MILWAUKEE – The Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce announced today that Rogers Behavioral Health has joined the Chamber as its newest gold member, bringing the total number of members of the Chamber to nearly 700 businesses and organizations.

“We are honored to welcome Rogers Behavioral Health as the newest gold member of the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber,” said Jason Rae, President & CEO of the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce. “We are thrilled to partner with such a well-respected national organization as we collectively work to build a more inclusive community across the state and country. Rogers’ commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is a model for other organizations providing mental health and addiction services to the LGBTQ community.”

“In order to provide the most effective treatment possible for our patients and their families, it’s important that employees feel supported and encouraged each day,” said Karen Nelson, director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion for Rogers. “That’s why Rogers strives to create a healthy culture where patients and employees can grow and feel welcome, safe, and respected. As the field of behavioral health has historically stigmatized the LGBTQIA+ community, it is imperative for Rogers to pave a path as an affirming organization while holding ourselves accountable and continuously improving our care for all those we serve. We are proud to be a member of the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber and to work together to build a more welcoming and inclusive community for all in Wisconsin and across the country.”

Rogers Behavioral Health is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit provider of mental health and addiction services. Rogers offers evidence-based treatment for adults, children and teens with depression and other mood disorders, eating disorders, addiction, OCD and anxiety disorders, trauma, and PTSD. In addition to a growing network of regional locations in California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Washington, Rogers operates three inpatient behavioral health hospitals, 15residential programs and eight outpatient centers in Wisconsin. The System also includes Rogers Behavioral Health Foundation and Rogers InHealth.

Rogers Behavioral Health joins more than 50 other corporations as a gold member of the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber. Gold members receive a listing in the online business directory, invitation to all Chamber events, and a seat on the Chamber’s Leadership Council.

“We are truly thankful to Rogers Behavioral Health for all they do to be supportive of the LGBTQ community and we look forward to building a strong partnership together,” added Rae.

The Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce is an organization of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and LGBT-allied businesses, corporations and professionals throughout the state of Wisconsin. It offers networking opportunities, business development efforts within the LGBT community, and educational programming to its members. The organization has more than 675 members from around the state. In 2015, the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce received the National Chamber of the Year Award from the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC). More information can be found online at: www.wislgbtchamber.com.

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Talent AcquisitionCorporations around the world spend millions of dollars on talent acquisition every quarter. They hire talent acquisition experts to help them find the right fit for each job position, and go through a painstaking recruitment process to make sure the right person is hired.

Talent acquisition departments in numerous organizations are made up of recruiters, HR managers and hiring managers. In a corporate setting, the talent acquisition process is often placed under the human resources umbrella and involves sourcing, bringing, interviewing, selecting, and onboarding assistants.

But acquiring the best talent for any given job isn’t easy. In fact, HR departments frequently get it wrong and end up costing the organization precious time and money in getting rid of unsuitable candidates. 

So what can hiring managers do to improve talent acquisition within organizations? That’s what we’ll be discussing in today’s blog by providing you with the ten best tips for talent acquisition.

Best Tips for Talent Acquisition

  • Understand Needs of Employing Manager

Recruiters need to have a solid, presuming relationship with hiring managers to know their needs and the unique necessities of their departments. Strategize together to distinguish significant role duties as well as short and long-term goals, and how a particular candidate will help deliver them. 

Striving together will give you a better sense of the role and the ideal applicant while reinforcing your relationship for eventual hiring. In addition, employing managers often trust the judgment of recruiters in finding the right candidate according to the needs of the department. As such, interdepartmental relationships depend on a sound understanding of employing manager needs.

  • Onboarding is a Big Step

The job of a hiring manager isn’t done once a candidate is hired. After a candidate is approved and becomes an agent, organizations have digital dilemmas to the conventional paper-based post-hiring process, often called onboarding, the next significant step in talent acquisition.

Employee onboarding comprises an online benefits register, welcome emails, and team presentations, and signing on to employee commitment and wellness programs.

Major HR technology players such as Cornerstone OnDemand, Oracle, and SAP implement onboarding features, as do more sophisticated HCM suite merchants such as Zenefits and Namely, as well as ERP vendors such as NetSuite.

  • Keeping Employing Manager Up-to-Date

A fairly obvious yet recent trend in talent acquisition is keeping the employing manager up to date with the progress of the hiring process. Not only does this allow the employing manager to contribute invaluable insights while the hiring process is going on, it also builds interdepartmental cohesion through communication and coordination.

For smaller organizations that may not have separate roles defined for hiring and managing new candidates, it’s important for the hiring manager to include other team members into the hiring process. 

This is because existing team members need to see who is being brought into the organization to give feedback as well as feel that their opinion is valued during the hiring process.

  •  Rely on Employee Referrals

Hiring isn’t an easy process and headhunters require all the help they can get. That’s why a staggering 96% of organizations with 10,000 employees or more say they rely on employee referrals. 

This is because a significant portion of the hiring process can be cut down by using employee referrals while offering current employees monetary incentives to refer a good and loyal candidate.

However, it’s important to note that employee referrals can only be effective if the monetary incentive offered to employees is substantial. Often employees do not take employee referral programs seriously as they offer low or no additional bonuses.

  • Be Comfortable with Flexible Work Arrangements

One of the most effective ways to be an attractive employer for competent and loyal candidates is to offer flexible work arrangements. Offering flexible work arrangements is also more in-tune with the industry trend in the post-pandemic world.

The pandemic has already proven that organizations can sustain work from home models and that employees can work effectively outside the office as well. As such, offering flexible work arrangements is one of the best ways to acquire the top talent in the market.

  • Look to Part-Time Contributors

One of the ways organizations can acquire talent more effectively is to look towards part time contributors. Usually full time resources cost organizations too much, even during the hiring process in the time it takes to sift through countless CVs and to interview.

A more efficient and cost-effective way of acquiring talent is giving out projects on a part time basis. This not only cuts down on the time it takes to hire new people since project based hiring is quicker but also expands the talent pool to include part time resources.

  • Stop Trying to Find the “Perfect” Candidate

Managers, and even entire departments, can be guilty of envisioning a “perfect” candidate who checks all the boxes and fits every criteria. But as anyone who has ever hired an employee will tell you, no one like that exists. There is no “perfect” candidate out there, so stop passing up good candidates in your search for the perfect one.

The reality is that even the most suited candidates will require orientation and training to adjust into the job role and the organization. And it’s virtually impossible to find a potential employee that has everything you’re looking for, simply because each organization and job role is unique, much like candidates themselves.

  • Don’t Lose a Good Candidate to Counteroffers

Once you do find a suitable candidate and make them an offer, it is likely that their current employers will try to retain them with counteroffers. It is at this stage that most organizations refuse to commit and backout once a potential resource comes back with counter offers from existing employers.

In fact, it’s better if you commit to hiring the candidate and show that you are willing to go the extra mile in hiring them. This builds a better reputation of the organization with the candidate and ensures that the working relationship gets off to a good start.

  • Stay in Touch with Former Employees

Former employees are a vital part of the hiring network. That’s because they know the working of the organization, understand its culture and know what it takes to be successful. As such, it is important to maintain good relationships with former employees and develop a network with them even after they leave the company.

