As of the release of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) 50 10 (5) (C), effective October 01, 2010, if an entity is "primarily engaged" in the provision of mini warehouse / storage services, not the leasing of real estate, it falls under the passive businesses...
Often times in business, we have the opportunity to get exactly what we want and need. The problem is, we just don’t ask for it correctly. Take, for example, something I did just the other day. I wrote an article and sent it to one of...
Getting involved in charitable and community organizations as a new business development strategy is hardly a new notion. However, unless it is purely altruistic, participation needs to be carefully calculated so that you get an ROI on your investment of time, resources or money. Some of...
There was a great article in the New York Times a while back. Adam Bryant, author of the weekly Corner Office column, compiled the information he garnered from interviewing top C.E.O.'s to explore traits common to successful corporate leaders. One trait he identified was "passionate...
In an effort to avoid annoying and unnecessary communication, are we insulating ourselves from opportunity? Take this situation that happened just yesterday. I had a lead for someone and didn't have his email address. I called the receptionist to get it. She, rather unpleasantly, answered, "That...
Building ordinances and laws (building codes) are upgraded regularly to improve a structure’s resistance to windstorm, earthquake, fire, and collapse. Since some of these changes apply to new construction on a go-forward basis, it is not uncommon for older buildings to increasingly depart from current...
The halls have been decked, and employees have donned their gay apparel; everyone appears to be in good cheer at the office holiday party, held on a Saturday night at an off-site location. But there's a problem: some employees are passing around "gag" gifts, items...
Do employers have seven days to notify the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of a work-related incident that has resulted in the death of an employee? No. All employers covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 are required to notify the Occupational Safety...
One of my employees, after alleging that a popular supervisor sexually harassed her, has also claimed to have been repeatedly harassed by several coworkers angry at her for filing a complaint against this supervisor, with whom they are friends. Could the coworkers' actions lead to...
If an employer has 13 full-time employees, each of whom works 40 hours per week, and 10 part-time employees, each of whom works 20 hours per week, can this employer qualify as a “small-employer plan” under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)? Yes. After a...