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Google's crawl team filed a bug against WooCommerce for add-to-cart parameters wasting crawl budget. WooCommerce fixed it. Other plugins haven't. The post Google’s Crawl Team Filed Bugs Against WordPress Plugins appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. It feels like the year just started, but we're already approaching the first major retail holiday of 2026, and as Lifehacker's deals writer, I'm here to tell you how to make the most of the upcoming Presidents Day sales. Here are my tips on which products are likely to be a great buy, and which ones your better off waiting to pick up during a future sale. When is Presidents Day 2026?Presidents Day is a federal holiday that originally started to honor George Washington's birthday, but eventually evolved to recognize all U.S. presidents. Presidents Day falls on the third Monday of February each year, which means this year, it will take place on Feb. 16, 2026. Presidents Day sales, then, are usually concentrated on the weekend before the holiday, which means that this year, you're likely to see the biggest discounts from Feb. 13–16—and I wouldn't be surprised if some retailers start their sales even earlier. What should you buy during Presidents Day sales this year?Presidents Day sales generally bring big discounts to items like home furnishings and mattresses, as well as major appliances like refrigerators and washing machines, and you can expect the same this year. As we're getting close to the end of winter, you'll likely also see price drops on winter gear like snow blowers, space heathers, and power generators, plus cold weather clothing like coats, as retailers try to sell down their inventory and make room for next season's items. You'll likely see some tech deals as well, as older model TVs and laptops will see price cuts to make room for newer models (some of which likely debuted at January's CES show). If you're planning to shop in one of these categories, start paying attention to prices now, so you'll be able to spot good discounts come the holiday weekend. What items aren't worth buying during Presidents Day sales?Seasons come and go, and even as retailers push their winter inventory out, they will try to sell you their spring products. You should hold off on picking these items up for now, as you'll likely be paying a premium price—even items that are "marked down" are likely to see bigger price cuts later, if you can wait. Who will be holding Presidents Day sales?All major retailers will be having a Presidents Day sale, including Amazon, Best Buy, Target, Walmart, and others. The sales will generally be available both online and in-person (except at Amazon, of course). Should you wait for Amazon's Big Spring Sale? Presidents Day is a time-honored tradition, but in recent years, the biggest sale of the early part of the year has been Amazon's Big Spring Sale (with other retailers planning their own sales events around the same time). While we don't know the exact dates, its likely this year's will take place around the same time as last year—in mid- to late March. Is it worth waiting to shop until then? It depends on what you want to buy. The online retailer debuted the Big Spring Sale in 2024 with many sales on many different categories, but especially on tech, so if you're eyeing a specific tech product but haven't found a great deal yet, it's worth waiting to see if it is discounted in a month or so. However, if you're shopping for winter gear, mattresses, furniture, or large appliances, you'll likely see better discounts during Presidents Day sales. View the full article

These are tough times for many businesses across corporate America, many of whom are cutting down on business travel and perks on the road. And in these times, one company’s policy on business travel is going viral: According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, Cracker Barrel employees reportedly must follow a new policy that they must eat at Cracker Barrel restaurants while traveling for work. But according to Cracker Barrel, that’s not exactly true. “The policy for employees to dine at Cracker Barrel while traveling for business, whenever practical based on location and schedule, is not new,” Cracker Barrel explained to Fast Company in an email statement. “Also, it is not the only place that our employees may eat when on the road, as previously reported. The change was to further limit reimbursement of alcoholic beverages under the policy.” Still, backlash to the reported policy comes during a rough patch for the American restaurant chain known for its Southern charm, marked by declining sales, and more customer backlash over a recent botched attempt to rebrand. In August, Cracker Barrel unveiled a new campaign starring country music artist Jordan Davis that revamped its “Old Timer” logo and menus, and lightened up the restaurant’s dining rooms, to the dismay of longtime customers. (The reaction can be summed up by one TikTok user who posted, “I prefer the darker cozier look, I also don’t like change.”) The company was soon forced to walk back the plans, and later said it wouldn’t change the logo. Cracker Barrel financials Shares of Cracker Barrel (NASDAQ: CBRL) were down less than 1% in midday trading on Tuesday at the time of this writing. The Tennessee-based chain’s first quarter fiscal 2026 earnings missed expectations, with total revenue at $797.2 million, down 5.7% compared to the prior year first quarter; same-store restaurant sales down 4.7% over the prior year quarter, and comparable store retail sales down 8.5%. View the full article

A new phishing campaign identified by Malwarebytes Labs targets AT&T customers with text messages about expiring rewards points. Users are urged to claim their rewards ASAP by clicking the included link, which is actually designed to harvest sensitive personal information. AT&T rewards scam phishes personal informationTargets for this scam have received texts containing a "Rewards Expiration Notice" urging them to redeem points in their AT&T account before they are scheduled to expire. The message includes a specific points balance and expiration date along with two "recommended redemption methods": AT&T Rewards Center: [shorturl link] AT&T Mobile App: Rewards section As Malwarebytes discovered, the short link sends users to a https://att.hgfxp[.]cc/pay/, a spoofed website with AT&T branding, headers, menus, and links out to the real AT&T domain. Users are directed to enter their phone number to verify their account, which leads to a screen warning that their points are set to expire. Further down, you can see redemption options, including an Apple Watch Series 9, Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Headphones, and Amazon gift cards. In order to claim a reward and arrange delivery, victims are then prompted to enter more personal information—which is transmitted directly to the scammers. Malwarebytes notes that the forms have real-time validation and error highlighting so users are less likely to suspect the fraud. Rewards scam red flagsThis scam relies on social engineering tactics—like a sense of urgency and the fear of missing out—to trick targets into engaging. And while it does have a somewhat believable look and feel as well as a multi-step approach to build user trust, it also has some clear red flags. The text originates from a regular phone number rather than a short code, which is often used for automated messages, and the sender doesn't appear as a recognized AT&T contact. The thread also includes multiple recipients and a generic greeting. (A legitimate message from AT&T will be sent directly to you.) Then there's the shortened URL that leads to a website not owned by AT&T. While the page has some realistic branding and working links, it also has a number of typos and grammatical and formatting errors. Malwarebytes found that if you click the link on different days, the expiration date on the site changes. As always, don't click links in unsolicited texts. AT&T does have a rewards program, but you should go directly to that portal via the web or app to manage your rewards. View the full article

PayPal is replacing CEO Alex Chriss with Enrique Lores, saying that the pace of change and execution at the company has not met board expectations over the past two years. Lores has served as a PayPal board member for almost five years and has been board Chair since July 2024. He’s also spent more than six years as president and CEO of HP Inc. “The payments industry is changing faster than ever, driven by new technologies, evolving regulations, an increasingly competitive landscape, and the rapid acceleration of AI that is reshaping commerce daily,” Lores said in a statement on Tuesday. “PayPal sits at the center of this change, and I look forward to leading the team to accelerate the delivery of new innovations and to shape the future of digital payments and commerce.” PayPal’s board thanked Chriss for his contributions, including the role he played to monetize Venmo and grow the Buy Now Pay Later business. Lores will take over as PayPal CEO on March 1. David Dorman will serve as independent chair, effective immediately. PayPal’s Chief Financial and Operating Officer Jamie Miller will serve as interim CEO until Lores assumes the position. PayPal also reported its fourth-quarter results on Tuesday. The technology platform and digital payments company posted an adjusted profit of $1.23 per share on revenue of $8.68 billion. The performance missed the expectations of analysts polled by Zacks Investment Research, who were looking for a profit of $1.29 per share on revenue of $8.77 billion. The San Jose, California-based company also forecast lower profit for the first quarter. Shares slid 16% before the market open. —Michelle Chapman, AP business writer View the full article

Google updated its Googlebot documentation to clarify file size limits, separating default limits that apply to all crawlers from Googlebot-specific details. The post Google Updates Googlebot File Size Limit Docs appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Amid nationwide outrage over the killings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti, two House Democrats are pressing Google and Meta to answer for recruitment campaign posts that Immigration and Customs Enforcement has recently run on their platforms. The lawmakers, Reps. Becca Balint of Vermont and Pramila Jayapal of Washington, have accused the companies of being “complicit” with the The President administration and enabling ICE’s efforts to promote slogans that—they say—have also been employed by white nationalist and neo-Nazi groups. The inquiries were sent on January 21, and as of Monday, the platforms still had not responded. “What is going on with ICE is a five-alarm fire for our democracy, and these corporations are in it up to their necks,” Balint tells Fast Company. “They can no longer claim they ‘didn’t know.’ They are not only profiting from cruelty but actively helping to perpetuate it at everyone else’s expense. We expect answers, and we expect them now.” Under the The President administration, ICE has sought to rapidly scale up recruitment. The agency aimed to spend $100 million on the effort, according to a document reported by The Washington Post last year, and it outlined a ‘wartime recruitment’ strategy that included targeting people who show interest in firearms, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events, and podcasts focused on patriotism. ICE has run about 65 different advertisements on Google since the beginning of the year, according to the platform’s ad library. These posts include a $50,000 signing bonus offer, opportunities to “Defend the Homeland,” and heavy use of Uncle Sam imagery. ICE—which Rolling Stone reports has spent at least a few hundred thousand dollars running ads on Meta platforms in recent months—has used its Facebook account to post provocative imagery alongside recruitment posts. These include posts featuring a picture of knights with swords alongside the text, ‘THE ENEMIES ARE AT THE GATES,” as well as another displaying a man riding a horse and the phrase, “WE’LL HAVE OUR HOME AGAIN.” Some of the posts are more explicit, including one showing a man carrying the Betsy Ross flag with the message, “SEND THEM BACK.” The politicians’ letter to the companies aims to draw a direct line between Big Tech’s ad systems and the normalization of rhetoric that civil rights groups say echoes white supremacist propaganda. “Just last week, DHS posted a recruitment ad on Instagram proclaiming ‘we’ll have our home again,’ which is a song popularized in neo-Nazi spaces and used in white nationalist calls for a race war. The same lyrics were found in the manifesto of Ryan Christopher Palmeter, the white supremacist who shot and killed three black people in Jacksonville in 2023,” wrote Balint and Jayapal in their January letter to Meta. “It appears Meta is complicit in furthering this content on behalf of the The President administration.” These Facebook posts have racked up tens of thousands of likes or shares. Though Google, which also owns YouTube, and Meta, which owns both Facebook and Instagram, are the platforms the lawmakers focused on, they’re not the only place where ICE has posted content. The agency has posted job ads or recruitment content on LinkedIn, which didn’t respond to a request for comment. It’s not immediately clear that these platforms are the primary way the agency is actually finding new recruits. Still, the letter highlights that platforms stand to be drawn into the nationwide discussion over ICE and its tactics. The companies confirmed receipt but haven’t responded yet, Balint’s office tells Fast Company. Meta declined Fast Company’s request for comment, and Google did not respond to multiple requests for comment. The silence isn’t necessarily surprising. Tech companies have a real interest in not upsetting the The President administration, and some platforms have, in the aftermath of the 2020 election, already done a major about-face about their decisions to boot or suppress the president’s account. Balint’s and Jayapal’s letter isn’t a new strategy for lawmakers either. Members of both parties have previously pushed platforms to censor or restrain posts that they find odious. In highly polarized times, critics argue that this approach essentially amounts to working the refs, and it seems unlikely Google and Meta would move to censor an official government agency. View the full article