  • Review Talent Acquisition Processes & Success

Finally, you need to regularly review your talent acquisition processes and measure success rate for the candidates hired through it. Regular inspection and revision of the talent acquisition process can help work out chinks and refine the process to make it smoother for the next hiring cycle. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, acquiring the right talent for your organization is not an easy task but it can be accomplished if you keep these tips in mind. The great thing about these talent acquisition tips is that they work for any organization in any industry, including LGBT owned businesses

hybird workplaceWhile the hybrid workplace model has been around for quite some time, it was only during the pandemic that it became popular across industries. But the introduction of this effective albeit complex workplace model presents unique challenges for managers. 

Chief among these challenges is making a hybrid workplace as inclusive as possible with some employees working from remote locations while others remain in-office. Despite the evident difficulty of maintaining this balance however, there are multiple ways to ensure that your organization’s hybrid workplace remains inclusive to all employees.

We’ll be discussing the various techniques managers can adopt to promote inclusiveness in a hybrid workplace. But before we get to that, it’s important to understand what a hybrid workplace is and what it entails.

So let’s dive in.

What is a Hybrid Workplace?

A hybrid workplace is a resilient workplace model meant to maintain a dispersed workforce of both in-office employees and remote workers. The hybrid workplace model provides employees with the versatility to work from wherever they are most fruitful; whether that’s in the office, from a remote location, or a mixture of the two. As such, the two cornerstones of developing a successful hybrid workplace are flexibility and support. 

It provides workers with the compliance to work wherever (and whenever) they choose – whether for potency, convenience, health concerns, or other reasons – places responsibility on the business to generate a work environment that encourages both in-office and remote workers. This adds adjustable workplace design and technology solutions that equally provide all workers with effective collaboration.

The pandemic has only accelerated the adoption of the hybrid workplace model across multiple industries. But keeping these hybrid workplaces inclusive remains a challenge for the best of businesses. 

That’s why we’ll take a look at some of the ways managers can ensure equality and inclusivity in the hybrid workplace of their organizations. 

How to Ensure Inclusivity in a Hybrid Workplace?

Inclusivity in the modern workplace is a mandatory requirement. With so much diversity in the workforce, managers need to take into account all sorts of differences including differences in whether employees work remotely or in-office. 

So let’s take a look at what managers can do to make a hybrid workplace more inclusive.

  • Present Clear & Detailed Guidelines for Hybrid Working

Employees both admire and require clear guidance for how a hybrid work model could work. Without clear expectations, employees can become unsure about where they should be working and believe there is a correct secret choice in working remotely or in the office. 

Managers need to create a clear plan of detailed guidelines and policies to give employees an insight into how the company envisions a hybrid workforce. Leaders must set a detailed set of guidelines that is uniform across the organization, so that employees feel a sense of consistency and equality in how the hybrid workplace model works.

  • Guarantee a Voice for Every Team Member

When it comes time for meetings or brainstorming sessions, confirm that all remote colleagues can hear and be heard. Allow enough time for everyone to participate. 

Managers may like to start the conversation by mentioning that they would like everyone to contribute and value opinions. It’s also useful to mention that rather than hindering another speaker, everyone should wait until they have finished talking to share their view. 

Try to foster a context in which ideas are appreciated. During a team meeting, managers can ask a lot of open-ended questions to encourage people to share. You could even structure involvement during the meeting by giving everyone a set role or assigning everyone an agenda item to introduce and discuss.

This way each employee, whether in-office or remote, will feel that they have a role to play. This promotes inclusivity and allows everyone to be a part of the organization during key meetings and brainstorming sessions.

  • Understand & Address Issues for Remote Working Employees

Usually, remote working employees are the ones that may feel as being kept out of the loop. That’s because coming into an office where you communicate with colleagues is a very different experience from working in isolation at home. It’s also natural to feel that in-office colleagues share a bond that is missing with remote employees

Therefore, it’s essential for managers to talk to their employees about their remote working experience and understand what does and doesn’t work for them. Then, managers can focus on maintaining positive participation while improving upon the negative.

  • Rely on Technology for Cooperation & Inclusion

Cooperation and collaboration are going to look very different in the post-pandemic workplace. That’s because entire industries shifted to digital means for communication and collaboration during the pandemic because of social distancing restrictions. 

This monumental shift is here to stay so companies better jump on the bandwagon of letting technology dictate the way for intra organizational communication.

Corporations are now investing in tools and technologies to digitally modify their organization and streamline their work in digital and physical circumstances. Consider the best method for your teams to work together efficiently and productively. Across industries, people have proven to be prolific while operating remotely. 

The next step is to regulate and create formalized processes around how your teams can continue to perform online in unusual times. Whether that’s project administration tools like Asana, prompt messaging and channels on Slack, or talent intelligence tools to accomplish your workforce, technology is a vital part of helping hybrid workplace run smoothly.

  • Catchup with Employees in One-on-Ones

Do not skip your annual one-on-one meeting with your distant employees. These conferences give you a chance to check in to see how they are. For your staff, they can be a vital lifeline to you and the workplace, so regularly delaying these meetings can lead to your remote workers seeming detached and underappreciated. 

It is naturally more comfortable to spend more time with those co-located in their hybrid workplace with you. But it’s important that the amount of time you spend with remote workers is proportional to the time you spend talking to co-located staff.

Conclusion

As the latest workplace continues to see an ever-widening number of remote workers, companies will need to prioritize collaboration resolutions for the new hybrid workplace, equalizing the playing field for onsite and remote shareholders. 

For LGBT owned businesses, a hybrid workplace can work wonders since it allows the company to foster a culture of diversity and inclusion through functional means. LGBT business owners can make use of the tips and techniques described in this blog to ensure that their hybrid workplace can feel more inclusive for all employees.

Next Pandemic

It’s safe to say that no aspect of human life remains untouched by the coronavirus pandemic. From personal relationships to international relations, the pandemic has had a profound impact on the way we live our lives and interact with the world around us.

For businesses, the pandemic spurred a frantic struggle to adapt or perish. It was a struggle that thousands of businesses failed as many shut down overnight and many more were left teetering on the brink of bankruptcy.

Now as the dust settles and everyday life begins to return to normal in various parts of the world, both businesses and individuals are left asking the question, “How do we prepare for the next pandemic?”

In this blog, we aim to answer this very question from the business perspective. We’ll go over what businesses need to do to ensure that the next pandemic doesn’t take them by surprise and how they can equip themselves for a better tomorrow. 

So let’s dive in.

  • Ensure Liquidity for Your Business

There are some important lessons we can learn from the current pandemic that will help businesses survive whenever the next pandemic rolls around. The first and foremost of these lessons is that business survival depends on how easily businesses can access their assets to bail themselves out of financial tight spots.

In other words, the more liquid a business is, the better chance it has of surviving crisis situations such as a pandemic. When COVID-19 suddenly boomed and forced entire nations to impose lockdown restrictions, only businesses that had backup cash were able to survive the initial months. 

That’s why it’s important to have cash that will get you through at least three to six months (or ideally one year) of crisis where business is in a rut and sales are down.

