Bonus Chapter A: Business Law - McGraw-Hill Introduction to Business

Investors Prepare for Stock Market Volatility

July 2, 2020

During the first six months of 2020, U.S. stock markets went through their biggest quarter-to-quarter swing in more than 80 years. March saw share prices plummet as businesses across the country closed or altered their hours. Then an unprecedented round of economic stimulus from the federal government both halted the sell-off and sent stocks soaring to their best quarterly performance in nearly two decades.

With much of that relief now set to expire, however, where the markets go next Continue reading →

Regulation, Health, Stock Market, Economics, Coronavirus, Ethics, Human Resources

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 11: Human Resource Management, Bonus Chapter A: Business Law

Nearly 1.5 Million More People Filed for Unemployment for Last Week

June 26, 2020

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

For the 14th week in a row, more than 1 million people filed for unemployment benefits as fallout from the pandemic continues to hurt workers across the nation. The last three weeks have each seen the number of newly unemployed Americans hover around the 1.5 million mark, an ominous sign that economic recovery could still be a long time coming.

Although some people have returned to work as states reopen, the rising number of coronavirus cases threatens to once Continue reading →

Regulation, Economics, Health, Ethics, Layoffs, Human Resources, Coronavirus, Unemployment

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 11: Human Resource Management, Chapter 12: Labor Management and Unions, Bonus Chapter A: Business Law

Uncertainty Abounds as States Reopen But Coronavirus Cases Rise

June 25, 2020

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

After months on lockdown, states across the country have relaxed stay-at-home orders and allowed businesses to gradually resume operations. This slight return to normalcy caused the stock market to rally over the last few weeks to levels approaching its January 2020 highs. But even though many Americans are desperate to return to something resembling normal life, coronavirus remains a dangerous threat to public health. In fact, cases of infection have been steadily rising as states and businesses reopen.

As a Continue reading →

Coronavirus, Economics, Operations Management, Global, Regulation, Ethics, Health, Product Distribution, Recession, Stock Market

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Chapter 11: Human Resource Management, Chapter 15: Distribution, Chapter 19: Securities Markets, Bonus Chapter A: Business Law

[VIDEO] Why American Farmers Are Throwing Out Tons of Milk

June 19, 2020

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

Back in April, we looked at how American dairy farmers were dumping thousands of gallons of milk due to drastic drops in demand from businesses and schools. This video illustrates how this problem has grown in the months since and offers potential solutions that could keep supplies and prices stable.

Questions:

How have dairy cooperatives responded to the supply crisis that was caused by the pandemic?
Do you think independent farmers should receive more relief from federal regulators? Why or why not?

Operations Management, Agriculture, Ethics, Food & Drink, Coronavirus, Regulation, Supply chains, Health, Product Distribution

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Chapter 15: Distribution, Bonus Chapter A: Business Law

1.5 Million People Applied for Unemployment Last Week

June 11, 2020

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

Tens of millions of Americans have filed for unemployment during the coronavirus pandemic. This historically high number increased by another 1.5 million last week as many people continue to struggle to make ends meet. Although the gradual reopening of businesses has sent some back to work, nearly 21 million Americans are still receiving unemployment benefits. All together, more than 44 million people have applied for unemployment over the course of the pandemic.

“That means 29 percent of the workforce Continue reading →

Unemployment, Ethics, Regulation, Human Resources, Federal Reserve, Labor Relations, Coronavirus

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 11: Human Resource Management, Chapter 12: Labor Management and Unions, Chapter 20: Money and Financial Institutions, Bonus Chapter A: Business Law

[VIDEO] Explaining America’s Current Unemployment Crisis

May 21, 2020

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

With tens of millions of Americans currently out of work, the U.S. is experiencing an unemployment crisis on a scale not seen since the height of the Great Depression. This video looks at the devastating effects of rising joblessness while also explaining how several European governments intervened to avoid disastrous unemployment rates.

Questions:

Why is the U.S. unemployment insurance system not equipped to face the current crisis?
Do you think the U.S. should take a more active role in Continue reading →

Economics, Operations Management, Global, Ethics, Regulation, Labor Relations, Health, Unemployment, Coronavirus

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Chapter 11: Human Resource Management, Chapter 12: Labor Management and Unions, Bonus Chapter A: Business Law

New Round of Small Business Relief Arrives with Similar Problems

April 28, 2020

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

Last week, legislators approved of another round of small business loans after funding failed to reach thousands of companies the first time. Unfortunately, many of these desperate businesses are encountering the same problems as they did a few weeks ago. Shortly after going online on Monday, the Small Business Administration’s electronic loan portal crashed due to high demand. “The SBA’s systems were not designed to and are not capable of handling the volume of loans banks processed over the last Continue reading →

Loans, Regulation, Operations Management, Health, Ethics, Small Business, Entrepreneurship, Financing, Coronavirus

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 6: Entrepreneurship, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Chapter 20: Money and Financial Institutions, Bonus Chapter A: Business Law

Another 4.4 Million Americans Filed for Unemployment Last Week

April 23, 2020

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

This morning, the Labor Department announced that another 4.4 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week. That brings the official number of jobless people to 26.5 million over the past month, effectively erasing almost all of the new jobs created since the 2008 financial crisis. To make matters worse, many state unemployment processing systems have become overwhelmed after receiving record numbers of requests. As a result, experts predict that the actual number of jobless Americans could be much higher Continue reading →

Regulation, Health, Hiring, Ethics, Coronavirus, Human Resources, Unemployment

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 11: Human Resource Management, Chapter 12: Labor Management and Unions, Bonus Chapter A: Business Law

Major Chains Receive Loans Meant for Small Businesses

April 21, 2020

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

A few weeks ago, legislators approved a $2 trillion stimulus package that set aside $349 billion for small businesses that have drastically altered operations during the pandemic. After a poor rollout left many companies unable to petition for relief, however, the fund dried up last weekend with thousands of businesses still in need of loans. What’s more, among the companies that received relief included major chains with thousands of employees and numerous locations across the country.

For example, the Continue reading →

Ethics, Financing, Food & Drink, Coronavirus, Loans, Stimulus Bill, Regulation, Health, Small Business

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 5: Forms of Business Ownership, Chapter 6: Entrepreneurship, Chapter 20: Money and Financial Institutions, Bonus Chapter A: Business Law

[VIDEO] How the Oil Bust Could Reshape Global Markets

April 17, 2020

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

With millions of cars off the road and thousands of airplanes sitting idle on tarmacs, oil consumption has plummeted since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. This has led to a drastic drop in petroleum prices that could have an enormous impact on the global economy in the months to come. This video looks at how trade tensions caused prices to fall before the Covid-19 crisis and how oil producing nations are now rethinking their priorities.

Questions:

How has Continue reading →