In terms of background checks, Accurate Background stands out for several key reasons. Their impressive accuracy rate of 99.9% combines state-of-the-art automation with human oversight, ensuring thorough results. With an average turnaround time of just 1.61 days for employment verifications, they streamline the hiring process considerably. Moreover, their commitment to compliance support and user-friendly features makes them a reliable choice for organizations. But what really sets them apart? Let’s explore further. Key Takeaways Accurate Background boasts a 99.9% accuracy rate, ensuring reliable information for background checks. The platform offers customizable screening solutions tailored to specific industry regulatory requirements. Employment verifications are completed efficiently, with 88% finalized by day five, enhancing hiring timelines. Extensive compliance support helps clients navigate regulatory changes, minimizing legal risks during hiring. 24/7 customer service and real-time support ensure users receive prompt assistance throughout the screening process. Industry-Leading Turnaround Times Regarding industry-leading turnaround times, Accurate Background sets a high standard in the background check process. You’ll find that employment verifications are typically completed in just 1.61 days, with an impressive 88% wrapping up by day five. Education verifications follow closely, averaging 2.03 days, so you can quickly assess candidate qualifications. In relation to public records, over 90% are accessed electronically, considerably streamlining the process and minimizing wait times. For criminal checks, Accurate Background searches more than 2,500 federal, state, and local courthouses, enhancing both thoroughness and speed. Plus, you can expect rapid results from lab-test drug screenings, with 92% of tests turned around within two business days. This efficiency leads to accurate background reviews, making you wonder: is Accurate Background legit? With such quick and reliable turnaround times, it’s clear they prioritize your hiring needs effectively. Unmatched Accuracy and Reliability Accurate Background not just surpasses in turnaround times but additionally stands out for its unmatched accuracy and reliability in background screening. With an impressive accuracy rate of 99.9%, you can trust the information they provide. Their unique approach combines automation and human review, ensuring thorough searches as well as reducing inaccuracies. Plus, over 90% of public records are accessed electronically, improving both efficiency and reliability. Feature Benefit Impact 99.9% Accuracy Rate Trustworthy information Reduces hiring risks Automated & Human Review All-encompassing searches Minimizes inaccuracies Continuous Monitoring Improved safety Protects against misconduct Accurate Background additionally offers specialized screening components for various industries, further minimizing regulatory risks. By integrating continuous checks, such as abuse and sex offender registry reviews, they strengthen the accuracy and safety of the background check process. Comprehensive Compliance Support Accurate Background offers extensive compliance support to keep you informed about ongoing regulatory changes that affect your screening processes. Their customizable solutions guarantee you meet varying legal requirements based on position and location, minimizing compliance risks. With dedicated account representatives available to answer your questions, you’ll have the guidance needed throughout your background screening expedition. Ongoing Regulatory Education Staying compliant with evolving regulations can be challenging, especially when laws change frequently and vary by location. Accurate Background addresses this by providing ongoing education on key legislation. Their compliance team guarantees you stay informed about updates that could impact your screening processes. Benefit Description Impact Regular Updates Clients receive timely information on laws. Helps mitigate compliance risks. Dedicated Support Account representatives answer compliance queries. Simplifies regulatory navigation. Minimal Workflow Impact Compliant screening processes are integrated. Maintains efficiency in hiring. With a commitment to compliance education, Accurate Background helps you uphold industry standards and reduces hiring risks, so you can focus on building a qualified team. Customizable Compliance Solutions Steering through the intricacies of compliance in background checks requires more than just staying informed about regulations; it additionally involves tailoring solutions to fit your organization’s unique needs. Accurate Background offers customizable compliance solutions that adapt to specific positions and candidate locations, ensuring you meet all legal requirements. Their platform is designed to provide only legally reportable information, greatly reducing the risk of compliance violations. You’ll furthermore benefit from dedicated account representatives who are available to assist with any compliance questions, providing personalized support throughout the background check process. User-Friendly Experience Accurate Background provides a mobile-optimized interface that makes it easy for you to navigate the platform anytime and anywhere. With 24/7 support available, you can get assistance whenever you need it, ensuring a smooth experience during your background check process. Plus, seamless integration with applicant tracking systems (ATS) minimizes manual tasks for HR teams, allowing for a more efficient workflow. Mobile-Optimized Interface In today’s fast-paced world, a mobile-optimized interface can greatly improve the user experience for candidates undergoing background checks. Accurate Background’s platform supports over 40 languages, ensuring accessibility for a diverse range of users. Its design facilitates seamless navigation, allowing you to easily access necessary information and complete your background checks efficiently. With 24/7/363 access, you can submit information and documents at your convenience, reducing potential delays. The self-service options empower you to manage your background check process independently, lessening the need for constant assistance from HR teams. This user-friendly design minimizes manual work and uncertainty for HR, streamlining the entire background check process and boosting overall efficiency. 24/7 Support Availability A robust support system is key to enhancing the user experience during background checks. Accurate Background offers 24/7/363 multilingual customer service, guaranteeing you receive assistance whenever needed, no matter where you are. With an impressive 90% of issues resolved on the first call, the company prioritizes efficiency and customer satisfaction. Their mobile-optimized interface is user-friendly and available in over 40 languages, catering to candidates from diverse backgrounds. Furthermore, the platform provides self-service options for submitting information and documents, streamlining the process for users. This combination of accessibility and support guarantees that you have a smooth experience during maneuvering the background check process. Accurate Background’s commitment to user assistance truly sets it apart in the industry. Seamless ATS Integration When integrating background check processes into your hiring workflow, seamless ATS integration can greatly improve efficiency and reduce the burden of manual tasks. Accurate Background’s platform connects smoothly with applicant tracking systems, allowing HR teams to streamline operations and minimize paperwork. Its user-friendly interface is mobile-optimized and supports candidates in over 40 languages, enhancing the application experience for everyone involved. With 24/7/363 support, you can access assistance anytime, ensuring minimal workflow disruptions. The platform facilitates quick navigation, enabling HR teams to efficiently manage background checks and access necessary information. Around-the-Clock Customer Service Accurate Background understands that your needs don’t adhere to a traditional schedule, which is why they offer 24/7/363 customer service in multiple languages. This commitment guarantees that help is available almost every hour of the year. The support team resolves 90% of issues on the first call, highlighting their efficiency. Here’s a quick overview of their customer service features: Feature Description Availability 24/7/363 multilingual support First Call Resolution 90% of issues resolved on the first contact Live Chat Support Real-time problem-solving and inquiries Timely Updates Regular updates throughout the background check Thorough Assistance Support for vendors and contractors as well With live chat options and ongoing updates, you can feel confident knowing that your inquiries will be addressed quickly and extensively. Tailored Solutions for Diverse Needs Customized background screening solutions are essential for organizations seeking to meet the unique demands of various industries, such as healthcare, education, and manufacturing. Accurate Background provides customized screening processes that align with specific regulatory requirements, minimizing compliance risks. With a customizable platform, you can design screening workflows based on the unique needs of different positions and candidate locations, enhancing both relevance and accuracy. These industry-specific checks help create extensive candidate profiles that reflect your organizational values. Additionally, Accurate Background supports ongoing compliance through educational resources and updates on key legislation, allowing you to navigate the intricacies of background screening effectively. Their 24/7/363 customer support, including dedicated account representatives, guarantees you receive the assistance needed to modify services to your specific business requirements, simplifying the screening process for your HR team and ensuring that you stay compliant during informed hiring decisions. Frequently Asked Questions What Do They Look for in Accurate Background Check? In an accurate background check, you’ll find they focus on several key areas. They verify identities through Social Security Number checks and address history. Criminal history screenings include county records, federal court checks, and national sex offender registries. Furthermore, employment and education verifications confirm resume accuracy and the legitimacy of qualifications. For specific positions, they may likewise conduct credit history checks and motor vehicle record assessments to guarantee candidates meet necessary criteria. Is Accurate Background Legitimate? Yes, Accurate Background is legitimate. With a 99.9% accuracy rate, they deliver reliable background screening results. Their long-standing presence since 1997 and a reputation bolstered by clients like Amazon and Starbucks further confirm their credibility. Furthermore, they offer continuous compliance support to keep clients informed on relevant legislation. Their 24/7 customer support in multiple languages highlights their commitment to client satisfaction and underscores their reliability in the background check industry. How to Know if a Background Check Is Legit? To know if a background check is legit, check for the provider’s accuracy rate and their access to public records. A reputable company should offer compliance support and have clear processes for disputing inaccuracies. Look for 24/7 customer support and self-service options, indicating a commitment to transparency. Furthermore, verify if they stay updated with legislation affecting background checks. This guarantees the information you receive is reliable for making informed decisions. What Is the Most Trustworthy Background Check? When searching for the most trustworthy background check, focus on companies with high accuracy rates and thorough services. Look for providers that offer identity verification, criminal history checks, and employment verification. Fast turnaround times, ideally under two days, can likewise indicate reliability. Make certain the service complies with legal standards, safeguarding both employers and candidates. Customer support available around the clock in multiple languages can further improve the trustworthiness of the background check process. Conclusion In conclusion, Accurate Background proves to be a legitimate choice for background checks because of its industry-leading turnaround times, exceptional accuracy, and extensive compliance support. The user-friendly platform, combined with around-the-clock customer service and customized solutions, guarantees a streamlined hiring process for organizations of all sizes. By prioritizing efficiency and reliability, Accurate Background stands out as a trusted partner in background screening, making it easier for you to make informed hiring decisions with confidence. Image via Google Gemini This article, "What Makes Accurate Background a Legit Choice for Checks?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