  • Prioritize Sustainable Growth with Staff

The one thing this pandemic taught us, above all else, was the sanctity of human life. Many minorities such as the LGBT community suffered much higher infection and mortality rates than others. Similarly, many LGBT owned businesses also suffered more financial losses than other businesses, while LGBT folk also experienced higher unemployment levels.

This shows that the impact of the pandemic was magnified by the disparities in our society. One of the mistakes we cannot afford to make during the next pandemic is ignoring certain parts of the society. 

That’s why businesses that hope to survive the next pandemic should apply this lesson to their own setups. The only acceptable growth is sustainable growth and sustainable growth is impossible to achieve without a dedicated and loyal workforce.

While the COVID-19 pandemic saw record highs of unemployment, businesses cannot afford to go the same route in the next pandemic. Instead, they need to work on prioritizing the people within the organizations so that the staff becomes an indispensable part of the system. 

Not only will this boost confidence within the workforce but also force business owners to evolve the way they think about growth and the role of employees in it. 

  • Provide Employees with Financial Stability

As a part of prioritizing sustainable growth, businesses need to provide employees with financial stability. Such a practice makes employees feel secure in their position and work harder for the organization. 

Although it's true that every person defines financial stability differently, there are some practices that can ensure that all employees feel financially stable working for an organization. 

For instance, regular bonuses and increments based on performance improve financial stability for employees. Similarly, setting up retirement plans can ensure that employees are financially well off when they retire.

These financial benefits also make it easier for employees to take pay cuts if a crisis occurs, for example, a pandemic that forces the business to cut costs. So whenever the next pandemic comes around, employees would be able and willing to take the necessary pay cuts to ensure the survival of the company. 

  • Incorporate Technology to Promote Remote Working

It’s no secret that the tech industry wasn’t hit as hard as some of the others thanks to the role of technology. In fact, tech companies such as Amazon enjoyed growth during the peak months of the pandemic.

This shows that incorporating technology is a step in the right direction for businesses when it comes to surviving the next pandemic. This incorporation involves developing remote working environments and making employees comfortable with digital technology.

In fact, businesses need to try to involve all stakeholders in the promotion of remote working so that suppliers, employees and customers can all interact efficiently and effectively during the next pandemic.

  • Improve Online Business Operations

The incorporation of technology is the first step to expanding online business operations. Given that the entire world is online and business’s digital presence counts for more than a physical one, organizations need to develop online capabilities to survive the next pandemic.

This is evident from the boom in e-commerce and online activity during the coronavirus pandemic. The improvement in online business operations will also ensure that whenever the next pandemic ensues, businesses are ready to shift competencies to remote locations and continue working without affecting output.

  • Invest in Digital Security for Business

Finally, businesses need to invest in digital security in order to protect themselves from hackers and malicious activities. Even though this step will cost businesses, the long term protection is well worth the investment. 

Once businesses have incorporated the necessary digital infrastructure and shifted competencies and processes online, protecting this framework is essential in the next pandemic. The coronavirus pandemic already revealed several shortcomings in the current cybersecurity model across the world.

This is why businesses would be better off investing in cybersecurity today rather than delaying this important step. Once the investment is made, any business would be ready to take on the closure of physical office locations during the next pandemic.

Conclusion

Even though the coronavirus pandemic has turned the world upside down, it has taught us incredible lessons. These lessons are essential for businesses to carry into the next pandemic so that they can avoid the pitfalls revealed by the current one. 

Among the lessons that need to be learned by businesses is the prioritization of people over processes, the incorporation of technology and the need to shift online. Any business that takes these steps will be able to secure a better future even if another pandemic rolls around. 

creative brainstorming

Businesses face problems all the time. That’s why so many companies are keen on hiring creative thinkers who can solve problems innovatively and set a culture of creative thinking in the process. 

One of the most effective ways to foster this culture is by conducting creative brainstorming sessions that involve employees from all over the organization. But not all creative brainstorming sessions are as effective as managers might hope. 

That’s because when it comes to spontaneous ideation, it’s easy to get sidetracked and end up wasting time on things that don’t really matter. In fact, one study found that creative brainstorming is a huge waste of time, but only because it doesn’t inspire any true solutions to the problem at hand.

In this blog post, we’ll discuss how to navigate a creative brainstorming session so that it doesn’t end up wasting time for everyone involved and actually leads to creative ideation for the problem at hand. 

But first, let’s take a closer look at what creative brainstorming is and why it’s not only important, but also necessary for businesses today.

What is Creative Brainstorming?

Creative brainstorming is simply a group activity of coming up with spontaneous and creative ideas to solve a particular problem. The whole concept behind creative brainstorming is that participants can offer any sort of creative solution. Thinking outside the box is encouraged and the more ideas participants can come up with, the better. 

However, a common criticism of this method is that it leads to time wasting and the group often gets distracted from the main objective. While that may be true in some cases, the real reason creative brainstorming sessions become ineffective is because there is no facilitator in the group. 

Additionally, if there is no set structure for the discussion or clarity regarding the main objectives then it’s much easier for the group to get distracted and the activity to go to waste.

To ensure that doesn’t happen to you or your team the next time you guys gather for a creative brainstorming session, here are some tips and tricks to make your session more effective.

How to Make a Creative Brainstorming Session Effective?

Here are some of the steps you can follow to make your next creative brainstorm session effective for the entire team.

  • Ensure Diversity in the Group

The most important part of a creative brainstorming session is the participants. As a manager, you need to ensure that there is a sufficiently diverse group of employees who take part in the brainstorming session. 

This is especially necessary if your organization has a diverse workforce so that different points of views are incorporated into the problem solving process. Although organizations nowadays do make an effort to include employees from all backgrounds into the company, it is businesses owned by minority groups that are better at diversity inclusion.

Many LGBT owned businesses offer employment opportunities to the LGBT community as well as other minorities to ensure diversity. As such, creative brainstorming is more productive in such organizations.

  • Give a Heads Up for the Session

The ideas in the creative brainstorming session are supposed to be spontaneous, not the session itself. It’s important to give the participants a heads up before convening a creative brainstorming session. This notice also provides the participants with the opportunity to come up with some preliminary ideas before coming to the meeting.

And although ‘spontaneous’ is synonymous with ‘brainstorming’, it doesn’t mean that ideas thought up before the meeting are a bad thing. In fact, providing sufficient notice for the session may allow for things to start off smoothly and, as a result, finish in time as well.

  • Set a Clear Agenda

Participants also need to be aware of what problem is going to be tackled in the creative brainstorming session. It’s better to email the date, time and agenda for the session to all participants at least 24 hours in advance. 

Setting an agenda for the creative brainstorming session also helps to focus the discussion. It provides a chance for the participants to come up with relevant ideas before the meeting. An agenda also prevents the group from deviating from the main objective of the session. As such, more time is spent considering ideas relevant to solving the problem.

  • Establish a Facilitator

A facilitator plays a key role in the creative brainstorming process. That’s because if your creative brainstorming session is like a car, then the facilitator is the steering wheel. 

The main responsibility of the facilitator is to nudge the session into the right direction, ensure that everyone gets a chance to participate equally, keep track of the best ideas and prevent time from being wasted. That’s why a facilitator needs to be someone who is impartial as well as competent. 

