’Keefe and Gena B. Usenheimer, the hosts in their unique, buoyant style, interview leaders from the industry, and explore the latest developments, market trends, and news impacting RWI and transactional risk insurance. Follow us on:               Into the Breach Podcast - Episode 34: New Opportunities in…

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Microsoft Cloud strength drives fourth quarter results

Microsoft Cloud Strength Drives Fourth Quarter ResultsREDMOND, Wash. — July 30, 2024 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the following results for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, as compared to the corresponding period of last fiscal year:·        Revenue was $64.7 billion and increased 15% (up 16% in constant currency)·        Operating income was $27.9 billion and increased 15% (up 16% in constant currency)·        Net income was $22.0 billion and increased 10% (up 11% in constant currency)·        Diluted earnings…

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  • Reading time:12 mins read
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Do Social Movements Sway Voters? Not Really, Except for One

People might be more likely than ever to protest in reaction to a social problem or geopolitical crisis. But do such activist events, even large-scale demonstrations, change public opinion?New research shows that protests rarely change views or alter voting decisions, findings that could have important implications in an election year marked by widespread protests. Harvard Business School Professor Vincent Pons teamed up with Amory Gethin, a fellow economist at the…

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How big-city research labs and small businesses are rapidly adding AI to their toolkits

In quick order: Are you familiar with wind speed and cruising speed and light speed? Well, we’re here to riff on another type of velocity. Let’s call it “AI speed.” Our definition of AI speed – sure to soon grace your favorite digital dictionary 😉– is the brisk rate at which AI is racing from big-city research labs to distant places where small businesses, everyday entrepreneurs and biologists are rapidly…

  • Post category:Microsoft
  • Reading time:6 mins read
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Defeat for the Winners and Victory for the Losers: French Society and Parliament after the July 2024 Elections

A Pyrrhic victory for the left The proportional European elections in June 2024 brought a clear victory to the National Rally (31%, versus just 14% for the President’s party), the main opposition force in France. This was already a very strong signal to abandon the EU at a time when the European Commission, with the support of Macron, was preparing to create a supranational European federal state. The French President…

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artistic side of luxury fashion is key to better shopping experiences

In November and December, U.S. retail industry sales rose 3.8 percent compared to the year before. Economists seemed surprised by retail results defying expectations throughout much of 2023. Unfortunately, 2024 didn’t start quite as well. Since then, retail sales have shrunk by 0.8 percent (worse than market forecasts of a 0.1 percent decline). U.S. retail sales are facing their biggest decrease since March 2023, and while growth looks more promising after results…

  • Post category:Yonder Consulting
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When Generative AI Meets Product Development

Frontiers From ideation to user testing, large language models are allowing companies to explore more ideas and iterate faster. Tucker J. Marion, Mahdi Srour, and Frank Piller July 29, 2024 Reading Time: 8 min  Topics Frontiers An MIT SMR initiative exploring how technology is reshaping the practice of management. More in this series Patrick George/Ikon Images As enterprises experiment with generative AI use cases, one promising area is emerging: incorporating…

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Windows Security best practices for integrating and managing security tools

Windows is an open and flexible platform used by many of the world’s top businesses for high availability use cases where security and availability are non-negotiable. To meet those needs: Windows provides a range of operating modes that customers can choose from. This includes the ability to limit what can run to only approved software and drivers. This can increase security and reliability by making Windows operate in a mode…

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  • Reading time:18 mins read
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Firms Aren’t Living Up to their Diversity Claims

In recent years, shareholders have made attempts in court to hold companies accountable for failing to uphold commitments to diversity within their workforce or leadership teams. So far, those efforts have fallen flat. Facebook’s board of directors, for instance, won dismissal of shareholder claims that it had breached its fiduciary duty by ignoring diversity concerns—a judge called some of the company’s claims about diversity “non-actionable puffery or aspirational.” But a…

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Global Economics Intelligence executive summary, June 2024

Has the cycle of monetary easing begun? After the Banco Central do Brasil, the European Central Bank (ECB) has become the second major central bank to cut rates. This might bring some much-needed relief to companies and households and could revive the construction market. But there might be more. As our most recent economic survey showed, global sentiment has slightly shifted south, adding to uncertainty amid possible weakening growth. In that…

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Sailing Into Unchartered Waters in Times of a Great Transition

This year marks the start of a new period of changes in modern history. We are certainly sailing into unchartered waters in times of a great transition, whereby extra caution must be taken by all nations, big and small, to guide our way forward. Nelson Wong writes on the causes of geopolitical shifts and on Putin’s six principles. The unfolding of events in recent years confirms that we are entering…

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Branching Out: Choosing the right UK business structure

When an overseas entity is making the exciting decision to expand your business into the UK, one of the first decisions you will need to make is whether to establish a UK branch or incorporate a UK subsidiary company. Both structures will enable your company to trade from the UK, however there are some distinct differences to consider for regulations, compliance, and strategic business planning. There are also tax consequences,…

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Speech and Violence

Incitement, solicitation, fighting words, threats, bad tendencies, and more, with special attention to NAACP v. Claiborne Hardware Co. (1982), the Court’s little-publicized precedent on the subject. Eugene Volokh is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution. For thirty years, he had been a professor at the University of California – Los Angeles School of Law, where he has taught First Amendment law, copyright law, criminal law, tort law, and firearms regulation policy. Volokh…

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NLRB Finalizes New ‘Blocking Charge,’ Voluntary Recognition Rules

Quick Hits The NLRB unveiled a final rule that rescinds the Board’s 2020 rule and returns the Board to its blocking charge policy, voluntary recognition process, and aligns union recognition for construction industry employers. The rule will take effect on September 30, 2024, and apply to cases filed after that date. The NLRB unveiled its “Fair Choice-Employee Voice Final Rule,” which the agency said will make three key changes: restoring…

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Third Circuit Refuses to Block New Jersey Temporary Workers Bill of Rights Law

Quick Hits The Third Circuit affirmed a lower court’s ruling declining to block New Jersey’s Temporary Workers Bill of Rights Law, which seeks to equalize pay for temporary workers to that of permanent workers, in a challenge by industry groups. The appellate court ruled that the law does not unlawfully burden out-of-state businesses or exceed the state’s police power, and that it is not unlawfully vague.    The groups are…

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Sustainable by design: Transforming datacenter water efficiency

Learn more about how we’re making progress towards our sustainability commitments through the Sustainable by design blog series, starting with Sustainable by design: Advancing the sustainability of AI. Last month, we unveiled our Datacenter Community Pledge, emphasizing that datacenters are not only the backbone of modern technology but also a force for good in the communities they serve. As part of this commitment, at Microsoft we recognize our crucial role…

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Pulling back from the boundaries: An interview with Johan Rockström

Since Johan Rockström and a team of internationally renowned scientists first proposed the planetary boundaries framework in 2009, it has become a key reference in global sustainability efforts. The framework seeks to track the planet’s ability to support human life and development, and it focuses on nine systems and processes that govern the stability of the Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, ice sheets, and ecosystems. Climate change and its cascading impacts are…

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