In terms of background checks, Accurate Background stands out for several key reasons. Their impressive accuracy rate of 99.9% combines state-of-the-art automation with human oversight, ensuring thorough results. With an average turnaround time of just 1.61 days for employment verifications, they streamline the hiring process considerably. Moreover, their commitment to compliance support and user-friendly features makes them a reliable choice for organizations. But what really sets them apart? Let’s explore further. Key Takeaways Accurate Background boasts a 99.9% accuracy rate, ensuring reliable information for background checks. The platform offers customizable screening solutions tailored to specific industry regulatory requirements. Employment verifications are completed efficiently, with 88% finalized by day five, enhancing hiring timelines. Extensive compliance support helps clients navigate regulatory changes, minimizing legal risks during hiring. 24/7 customer service and real-time support ensure users receive prompt assistance throughout the screening process. Industry-Leading Turnaround Times Regarding industry-leading turnaround times, Accurate Background sets a high standard in the background check process. You’ll find that employment verifications are typically completed in just 1.61 days, with an impressive 88% wrapping up by day five. Education verifications follow closely, averaging 2.03 days, so you can quickly assess candidate qualifications. In relation to public records, over 90% are accessed electronically, considerably streamlining the process and minimizing wait times. For criminal checks, Accurate Background searches more than 2,500 federal, state, and local courthouses, enhancing both thoroughness and speed. Plus, you can expect rapid results from lab-test drug screenings, with 92% of tests turned around within two business days. This efficiency leads to accurate background reviews, making you wonder: is Accurate Background legit? With such quick and reliable turnaround times, it’s clear they prioritize your hiring needs effectively. Unmatched Accuracy and Reliability Accurate Background not just surpasses in turnaround times but additionally stands out for its unmatched accuracy and reliability in background screening. With an impressive accuracy rate of 99.9%, you can trust the information they provide. Their unique approach combines automation and human review, ensuring thorough searches as well as reducing inaccuracies. Plus, over 90% of public records are accessed electronically, improving both efficiency and reliability. Feature Benefit Impact 99.9% Accuracy Rate Trustworthy information Reduces hiring risks Automated & Human Review All-encompassing searches Minimizes inaccuracies Continuous Monitoring Improved safety Protects against misconduct Accurate Background additionally offers specialized screening components for various industries, further minimizing regulatory risks. By integrating continuous checks, such as abuse and sex offender registry reviews, they strengthen the accuracy and safety of the background check process. Comprehensive Compliance Support Accurate Background offers extensive compliance support to keep you informed about ongoing regulatory changes that affect your screening processes. Their customizable solutions guarantee you meet varying legal requirements based on position and location, minimizing compliance risks. With dedicated account representatives available to answer your questions, you’ll have the guidance needed throughout your background screening expedition. Ongoing Regulatory Education Staying compliant with evolving regulations can be challenging, especially when laws change frequently and vary by location. Accurate Background addresses this by providing ongoing education on key legislation. Their compliance team guarantees you stay informed about updates that could impact your screening processes. Benefit Description Impact Regular Updates Clients receive timely information on laws. Helps mitigate compliance risks. Dedicated Support Account representatives answer compliance queries. Simplifies regulatory navigation. Minimal Workflow Impact Compliant screening processes are integrated. Maintains efficiency in hiring. With a commitment to compliance education, Accurate Background helps you uphold industry standards and reduces hiring risks, so you can focus on building a qualified team. Customizable Compliance Solutions Steering through the intricacies of compliance in background checks requires more than just staying informed about regulations; it additionally involves tailoring solutions to fit your organization’s unique needs. Accurate Background offers customizable compliance solutions that adapt to specific positions and candidate locations, ensuring you meet all legal requirements. Their platform is designed to provide only legally reportable information, greatly reducing the risk of compliance violations. You’ll furthermore benefit from dedicated account representatives who are available to assist with any compliance questions, providing personalized support throughout the background check process. User-Friendly Experience Accurate Background provides a mobile-optimized interface that makes it easy for you to navigate the platform anytime and anywhere. With 24/7 support available, you can get assistance whenever you need it, ensuring a smooth experience during your background check process. Plus, seamless integration with applicant tracking systems (ATS) minimizes manual tasks for HR teams, allowing for a more efficient workflow. Mobile-Optimized Interface In today’s fast-paced world, a mobile-optimized interface can greatly improve the user experience for candidates undergoing background checks. Accurate Background’s platform supports over 40 languages, ensuring accessibility for a diverse range of users. Its design facilitates seamless navigation, allowing you to easily access necessary information and complete your background checks efficiently. With 24/7/363 access, you can submit information and documents at your convenience, reducing potential delays. The self-service options empower you to manage your background check process independently, lessening the need for constant assistance from HR teams. This user-friendly design minimizes manual work and uncertainty for HR, streamlining the entire background check process and boosting overall efficiency. 24/7 Support Availability A robust support system is key to enhancing the user experience during background checks. Accurate Background offers 24/7/363 multilingual customer service, guaranteeing you receive assistance whenever needed, no matter where you are. With an impressive 90% of issues resolved on the first call, the company prioritizes efficiency and customer satisfaction. Their mobile-optimized interface is user-friendly and available in over 40 languages, catering to candidates from diverse backgrounds. Furthermore, the platform provides self-service options for submitting information and documents, streamlining the process for users. This combination of accessibility and support guarantees that you have a smooth experience during maneuvering the background check process. Accurate Background’s commitment to user assistance truly sets it apart in the industry. Seamless ATS Integration When integrating background check processes into your hiring workflow, seamless ATS integration can greatly improve efficiency and reduce the burden of manual tasks. Accurate Background’s platform connects smoothly with applicant tracking systems, allowing HR teams to streamline operations and minimize paperwork. Its user-friendly interface is mobile-optimized and supports candidates in over 40 languages, enhancing the application experience for everyone involved. With 24/7/363 support, you can access assistance anytime, ensuring minimal workflow disruptions. The platform facilitates quick navigation, enabling HR teams to efficiently manage background checks and access necessary information. Around-the-Clock Customer Service Accurate Background understands that your needs don’t adhere to a traditional schedule, which is why they offer 24/7/363 customer service in multiple languages. This commitment guarantees that help is available almost every hour of the year. The support team resolves 90% of issues on the first call, highlighting their efficiency. Here’s a quick overview of their customer service features: Feature Description Availability 24/7/363 multilingual support First Call Resolution 90% of issues resolved on the first contact Live Chat Support Real-time problem-solving and inquiries Timely Updates Regular updates throughout the background check Thorough Assistance Support for vendors and contractors as well With live chat options and ongoing updates, you can feel confident knowing that your inquiries will be addressed quickly and extensively. Tailored Solutions for Diverse Needs Customized background screening solutions are essential for organizations seeking to meet the unique demands of various industries, such as healthcare, education, and manufacturing. Accurate Background provides customized screening processes that align with specific regulatory requirements, minimizing compliance risks. With a customizable platform, you can design screening workflows based on the unique needs of different positions and candidate locations, enhancing both relevance and accuracy. These industry-specific checks help create extensive candidate profiles that reflect your organizational values. Additionally, Accurate Background supports ongoing compliance through educational resources and updates on key legislation, allowing you to navigate the intricacies of background screening effectively. Their 24/7/363 customer support, including dedicated account representatives, guarantees you receive the assistance needed to modify services to your specific business requirements, simplifying the screening process for your HR team and ensuring that you stay compliant during informed hiring decisions. Frequently Asked Questions What Do They Look for in Accurate Background Check? In an accurate background check, you’ll find they focus on several key areas. They verify identities through Social Security Number checks and address history. Criminal history screenings include county records, federal court checks, and national sex offender registries. Furthermore, employment and education verifications confirm resume accuracy and the legitimacy of qualifications. For specific positions, they may likewise conduct credit history checks and motor vehicle record assessments to guarantee candidates meet necessary criteria. Is Accurate Background Legitimate? Yes, Accurate Background is legitimate. With a 99.9% accuracy rate, they deliver reliable background screening results. Their long-standing presence since 1997 and a reputation bolstered by clients like Amazon and Starbucks further confirm their credibility. Furthermore, they offer continuous compliance support to keep clients informed on relevant legislation. Their 24/7 customer support in multiple languages highlights their commitment to client satisfaction and underscores their reliability in the background check industry. How to Know if a Background Check Is Legit? To know if a background check is legit, check for the provider’s accuracy rate and their access to public records. A reputable company should offer compliance support and have clear processes for disputing inaccuracies. Look for 24/7 customer support and self-service options, indicating a commitment to transparency. Furthermore, verify if they stay updated with legislation affecting background checks. This guarantees the information you receive is reliable for making informed decisions. What Is the Most Trustworthy Background Check? When searching for the most trustworthy background check, focus on companies with high accuracy rates and thorough services. Look for providers that offer identity verification, criminal history checks, and employment verification. Fast turnaround times, ideally under two days, can likewise indicate reliability. Make certain the service complies with legal standards, safeguarding both employers and candidates. Customer support available around the clock in multiple languages can further improve the trustworthiness of the background check process. Conclusion In conclusion, Accurate Background proves to be a legitimate choice for background checks because of its industry-leading turnaround times, exceptional accuracy, and extensive compliance support. The user-friendly platform, combined with around-the-clock customer service and customized solutions, guarantees a streamlined hiring process for organizations of all sizes. By prioritizing efficiency and reliability, Accurate Background stands out as a trusted partner in background screening, making it easier for you to make informed hiring decisions with confidence. Image via Google Gemini This article, "What Makes Accurate Background a Legit Choice for Checks?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Since their initial launch in 2016, Apple has released nine iteration of the AirPods, from the now iconic white earbuds, to the upgraded AirPods Pro, to the the AirPods Max, Apple's pricey take on over-the-ear headphones. Whatever the model, however, these things are meant to be simple: You open the case, tap a prompt on your iPhone, and presto, your AirPods are ready to go. Despite their ease of use, however, AirPods are packed with features and settings you can adjust to your liking. Here are 10 hacks you should know if you own a pair Apple's headphones, whether standard, Pro, or Max. (A note: Whenever I refer to "AirPods settings" in this article, I am generally referring to the options that appear in the first page of the Settings app on iOS and iPadOS, or the System Settings on macOS, when you're wearing your AirPods.) You should turn on "Off" mode on your AirPodsI've had a few AirPods in my day, and every time I set up a new pair, I turn on "Off" mode. That might read strange, but it's a real thing. Depending on your AirPods model, you might have the option to use Noise Cancellation, which, of course, blocks outside noise; Transparency, which pumps in the sounds around you; or Off, which activates neither. This last choice ends up being great for times you want some noise blockage, but want to preserve the battery of your AirPods. Though I can't speak to AirPods 4 With Noise Cancellation, the Pros and the Max do a good job with this without active noise cancellation. While this option is always present when switching noise modes from Control Center, by default, Apple doesn't include it from switching modes from the stem (or the noise control button on the AirPods Max). If you try to switch, you'll only move between Noise Cancellation and Transparency. To include "Off" in this list, you'll need to dig into your AirPods' settings. Scroll down to "Press and Hold AirPods," then choose either "Left" or "Right," depending on which AirPods you want to adjust. Here, make sure "Off" is selected to add it to the noise control rotation. You can use Find My to locate your lost AirPodsLike any other tiny tech, your AirPods will go missing eventually. Mine slip out of my pockets all the time, and usually end up on the floor or under couch cushions. In such cases, you can waste your time retracing your steps and calculating the physics of where your AirPods would have landed, or you could use Find My to find them much faster. Find My has a few ways to locate your missing AirPods. The first is the most obvious: When you open the app and choose the "Devices" tab, you'll see your AirPods last-known location on the map. If you left them behind at, say, someone's house, you'll likely see that here, and know to stop looking under your own furniture. But if you're already in the location Find My says your AirPods are, you have two more tools to pinpoint their whereabouts. First, you can use "Find" to get step-by-step instructions on where your AirPods are. If you have AirPods Pro 2 or 3, you'll even have an arrow pointing you in their direction. If you still can't find them, you can tap "Play Sound" to play a sound out of any loose AirPod. If you have AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, AirPods Pro 2, or AirPods Pro 3, you can play a sound on the case itself. You can pair your AirPods with non-Apple devicesAirPods work best with Apple devices, but that doesn't mean they're exclusive. You can connect your AirPods to any device that supports Bluetooth, which gives the headphones some added flexibility. I primarily use mine with my iPhone, Mac, and Apple TV, but I also connect them directly to the TV itself to use them with my PS5. (Sony's console doesn't support Bluetooth audio, for some reason.) The thing is, there's no obvious way to connect your AirPods to non-Apple devices. You'd only know if you looked up how to put your particular AirPods model into "pairing mode." This bypasses Apple's usual pairing system, and opens up your AirPods to any available Bluetooth source. Here's how to kick your AirPods into pairing mode: AirPods 1, 2, or 3, or AirPods Pro 1 or 2: Place your AirPods in the case, open the lid, then press and hold the button on the back for five seconds, or until the light starts flashing white. AirPods 4 or AirPods Pro 3: Place your AirPods in their case, hold the case next to the Bluetooth device, then double-tap the front of the case. The light should start flashing white. AirPods Max; Press and hold the noise control button (the longer button) for about five seconds, until the light starts flashing white. Set up your AirPods for Live TranslationIt's easy to be numb to the current state of technology, but the fact your AirPods can translate conversations on the fly is possibly the best encapsulation of "we're living in the future" of any consumer product right now. AirPods aren't the only earbuds that can do this, but if you have AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, or AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, you have the power to have a full conversation with someone who doesn't speak the same language you do. You can't just find yourself in a situation where you need Live Translation and use it right away, however. Before you can use the feature, you need to download the target language to your iPhone. To start, go to your AirPods' settings, then scroll down to "Translation (Beta)" and choose "Languages." Here, you can tap any of the available languages to download them to your iPhone, which currently include Chinese (Mandarin, Simplified), Chinese (Mandarin, Traditional), English (UK), English (US), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), and Spanish (Spain). Now, when you need it, you can press the stems of your AirPods at once to launch Live Translate. Alternatively, you can open the Translate app, then choose "Live," then choose the language of the other speaker, as well as your own language. As they speak, you'll hear the translation in your AirPods, and see the text of the translation on your iPhone's display. You can use your AirPods as hearing aidsFor well over a year now, AirPods have been cleared by the FDA as clinical-grade hearing aids. It might take other people some time to catch up to the look, but if you need them, the AirPods you already own can be as valid a choice as dedicated (and expensive) hearing aids—assuming your have AirPods Pro 2 or AirPods Pro 3. In order to take advantage of this perk, you'll either need to take a hearing test through your iPhone, or upload an audiogram you performed with an audiologist. You'll find these options in your AirPods' settings under "Hearing Assistance." You can customize your AirPods' Adaptive Audio levelsAdaptive Audio is one of my favorite things about modern AirPods. If you have AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, or AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, Adaptive Audio will either boost or cap external sounds, depending on how loud or soft those sounds are, while still letting you hear everything that's going on around you. But if you've been using Adaptive Mode, and don't care for Apple's default sound levels here, you can adjust them to either let in more or less sound. You'll find the option in your AirPods settings under "Adaptive Audio." Here, slide the slider left to block more sound, or right to let in more noise. After a moment, you'll hear the changes take effect, so you can test which setting sounds best to you. You can use your AirPods as a camera remoteBack in the day, when you actually had to buy a dedicated camera for photography or videography, that device usually came with a remote so you could snap a picture or start recording while the camera was set up on a tripod. While the selfie has largely killed that practice, there are still plenty of times when you'd benefit from a camera remote for your iPhone, especially if you're trying to capture a group shot with no extra photographer, or you want to record a video without physically touching your phone. If you have AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 2, or AirPods Pro 3, you can use your earbuds as remote for your iPhone's camera. To set it up, open your AirPods' settings, scroll down, then tap "Camera Remote." You can either choose "Press Once" to have a quick press act as a remote button press, or "Press and Hold" to have a long-press achieve the same. Note that this will affect how your AirPods respond in other circumstances: If you choose "Press Once," you can't use the stem to control media playback; if you choose Press and Hold, you can't use the stem to activate Siri. You can stop your AirPods from automatically adjusting their volume"Smart" tech tries to solve problems, but, often, only makes them worse. AirPods' "Personalized Volume" is one such example. The problem: When your environment is too noisy, you can't hear your music; and when things suddenly get quiet, your music might be too loud. So, this feature "intelligently" adjusts the volume based on how quiet or loud your surroundings are. In theory, that's great; in execution, it's a nightmare. Since I picked up a pair of AirPods Pro 3, I've wondered why my music suddenly gets quiet, or suddenly starts getting louder, without me doing anything to control the volume. If the feature works for you, you can keep it on, but if you're like me, you'll want this off. To disable it, head to AirPods settings, scroll down to "Audio," then turn off the toggle next to "Personalized Volume." Master your AirPods' stem controls for callsYour AirPods are basically fancy Bluetooth headsets. If you're wearing them, and you get an incoming call, you don't need to pull out your iPhone. Instead, you can answer that call by pressing an AirPod stem once. But you might not also know you have the ability to customize other stem controls while on the call. By default, pressing the stem once during a call acts as a mute and unmute switch, while pressing twice ends the call. But you can swap these controls if you want to. You'll find them in your AirPods' settings under "Call Controls." Enable head gestures to control your AirPodsYou can use the stem of your AirPods to do things like accept incoming calls or dismiss notifications. However, if your hands are full, you can also use your head to do the same. AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 2, and AirPods Pro 3 support Head Gestures, which lets you nod your head or shake it from side to side to either accept or decline a call, or reply to (or dismiss) a text. You'll need to have Announce Calls and Announce Notifications enabled for this feature to work. You'll find those settings in your iPhone's "Siri" or "Apple Intelligence & Siri" setting pages. Once enabled, you can go to your AirPods' settings, scroll down to "Head Gestures," then enable the toggle to turn on the feature. From here, you can assign the "Accept, Reply" and "Decline, Dismiss" actions to either a head nod, or a head shake. View the full article

Firefox has a reputation as the browser of choice for power users who prefer to customize everything – and it just gave users one very important new option. While most other tech companies shove AI “enhancements” down their users’ throats, Mozilla is introducing a way to disable Firefox’s AI features outright – a boon for anyone searching for a safe haven from the AI software onslaught. Starting on February 24 with the Firefox 148 update, users will be able to toggle AI off in a new AI controls area in the desktop browser’s settings menu. To disable AI, you won’t even need to dig around and disable features one by one: Mozilla describes the forthcoming option as a “single place to block current and future generative AI features” across Firefox. If you’d like to customize Firefox’s AI offerings, the browser will also allow you to check and enable individual features. In a blog post announcing the option, Mozilla recognizes that not everyone wants to use AI, but it will continue to work on AI features for Firefox users who do want them. The options on the way later this month will allow Firefox users to toggle AI on or off for translation tools, alt text descriptions in PDFs, tab groups, link preview summaries, and for a sidebar feature that incorporates chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. Mozilla has been tinkering with AI product experiments in Firefox for a bit now. The company began rolling out access to AI chatbots a year ago with Firefox 135 and last September invited iOS users to “shake to summarize” a website with AI. Mozilla walks a tightrope on AI Mozilla announced its plan to splice AI features more deeply into Firefox late last year, a decision panned by some of its users. At the time, the company emphasized that any AI tools would be opt-in and designed to keep users in full control. “… We believe AI should be built like the internet — open, accessible, and driven by choice — so that users and the developers helping to build it can use it as they wish, help shape it and truly benefit from it,” Mozilla wrote in the announcement. The Firefox maker just appointed a new CEO as the company promotes its image as “the world’s most trusted software company.” Mozilla tapped Anthony Enzor-DeMeo, previously the general manager of Firefox, to step into the role. Enzor-DeMeo described the browser as the “next battleground” for AI in a statement paired with the news. “It’s where people live their online lives and where the next era’s questions of trust, data use, and transparency will be decided.” Firefox users are paying close attention. Mozilla’s connections to the open source community and its emphasis on user choice have built a deep well of brand loyalty over the years. Still, AI is a divisive technology, and one that Firefox users aren’t all sold on – a fact the browser maker is well aware of. “We believe choice is more important than ever as AI becomes a part of people’s browsing experiences,” Head of Firefox Ajit Varma wrote in Mozilla’s announcement on AI controls. “What matters to us is giving people control, no matter how they feel about AI.” View the full article

Ignaz Semmelweis was a physician working in a maternity ward in the 1840s. He noticed something disturbing: women giving birth in the ward staffed by doctors and medical students died from “childbed fever” at rates of 10-35%, while a nearby ward staffed by midwives had death rates under 4%. The key difference was that doctors were coming straight from performing autopsies to delivering babies, without washing their hands. They would dissect cadavers in the morning, then examine pregnant women in the afternoon with just a quick rinse. In 1847, Semmelweis instituted a policy requiring doctors to wash their hands with a chlorine solution between the autopsy room and the maternity ward. Death rates plummeted dramatically to around 1-2%. Great news, right? But instead of celebration, the medical community mocked Semmelweis for his claim that handwashing was worth the time and effort. He was driven out of the profession, and the “childbed fever” deaths went back up. It took more than 50 years after his discovery for handwashing to go mainstream in hospitals. The case for cameras Right now, in early 2026, state legislatures across the country are trying to outlaw a proven treatment for traffic injuries and fatalities. Speed enforcement cameras are proven to reduce vehicle speeds and reduce crashes. According to the US Department of Transportation’s Proven Safety Countermeasures initiative, fixed speed cameras can cut crashes on urban principal arterials by up to 54% for all crashes and 47% for injury crashes. For obvious reasons, school zones are the first place communities tend to install safety cameras. Speeding near schools creates unacceptable risks for kids crossing streets or waiting at bus stops. Montgomery County, Maryland’s, automated speed enforcement program found that cameras reduced the likelihood of a crash involving a fatality or incapacitating injury by 19%, decreased the chance of drivers exceeding the limit by more than 10 mph by up to 59%, and fostered long-term changes in driver behavior that substantially lowered overall deaths and injuries. In New York City school zones, fixed cameras have reduced speeding by up to 63% during active enforcement hours. Many other case studies demonstrate similar outcomes. The bottom line is automated speed enforcement saves lives. Pre-installation surveys at some Virginia schools revealed a whopping 95% of drivers were blazing through school zones at 10+ mph during arrival and dismissal. Nearly every driver was risking the lives of young kids, including parents. In Fairfax County, the safety cameras at Key Middle School issued 7,429 citations from August 2024 to May 2025. But after the cameras had been in place for a while, average speeds fell from 33.1 mph to 27.8 mph. People need consequences for dangerous driving. Automated cameras deliver fair, unbiased enforcement where officers can’t patrol constantly, holding reckless drivers accountable in high-risk areas like school zones while freeing up police for other duties. Bills to ban But while automated enforcement is saving lives, politicians in multiple states are advancing bills to ban, restrict, or phase out speed cameras. Virginia: SB 297 (introduced January 13, 2026) repeals the authority for law-enforcement agencies to use photo speed monitoring devices. It has been referred to the Senate Committee on Transportation and remains under consideration in the 2026 Regular Session. Arizona: SCR 1004 (advanced through the Senate Appropriations, Transportation, and Technology Committee in mid-January 2026) aims to place a statewide ban on photo radar enforcement (including speed cameras) on the November 2026 ballot for voter decision. Georgia: HB 225 repeals all laws authorizing automated traffic enforcement safety devices (speed cameras) in school zones, with an effective date of July 1, 2028, to phase out existing contracts. Reintroduced in the 2025-2026 Regular Session (published January 13, 2026), it previously passed the House 129-37 in 2025 but stalled in the Senate. Texas: Building on the state’s existing prohibitions on most fixed speed and red-light cameras (banned statewide in 2019), recent efforts like HB 2810 (introduced in the 2025 session but died) sought to expand bans to include portable devices enforcing speed limits. Similar measures could resurface in the 90th Legislature starting January 2027, driven by complaints about distractions from flashes and potential safety risks in local deployments. Minnesota: Rep. Greg Davids (R-Preston) announced in late 2025 that he would author a bill to ban automated speed cameras statewide, to be introduced in the 2026 legislative session. This follows Rochester’s City Council narrowly approving a request for a speed camera pilot program, highlighting opposition amid concerns over enforcement fairness and local authority. Robust evidence from federal and local sources supports speed cameras as effective for slowing drivers and preventing crashes—especially in child-heavy school zones. It’s a shame to see politicians working to dismantle them. Speed enforcement cameras save lives. The victims and survivors of traffic violence deserve better than the misguided bills that will directly lead to more life-altering crashes. View the full article