Without an effective facilitator, it is improbable that the creative brainstorming session will follow a productive direction. Since the facilitator outlines, clarifies and enforces the rules, therefore it’s necessary to have one who is clear about what the group needs to achieve during the session.

  • Start with Ice Breakers

Getting started with creative brainstorming can be a little difficult. That’s why an effective way to get the participants’ ideas flowing is through icebreakers. There’s a whole array of icebreaker activities that you can choose from. 

A common one is to ask participants questions such as “What uses can you think of for a chair?”. The weirder the answers, the better. Because it shows that the participants are thinking creatively and out of the box, which is the whole point.

  • Develop a Receptive Environment

Once the group is warmed up and ready to fire off ideas, make sure that you maintain a receptive environment for both good and bad ideas. Often, people are scared to provide their opinion or ideas because of fear of what others might think or say.

An easy way to mitigate this fear is by presenting bad ideas yourself and calling yourself out on them. Once employees see managers being comfortable with bad ideas, they will automatically begin to open up. If facilitators are successful in developing a receptive environment, it would yield to better ideation among participants.

  • Document Good Ideas, Discard Bad Ones

It’s easy to lose track of who says what during a creative brainstorming session. That’s why it’s important to document good ideas whenever they come along. It’s also rare for the creative brainstorming session to yield fully formed ideas. In fact, it’s more common for ideas to be in the initial stages.

That’s why documenting these ideas is essential so that they can be expanded upon in the future. In addition, documenting bad ideas will also allow them to be discarded when the team reviews the session notes later on.

  • Organize and Categorize the Best Ideas

Once the session is over, the facilitator should organize all of the best possible ideas. They can then categorize the ideas based on the input of the entire team. When all of the best ideas are laid out at the end of the session, it instantly becomes easier to understand which one would be most suitable to solve the problem at hand. 

It’s also important to remember that not all creative brainstorming sessions yield the best results. You have to be prepared to come away with nothing from the session as well, because that’s just the risk they carry. If or when that happens, it’s time to regroup and adopt another approach to solve the problem.

Conclusion

Creative brainstorming can either be a huge waste of time or a way to find an innovative solution to a problem. The outcome depends on how well the session is conducted. Following the steps described in this blog will allow you to get the most out of your creative brainstorming session.

10 Tips to Staying Healthy During the Work Week

The work week can take its toll on our bodies in any number of ways, which is why staying healthy is such a challenge nowadays. Long hours spent sitting in front of a screen or out in the burning sun can slowly but surely degrade health. In fact, there's much proven research on the fact that long work weeks lead to higher health risks.

But there's always a way to stay healthy if you put in enough effort. So today we'll be going over some of the easiest and most important ways to staying healthy during the work week.

1. Eat Healthy

You've probably heard it a million times before, but there's a reason for that - it works! Eating healthy is one of the best ways to stay healthy, but what does "eating healthy" mean? 

The short answer is, it means avoiding snacks and fried food while keeping a balanced diet consisting of meat and vegetables. Of course, having snacks or fried food once in a while doesn't really hurt. But frequent snacking can really add up, and couple the unhealthy diet with long hours in the office and you're risking conditions like high blood pressure, cholesterol, or even heart disease.

Try bringing your own healthy meal to the office, consisting of fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, whole grains, legumes, etc. so that you're not tempted to eat unhealthy snacks.

2. Make Exercise a Habit

One of the main risks that a work week poses which most people aren't even aware of is sitting for too long. Human bodies weren't made to sit for long periods of time, which is why sitting for long durations is linked with back pain, obesity, psychological stress and general feeling of tiredness.

The best remedy to this work week stress is exercising regularly. Whether you do it at the gym, or through a sport or simply just go for a run, exercising is essential in staying healthy during the work week. Even getting up and stretching regularly at work can go a long way in mitigating the risks of sitting for too long.

3. Get 8 Hours of Sleep

Sleeping is the body's way of recovering from the daily grind. That's why experts suggest that adults should sleep between 7 to 9 hours every night. Adequate sleep is the remedy for a number of health risks including exhaustion, stress, laziness and many underlying conditions like heart disease.

Not to mention, a better sleep schedule also contributes to better performance at work. So sleeping for eight hours every night won't just keep you healthy but will also contribute to better performance. Adequate sleep is also linked to a happier mood and better memory, which are all around good things to have.

4. Short Breaks Go a Long Way

Have you heard of the Pomodoro technique? It's a time management technique that involves working for 25 minutes at a time and then taking a 5 minutes break. This technique is popular because it beats procrastination, keeps energy levels up, and improves focus. In addition, this technique also reduces the impact of a long work week.

After all, 8-10 hours at the office every day can seem daunting and exhausting. But breaking down the work day, and by extension work week, can go a long way for your health as well. With the Pomodoro technique, you'll be able to minimize stress and tiredness while improving your own productivity.

5. Give Your Eyes a Rest

For millions of people around the world, a job means sitting in front of a computer or a screen for multiple hours each day. This takes a heavy toll on the eyes because of the continuous strain on the eyes and the blue light coming off the screen. In addition, tracking the movement on the screen for long durations of time makes it harder to focus and leads to eye fatigue.

That's why taking a rest every now and then is essential in staying healthy during the work week. The Pomodoro technique may help you stave off eye fatigue as well. In addition to giving your eyes a rest, using larger fonts and high screen brightness may reduce the stress on your eyes as well.

6. Work But Don't Overwork

Working long hours and doing so frequently is one of the classic ways to overwork yourself. Studies have shown that overworking causes laziness, reduces fitness levels, may lead to anxiety and could even contribute to depression. 

Ensuring you don't overwork yourself is fundamental to staying healthy. This requires maintaining a work-life balance where you give as much time to family, friends and self-care activities as you do to work. Combining such a healthy lifestyle with proper diet could improve your health multifolds over a course of just a few short weeks.

7. Personal Hygiene is Important

Personal hygiene is always important and even more so in the time of the coronavirus. Make sure you properly wash your hands when you get to the office to wash off any germs you might have picked up. This won't just limit the spread of germs but also encourage others to follow your lead in staying clean and healthy.

It's also important to take a "pamper day" once in a while where you dedicate an entire day to simply taking care of your body. You can do this in any number of ways but most people prefer booking a spa appointment and getting massages to stay refreshed and healthy.

8. Keep Your Surroundings Clean

In addition to personal hygiene, keeping your surroundings clean is also important for a healthy lifestyle. You're already probably used to sanitizing your home thanks to the pandemic, but it's also good practice to keep your work environment clean as well.

That's because your workstation is one place where you spend a majority of your day. Sanitize your workstation and get rid of any trash laying around. You also want to clean your equipment from time to time especially if it's electronics. Dust tends to settle and solidify in hard to reach spaces which just makes it harder to get rid of. That's why you should keep disinfecting your workspace and tidy it up regularly to stay healthy.

9. Drink Water!

This may not be news of the century, but water is really good for your health.Not only does water keep you from getting dehydrated, but it also has a number of other health benefits such as aiding digestion, preventing constipation, normalizing blood pressure, detoxifying organs and regulating body temperature.

