The straight line

Back before society became so mobile, checking the backgrounds of potential employees was pretty much a matter of asking around the neighborhood: Were the applicants honest? Reliable? Hardworking? Things have gotten considerably more complex. Today, virtually every company is vulnerable to hiring problem employees – not only those who are dishonest, but those who create untrue...

A company can use workers provided through an employee leasing company or professional employer organization (PEO) to save money on benefits such as health and life insurance, as well as administrative costs. Here’s How it Works An employee leasing firm hires people for your company and pays all the related costs for them. You then pay the...

During his first state visit to the United States in September, Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed a range of global, regional and bilateral issues with U.S. President Obama. The leaders’ discussions included their joint vision for an international agreement on climate change that will be concluded in Paris this December. The state visit was followed by...

There’s an old saying in advertising: “Sell the sizzle, not the steak.” Appeal to emotions, be entertaining and keep it short because no one has time to read anymore. The idea is that if your ads stand out for their sizzling originality, you’ll get customers to eat more steak. Many successful consumer campaigns are built on...

Even years after the dot-bomb explosion, new Web sites spring up offering products and services from second-hand motorcycles to personal dating services. And why not? Compared with the cost of writing and paying for an ad, sticking it in a newspaper and waiting for results, selling on the Web is pretty irresistible. If your company has...

Documenting business travel expenses causes administrative headaches for employers and employees alike. Typically, employees are required to collect receipts as they travel, noting the time, place and business purpose of each expenditure. They then must submit monthly expense reports that are subject to approval of their supervisors. Sometimes, administrative delays occur if documentation is incomplete or...