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| NAW SmartBrief |
| February 27, 2008 |
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Grainger expects Justice Department meeting soon
W.W. Grainger, Inc. expects to sit down with Justice Department officials "within the next month or so" to discuss concerns that the company over-billed the federal government, the supplier's president said this week. "We absolutely believe we're in full compliance with that contract," said James Ryan, Grainger's president and chief operating officer. "When the Justice Department is ready, we'll sit down with them and talk about where they believe the discrepancies are." Reuters (2/25)
Sysco averts Pittsburgh strike with five-year contract
Unionized employees at Sysco Food Services of Pittsburgh ratified a new contract Saturday, avoiding a strike at the Butler County, Pa., facility. Workers will get a raise of $2.65 per hour, to be phased in over the five-year term of the contract. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (2/25)
Rexel gets EU clearance for Hagemeyer deal
The world's largest distributor of electrical parts has received conditional approval from the European Commission to purchase parts of Dutch competitor Hagemeyer, contingent on the divestment of Hagemeyer's Irish electrical wholesale distribution operations. Rexel and distributor Sonepar, both of France, are splitting up Hagemeyer between them. Reuters (2/22)
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Corporate travel managers take steps to cut spending
Some corporate travel managers are requiring employees to book the lowest fares available and provide economic reasoning for their business trips. The trend is expected to affect airlines, hotels, restaurants and car-rental agencies. John Flynn, a sales representative for a health care software firm, said companies expect their employees to be smart about travel, but that there's no substitute for visiting clients in person. The New York Times/Associated Press (2/24)
RFID technologies a helping hand for warehouse managers
Two new forms of RFID technology should make the tracking of items easier and less expensive, according to this article. The first uses passive UHF tags that allow users to see the location of every tagged item within a three-dimensional zone, while the second uses a combination of passive UHF tags and software to record the movement of items without having to scan them. Modern Materials Handling (free registration) (2/14)
Sales goals offer guidance in decision making
Developing goals is critical to a salesperson's success and helps establish criteria to make important decisions effectively, says sales expert Dave Kahle. Salespeople sometimes make the mistake of seeing goals as arbitrary, but realistic goals are a productive investment of time. DaveKahle.com (2/12)
Shifting from startup enterprise to established business
Entrepreneurs who have made it past the startup stage to establish a self-sustaining business need to learn how to delegate responsibility for day-to-day operations and focus on the big-picture direction of the company, experts advise. BusinessWeek (2/15)
Column: Travelers left out of airline merger discussions
The airline industry is abuzz with talks of mergers and consolidation, but New York Times columnist Joe Sharkey wonders what it means for the business traveler. "So far, the discussion of any looming deals has focused on the Wall Street aspects, and not on how any mergers might affect customers and the routes they need to fly," Sharkey writes. The New York Times (2/26)
Column: 401(k) participants mired in inertia
Investors need to have an active hand in managing their 401(k) accounts, Heather Bell writes in an Index Universe column. A 2006 study found that 80% of plan participants did not initiate any trades. "The inertia of the average 401(k) participant is perhaps the most troubling part of the report -- if participants just let their assets sit in the accounts, they may not be serving the purpose for which they are intended," Bell said. IndexUniverse.com (2/25)
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Do you ever feel bored at work?
No, I usually go from one project or assignment to the next.
Sometimes. I probably could be more proactive.
Yes, I find that I often could fit more into my work day.
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