For adults, four to six cups of water daily should be enough. But drinking water is only one part of the equation to staying healthy. The other part involves staying clear of alcohol or fizzy drinks that may end up damaging the liver, causing obesity and contributing to feelings of laziness and low energy. So be sure you drink plenty of water while avoiding drinks that damage your health.

10. Take a Deep Breath, Often

And finally, breathing deeply is one of the most effective ways to keep yourself calm, healthy and refreshed. Not only does frequent and deep breathing improve blood flow but it also contributes to better immunity and better sleep. Not to mention, deep breathing stabilizes your heartbeat and reduces anxiety which is always handy when you're stressed at work. So be sure to breathe deeply and frequently whenever possible. 

Conclusion

There's a whole number of ways you can stay healthy during the work week but the ten ways we've described above are the easiest to follow and provide the best results. At the end of the day, it's up to you to take care of your health and balance work so that it doesn't negatively impact your long term health. 

If you're interested in knowing more about LGBT owned businesses and how the LGBT Chamber of Commerce helps those businesses grow their networks, then become a member of our Chamber today!

 

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Setting Goals is Easy

Setting goals in life is important to say the least. That’s because goals keep us focused and motivated to keep moving forward and improve ourselves on a daily basis. There are thousands of examples of how setting effective goals helped remarkable individuals achieve wonders.

But in reality, setting goals is only one part of the equation. If you truly want to get where you want to be and make something of yourself then you need to achieve those goals as well. In fact, some people would argue that setting goals is the easy part because after all, anyone can set goals.

The hard part is achieving the goals because it requires focus, dedication and commitment that is hard to maintain over a long period of time. That’s why today we’ll be discussing some of the ways you can set meaningful goals and what you can do to achieve them in an effective manner.

Why are Goals Important?

We need to start by understanding why setting goals is important. According to research, goals can be divided into two types; (1) those that help achieve something and (2) those that help avoid something. The first type are known as mastery goals and the second type are known as avoidance goals.

The reason mastery and avoidance goals exist is because they help shape behavior. In order to achieve anything, humans need to change their behavior in one way or another. Goals help bring that behavioral change to life by providing an incentive, or tracking performance.

In addition, goals help define success for each individual. Since everyone wants to accomplish different things in life, therefore goals help define what success would look like in each case. As a natural consequence, goals also define what failure looks like and automatically hold people accountable for what they do or do not achieve.

Thus, goals are an instrument of injecting purpose into life. Fulfilling goals provides a sense of control, and a sense of control develops long term purpose and value for individuals. And purpose drives happiness and contentment in life.

So there are plenty of reasons to set goals, but how do we know which goals are worth setting? That’s where it gets tricky. But as Zig Ziglar said, “A goal properly set, is halfway reached”.

How to Set Meaningful Goals?

What Ziglar meant by this was that setting goals with the correct ambition in mind is of paramount importance. It also means that in order to set meaningful goals, it’s important to know oneself - your own strengths and weaknesses, fears and ambitions.

You can talk to friends and family to get to know some of the characteristics about yourself that you may not have known before. Or simply being more observant may allow you to decipher hidden aspects of your personality. Once you have a better idea about who you are and the things that make you happy, here’s what you can do to convert vague ambitions into definite goals:

  • Start by defining what you want from life and where you envision yourself in 1, 5 and 10 years time.
  • Write down the ideas that come to your head.
  • Try to convert generic ideas to specific ones
  • Write out concrete steps for achieving any one specific goal, for example, any specific skill you can learn.
  • Prioritize your goals one by one until you have clear vision of which goal is most important
  • Then ask yourself why the most important goal is most important to you.
  • Make sure that the goal is challenging, and that you have a roadmap about what you need to do to accomplish it.

How to Achieve Your Goals?

Now let’s get to the part of actually achieving your goal. Experts have written entire books about how to achieve goals, but we’ll be covering the most important steps you need to know to fulfill your goals.So let’s get started.

 1. Know What Motivates You

This is part of the “knowing oneself” exercise you did when you were setting your goals. Knowing what motivates you is essential to be able to drive yourself to fulfill tasks and accomplish goals. It’s also easier to motivate yourself when the goal you’re trying to accomplish is related to something you’re passionate about.

 2. Develop a Proactive Mentality

Notice how we said a proactive mentality - because action stems from mentality. Developing a proactive mentality means having a ‘can do’ attitude which essentially means you are solution-oriented rather than problem-oriented. This mentality is essential in achieving goals because you will face multiple obstacles. The only way to overcome these obstacles is to have a mental state that allows you to overcome adversity and look for solutions rather than get weighed down by problems.

 3. Acquire Relevant Skills

One of the most important steps in achieving goals is to have the right skill set. It’s necessary to acquire the relevant skill set to achieve your goal because every goal requires some level of proficiency in one area or another. Not to mention, skills developed meticulously over a period of time can be assets later on in life. In addition, acquiring relevant skills is one of the concrete steps that aid in achieving overall goals. So without tangible skill improvement, it becomes nearly impossible to achieve your goals.

 4. Don’t Be Afraid to Fail

Failure is a part of life and that means it’s a part of achieving success. You’ll undoubtedly fail at some point in your life but that’s ok. The most successful people have failed in life and learned from it, which is why it is essential that you do the same. Failure is only harmful when people do not learn from it. So try your best to analyze your mistakes and understand why it was that you failed. This will allow you to improve yourself with time and help you learn from your mistakes.

5. Track Progress Regularly

You can’t manage what you can’t measure which is why measuring your progress is important. Goals are all about managing your time and skills to accomplish what you want to accomplish. That’s why tracking progress regularly is an essential part of achieving your goals. Tracking progress also keeps you accountable to your goals. If you feel you are not the best person for tracking your own progress, then ask your friends and family to help out. 

6. Visualize the End Result

This step is a recurring one, because you need to continuously remind yourself what it is that you’re trying to achieve. It’s easy to lose sight of the end result when faced with repeated hardships and obstacles, but visualizing the end result is one of the best ways you can maintain your focus. Whenever you feel yourself wavering from your commitment, ask yourself what it is that you are trying to achieve. This visualization is most effective when your goal is something that you are passionate about.

Conclusion

Goals help organize and manage life while providing a sense of purpose. They are important for a healthy lifestyle and help achieve success in a set time frame. Follow the steps outlined in this blog to set meaningful goals for yourself and achieve them as well!

If you’re interested in finding out about LGBT owned businesses and how the LGBT Chamber of Commerce helps those businesses grow their networks, then become a member of our Chamber today!

 

The Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce is an organization of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and LGBT-allied businesses, corporations and professionals throughout the state of Wisconsin. It offers networking opportunities, business development efforts within the LGBT community, and educational programming to its members. The organization has nearly 700 members from around the state. In 2015, the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce received the National Chamber of the Year Award from the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC). More information can be found online at: www.wislgbtchamber.com.

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Milwaukee Bucks recognized as Corporate Partner of the Year

MILWAUKEE — The Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce today announced the winners of its 2021 Business Awards, a program that recognizes the contributions made by businesses and individuals in building a stronger LGBTQ+ and allied business community.

“The Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce is so proud to recognize these amazing businesses and individuals for the work they are doing to build a more welcoming and inclusive business community in Wisconsin,” said Jason Rae, President & CEO of the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce. “These award recipients truly represent the best of Wisconsin. We are thrilled to be able to turn the spotlight on these deserving companies and individuals and showcase the amazing work they are doing to support LGBTQ and allied businesses in Wisconsin.”