Conflict is a natural part of human interaction, and how you manage it can greatly impact relationships and outcomes. Comprehending the various approaches, such as accommodating, compromising, and collaborating, is crucial for effective resolution. Each method has its strengths and weaknesses, influencing not just immediate results but likewise long-term dynamics. By exploring these strategies, you can improve your conflict management skills and cultivate a more positive environment. What might be the best approach for your specific situation? Key Takeaways Collaboration fosters win-win outcomes by addressing both personal goals and relationships, enhancing team morale and trust. Compromising seeks middle ground through moderate assertiveness, allowing for quicker resolutions while maintaining fairness and positive relationships. Accommodating builds goodwill by prioritizing others’ needs, but should be balanced with assertiveness to avoid resentment. Avoiding can provide a temporary cooling-off period for low-stakes conflicts, but should not be relied on for chronic issues. Competition is effective in high-stakes situations requiring quick decision-making but may harm long-term relationships if overused. Understanding Conflict and Its Importance Conflict is an inevitable aspect of human interaction, arising from differing ideas, interests, or actions. Comprehending conflict is fundamental, as it can occur at various levels, including intrapersonal and interpersonal. By recognizing the types of conflict, you can adopt effective approaches to conflict management. Collaborative conflict management techniques encourage open dialogue and promote problem-solving, which helps prevent disputes from escalating. Mastering these techniques not just aids in resolution but also improves your skills in active listening and effective communication. These skills are vital for nurturing better team dynamics and maintaining collaboration during projects. When you grasp conflict and its importance, you’re better equipped to navigate challenges in both personal and professional settings. This foundational knowledge allows you to create a harmonious environment, facilitating better decision-making and positive interactions. In the end, mastering conflict management skills is key to achieving successful outcomes in any relationship. Why Manage Conflicts? Managing conflicts is fundamental as unresolved issues can create significant obstacles in both personal and professional environments. Conflicts in the workplace can lead to financial losses, with American Express businesses losing about $359 billion annually because of these disputes. Effective conflict management is critical to maintain project flow and avoid missed deadlines, which can decrease productivity. By addressing conflicts positively, you improve team dynamics, cultivating better comprehension and collaboration among team members. Collaborative conflict management requires skills like active listening and effective communication, which are indispensable for successful interpersonal interactions. Additionally, acknowledging and managing conflicts can help retain talent, as 53% of employees might avoid “toxic” situations. This avoidance can cost organizations over $7,500 and seven workdays per employee. Utilizing models like the Kilmann conflict model can guide you in resolving disputes effectively, ensuring a healthier workplace environment. The Five Best Conflict Management Approaches Grasping the five best conflict management approaches can greatly improve your ability to navigate disputes effectively. Each method—accommodating, compromising, avoiding, competing, and collaborating—serves different purposes and suits various situations and relationships. Key Approaches Overview Steering through disagreements can be challenging, but knowing the best conflict management approaches can greatly improve your ability to resolve issues effectively. Here’s a brief overview of the five key strategies: Approach Assertiveness Cooperativeness Accommodating Low High Compromising Medium Medium Avoidance Low Low Competition High Low Collaboration Medium High Accommodating prioritizes others’ needs, whereas compromising seeks a middle ground. Avoidance may offer temporary relief but can worsen conflicts. Competition serves well in emergencies, but it can harm relationships. Finally, collaboration is the best approach for win-win solutions, encouraging stronger relationships through shared comprehension and effort. Choosing the Right Strategy How do you know which conflict management strategy to choose when faced with a disagreement? Each strategy—accommodating, compromising, avoiding, competing, and collaborating—has its strengths and ideal contexts. Accommodating emphasizes goodwill, but risks being seen as weak if overused. Compromising seeks a middle ground, but may leave both parties unsatisfied. Avoidance can be beneficial for temporary conflicts, yet ignoring chronic issues could escalate tensions. Competition is assertive and useful in emergencies, though it may harm relationships if relied on too heavily. Finally, collaboration aims for win-win outcomes, nurturing trust and requiring time. Assess the situation carefully to determine which approach aligns with your goals and the needs of the other party, eventually leading to a more effective resolution. Accommodating: Building Goodwill Accommodating means prioritizing the needs of others, which can strengthen relationships and promote goodwill in a team. By yielding to their concerns, you not merely de-escalate potential conflicts but additionally encourage open communication and collaboration. Nevertheless, it’s important to balance this approach with your own goals, as excessive accommodation can lead to resentment and hinder innovation within the group. Importance of Yielding Needs When conflicts arise in a workplace, yielding to the needs of others can be a valuable strategy for nurturing strong relationships and building goodwill. Accommodating helps de-escalate tensions, promoting a culture of respect and cooperation. Nevertheless, excessive accommodation may hinder innovation, as it can create an environment where one party consistently yields, leading to resentment. Leaders should monitor employees’ use of this approach to guarantee it doesn’t stifle collaboration. Although accommodating is effective for resolving minor disputes, it’s essential to balance it with assertiveness to protect your interests. Pros of Yielding Needs Cons of Yielding Needs Builds goodwill May stifle innovation De-escalates conflict Can lead to resentment Encourages cooperation May undermine assertiveness Strengthens relationships Risks influence imbalances Balancing Relationships and Goals In steering workplace dynamics, balancing relationships with individual goals is crucial for cultivating a productive environment. Accommodating prioritizes relationships, nurturing goodwill and collaboration. This approach can help de-escalate conflicts by yielding to others’ needs, especially in minor issues where harmony matters. Nevertheless, be cautious—too much accommodating can stifle innovation and breed resentment if team members feel ignored. Consider these elements when applying this strategy: Collaboration: Encourage open dialogue to understand everyone’s perspective. Monitoring: Regularly assess how often accommodating is used to prevent imbalance. Assertiveness: Balance accommodating with assertiveness to guarantee personal goals are likewise met. Compromising: Finding Middle Ground Compromise serves as a practical approach to conflict resolution, especially when both parties have moderate goals and relationships at stake. This strategy involves a moderately assertive and cooperative mindset, where each side gives up some needs to find a mutually acceptable solution. Although compromise can feel like a “lose-lose” scenario, as both may leave partially unsatisfied, it allows for quicker resolutions when time is limited. Furthermore, effective compromise requires big-picture thinking and a willingness to sacrifice, preventing escalated conflicts and enhancing team dynamics. By encouraging goodwill, it can lead to improved collaboration in future interactions, demonstrating a commitment to finding common ground. When used appropriately, compromise balances the needs and concerns of conflicting parties, promoting fairness and equity in conflict resolution. In the end, it’s a constructive way to address disagreements while maintaining positive relationships, making it a crucial tool in conflict management. Avoidance: When to Step Back Sometimes, stepping back from a conflict can be the best approach, especially when emotions run high. This temporary avoidance allows you to gain perspective and prevent escalation, making it a useful strategy for low-stakes issues. Nevertheless, it’s vital to plan for future discussions to guarantee that the conflict isn’t left unresolved. Temporary Conflict Resolution Temporary conflict resolution through avoidance can be a strategic choice when emotions run high and direct confrontation may lead to further escalation. This approach allows you to step back and gain perspective before addressing the issue directly. It’s particularly effective for low-stakes conflicts, where the importance of both goals and relationships is minimal. Nevertheless, it’s vital to remember: It provides a cooling-off period to reflect. Over-reliance can create a perception of weakness. It’s not suitable for chronic issues, as unresolved conflicts might escalate. Using avoidance wisely can improve future conversations, but striking a balance is fundamental. Too much avoidance can frustrate team members and harm dynamics, so be mindful of when and how you implement this approach. Managing Strong Emotions When faced with strong emotions during a conflict, stepping back can be a key strategy for effective management. Avoidance can help you cool down and gain perspective, especially when emotions run high. By temporarily stepping away from the situation, you prevent further escalation and avoid unproductive discussions that may arise from addressing issues too soon. Nevertheless, it’s important not to over-rely on this strategy, as unresolved issues can worsen over time. In workplace settings, leaders should encourage brief pauses for reflection, allowing everyone involved to regroup before re-engaging in constructive dialogue. Balancing avoidance with proactive conflict management guarantees that you address the underlying issues without being overwhelmed by strong emotions. Competition: High Stakes Decision Making Competition as a conflict management approach emphasizes high assertiveness during minimizing cooperativeness, leading to outcomes that often favor one party over another. This style is particularly effective in high-stakes situations or emergencies, where quick decision-making is critical. By asserting authority, you can protect your interests, but be cautious; over-reliance on this method can damage trust among team members. Consider these key points: It prioritizes immediate results, often at the expense of relationships. Leaders must discern when to act decisively versus when to encourage dialogue. Balancing competition with other strategies is fundamental for long-term team cohesion. Although competition can yield quick victories, keep in mind that nurturing collaboration and trust is imperative for sustained success. By identifying the right moments to compete, you can navigate conflicts effectively during maintaining a functional team dynamic. Collaboration: The Win-Win Approach Though competition can lead to quick, decisive outcomes, it often overlooks the value of teamwork and long-term relationships. Collaboration serves as a win-win approach in conflict management, focusing on both personal goals and relationships. This method is particularly effective in complex situations where input from various stakeholders is crucial. By nurturing a culture of respect and shared success, collaboration guarantees that all voices are heard, leading to faster and more impactful solutions. Research shows that collaborative conflict resolution can improve team morale and trust, as it encourages a thorough exploration of issues to satisfy all parties involved. Though collaborating requires time and effort, the results often yield lasting positive relationships and a greater commitment to the agreed solutions. In the end, effective collaboration not just resolves immediate conflicts but also lays the groundwork for future cooperation and teamwork, which can greatly benefit overall organizational performance. The Role of Communication in Conflict Management Effective communication plays a critical role in conflict management, as it allows individuals to articulate their ideas and perspectives clearly. By nurturing an environment of comprehension, effective communication helps mitigate conflicts before they escalate. Here are some key aspects to reflect on: Active listening: This skill lets you fully grasp others’ concerns, ensuring everyone feels heard and respected. “I statements”: Using these during discussions keeps the focus on specific issues, reducing defensiveness and encouraging constructive dialogue. Clarity and directness: Clear communication prevents misunderstandings, promoting mutual comprehension of expectations and concerns. Maintaining civility in your communication during conflicts improves cooperation and increases the chances of reaching a satisfactory resolution. The Importance of Control and Civility When managing conflicts, maintaining control and civility is crucial for nurturing a productive dialogue. By regulating emotions and actions, you create a constructive environment that leads to effective resolutions. Civility in communication promotes mutual respect and cooperation, greatly reducing tensions during disputes. Studies indicate that respectful communication improves trust among team members, which is critical for effective conflict resolution and overall team dynamics. Engaging in civil discourse allows all parties to express their perspectives openly, facilitating a deeper comprehension of the issues at hand. This approach promotes collaborative solutions, making it easier to reach agreements. In addition, implementing control and civility can decrease the likelihood of escalation, ultimately saving your organization valuable time and resources that might be lost to unresolved conflicts. Responsibilities of Leaders in Conflict Resolution Leaders hold significant responsibilities in conflict resolution, as they’re often the linchpins in steering disputes within their teams. Your role involves not only addressing personal conflicts but also providing support to employees as they navigate their disputes. By upholding ethical and legal responsibilities, you guarantee fairness and prioritize the well-being of your team members. Promote open communication, allowing all parties to express their perspectives. Balance leadership roles with employee support to improve team dynamics. Prevent organizational losses by resolving conflicts effectively, as unresolved issues can cost businesses billions. Effective conflict resolution encourages collaboration and comprehension, creating a safe work environment. By prioritizing healthy conflict resolution, you set a tone that can transform disputes into opportunities for growth, benefiting both individuals and the organization as a whole. Embrace these responsibilities to lead effectively through conflicts. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the Most Effective Method for Conflict Management? The most effective method for conflict management often depends on your specific situation. If relationships matter greatly, consider collaborating, as it seeks win-win outcomes. Nevertheless, if time’s an issue, compromising might be more suitable for quick resolutions. Accommodating can help maintain harmony but may hinder innovation if overused. Avoidance, though usually less productive, can provide a temporary pause to cool emotions. In the end, choosing the right approach is essential for effective conflict resolution. What Are the 5 Basic Approaches to Managing Conflict? You’ve got five basic approaches to managing conflict: accommodating, compromising, avoiding, competing, and collaborating. Accommodating means yielding to others, which can help maintain relationships but might stifle creativity. Compromising seeks a middle ground, suitable for moderate issues but may leave some problems unresolved. Avoiding is useful for minor conflicts but can escalate if overused. Competing prioritizes your goals but risks damaging relationships. Each method varies in assertiveness and cooperativeness, impacting outcomes greatly. What Are the 5 C’s of Conflict Management? The 5 C’s of conflict management are Communication, Collaboration, Compromise, Control, and Civility. Effective Communication involves listening actively and expressing your ideas clearly, ensuring everyone feels understood. Collaboration nurtures teamwork, working together to find solutions that benefit all. Compromise requires you to make concessions for a balanced outcome, whereas Control helps manage emotions and actions, preventing escalation. Finally, Civility emphasizes respectful interactions, essential for maintaining a constructive environment during conflicts. Which Conflict Management Model Is Most Effective? When considering which conflict management model is most effective, many experts point to the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Model. This model identifies five strategies: Avoiding, Competing, Accommodating, Compromising, and Collaborating. Collaborating often stands out as the best option, as it promotes win-win solutions that fulfill both parties’ needs. Nevertheless, Competing may be useful in urgent situations. In the end, the effectiveness of each strategy depends on the specific context and the relationships involved. Conclusion In conclusion, effective conflict management is vital for maintaining healthy relationships and nurturing a productive environment. By comprehending and applying the five key approaches—accommodating, compromising, avoiding, competing, and collaborating—you can navigate conflicts more effectively. Prioritizing communication, control, and civility improves your ability to resolve disputes amicably. Leaders play a significant role in facilitating this process, ensuring that conflicts are addressed constructively to promote teamwork and long-term success. Implementing these strategies can lead to better outcomes for everyone involved. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "What Are the Most Effective Approaches for Conflict Management?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Conflict is a natural part of human interaction, and how you manage it can greatly impact relationships and outcomes. Comprehending the various approaches, such as accommodating, compromising, and collaborating, is crucial for effective resolution. Each method has its strengths and weaknesses, influencing not just immediate results but likewise long-term dynamics. By exploring these strategies, you can improve your conflict management skills and cultivate a more positive environment. What might be the best approach for your specific situation? Key Takeaways Collaboration fosters win-win outcomes by addressing both personal goals and relationships, enhancing team morale and trust. Compromising seeks middle ground through moderate assertiveness, allowing for quicker resolutions while maintaining fairness and positive relationships. Accommodating builds goodwill by prioritizing others’ needs, but should be balanced with assertiveness to avoid resentment. Avoiding can provide a temporary cooling-off period for low-stakes conflicts, but should not be relied on for chronic issues. Competition is effective in high-stakes situations requiring quick decision-making but may harm long-term relationships if overused. Understanding Conflict and Its Importance Conflict is an inevitable aspect of human interaction, arising from differing ideas, interests, or actions. Comprehending conflict is fundamental, as it can occur at various levels, including intrapersonal and interpersonal. By recognizing the types of conflict, you can adopt effective approaches to conflict management. Collaborative conflict management techniques encourage open dialogue and promote problem-solving, which helps prevent disputes from escalating. Mastering these techniques not just aids in resolution but also improves your skills in active listening and effective communication. These skills are vital for nurturing better team dynamics and maintaining collaboration during projects. When you grasp conflict and its importance, you’re better equipped to navigate challenges in both personal and professional settings. This foundational knowledge allows you to create a harmonious environment, facilitating better decision-making and positive interactions. In the end, mastering conflict management skills is key to achieving successful outcomes in any relationship. Why Manage Conflicts? Managing conflicts is fundamental as unresolved issues can create significant obstacles in both personal and professional environments. Conflicts in the workplace can lead to financial losses, with American Express businesses losing about $359 billion annually because of these disputes. Effective conflict management is critical to maintain project flow and avoid missed deadlines, which can decrease productivity. By addressing conflicts positively, you improve team dynamics, cultivating better comprehension and collaboration among team members. Collaborative conflict management requires skills like active listening and effective communication, which are indispensable for successful interpersonal interactions. Additionally, acknowledging and managing conflicts can help retain talent, as 53% of employees might avoid “toxic” situations. This avoidance can cost organizations over $7,500 and seven workdays per employee. Utilizing models like the Kilmann conflict model can guide you in resolving disputes effectively, ensuring a healthier workplace environment. The Five Best Conflict Management Approaches Grasping the five best conflict management approaches can greatly improve your ability to navigate disputes effectively. Each method—accommodating, compromising, avoiding, competing, and collaborating—serves different purposes and suits various situations and relationships. Key Approaches Overview Steering through disagreements can be challenging, but knowing the best conflict management approaches can greatly improve your ability to resolve issues effectively. Here’s a brief overview of the five key strategies: Approach Assertiveness Cooperativeness Accommodating Low High Compromising Medium Medium Avoidance Low Low Competition High Low Collaboration Medium High Accommodating prioritizes others’ needs, whereas compromising seeks a middle ground. Avoidance may offer temporary relief but can worsen conflicts. Competition serves well in emergencies, but it can harm relationships. Finally, collaboration is the best approach for win-win solutions, encouraging stronger relationships through shared comprehension and effort. Choosing the Right Strategy How do you know which conflict management strategy to choose when faced with a disagreement? Each strategy—accommodating, compromising, avoiding, competing, and collaborating—has its strengths and ideal contexts. Accommodating emphasizes goodwill, but risks being seen as weak if overused. Compromising seeks a middle ground, but may leave both parties unsatisfied. Avoidance can be beneficial for temporary conflicts, yet ignoring chronic issues could escalate tensions. Competition is assertive and useful in emergencies, though it may harm relationships if relied on too heavily. Finally, collaboration aims for win-win outcomes, nurturing trust and requiring time. Assess the situation carefully to determine which approach aligns with your goals and the needs of the other party, eventually leading to a more effective resolution. Accommodating: Building Goodwill Accommodating means prioritizing the needs of others, which can strengthen relationships and promote goodwill in a team. By yielding to their concerns, you not merely de-escalate potential conflicts but additionally encourage open communication and collaboration. Nevertheless, it’s important to balance this approach with your own goals, as excessive accommodation can lead to resentment and hinder innovation within the group. Importance of Yielding Needs When conflicts arise in a workplace, yielding to the needs of others can be a valuable strategy for nurturing strong relationships and building goodwill. Accommodating helps de-escalate tensions, promoting a culture of respect and cooperation. Nevertheless, excessive accommodation may hinder innovation, as it can create an environment where one party consistently yields, leading to resentment. Leaders should monitor employees’ use of this approach to guarantee it doesn’t stifle collaboration. Although accommodating is effective for resolving minor disputes, it’s essential to balance it with assertiveness to protect your interests. Pros of Yielding Needs Cons of Yielding Needs Builds goodwill May stifle innovation De-escalates conflict Can lead to resentment Encourages cooperation May undermine assertiveness Strengthens relationships Risks influence imbalances Balancing Relationships and Goals In steering workplace dynamics, balancing relationships with individual goals is crucial for cultivating a productive environment. Accommodating prioritizes relationships, nurturing goodwill and collaboration. This approach can help de-escalate conflicts by yielding to others’ needs, especially in minor issues where harmony matters. Nevertheless, be cautious—too much accommodating can stifle innovation and breed resentment if team members feel ignored. Consider these elements when applying this strategy: Collaboration: Encourage open dialogue to understand everyone’s perspective. Monitoring: Regularly assess how often accommodating is used to prevent imbalance. Assertiveness: Balance accommodating with assertiveness to guarantee personal goals are likewise met. Compromising: Finding Middle Ground Compromise serves as a practical approach to conflict resolution, especially when both parties have moderate goals and relationships at stake. This strategy involves a moderately assertive and cooperative mindset, where each side gives up some needs to find a mutually acceptable solution. Although compromise can feel like a “lose-lose” scenario, as both may leave partially unsatisfied, it allows for quicker resolutions when time is limited. Furthermore, effective compromise requires big-picture thinking and a willingness to sacrifice, preventing escalated conflicts and enhancing team dynamics. By encouraging goodwill, it can lead to improved collaboration in future interactions, demonstrating a commitment to finding common ground. When used appropriately, compromise balances the needs and concerns of conflicting parties, promoting fairness and equity in conflict resolution. In the end, it’s a constructive way to address disagreements while maintaining positive relationships, making it a crucial tool in conflict management. Avoidance: When to Step Back Sometimes, stepping back from a conflict can be the best approach, especially when emotions run high. This temporary avoidance allows you to gain perspective and prevent escalation, making it a useful strategy for low-stakes issues. Nevertheless, it’s vital to plan for future discussions to guarantee that the conflict isn’t left unresolved. Temporary Conflict Resolution Temporary conflict resolution through avoidance can be a strategic choice when emotions run high and direct confrontation may lead to further escalation. This approach allows you to step back and gain perspective before addressing the issue directly. It’s particularly effective for low-stakes conflicts, where the importance of both goals and relationships is minimal. Nevertheless, it’s vital to remember: It provides a cooling-off period to reflect. Over-reliance can create a perception of weakness. It’s not suitable for chronic issues, as unresolved conflicts might escalate. Using avoidance wisely can improve future conversations, but striking a balance is fundamental. Too much avoidance can frustrate team members and harm dynamics, so be mindful of when and how you implement this approach. Managing Strong Emotions When faced with strong emotions during a conflict, stepping back can be a key strategy for effective management. Avoidance can help you cool down and gain perspective, especially when emotions run high. By temporarily stepping away from the situation, you prevent further escalation and avoid unproductive discussions that may arise from addressing issues too soon. Nevertheless, it’s important not to over-rely on this strategy, as unresolved issues can worsen over time. In workplace settings, leaders should encourage brief pauses for reflection, allowing everyone involved to regroup before re-engaging in constructive dialogue. Balancing avoidance with proactive conflict management guarantees that you address the underlying issues without being overwhelmed by strong emotions. Competition: High Stakes Decision Making Competition as a conflict management approach emphasizes high assertiveness during minimizing cooperativeness, leading to outcomes that often favor one party over another. This style is particularly effective in high-stakes situations or emergencies, where quick decision-making is critical. By asserting authority, you can protect your interests, but be cautious; over-reliance on this method can damage trust among team members. Consider these key points: It prioritizes immediate results, often at the expense of relationships. Leaders must discern when to act decisively versus when to encourage dialogue. Balancing competition with other strategies is fundamental for long-term team cohesion. Although competition can yield quick victories, keep in mind that nurturing collaboration and trust is imperative for sustained success. By identifying the right moments to compete, you can navigate conflicts effectively during maintaining a functional team dynamic. Collaboration: The Win-Win Approach Though competition can lead to quick, decisive outcomes, it often overlooks the value of teamwork and long-term relationships. Collaboration serves as a win-win approach in conflict management, focusing on both personal goals and relationships. This method is particularly effective in complex situations where input from various stakeholders is crucial. By nurturing a culture of respect and shared success, collaboration guarantees that all voices are heard, leading to faster and more impactful solutions. Research shows that collaborative conflict resolution can improve team morale and trust, as it encourages a thorough exploration of issues to satisfy all parties involved. Though collaborating requires time and effort, the results often yield lasting positive relationships and a greater commitment to the agreed solutions. In the end, effective collaboration not just resolves immediate conflicts but also lays the groundwork for future cooperation and teamwork, which can greatly benefit overall organizational performance. The Role of Communication in Conflict Management Effective communication plays a critical role in conflict management, as it allows individuals to articulate their ideas and perspectives clearly. By nurturing an environment of comprehension, effective communication helps mitigate conflicts before they escalate. Here are some key aspects to reflect on: Active listening: This skill lets you fully grasp others’ concerns, ensuring everyone feels heard and respected. “I statements”: Using these during discussions keeps the focus on specific issues, reducing defensiveness and encouraging constructive dialogue. Clarity and directness: Clear communication prevents misunderstandings, promoting mutual comprehension of expectations and concerns. Maintaining civility in your communication during conflicts improves cooperation and increases the chances of reaching a satisfactory resolution. The Importance of Control and Civility When managing conflicts, maintaining control and civility is crucial for nurturing a productive dialogue. By regulating emotions and actions, you create a constructive environment that leads to effective resolutions. Civility in communication promotes mutual respect and cooperation, greatly reducing tensions during disputes. Studies indicate that respectful communication improves trust among team members, which is critical for effective conflict resolution and overall team dynamics. Engaging in civil discourse allows all parties to express their perspectives openly, facilitating a deeper comprehension of the issues at hand. This approach promotes collaborative solutions, making it easier to reach agreements. In addition, implementing control and civility can decrease the likelihood of escalation, ultimately saving your organization valuable time and resources that might be lost to unresolved conflicts. Responsibilities of Leaders in Conflict Resolution Leaders hold significant responsibilities in conflict resolution, as they’re often the linchpins in steering disputes within their teams. Your role involves not only addressing personal conflicts but also providing support to employees as they navigate their disputes. By upholding ethical and legal responsibilities, you guarantee fairness and prioritize the well-being of your team members. Promote open communication, allowing all parties to express their perspectives. Balance leadership roles with employee support to improve team dynamics. Prevent organizational losses by resolving conflicts effectively, as unresolved issues can cost businesses billions. Effective conflict resolution encourages collaboration and comprehension, creating a safe work environment. By prioritizing healthy conflict resolution, you set a tone that can transform disputes into opportunities for growth, benefiting both individuals and the organization as a whole. Embrace these responsibilities to lead effectively through conflicts. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the Most Effective Method for Conflict Management? The most effective method for conflict management often depends on your specific situation. If relationships matter greatly, consider collaborating, as it seeks win-win outcomes. Nevertheless, if time’s an issue, compromising might be more suitable for quick resolutions. Accommodating can help maintain harmony but may hinder innovation if overused. Avoidance, though usually less productive, can provide a temporary pause to cool emotions. In the end, choosing the right approach is essential for effective conflict resolution. What Are the 5 Basic Approaches to Managing Conflict? You’ve got five basic approaches to managing conflict: accommodating, compromising, avoiding, competing, and collaborating. Accommodating means yielding to others, which can help maintain relationships but might stifle creativity. Compromising seeks a middle ground, suitable for moderate issues but may leave some problems unresolved. Avoiding is useful for minor conflicts but can escalate if overused. Competing prioritizes your goals but risks damaging relationships. Each method varies in assertiveness and cooperativeness, impacting outcomes greatly. What Are the 5 C’s of Conflict Management? The 5 C’s of conflict management are Communication, Collaboration, Compromise, Control, and Civility. Effective Communication involves listening actively and expressing your ideas clearly, ensuring everyone feels understood. Collaboration nurtures teamwork, working together to find solutions that benefit all. Compromise requires you to make concessions for a balanced outcome, whereas Control helps manage emotions and actions, preventing escalation. Finally, Civility emphasizes respectful interactions, essential for maintaining a constructive environment during conflicts. Which Conflict Management Model Is Most Effective? When considering which conflict management model is most effective, many experts point to the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Model. This model identifies five strategies: Avoiding, Competing, Accommodating, Compromising, and Collaborating. Collaborating often stands out as the best option, as it promotes win-win solutions that fulfill both parties’ needs. Nevertheless, Competing may be useful in urgent situations. In the end, the effectiveness of each strategy depends on the specific context and the relationships involved. Conclusion In conclusion, effective conflict management is vital for maintaining healthy relationships and nurturing a productive environment. By comprehending and applying the five key approaches—accommodating, compromising, avoiding, competing, and collaborating—you can navigate conflicts more effectively. Prioritizing communication, control, and civility improves your ability to resolve disputes amicably. Leaders play a significant role in facilitating this process, ensuring that conflicts are addressed constructively to promote teamwork and long-term success. Implementing these strategies can lead to better outcomes for everyone involved. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "What Are the Most Effective Approaches for Conflict Management?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Lior Pozin had an epiphany about AI infrastructure in early 2025. As CEO of AutoDS, an AI-powered e-commerce automation platform, he had pushed his team to deploy AI features quickly, betting that speed would define success. AutoDS was bootstrapped and eventually reached 1.8 million users, generated more than $1 billion in user revenue, and exited successfully to Fiverr. From its earliest days, the company was fast moving, the kind of place where speed was strategic and rapid implementation felt like the natural way to operate. But as Pozin’s team moved from pilots to production, they learned that speed alone was not enough. AI only delivers results when the right data foundations and ownership structures are in place. “Without the right governance, data organization, and access, AI can’t scale,” Pozin tells Fast Company. “Once we built that foundation, everything changed. AI stopped being a feature and became part of how we operate.” That experience was not unique to AutoDS. In 2025, across several industries, companies quickly realized that deploying AI at scale required confronting uncomfortable truths about their infrastructure, their assumptions about what AI could do, and their willingness to solve unglamorous problems before chasing transformative ones. While the year began with big promises, it turned out to be less about breakthroughs and more about a reckoning with reality. The lessons that emerged reveal an industry growing up. Instead of building ever more powerful models or simply raising more capital, the industry is maturing by figuring out what actually works when the demos end and the real work begins. INFRASTRUCTURE FIRST, OR NOTHING ELSE MATTERS In early 2024, database company RavenDB explored building an AI assistant for its documentation in collaboration with Microsoft. The project ultimately fell apart. According to founder Oren Eini, the problem was not the AI model itself but everything surrounding it. Data had to move through multiple systems before reaching the model, and updates required manual intervention. The entire setup depended on fragile connections that could break at any moment. For a database company, the irony was hard to miss. The experience clarified something essential for the team: AI needed to be integrated far more deeply into the database itself to be reliable, predictable, and scalable. For Eini, it wasn’t a setback so much as a signal that the surrounding architecture mattered as much as the model itself. That realization informed RavenDB’s more recent work on AI agents in and capabilities built directly into the database layer, where models operate closer to the data they rely on and can behave more predictably in production environments. At AutoDS, that shift translated into a more deliberate approach. The team focused on building a shared data layer into its drop-shipping platform and clearer ownership around AI initiatives, which later enabled products like its AI-powered store builder to scale more reliably across the business. The shift required patience. Pozin’s team stopped chasing what looked impressive and started tracking what mattered: time saved, accuracy improved, and decisions accelerated. “Success now means AI actually improves how we work, not just that we’re using it,” Pozin notes. EFFICIENCY BEATS RAW POWER While much of the AI industry chased larger models and more compute in 2025, Oculeus, a software-for-telecom company with deep experience in AI, spent the year prioritizing efficiency. The team focused on designing and refining systems that deliver reliable performance without excessive computational overhead. That focus is central to how Oculeus applies AI in telecommunications, where its systems are used to detect fraud patterns and anomalous behavior in real time. In those environments, Arnd Baranowski, the company’s CEO, explains that “predictability matters more than novelty, because false positives and inconsistent outputs carry direct financial and operational risk.” “AI algorithms and technology, which go along with massive computation and energy consumption, are a misguided path,” Baranowski adds. His critique extends beyond hardware, questioning the industry’s embrace of nondeterministic systems that produce different outputs for the same input. “Training must result in 100% deterministic responses. Otherwise, something is wrong.” That stance runs counter to the excitement around large language models, which treat randomness as a feature. For Baranowski, the lesson of 2025 was simple: AI systems only earn trust when they behave consistently and can be relied on in real operating conditions. Eini also shares that view. At RavenDB, the goal wasn’t building the smartest AI. It was building predictable AI that could handle routine tasks without drama. “We don’t necessarily want ‘smart’ AI,” Eini says. “We want predictable AI.” As compute costs remain high and energy consumption becomes a public concern, 2026 will favor companies that figured out how to do more with less over those still chasing the biggest possible models. TRUST DEMANDS BOUNDARIES In 2024, Air Canada’s chatbot promised a customer a bereavement fare discount that didn’t exist. The airline was held liable. The case crystallized a problem that became unavoidable in 2025: AI agents can’t be trusted the way employees can. Eini frames it bluntly. A bank teller is bound by policies and consequences. An AI agent isn’t. “I like to think about them as employees who I know are susceptible to bribes,” he says. “It’s crucial to consciously set boundaries for their actions and actively implement protective measures.” Those boundaries took practical form. At AutoDS, Pozin created a dedicated team to verify AI outputs and ensure the system received accurate source data. At RavenDB, the team developed and implemented chain-of-approval processes and clear limits on what AI agents could access or promise. The lesson extends beyond technical safeguards. AI agents exist in a gray zone between tool and actor. They respond to instructions but lack judgment. They execute tasks, but can’t weigh the consequences. That reality requires new frameworks for accountability that don’t assume good training guarantees good behavior. Organizations thriving in 2026 will treat AI deployment as a trust problem first. That means transparency about capabilities and limits, clear expectations for users, and systems designed to fail safely when things go wrong. SMALL FIXES BEAT MOONSHOTS The year’s biggest AI narratives centered on autonomous vehicles, artificial general intelligence (AGI)—which AI scientist Yann LeCun thinks is an illusion—and models replacing entire professions. But companies making actual progress focused elsewhere: solving small, annoying problems at scale. “The biggest changes will come from fixing many small problems, not from one big, all-knowing AI,” Eini says. “Quantity has a quality of its own, and removing many small frictions leads to a much faster pace overall.” RavenDB empowered regular team members to build AI features in days rather than waiting for top engineers to approve and execute. AutoDS measured success by whether AI made employees faster and more efficient, not by how many AI projects were running. The results were individually modest but collectively transformative. A year earlier, companies chased AI for its own sake, deploying pilots that looked impressive in demos but never scaled. In 2025, the focus shifted to measurable impact. Eini compares it to how we today make water potable for drinking, a practice so ordinary now that no one thinks about it. “In the same sense that ATMs or self-checkout services haven’t fundamentally changed the entire world, but have made our lives measurably better, I think we’ll see a lot of that,” he tells me. “The sheer quantity of changes will have a transformative effect.” PREPARATION MATTERS MORE THAN REACTION Steve Brierley wasn’t building AI in 2025. As CEO of quantum computing company Riverlane, he was watching how unprepared industries were when ChatGPT arrived. “The AI boom exposed how unready many industries were when tools like ChatGPT suddenly entered the mainstream, forcing companies to scramble around regulation, scalability, data readiness, and consolidation, and a widening workforce and skills gap,” Brierley says. His takeaway: understand emerging technologies early enough to anticipate challenges rather than react to crises. Quantum computing will arrive sooner than many expect, and it won’t be a marginal improvement. “AI excels at analyzing and generating insights from data, while quantum computing will enable the creation of new kinds of data altogether,” Brierley says. “Together, they will unlock far greater exploration, discovery, and innovation than technology could achieve on its own.” Gilles Thonet, deputy secretary-general at the International Electrotechnical Commission, saw the same dynamic in regulation. As AI laws took effect in 2025, companies struggled to translate legal requirements into operational reality. “International standards are essential to fostering trust in this transformative technology,” Thonet says. WHAT COMES NEXT The lessons from 2025 point toward an AI future grounded in operational reality rather than hype. Companies leading that shift built infrastructure, set boundaries, and solved real problems instead of chasing headlines. But new challenges are emerging. Sheetal Mehta, global head of cybersecurity services at NTT Data, warns that AI capabilities driving productivity gains are being weaponized. “Agentic AI’s speed and ability to learn and make decisions autonomously can also be used by cybercriminals, exposing enterprises to new attack surfaces and unexpected security vulnerabilities,” Mehta says. That means 2026 will require better safeguards, not just better systems. Organizations will need to treat AI security, governance, and ethics as foundational, not optional. Pozin captures that shift rather poignantly. “The next phase of AI is AI that lives with us, learns us daily, and delivers exactly what we need, just in time. It won’t feel like a tool anymore. It’ll feel like a teammate that truly gets you,” he says. Eini puts it even more simply: “Moving beyond the initial awe to become a transparent tool that simply gets things done.” Not AGI. Not full automation. Just AI that works reliably, scales predictably, and solves problems without creating new ones. For an industry that spent years chasing moonshots, that might be the most ambitious goal of all. View the full article

