Dec 0923
For the past ten years, it’s been a Matrix Group tradition to send out holiday cards to clients, partners and friends and have staff sign the cards personally. This year was different. For the first time ever, we didn’t send out snail mail holiday cards and instead sent a holiday e-card.
You’d think that sending out an e-mail over paper would be an easy choice. But the holiday cards were a big deal. Each staff member signed the cards for all the clients they supported and partners they worked with. The new biz, net admin and administration teams signed every single card. I am famous for signing every card and writing notes on many of them — yep, nearly 900 of them last year! Clients and friends have told us that they love the Matrix Group holiday card precisely because they are signed by the staff who support them.
So what happened this year that we abandoned a decade-old tradition? I was meeting with Jaime, my Director of Administration, to pick the card design and go over numbers. It hit me that we were about to spend close to $2,500 on cards. It seemed like a lot of money. I also thought about how many of our charities and non-profit clients struggle to raise every dollar and consider gifts of $250, $500 or $1,000 major gifts.
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Mar 0903
I got a call from my insurance agent today. He wanted to be sure that I knew about the new COBRA provisions in the stimulus package that went into effect a few weeks ago. The stimulus plan provides subsidized COBRA benefits to workers (and their families) who lose health care coverage because of involuntary termination of employment (read: if they got fired or laid off). This sounds like a wonderful benefit and one that many families will find valuable. But did anyone consider the impact on small businesses?
Under the law, 65% of COBRA premiums will be subsidized by the federal government, with the remaining 35% paid for the former employee. After receiving the reduced premium from the former employee, the employer or health plan offsets its payroll tax liability by the other 65 percent. If the offset amount does not cover the subsidy, the employer files paperwork with the government to get a refund.
Lots of employee benefits companies are covering this issue, including The Segal Group. Everyone is talking about the requirements, but did anyone consider the true impact on businesses, especially small businesses? And just think about this: small businesses will be responsible for new paperwork and fronting the COBRA premiums for former employees until they get reimbursed by the government. Read the rest of this entry
Dec 0830
A few months ago, a suspicious charge from Carfax.com showed up on my corporate American Express card statement. I called Amex; Amex promptly reversed the charges. The next month, another charge appeared; I called Amex and Amex again reversed the charge but also recommended that I change my card number. I even contacted Carfax but they said they could not provide any information on the charges, that I had to go through my credit card company. How ridiculous is that?
So I changed my card number but the Carfax charge comes up again. Now I was really worried. Does the thief have access to my personal accounts? How did he or she get my new card number right away? So again I called Amex and here is what I learned: Read the rest of this entry
Dec 0824
This holiday season, we are encouraged to “give our time, not gifts.” I applauded the sentiment but then wondered just what it means to give time. Here are some ways I have found:
- Give List lists ways to support communities and causes this holiday season (and year-round for that matter) that don’t necessarily require writing a check. Ideas include: donating frequent fliers to soldiers so they can fly home and visit their families; send a note to someone who works for a non-profit and thank them for their work; and create a video about an organization or cause that is important to you and post it on YouTube.
- Volunteer to be on a Board of committee of a local non-profit. Organizations all over the country are experiencing a dearth of people willing to donate their time and expertise. Several years ago, I called the Executive Director of a non-profit that I admire (Doorways for Women and Families) and asked how I could become involved. Today, I serve on the Board and help organize two fundraising events. I have helped raise a bunch of money, but I have also learned a great deal about non-profit management and fundraising, experiences that have benefited me at work.
- Philanthropy.com put together a list of ways to support social causes without giving money.
- The Daily Green lists 20 ways to give without giving “stuff”
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Dec 0821
It’s the holiday season but it’s not a joyous time for a lot of people. I can feel the recession everywhere.
Dec 0802
Okay, it’s official. The economy is in a recession, but what are you doing about it? What is your company or organization doing to weather the storm or even thrive in it?
I was recently interviewed by Jill Foster for the Network Solution blog on a variety of topics, including using social media for recruiting and what we’re doing here at Matrix Group to survive this hellish economy.
When our fiscal year ends next June, I want to be able to say that we were counter-trend and that our company grew, despite the recession. Here are my top strategies for surviving this economic bloodbath. Read the rest of this entry
Nov 0806
President-elect Obama has a lot on his plate. Perhaps most importantly, he’s got to get the economy moving again. I’m not convinced that getting people to spend money should be the top priority, but let me tell you about Mike, a shoe salesman I met at Nordstrom at Pentagon City last weekend.
I was looking for navy shoes and Mike was my guy. While I was trying on shoes, I asked him about business. Mike said that in his 15 years in the shoe department at Nordstrom, this is the worst he’s seen. I looked around, the store was packed. The food court had been packed. A couple of weeks ago, Tysons Galleria was packed. How could business be down?
Mike said, “look around, nobody’s carrying bags.” And you know what? He was right. Very few people in the store were carrying shopping bags. I was obsessed with people watching the rest of the afternoon and Mike’s words kept ringing true. Few people were carrying bags.
As Mike rang up my purchase, he said, “don’t be a stranger.”