Those businesses and individuals receiving awards this year are:

  • Corporate Partner of the Year: Milwaukee Bucks
  • LGBTQ Business of the Year: Swaye’ Tea (West Allis, WI)
  • Allied Business of the Year: Mayana Chocolate (Spooner, WI)
  • Nonprofit Organization of the Year: Community Living Connections, Inc. (Madison, WI)
  • Business Resource Group of the Year: Kohler PROUD (Kohler, WI)
  • John Ross Pruess Business Leader of the Year: Kerri Balliet, Red Baron Coaching (Shorewood, WI)
  • Advocate of the Year: Governor Tony Evers

“Each winner demonstrates a strong commitment to building a diverse business community where all people can thrive,” added Rae. “We are so excited to honor these champions of inclusion.”

The awards will be presented at the Chamber’s Business Awards & Showcase, presented by BMO Harris Bank, on the evening of Tuesday, September 14 at the Bradley Symphony Center in downtown Milwaukee. The public is invited to attend. All attendees are requested to be fully vaccinated to attend and must wear a mask at all times. Registration is requested and can be done online at www.wislgbtchamber.com/awards.

Here are some additional details on each of our 2021 award recipients:

  • Corporate Partner of the Year: Milwaukee Bucks
    This award is given to an organization that is a corporate member of the LGBT Chamber and has shown a strong commitment to diversity in the workplace and to positively growing the LGBTQ and allied business community. The Milwaukee Bucks have been key in growing and supporting the LGBT Chamber by serving as a platinum member since April of 2016. This year, the Milwaukee Bucks launched an LGBTQ business resource group internally to support their LGBTQ employees. That group has been an active participant in the Chamber’s LGBT Workplace Alliance and worked in Pride Month to support events outside of Fiserv Forum. The Milwaukee Bucks have also led the way by helping create and support one of the NBA’s first Pride Nights.
  • LGBTQ Business of the Year: Swaye’ Tea (West Allis, WI)
    This award is given to an LGBTQ-owned business that is a member of the Chamber, is an active participant in building a more diverse business community in Wisconsin and has a proven track record of success and involvement. Swaye’ Tea is a nationally certified LGBT Busines Enterprise that has been able to bounce back and grow through the pandemic. In addition to being an LGBTBE, Swaye’ Tea is a Black-owned and woman-owned business that has been able to expand their services and offerings. They have been involved in Chamber events and are committed to building a more inclusive business community.
  • Allied Business of the Year: Mayana Chocolate (Spooner, WI)
    This award is given to an allied-owned business that is a member of the Chamber, is an active participant in building a more diverse business community in Wisconsin and has a proven track record of success and involvement. Mayana Chocolate has been actively involved in Chamber events. As a rural member of the LGBT Chamber, they have worked to build true statewide support for diverse owned businesses. They have committed themselves to giving back by donating a portion of all Pride Caramel Hearts and Pride Candy Bar sales (available year-round) to LGBTQ focused organizations. As an ally, they have made and continue to make an effort to support diverse communities in Wisconsin.
  • Nonprofit Organization of the Year: Community Living Connections, Inc. (Madison, WI)
    This award is given to a nonprofit organization that is a member of the Chamber, with a proven track record of success and involvement and a commitment to building a diverse community. Since 2004, Community Living Connections has worked to support individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities, physical disabilities, and frail elders to live as independently as possible, in their own homes. Community Living Connections has been an active Chamber member since 2018 and has worked to build an inclusive workforce through participation in multiple LGBTQ Career Fairs and others events.
  • Business Resource Group of the Year: Kohler PROUD (Kohler, WI)
    This award is given to a business resource group at one of our corporate partners who works to support and build a culture of inclusion and acceptance. Established in 2017, Kohler PROUD was one of the first Business Resource Groups at Kohler Co. thanks to an incredibly passionate and active group of nearly 100 members. Kohler PROUD has been active with the Chamber's LGBT Workplace Alliance and other programs. Partnering with KOHLER Original Recipe Chocolates business, Kohler PROUD developed Facets of Love, a limited collection of rainbow chocolates available during Pride Month. Proceeds from every Facets of Love Pride Collection purchase were donated to PFLAG. Kohler PROUD is active in the community providing ongoing support and education for Kohler associates and local LGBTQ+ organizations. The PROUD BRG’s ongoing diversity and inclusion efforts are at the very heart of Kohler’s gracious living mission.
  • John Ross Pruess Business Leader of the Year: Kerri Balliet (Shorewood, WI)
    Named after one the Chamber’s most passionate business advocates, this award is given to a hard-working and dedicated individual who has had a positive professional and personal impact on building a diverse business community in Wisconsin. Kerri Balliet has been a passionate leader in growing the LGBTQ and small business communities throughout not only Wisconsin but the globe. Kerri was instrumental in helping to launch the Chamber’s Business Leadership Academy and has continued each year as a frequent presenter. Kerri also is active with the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) as the owner of a nationally certified LGBTBE, Red Baron Coaching. She has presented globally for NGLCC affiliates and business leaders across the world. Kerri brings a sense of optimism and hope to everything she does and exemplifies the spirit of John Ross Pruess.
  • Advocate of the Year: Governor Tony Evers
    This award is given to an individual who has been a strong advocate for inclusion and diversity within the larger business community. Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has been a champion for Wisconsin’s LGBTQ and allied business community. In his proposed 2021-2023 budget request, he advocated for building a more inclusive supply chain in state procurement by adding in LGBT Business Enterprises into the state’s accepted certifications. Governor Evers has been working steadily the past year to help businesses bounce back from COVID. He has been dedicated to not only helping LGBTQ businesses, but all diverse businesses in the state recovery. Governor Evers has worked every day to build a more welcoming and inclusive business community for all people.

 

The Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce is an organization of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and LGBT-allied businesses, corporations and professionals throughout the state of Wisconsin. It offers networking opportunities, business development efforts within the LGBT community, and educational programming to its members. The organization has nearly 700 members from around the state. In 2015, the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce received the National Chamber of the Year Award from the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC). More information can be found online at: www.wislgbtchamber.com.

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Innovation in business isn't a new thing, but the nature of innovation itself is always in flux. That which was considered innovative 20 years ago, is the norm today - case in point: Amazon.

When Jeff Bezos launched Amazon back in 1994, selling items online was considered innovative. Today, the e-commerce industry is worth $4.89 trillion and accounts for over 20% of all global retail sales. Consumers prefer shopping online, from the comfort of their homes rather than visit physical outlets.

And that's why businesses everywhere now rely on innovation as an essential facet of success. Before the digital age, doing the same thing as your competitor would have allowed moderate success. But today, consumers look for new and innovative companies to do business with and  – therefore – prefer the option that has something unique to offer.

In 2021, every business will need to focus on innovation, and here's why: Innovation in business means being able to adapt your operations to the constant changes in technology and consumer behavior. This will allow businesses to provide products and services that are better suited for their customers' needs.

So let us discuss why innovation in business is necessary and how 2021 allows the perfect opportunity for businesses of all kinds to gain a competitive advantage in their relevant industry.