Construction schedule setbacks rarely occur in isolation on complex projects, as usually, there are many challenges that happen simultaneously. When a concurrent delay emerges, project teams face added uncertainty, blurred accountability and heightened pressure to keep work moving. Understanding how these overlapping delays affect construction performance helps managers respond early, protect timelines and reduce disputes before issues escalate further internally. What Is a Concurrent Delay? Within construction scheduling, a concurrent delay describes a situation where two or more independent delay events occur during the same time period, affecting the planned project schedule and potentially setting back the delivery of the project. Typically, at least one delay is attributable to the contractor while another arises from the owner, designer or external factors. Because the delays overlap and influence the critical path, determining responsibility, entitlement to time extensions and recovery of costs becomes complex and contract-dependent under formal construction scheduling and claims analysis practices worldwide. ProjectManager helps with concurrent delay analysis by providing a detailed, time-stamped record of project schedules, progress and changes, all of which are essential for identifying when multiple delays occur simultaneously. Use the Gantt chart to create a baseline and track the critical path so that if delays occur, managers can compare schedules to actual progress. This makes it easy to see which activities slipped, when they slipped and whether they overlapped with other delaying events. Get started with a free 30-day trial. /wp-content/uploads/2024/04/critical-path-light-mode-gantt-construction-CTA.pngLearn more What Is a Concurrent Delay Claim? A concurrent delay claim is a formal request submitted under a construction contract when two or more overlapping delay events affect project completion simultaneously. The claim seeks to determine entitlement to time extensions and, in some cases, cost relief by analyzing responsibility, causation and critical path impact in accordance with contractual and legal standards. 10 Common Causes of Concurrent Delays in Construction Concurrent delays rarely stem from a single issue. More often, overlapping problems emerge across design, approvals, resources and site conditions, creating compounded schedule impacts that are difficult to isolate and resolve independently. 1. Incomplete or Defective Construction Drawings Design gaps, errors or missing details can halt progress while clarification is sought, often overlapping with unrelated delays already affecting site operations, sequencing or procurement activities across the project schedule. For example, a concrete pour may be postponed due to missing reinforcement details while the project is already behind because of delayed steel deliveries, causing both issues to affect the same structural milestone. 2. Logistics and Supply Chain Issues Material shortages, transportation delays or supplier failures may occur while construction work is already behind, causing delivery disruptions to coincide with productivity or coordination delays on critical activities. A common scenario involves long-lead mechanical equipment arriving late while interior framing is delayed due to labor shortages, resulting in stacked delays that prevent downstream trades from mobilizing. 3. Unexpected Job Site Conditions Unforeseen ground conditions, hidden utilities or environmental constraints discovered during construction can overlap with existing schedule slippage, compounding delays and complicating responsibility assessments. An excavation phase may uncover undocumented utilities while the project is already delayed by design revisions, forcing work stoppages that overlap with earlier delays rather than occurring independently. /wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Construction-Schedule-Template.png Get your free Construction Schedule Template Use this free Construction Schedule Template to manage your projects better. Get the Template 4. Poor Subcontractor Performance Low productivity, manpower shortages or sequencing issues from subcontractors may arise during periods of owner, design or external delays, resulting in overlapping impacts to the project timeline. For instance, a drywall subcontractor falling behind due to staffing problems may coincide with delays caused by late design approvals, both affecting interior finishes on the same schedule window. 5. Late Permit Approvals Delays in receiving permits or regulatory approvals can stall specific activities while unrelated construction delays are already underway, increasing the likelihood of concurrent schedule impacts. This often occurs when occupancy or inspection approvals lag while construction is already delayed by punch-list rework, preventing project closeout activities from progressing as planned. 6. Labor Shortages Limited workforce availability, strikes or high turnover can reduce production rates at the same time other delays occur, making recovery efforts harder and extending overall project duration. A shortage of skilled electricians may slow rough-in work while the project is simultaneously affected by delayed material deliveries, causing both issues to impact the same critical path activities. /wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2026_construction_ebook_banner-ad.jpg 7. Lack of Coordination Between Trades Poor interface management between trades may cause rework or idle time, overlapping with parallel delays from design changes, access constraints or late material deliveries. Mechanical installations may clash with structural elements due to coordination failures, while the project is already delayed by late shop drawing approvals, compounding schedule disruption. 8. Equipment Breakdowns Failures of critical equipment can interrupt planned work while other delay events continue, creating compounded schedule effects that are difficult to separate in delay analysis. A crane outage during steel erection may occur while weather delays are already impacting site operations, resulting in overlapping impacts to structural progress. 9. Job Site Access Issues Restricted access, shared workspaces or safety limitations may slow progress during periods of unrelated delay, causing overlapping disruptions to planned sequencing and productivity. This is common on urban projects where limited laydown areas restrict deliveries while interior work is already delayed due to coordination or inspection-related issues. 10. Late Scope Changes or Change Orders Owner-initiated scope changes introduced mid-construction can pause work for pricing and approvals, overlapping with ongoing delays from procurement, weather or productivity issues, thereby extending timelines beyond original completion targets. For example, revised finishes may require rework during a period when the project is already delayed by supply shortages, creating concurrent impacts to interior completion milestones. What Is the Impact of a Concurrent Delay In a Construction Project? Delays that intersect in time can ripple across a project in subtle but far-reaching ways. Progress slows, decision-making becomes harder and planning assumptions lose reliability. As momentum weakens, teams often shift from execution to damage control, increasing friction among parties and placing strain on schedules, budgets and working relationships across the project lifecycle without clear resolution strategies in place early. Critical path activities delays: Concurrent delays may affect multiple critical path activities at the same time, which delays the overall completion of the project. Increased costs: Concurrent delays complicate cost control by increasing direct and indirect project costs, prolonging site overheads and limiting productivity, while simultaneously restricting a party’s ability to recover compensation under many construction contracts provisions. Unclear accountability: Disagreements over responsibility tend to intensify, as overlapping delays blur accountability, create evidentiary challenges and increase reliance on schedule analysis, expert opinions and formal dispute resolution mechanisms during complex projects. Resource allocation challenges: Resource planning becomes less predictable because labor, equipment and materials are committed for longer periods, affecting resource availability, disrupting sequencing decisions and reducing flexibility to accelerate or resequence work effectively under changing conditions. Strained stakeholder relationships: Trust between stakeholders can erode during a concurrent delay, as prolonged uncertainty strains collaboration, delays approvals and weakens confidence in schedules, forecasts and overall project governance structures, reporting and communication processes. What Is Concurrent Delay Analysis? Concurrent delay analysis is a scheduling and retrospective project tracking process used to identify overlapping delay events and evaluate how they collectively affect project completion. It examines timing, causation and critical path impact to determine responsibility, entitlement to time extensions and potential cost implications under the applicable contract framework. Who Is Responsible for Resolving Concurrent Delays? Because concurrent delays unfold simultaneously and disrupt normal sequencing, their causes and solutions are rarely obvious. The resulting schedule confusion means responsibility cannot rest with a single party. Resolving concurrent delays typically requires coordinated analysis, communication and decision-making across multiple project stakeholders. Project owner or client: Owners play a key role by reviewing delay claims, issuing timely decisions, approving changes and ensuring contractual procedures are followed so that overlapping delays do not stall progress unnecessarily. General contractor or main contractor: Contractors are responsible for managing site execution, maintaining schedules, documenting delays and implementing mitigation measures while coordinating with subcontractors during periods of overlapping delay. Design team or consultants: Architects and engineers contribute by clarifying design intent, resolving errors or omissions and responding to information requests that may be contributing to concurrent delays on the construction schedule. Subcontractors and suppliers: Trade partners are accountable for reporting productivity issues, delivery constraints and sequencing conflicts, helping the project team understand how their activities intersect with other ongoing delays. Scheduler or claims specialist: Scheduling and claims professionals analyze delay data, assess critical path impacts and provide objective insight that supports fair allocation of responsibility and informed resolution decisions. Concurrent Delay Example Consider a mid-rise mixed-use development combining ground-floor retail with several levels of office space in a dense urban area. The project relied on tight sequencing, limited site access and multiple specialist trades working in parallel. Midway through construction, structural progress was already slipping due to labor shortages. At the same time, revised design details and delayed material deliveries began affecting follow-on trades, creating overlapping delays that disrupted sequencing, blurred accountability and forced the project team to reassess completion forecasts under mounting schedule pressure. When conducting a concurrent delay analysis, the construction project management team realized that the causes for this concurrent delay were: Steel erection slowed by workforce shortages, while revised connection details were issued late by the structural engineer. Mechanical rough-in delayed as long-lead equipment arrived late during an already compressed interior construction phase. Concrete pours postponed due to weather impacts overlapping with unresolved design clarifications for reinforcement layouts. Interior finishes stalled as subcontractor productivity issues coincided with delayed inspection and approval processes. Final commissioning impacted when change orders were introduced while punch-list corrections were still ongoing. How to Manage a Concurrent Delay in a Construction Project Managing a concurrent delay requires structure, discipline and coordination. By breaking overlapping issues into clear steps, project teams can reduce confusion, protect schedules and move toward fair, defensible outcomes. 1. Identify All Delay Events and Their Causes Before any resolution is possible, every delay event affecting the project must be clearly identified and documented. This includes when each delay started, how long it lasted and which activities were impacted. Once the events are isolated, the next step is to determine their root causes, such as design issues, labor constraints, approvals or external factors. Separating individual delay drivers prevents assumptions, avoids misclassification and establishes a factual foundation for analysis, discussion and decision-making. Related: Top 7 Decision-Making Templates: Free Excel & Word Downloads 2. Prioritize Critical Path Activities Attention should then shift to delays that directly affect critical path activities, since these tasks have no float and directly influence project completion. Delays impacting non-critical activities may be disruptive, but do not automatically extend the overall schedule. By focusing first on critical path impacts, the project team can concentrate efforts where schedule risk is highest, allocate resources effectively and avoid expending time resolving issues that do not materially affect the completion date. /wp-content/uploads/2024/10/how-to-make-a-gantt-chart-identifying-the-critical-path-600x463.webpLearn more 3. Assign Responsibilities With delay events identified and critical impacts understood, responsibility and accountability must be assigned to the relevant parties. This involves assessing which delays are contractor-caused, owner-caused or the result of external circumstances. Clear responsibility assignment supports transparent communication, informed negotiations and consistent decision-making. It also helps prevent disputes from escalating by aligning expectations early and ensuring that corrective actions are directed to the appropriate stakeholders. 4. Review Contract Provisions Once responsibilities are provisionally understood, the contract must guide how concurrency is treated. Construction contracts often define whether concurrent delays allow time extensions, limit cost recovery or deny relief altogether. Reviewing relevant clauses helps the project team understand notice requirements, procedural obligations and entitlement thresholds. This step ensures decisions align with contractual rights rather than assumptions, reducing the risk of invalid claims, procedural noncompliance or disputes driven by misinterpretation of concurrency-related provisions. Related: 39 Construction Documents (Templates Included) 5. Perform a Construction Delay Analysis At this stage, an objective delay analysis should be performed using a recognized methodology such as time impact analysis, windows analysis or as-planned versus as-built comparison. The goal is to quantify how each delay event affected the schedule and critical path. Applying a structured method improves credibility, supports defensible conclusions and provides a shared factual basis for discussions, negotiations or formal claims related to concurrent delays. 6. Determine Entitlement to Relief Based on the analysis and contractual framework, the project team must determine whether the concurrent delay justifies schedule relief, financial compensation or neither. In many cases, concurrency may allow additional time without cost recovery. Clearly documenting this determination helps manage expectations, supports consistent decision-making and allows stakeholders to move forward with mitigation strategies rather than remaining stalled in unresolved entitlement disputes. Free Related Construction Project Management Templates We’ve created dozens of free construction project management templates for Word, Excel and Google Sheets. Here are some that can help during the construction cost planning process. Construction Schedule Template This free construction schedule template allows you to try ProjectManager’s Gantt chart, a powerful construction scheduling tool that is equipped with advanced features such as automatic critical path detection, resource allocation, cost tracking, four types of dependencies and much more. Construction Scope of Work Template This construction scope of work template clearly defines project tasks, deliverables, responsibilities, timelines, exclusions and acceptance criteria, helping teams align expectations, control scope, track progress and reduce disputes throughout the construction lifecycle. Construction Daily Report This construction daily report template captures on-site activities, labor, equipment, materials, weather, deliveries, delays and safety information each day, giving project teams accurate visibility into progress, productivity issues and site conditions for informed decision making. How ProjectManager Helps with Concurrent Delays ProjectManager gives construction teams the detailed record they need to keep projects on track. Beyond the Gantt chart and other scheduling tools, teams often utilize features like project version control for an auditable timeline that supports delay analysis and dispute resolution. Teams can trace delays back to specific causes such as design changes, resource shortages or weather events. /wp-content/uploads/2025/06/version-control-hero-1600x1159.png Related Construction Project Management Critical Path Method (CPM) in Construction: A Quick Guide Construction Work Breakdown Structure: A Guide to WBS for Construction Projects Why Use a Gantt Chart in Construction Project Management? 10 Types of Construction Projects with Examples How to Manage a Construction Project Step by Step The post Concurrent Delay in Construction: Causes and Solutions appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article