Why is Innovation in Business Necessary in 2021?

Let's start off by defining what innovation is, and how it fits into the business context.

Innovation is defined as "the implementation of new ideas, concepts and products that are perceived as better or more effective than existing ones."

Innovation in business is basically the realization of implementing a new idea or concept to allow for an enhanced process within a business. This new idea or concept can result in the development of products and services that satisfy consumer needs in a whole new way.

Some of the most successful and profitable businesses in history are those that have innovated to meet consumer needs. From Apple Inc. and Microsoft Corp. to Alphabet Inc. (Google's parent company) and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. the most successful companies are those that have been the most innovative.

One key reason why it is important for businesses to innovate is because consumers love it when they do. Innovation gives the consumer something brand new to enjoy as opposed to something that is an improved version of what already exists on the market. And while providing an improved version of an old idea still works, it just doesn't work as well as a truly innovative approach.

Not to mention, innovation can be so powerful that it creates a genuine, new market. For example, Apple did not invent the MP3 player. However, they were able to create such an innovative product with the iPod and got their hands on 70% of all MP3 player revenues.

Models of Innovation in Business in 2021

Innovating in 2021 is tricky. On the one hand, innovation creates opportunities for businesses to enter new markets, develop sophisticated products and processes and satisfy consumer needs like never before. On the other hand, it requires expertise of the highest order to execute innovation properly.

However, to simplify matters we shall discuss three models of innovation that companies usually follow. These models provide a framework of how to proceed with adoption of innovation in business, especially in the modern age.

1.Revenue-Model Innovation

The most common form of innovation in business is revenue-model Innovation. This type of innovation builds on the reigning business model, but adds an extra layer of value to existing products/services or enhances business operations & aligns them with a customer's changing requirements.

As such, revenue-model innovation consists of creating innovative products, modifying existing products and choosing not to sell other (less profitable) products. The most common example of revenue-model Innovation is a new product or service that comes to market and disrupts existing business models. For example, how Amazon is disrupting retail with online services like Amazon Prime.

2.Business-Model Innovation

The business-model innovation involves changing the way a company does business in order to improve customer satisfaction or increase revenues. Innovation is related to the introduction of new technologies, but it isn't limited only to that.

Essentially, business-model innovation is related to change in business strategies, processes and technologies. An example of business-model innovation is a company forming a strategic alliance with another company to develop an innovative product.

In addition, business-model innovation also includes coming up with an innovative way to gain profits from the business.  Innovation can happen at a company's headquarters, but it also can be found in the field. Innovation on the ground level includes things like self-service and virtualization of business processes.

3.Industry-Model Innovation

Finally, the industry-model innovation stems from the desire to effect a change in the industry practices and/or the industry itself. Innovation in this case can be a new way of doing business across industries or changing an existing business approach.

Innovation is key for businesses to remain competitive and keep its revenues steady since it faces stiff competition from competitors that come up with innovative ideas constantly.

As such, industry-model innovation involves pitching an existing product in a new industry or deciding to reinvent established industry practices altogether.

How to Introduce Innovation in Business in 2021?

In 2021, businesses have better access to technology than ever before but that doesn't mean an automatic injection of innovation. Introducing innovation in a business, even in 2021, requires meticulous planning and execution.

Essentially, introducing innovation in business in 2021 requires committing to the cause and backing it up with capital and resources. Thinking of an innovation is just the first step and it is up to the senior management to cultivate a culture that encourages innovative thinking. 

Some of the key components to introduce Innovation in business are:

  1. Prioritization of innovation in business processes and products
  2. Backing up innovative ideas with capital and resources
  3. Persuading all organizational members for adoption of innovative approach
  4. Communicating objective and implementation of communication effectively
  5. Hiring the right resources needed to implement innovation
  6. Regular monitoring and evaluation of progress and performance of innovation

With 2020 wreaking havoc on economies and businesses of all kinds, from LGBT owned businesses to other minority-owned companies, 2021 represents the perfect opportunity for innovation. In many ways, 2021 is a fresh start to businesses and how they can introduce innovation into their processes and products.

Innovation especially represents an opportunity for the LGBT community and gay businesses since they are one of the worst affected businesses by the pandemic. With the help of innovative processes and products, LGBT friendly businesses can make a real difference going forward.

The Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce provides a platform for the gay business community in Wisconsin to develop innovations in business thanks to networking and listing services. Sign up for a membership with the LGBT chamber of commerce today to get started with your innovation in business.

Conclusion

Innovation is the key to success in business nowadays and there are many ways in which businesses can innovate e.g., revenue-model innovation, business model innovation, industry model innovation and product model innovation. Innovation should be the priority for every business owner as this will allow them to gain an edge over their competitors and 2021 is the year for business innovation as many new and useful technologies are helping businesses innovate already.

Did you know cybersecurity crimes went up by 600% during the COVID-19 pandemic? That's because hackers posing as World Health Organization (WHO) or Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) representatives sent phishing emails to unsuspecting recipients for malicious attacks.

In fact, cybersecurity crimes have been increasing steadily for the past few years. In the last year alone, over 300 million people were victims of data breaches. That means governments and corporations are now investing more resources in cybersecurity than ever before.

Since cybersecurity is such a hot issue right now, we'll be talking about what businesses need to know to protect themselves from cybercrime. We'll provide a brief overview of what cybersecurity is, the major types of cybercrimes and the measures businesses can take to protect against those crimes.

What is Cybersecurity for Business?

Let's start by discussing what cybersecurity is and what it means for businesses, whether they are multinational corporations or small local ones.

Cybersecurity, by definition, is a way of protecting networks and data from hackers or malicious attacks. Cybersecurity helps businesses protect their information systems and networks (e.g., databases, web servers) from hackers as well as other potential security risks that they might face on a day to day basis.

Cybersecurity also helps businesses protect the data contained in their networks from theft or destruction. Cyber criminals might find a way to steal, destroy or exploit the information for their own gain. Cyber criminals also use malware and computer viruses to disrupt business operations or steal confidential information.

It goes without saying that small businesses are more susceptible to cybercrime than bigger companies. Similarly, LGBT owned businesses among other minority owned businesses are also at a higher risk when compared to other businesses.

Cyberattacks can be very costly as it might result in data breaches and loss of customer trust that can burn down the business. Cybersecurity helps protect personal information, trade secrets, sensitive documents, confidential client and employee information from cyber criminals.

But without a comprehensive understanding of cybercrimes, developing serious cybersecurity measures is improbable. So let's take a look at the major types of cybercrimes.

Major Types of Cybercrimes

Cybercrime is basically any crime that uses a computer and network to facilitate the crime. Cybercrimes can be grouped into three major categories:

  1. Cybercrime Against Individuals
  2. Cybercrime Against Organizations
  3. Cyber-enabled fraud

Cyber Crime Against Individuals

The number of cyber crimes committed against individuals greatly outnumbered other kinds of cybercrimes because almost everyone has access to the internet. Cybercrimes against individuals include everything from online harassment such as cyber stalking and cyber bullying to identity theft. 