In an era where crises can emerge without warning, small business owners are finding new ways to secure their communities and protect their livelihoods. Ring, the well-known smart home security company, has unveiled its latest feature, Fire Watch, aimed at improving safety during wildfire events. This innovative tool could not only enhance the safety of individual businesses but could also foster community engagement—a win-win for small business owners across fire-prone areas. Fire Watch integrates into the Ring app’s Neighbors section, providing real-time alerts and valuable insights regarding active fire events, a crucial resource for areas that have faced devastating wildfires in the past. The announcement comes in the wake of last year’s fierce fires in Los Angeles, emphasizing the need for timely information that can save lives and property. “Fire Watch empowers communities and first responders with real-time, ground-truth information during active fire events,” said a representative from Ring. “By collaborating with Watch Duty, our mission is to keep communities safer.” For small business owners, particularly those in vulnerable areas, this feature offers several significant benefits. First and foremost is the real-time fire alerts coming directly from Watch Duty, a nonprofit organization focused on providing critical emergency information. This can be vital for business operations, allowing owners to make swift decisions about evacuating or securing their premises. Additionally, Fire Watch promotes community collaboration by enabling Ring camera owners to voluntarily share snapshots with Watch Duty. This initiative builds a network of information that can keep locals informed and aid first responders, helping to manage wildfires effectively. For small businesses, this could mean stronger community ties as they participate in a collective effort to safeguard their neighborhoods. The feature promises three key components: real-time fire alerts, AI-powered smoke and fire detection, and community contributions. By relying on technology and community engagement, Fire Watch emerges as a potent tool for enhancing safety during critical moments, a unique proposition that could influence how small businesses operate in times of crisis. However, while the benefits are substantial, small business owners should consider potential challenges. The reliance on community contributions could result in inconsistent reporting if not enough residents participate. Moreover, owners may need to invest in Ring devices if they don’t already own them, which could impose an initial financial burden. For small businesses that thrive on community support and collaboration, the introduction of Fire Watch brings remarkable opportunities. As businesses increasingly seek ways to adapt and thrive amidst unpredictable circumstances, this feature represents not just a safety measure but also a chance to engage with local customers on a deeper level. The feature will roll out nationwide this spring, providing ample time for businesses to prepare and integrate this tool into their safety protocols. By harnessing technology and community collaboration, Fire Watch may redefine how small businesses respond to environmental threats. Ring continues to champion safety and community unity through its suite of products and services. For more information about Fire Watch and its capabilities, visit Ring’s official announcement at Amazon’s Press Release. For small business owners, the message is clear: being proactive in protecting not only your establishment but also your community can enhance both safety and customer loyalty. With tools like Fire Watch, the endeavor becomes a collective mission. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Ring Launches Fire Watch Feature to Enhance Community Fire Safety" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

In an era where crises can emerge without warning, small business owners are finding new ways to secure their communities and protect their livelihoods. Ring, the well-known smart home security company, has unveiled its latest feature, Fire Watch, aimed at improving safety during wildfire events. This innovative tool could not only enhance the safety of individual businesses but could also foster community engagement—a win-win for small business owners across fire-prone areas. Fire Watch integrates into the Ring app’s Neighbors section, providing real-time alerts and valuable insights regarding active fire events, a crucial resource for areas that have faced devastating wildfires in the past. The announcement comes in the wake of last year’s fierce fires in Los Angeles, emphasizing the need for timely information that can save lives and property. “Fire Watch empowers communities and first responders with real-time, ground-truth information during active fire events,” said a representative from Ring. “By collaborating with Watch Duty, our mission is to keep communities safer.” For small business owners, particularly those in vulnerable areas, this feature offers several significant benefits. First and foremost is the real-time fire alerts coming directly from Watch Duty, a nonprofit organization focused on providing critical emergency information. This can be vital for business operations, allowing owners to make swift decisions about evacuating or securing their premises. Additionally, Fire Watch promotes community collaboration by enabling Ring camera owners to voluntarily share snapshots with Watch Duty. This initiative builds a network of information that can keep locals informed and aid first responders, helping to manage wildfires effectively. For small businesses, this could mean stronger community ties as they participate in a collective effort to safeguard their neighborhoods. The feature promises three key components: real-time fire alerts, AI-powered smoke and fire detection, and community contributions. By relying on technology and community engagement, Fire Watch emerges as a potent tool for enhancing safety during critical moments, a unique proposition that could influence how small businesses operate in times of crisis. However, while the benefits are substantial, small business owners should consider potential challenges. The reliance on community contributions could result in inconsistent reporting if not enough residents participate. Moreover, owners may need to invest in Ring devices if they don’t already own them, which could impose an initial financial burden. For small businesses that thrive on community support and collaboration, the introduction of Fire Watch brings remarkable opportunities. As businesses increasingly seek ways to adapt and thrive amidst unpredictable circumstances, this feature represents not just a safety measure but also a chance to engage with local customers on a deeper level. The feature will roll out nationwide this spring, providing ample time for businesses to prepare and integrate this tool into their safety protocols. By harnessing technology and community collaboration, Fire Watch may redefine how small businesses respond to environmental threats. Ring continues to champion safety and community unity through its suite of products and services. For more information about Fire Watch and its capabilities, visit Ring’s official announcement at Amazon’s Press Release. For small business owners, the message is clear: being proactive in protecting not only your establishment but also your community can enhance both safety and customer loyalty. With tools like Fire Watch, the endeavor becomes a collective mission. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Ring Launches Fire Watch Feature to Enhance Community Fire Safety" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Spanish lender is latest European giant to make a bid for American retail banking customersView the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. The Apple Watch Series 11 is a step up from the 10 in all the ways that matter. It has a longer battery life and tiny tweaks that make a big difference, like a brighter screen, greater durability, and new software features. Right now, the Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS 42mm) is down 25% to $299 (originally $399), marking its lowest price ever on Amazon. Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS 42mm) $399.00 at Amazon Get Deal Get Deal $399.00 at Amazon In PCMag's real-world testing, the watch delivered nearly two days of battery life and features a brighter screen with 2,000 nits of peak brightness. It’s also more rugged than its predecessor, with a harder, scratch-proof screen, a waterproof build (paired with a water temperature sensor and depth gauge up to 6 meters), and a dust-proof IP6X rating. It features Apple’s newest and smartest software, watchOS 26, which includes features such as Sleep Score metrics and enhanced safety alerts like life-saving hypertension notifications. Unlike the Apple Watch SE 3, for just $50 more at the current discount, the Series 11 has a thinner design with a larger display, and sensors that detect blood oxygen levels and ECGs, as well as other heart health and temperature sensors. The 11 also packs in an altimeter, gyroscope, compass, and ambient light sensor. Users can dive into their workout data via the iOS Fitness app, while the iOS Health app houses biometrics and ECG results. This model includes GPS, enabling real-time tracking of distance and pace during outdoor workouts. It also supports 5G connectivity, ensuring a stronger connection wherever you are. If you’re an iPhone user looking to upgrade your smartwatch or invest in a feature-rich one that’s ultra-durable, longer-lasting, and has 5G connectivity, the Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS 42mm), powered by watchOS 26, offers solid bang for your buck at its lowest-ever price of $299. View the full article