Cyber Crime Against Organizations

Cybercrime against organizations can occur in several ways. The most common cyber crime against organizations is Cyber Espionage, which involves an unauthorized actor gaining access to a secured system for the purpose of obtaining information illegally.

Cyber Espionage can include:

  • Cyber Warfare
  • Cyber Terrorism
  • Cyber Subversion

Usually, cybersecurity for businesses is focused on addressing these types of cybercrimes. Cyber warfare and Cyber terrorism aren't very common occurrences, but they are still considered plausible. Cyber subversion is a form of Cyber Espionage that includes individuals or organizations using information gathered illegally to manipulate the government of another country.

Cyber Enabled Fraud

Cyber enabled fraud consists of Cyber criminals using Cyber threats to defraud businesses. Cyber Enabled Fraud is a crime that has become more popular in recent years, due to how easy it is for Cyber criminals to steal massive amounts of information from businesses' servers and personal computers. Cyber enabled fraud covers all Cyber crimes committed with the aid of technology or through the use of technology.

Cybersecurity Measures for Businesses

Now that we're familiar with common cybercrimes, let's take a look at common cybersecurity measures that businesses can adopt to overcome them.

1. Setting Up Firewalls

Setting up firewalls is the first and most effective step toward Cyber Security. The effectiveness of your Cyber Security Policy and how well firewalls are set up can be measured by the log-in attempts to different servers. If 10 unsuccessful login attempts were made on any server, it's going to generate an automated email for you or someone in authority. It is important that a business' firewall is well-equipped to  handle Cybercrime.

Once the firewalls are set up, it's important that businesses also monitor cyber attacks and look for ways to make improvements to their firewalls. The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) strongly recommends all small and medium businesses to set up the latest firewalls as a barrier to cyberattacks.

2. Installing Anti-Virus Software

Anti-virus software is essential in a cyber security plan. This software scans all incoming requests or files for malicious codes like viruses and detects them beforehand. As such, the owner of the system being attacked is warned in advance and Cybercriminals are automatically blocked from infecting your servers. Businesses should look for ways to enhance their anti-virus software and ensure that they have the latest protection against Cyber criminals.

3. Keep Cybersecurity Policy Well-Documented

For small businesses, especially small businesses owned by minority communities such as LGBT friendly businesses, it is essential to have Cybersecurity policies up-to-date and documented in case Cybercriminals target their businesses.

Cybersecurity policy is basically a set of instructions that govern the Cyber Security operations of your business. Cybercriminals know how to target small businesses because they are mostly--minority friendly in most cases, thus susceptible to cyber attacks owing to lack of proper documentation.

4.Ensure Regular Password Changes

Even though changing passwords regularly can be a pain in the neck, it is imperative for the cybersecurity of businesses. That's because regular password changes make it difficult for Cybercriminals to crack passwords. Cybersecurity experts recommend businesses to change their passwords every 30-60 days.

5. Cyber Awareness Training For Employees

Employees should be reminded to beware of phishing scams and Cybercriminals who always impersonate legitimate business contacts in order to get their organizational credentials. Cyber awareness training will ensure employees are aware of different cybercrimes and how they are perpetrated.

6.Conduct Cyber Security Training

Finally, conducting cybersecurity training is one of the best ways to cyber-protect your business. Cybersecurity training will help employees understand how Cybercriminals work, the significant damage they could cause, and steps to take in order to protect themselves and their network from cybercriminals.

Conclusion

Cybercrimes are more common than ever before, but with the cybersecurity tips for businesses provided above, you will be able to protect your business from Cybercriminals. Cybercrime awareness, weekly and monthly monitoring, anti-virus software, firewalls, and regular cybersecurity training are all highly beneficial in protecting your business information.

MILWAUKEE – The Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce announced today that Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) has joined the organization as its newest gold member.

“We are thrilled to welcome such a well-known company as EY to the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber as our newest gold member,” said Jason Rae, President & CEO of the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce. “For years, EY has been leading the way in this country in building a welcoming and inclusive business community. We know that this collaboration will have a significant impact on creating change in our community and building a space where all individuals can be their full, authentic self.”

“Diverse perspectives, combined with an inclusive culture, create an environment where we can celebrate our differences and bring our whole self to solving today’s challenges,” said David Gay, Milwaukee Managing Partner, EY US. “As a firm, we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive business community. We are proud to be founding members of the NGLCC and are excited to be able to support one of its affiliates, the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber, as a gold member. Together, we know that we can have a direct impact on building a better working world where our employees, clients and the broader community can thrive.”

EY US joins more than 50 other corporations as a gold member of the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber. Gold members receive a listing in the online business directory, invitation to all Chamber events, including the LGBT Workplace Alliance, and a seat on the Chamber’s Leadership Advisory Council.

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The Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce is an organization of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and LGBT-allied businesses, corporations and professionals throughout the state of Wisconsin. It offers networking opportunities, business development efforts within the LGBT community, and educational programming to its members. The organization has more than 675 members from around the state. In 2015, the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce received the National Chamber of the Year Award from the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC). More information can be found online at: www.wislgbtchamber.com.

About EY

EY exists to build a better working world, helping create long-term value for clients, people and society and build trust in the capital markets.

Enabled by data and technology, diverse EY teams in over 150 countries provide trust through assurance and help clients grow, transform and operate.

Working across assurance, consulting, law, strategy, tax and transactions, EY teams ask better questions to find new answers for the complex issues facing our world today. 

EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. EY member firms do not practice law where prohibited by local laws. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.

MILWAUKEE – The Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce announced today that Enerpac Tool Group, headquartered in Menomonee Falls, has joined the Chamber as its newest gold member.

“We are honored to welcome Enerpac Tool Group as the newest gold member of the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber,” said Jason Rae, President & CEO of the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce. “Enerpac Tool Group is such a well-respected business in our state and around the world. We are excited about this partnership and the effect it will have on building an inclusive community where employees and suppliers can be their authentic selves.”

“At Enerpac Tool Group, we value diversity in our workforce, and in our customers, suppliers, and others,” said Barb Bolens, EVP – Chief Strategy Officer at Enerpac Tool Group. “We strive to be a positive contributor to and enhance the quality of life of the communities where our employees work and live. We know that by working together with the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber as their newest gold member we can have a positive impact on building a welcoming and inclusive business community.”

Enerpac Tool Group is a premier industrial tools and services company serving a broad and diverse set of customers in more than 25 countries. The Company’s businesses are global leaders in high pressure hydraulic tools, controlled force products and solutions for precise positioning of heavy loads that help customers safely and reliably tackle some of the most challenging jobs around the world. The Company was founded in 1910 and is headquartered in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. Enerpac Tool Group trades on the NYSE under the symbol “EPAC”.

Enerpac Tool Group joins more than 50 other corporations as a gold member of the LGBT Chamber. Gold members receive a listing in the online business directory, invitation to all Chamber events, and a seat on the Chamber’s Leadership Advisory Council.

The Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce is an organization of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and LGBT-allied businesses, corporations and professionals throughout the state of Wisconsin. It offers networking opportunities, business development efforts within the LGBT community, and educational programming to its members. The organization has more than 675 members from around the state. In 2015, the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce received the National Chamber of the Year Award from the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC). More information can be found online at: www.wislgbtchamber.com.

 

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