In France, civil servants will ditch Zoom and Teams for a homegrown video conference system. Soldiers in Austria are using open source office software to write reports after the military dropped Microsoft Office. Bureaucrats in a German state have also turned to free software for their administrative work. Around Europe, governments and institutions are seeking to reduce their use of digital services from U.S. Big Tech companies and turning to domestic or free alternatives. The push for “digital sovereignty” is gaining attention as the The President administration strikes an increasingly belligerent posture toward the continent, highlighted by recent tensions over Greenland that intensified fears that Silicon Valley giants could be compelled to cut off access. Concerns about data privacy and worries that Europe is not doing enough to keep up with the United States and Chinese tech leadership are also fueling the drive. The French government referenced some of these concerns when it announced last week that 2.5 million civil servants would stop using video conference tools from U.S. providers — including Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Webex, and GoTo Meeting — by 2027 and switch to Visio, a homegrown service. The objective is “to put an end to the use of non-European solutions, to guarantee the security and confidentiality of public electronic communications by relying on a powerful and sovereign tool,” the announcement said. “We cannot risk having our scientific exchanges, our sensitive data, and our strategic innovations exposed to non-European actors,” David Amiel, a civil service minister, said in a press release. Microsoft said it continues to “partner closely with the government in France and respect the importance of security, privacy, and digital trust for public institutions.” The company said it is “focused on providing customers with greater choice, stronger data protection, and resilient cloud services — ensuring data stays in Europe, under European law, with robust security and privacy protections.” Zoom, Webex and GoTo Meeting did not respond to requests for comment. French President Emmanuel Macron has been pushing digital sovereignty for years. But there’s now a lot more “political momentum behind this idea now that we need to de-risk from U.S. tech,” Nick Reiners, senior geotechnology analyst at the Eurasia Group. “It feels kind of like there’s a real zeitgeist shift,” Reiners said It was a hot topic at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting of global political and business elites last month in Davos, Switzerland. The European Commission’s official for tech sovereignty, Henna Virkkunen, told an audience that Europe’s reliance on others “can be weaponized against us.” “That’s why it’s so important that we are not dependent on one country or one company when it comes to very critical fields of our economy or society,” she said, without naming countries or companies. A decisive moment came last year when the The President administration sanctioned the International Criminal Court’s top prosecutor after the tribunal, based in The Hague, Netherlands, issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, an ally of President Donald The President. The sanctions led Microsoft to cancel Khan’s ICC email, a move that was first reported by The Associated Press and sparked fears of a “kill switch” that Big Tech companies can use to turn off service at will. Microsoft maintains it kept in touch with the ICC “throughout the process that resulted in the disconnection of its sanctioned official from Microsoft services. At no point did Microsoft cease or suspend its services to the ICC.” Microsoft President Brad Smith has repeatedly sought to strengthen trans-Atlantic ties, the company’s press office said, and pointed to an interview he did last month with CNN in Davos in which he said that jobs, trade and investment. as well as security, would be affected by a rift over Greenland. “Europe is the American tech sector’s biggest market after the United States itself. It all depends on trust. Trust requires dialogue,” Smith said. Other incidents have added to the movement. There’s a growing sense that repeated EU efforts to rein in tech giants such as Google with blockbuster antitrust fines and sweeping digital rule books haven’t done much to curb their dominance. Billionaire Elon Musk is also a factor. Officials worry about relying on his Starlink satellite internet system for communications in Ukraine. Washington and Brussels wrangled for years over data transfer agreements, triggered by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden’s revelations of U.S. cyber-snooping. With online services now mainly hosted in the cloud through data centers, Europeans fear that their data is vulnerable. U.S. cloud providers have responded by setting up so-called “sovereign cloud” operations, with data centers located in European countries, owned by European entities and with physical and remote access only for staff who are European Union residents. The idea is that “only Europeans can take decisions so that they can’t be coerced by the U.S.,” Reiners said. The German state of Schleswig-Holstein last year migrated 44,000 employee inboxes from Microsoft to an open source email program. It also switched from Microsoft’s SharePoint file sharing system to Nextcloud, an open source platform, and is even considering replacing Windows with Linux and telephones and videoconferencing with open source systems. “We want to become independent of large tech companies and ensure digital sovereignty,” Digitalization Minister Dirk Schrödter said in an October announcement. The French city of Lyon said last year that it’s deploying free office software to replace Microsoft. Denmark’s government and the cities of Copenhagen and Aarhus have also been trying out open-source software. “We must never make ourselves so dependent on so few that we can no longer act freely,” Digital Minister Caroline Stage Olsen wrote on LinkedIn last year. “Too much public digital infrastructure is currently tied up with very few foreign suppliers.” The Austrian military said it has also switched to LibreOffice, a software package with word processor, spreadsheet and presentation programs that mirrors Microsoft 365’s Word, Excel and PowerPoint. The Document Foundation, a nonprofit based in Germany that’s behind LibreOffice, said the military’s switch “reflects a growing demand for independence from single vendors.” Reports also said the military was concerned that Microsoft was moving file storage online to the cloud — the standard version of LibreOffice is not cloud-based. Some Italian cities and regions adopted the software years ago, said Italo Vignoli, a spokesman for The Document Foundation. Back then, the appeal was not needing to pay for software licenses. Now, it’s the main reason is to avoid being locked into a proprietary system. “At first, it was: we will save money and by the way, we will get freedom,” Vignoli said. “Today it is: we will be free and by the way, we will also save some money.” —Kelvin Chan AP business writer Associated Press writer Molly Quell contributed to this report. View the full article

A reader writes: My employee handbook has a policy where if you want to switch to full-time remote work, you have to give three months notice. My partner is starting grad school and we are planning on moving, so I asked my work to switch me to full-time remote in over three months. The handbook says they may not be able to accommodate this, so I was prepared for the potential “no.” However, after giving the “no,” they met with me and said that as I’m moving in three months and they would not accommodate a shift to remote, I would not be able to work at my company anymore. I continued to express my gratitude and interest in continuing remote if possible, but that I understood. They asked me about my moving date/details, which I did not have on hand just yet. I asked when they would need these details by, they said by the end of the week. (This was Tuesday.) The next day, I received an email asking me to confirm my resignation (which I never gave) and gave me an end date for my work a full month before my requested switch to remote/move. They also wanted to prorate my vacation days and sick time, including a vacation I had already scheduled and gotten approved months before this conversation. This obviously gave me pause, as they seemed to think they could just … take away a month of my employment because I requested remote work. I asked (again) for a few days to consider this, and they pushed me to write in writing that I resigned that day. Instead, I wrote that I will have to resign at the end of the three months if they were unable to accommodate me. Then, I contacted the lawyer in my family, who was helpful in giving me language to reiterate that I never formally resigned and that the conversation had always been about the full three months, not before. Therefore, the two-month end date they gave me would indicate that they were terminating my employment. I sent that and then I contacted a local employment lawyer and am waiting to hear back, which is where I’m at right now. But basically, it feels like I’m being punished for following the rules and would have been significantly better off waiting out the three months and giving my two weeks notice. Either way, I’m officially on the job hunt and really appreciate any thoughts you have. Should I have done anything differently? Well, your employer operated in bad faith. If you were clear that you were moving, it would have been fine for them to say, “Since you’re moving and we’re not able to offer you remote work, our understanding is that you’ll be resigning in three months. Is that correct?” And if you’d been wishy-washy about that and not committed to a plan, it would have been fine for them to say, “We need to be able to plan and start transitioning your projects and hiring a replacement, so we’re going to move forward on the understanding that your last day will be sometime in April.” If you had responded to that by saying you weren’t set on moving after all … well, then it gets trickier for everyone. Ideally they’d take you at your word about that and just move forward as if nothing had happened. But in reality, then they’d have to worry that you were saying to buy some time while still planning to move or while planning to push again for remote work once the time drew nearer. So that’s the answer to your question about whether you should have done anything differently: if we had a time machine, I’d say not to present the moving plans as a fait accompli, but rather as something you were just thinking about but weren’t committed to. However, when your employer’s handbook explicitly indicates they’re open to people switching to remote work and invites employees to give three months notice of their interest, they’re setting everyone up for problems if they respond to the requests they solicited by pushing people out early. It means that coworkers who hear what happened to you won’t take them at their word about this anymore; they’ll instead wonder if asking about working remotely will be converted into a resignation against their will, and that can’t possibly be what your employer intended when they drafted this policy. You might try pointing that out — saying that you took the policy in the handbook in good faith and you have not resigned. In a different situation you could add that you have no current plans to resign — but since you do, you can’t say that at the same time that you’re complaining about them not operating in good faith. Employment in the U.S. is at-will (unless you’re in Montana) so what they did isn’t illegal, just very crappy. (Although who knows what your employment lawyer might uncover. They can help ferret out any details like that three other people were treated differently in this regard, and the only difference is your race/sex/religion or other factors that could cast this in a different light.) The post I asked to work remotely, and my company is acting like I resigned appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

Newrez is leaning into technology investments to shore up borrower recapture and future originations after fair-value losses in its mortgage-servicing rights pushed the lender to a fourth-quarter loss, underscoring how quickly market volatility can upend mortgage earnings. View the full article

Merger of SpaceX and xAI epitomises the way Big Tech has turned the corporate world on its headView the full article

If you’re looking to boost your social media presence, consider implementing five effective post ideas that can engage your audience. Sharing user-generated content encourages interaction and showcases real customer experiences. Hosting a fun giveaway can attract new followers and broaden your reach. Engaging your audience with polls helps you understand their preferences. Furthermore, revealing behind-the-scenes insights humanizes your brand, whereas highlighting customer testimonials builds trust. These strategies can improve your engagement greatly, but there’s more to explore on how to maximize their effectiveness. Key Takeaways Share user-generated content to enhance engagement and showcase real-life applications of your products or services. Host a fun giveaway with prizes that resonate with your audience to boost follower growth and broaden reach. Post engaging polls to encourage interaction and gain insights into audience preferences. Share behind-the-scenes insights to humanize your brand and connect with your audience on a personal level. Highlight customer testimonials to build credibility and trust, using visually appealing formats for greater impact. Share User-Generated Content When you share user-generated content (UGC), you not just improve engagement but also build a stronger connection with your audience. UGC can boost your fb engagement posts by up to 28%, showcasing authentic experiences that resonate with potential buyers. By encouraging customers to share their stories through contests or specific hashtags, you create a collection of relatable content that nurtures community. Highlighting this UGC in your marketing can lead to a 4.5% increase in conversions, as it demonstrates real-life applications of your products. Furthermore, reposting UGC allows you to engage directly with your audience, making them feel valued and recognized. This approach improves loyalty and belonging, proving that your brand appreciates its customers and their contributions. Host a Fun Giveaway Hosting a fun giveaway can be an effective strategy for increasing engagement and broadening your audience. Brands often see follower growth of up to 30% during these promotions. To maximize participation, choose prizes that resonate with your target audience, like product bundles or exclusive experiences. Utilize social media platforms’ built-in features, such as Instagram‘s ‘giveaway post’ stickers or Facebook‘s event pages, to streamline entry and tracking. Encourage user-generated content by asking participants to share photos or stories related to the giveaway, enhancing your brand’s visibility and authenticity. Furthermore, promote the giveaway across all your social channels and consider partnering with influencers to reach a broader audience. These tactics can lead to great Facebook posts that effectively engage your community. Post an Engaging Poll How do you engage your audience effectively on social media? Posting an engaging poll can greatly improve interaction, especially in Facebook posts. Polls can generate about 1.5 times more engagement than standard posts. Here are some tips to create effective polls: Use question stickers on Instagram Stories for easy responses. Keep your questions concise and relevant to your audience’s interests. Consider light-hearted or humorous questions to boost participation. Analyze poll results to gather insights about audience preferences. Share Behind-the-Scenes Insights Sharing behind-the-scenes insights not just humanizes your brand but also cultivates a deeper connection with your audience by revealing the people and processes that drive your business. Consider highlighting team members and their roles in your facebook post suggestions. This transparency showcases your company culture and appeals to potential customers and employees. You can share content about your product development process, daily operations, or event preparations, offering exclusive views that generate excitement. Using visuals like photos or videos improves your storytelling and effectively conveys your brand’s values. Highlight Customer Testimonials Even though customer testimonials are often overlooked, they play a vital role in building credibility and trust with potential buyers. By showcasing real experiences, you can greatly improve your brand’s reputation. Here are some effective ways to highlight customer testimonials in your good social media posts: Use visually appealing graphics or video interviews to increase engagement rates. Share a variety of testimonials across multiple platforms for broader reach. Encourage satisfied customers to share their stories using a specific hashtag for user-generated content. Incorporate testimonials into promotional posts to boost conversion rates. Frequently Asked Questions What Type of Posts Work Best on Social Media? To maximize engagement on social media, focus on high-quality visuals, like striking images or videos, as they capture attention effectively. Incorporate humor, storytelling, or relatable experiences to nurture deeper connections with your audience. Use interactive elements such as polls and Q&As to encourage participation. Sharing user-generated content builds authenticity and trust, whereas consistent branding through themed posts helps establish a recognizable presence that followers anticipate each week. What Is the 5 5 5 Rule on Social Media? The 5 5 5 rule on social media suggests structuring your posts into three categories: for every 15 posts, share 5 valuable pieces of content from others, engage your audience with 5 personal or relatable posts, and include 5 promotional posts about your brand. This balanced approach prevents overwhelming your audience with sales pitches, cultivates community engagement, and positions you as a trusted information source, ultimately enhancing interaction and loyalty. What Is the 50 30 20 Rule for Social Media? The 50/30/20 rule for social media is a strategic guideline for content posting. You should allocate 50% of your posts to engagement and community-building, promoting interaction among followers. Next, 30% should focus on sharing informative or educational content, positioning your brand as an industry authority. Finally, reserve 20% for promotional posts, highlighting special offers or product launches. This balanced approach helps maintain audience interest as well as avoiding overwhelming them with constant sales pitches. What Is the 4-1-1 Rule in Social Media? The 4-1-1 rule in social media suggests a balanced posting strategy. For every six posts, one should be promotional, four informative or engaging, and one personal or humanizing. This approach prevents overwhelming your audience with constant sales pitches, nurturing trust and engagement instead. Conclusion Incorporating these five social media post ideas can greatly improve your online presence and engagement with your audience. By sharing user-generated content, hosting giveaways, posting polls, revealing behind-the-scenes insights, and highlighting customer testimonials, you create opportunities for interaction and connection. These strategies not just attract new followers but likewise build trust and credibility with your existing audience. Start using these techniques today to strengthen your brand’s social media effectiveness and nurture a more engaged community. Image via Google Gemini This article, "5 Examples of Good Social Media Posts You Can Use Today" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article