Your store is your livelihood and passion—but how do you keep it safe from shoplifters?

Unfortunately, shoplifting is common in most retail stores, whether it’s kids grabbing some candy or professional thieves lifting serious amounts of merchandise.

Are you wondering how to stop shoplifting to keep your store safe? Luckily, there are a few steps you can take to stop it from happening. Keep reading to learn our top tips for retail theft prevention—even better, most are free or low-cost.

How to Stop Shoplifting? Train Staff

If you want to stop shoplifting, staff in your store need to be trained to know what to look for.

Common signs that someone may have criminal intentions include avoiding eye contact, wearing oversized jackets or clothes, even if it’s warm out, and watching the staff more than the merchandise.

Staff can keep an eye out for people that they may suspect of shoplifting, which can help deter thieves.

Install Security Systems

Using security systems is one of the best ways for shoplifting prevention. CCTV cameras, alarms, and real-time surveillance can scare off a potential thief, but also captures valuable evidence if someone does steal something from your store.

Make sure the CCTV cameras are recording so that you or the police can look back at it in case of a crime.

You can also add door chimes to the entrance to your store, which make noise when someone comes and goes. Read on here to learn how they can help prevent theft.

Keep an Eye on High-Theft Items

To protect against theft, you need extra security measures for high-risk items.

Small items or those of high-value are often placed near the counter, so staff can keep watch over them. Consider the layout and design of your store and place valuable items behind a locked case or in an open area, making them harder to steal.

What are the most commonly stolen retail items? They include cigarettes, candy, over-the-counter medications, and energy drinks.

Speak to Customers as They Enter

A good strategy to stop shoplifters is to talk to customers as they enter the store. Say hello, ask them how they are, and see if they need help finding anything.

Most genuine shoppers are happy to say hello or chat, but shoplifters prefer to avoid drawing attention to themselves. If someone doesn’t want to talk or enters the store and tries not to be noticed, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re a shoplifter, but they could be someone you should pay extra attention to.

Prevent Shoplifting in Your Store Today

Protecting your store from thieves keeps your store safer, safeguards against lost income and inventory, and provides you with peace of mind.

Now that you know how to stop shoplifting in your retail business, use the tips above to keep your shop safe. With the right precautions in place, you can lower your risk of theft and keep your business running well.

Did you find this article helpful? If so, please browse some of our additional articles to learn more.

You graduated. You left the elementary school playground and the unforgiving halls of high school behind. More importantly, you left the bullies behind.

Or so you thought.

A 2019 Monster.com survey reports that nearly 94% of employees report being victimized by a bully in the workplace.

In fact, bullies are everywhere, and bullying can affect anyone at any age. At any age in any location by anyone, bullying is unacceptable.

If you’re among the vast majority of American workers who have experienced bullying in the workplace, read on to learn more, including how to file a workplace bullying lawsuit.

What Is Workplace Bullying?

Workplace bullying is a form of “psychological violence.” It occurs when a perpetrator repeatedly targets one or more colleagues for mistreatment that has significant effects on the target’s mental or physical health or workplace productivity. Key aspects of this definition include “repeated” mistreatment and “significant effects.”

Bullying is, by definition, an ongoing pattern of behavior. Its effects are likewise significant and ongoing. Victims of bullying report increased levels of anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and other mental illnesses. They also experience physical consequences, including trouble sleeping, ulcers, and higher blood pressure.

Victims of workplace bullying find their performance at work suffers, as well. They struggle to concentrate, make decisions, and get work done. This decreased productivity, in turn, diminishes the victim’s self-esteem. It can also have other tangible negative effects on the victim, including job loss.

What Are the Signs of Workplace Bullying?

Workplace bullying includes behavior that is threatening, humiliating, or intimidating. Specific examples of workplace bullying include:

• An employer or colleague who targets a victim for unfair, repeated, and/or public criticism
• An employer or colleague who takes credit for a victim’s work
• An employer or colleague who undermines, or “sabotages,” the victim’s work
• An employer or colleague who excludes the victim
• An employer or colleague who regularly gossips about the victim
• An employer or colleague who regularly insults the victim or make snide remarks
• An employer or colleague who threatens the victim

What Can You Do About Workplace Bullying?

If you’ve experienced these or similar types of mistreatment on an ongoing basis and it is affecting your health and productivity, you can, must, and deserve to protect yourself. So what can you do?

Every situation is different. However, initial steps echo elementary school advice. Try to resolve the issue with the bully yourself. Depending on the circumstances, you could try to speak calmly and privately to the bully. You could ignore the bully. You could attempt to deflect her attacks with nonchalant responses.

At this point, however, you’re reading an article about filing a workplace bullying lawsuit. So you’ve likely tried these initial steps and found little success. In that case, it’s time to involve others.

If the bully is a colleague, the first person to involve is your boss. It’s important to prepare yourself for this conversation. Most importantly, preparation involves documenting the bullying. Gather evidence, including the date, time, frequency, and nature of the incidents. Then be prepared to present it to your employer in a calm and objective manner.

If your boss is the bully or if you’ve spoken to your boss and received insufficient support, you’ll need to escalate the situation further. In these cases, your company’s human resources department can be another internal resource. Again, documentation is key, and again, knowing when to escalate further is important.

If you’ve exhausted all the steps you can take internally, it’s time to involve outside help, and it may be time to file a workplace bullying lawsuit.

Is Workplace Bullying Illegal?

Currently, workplace bullying laws are limited. California recently became the first state to require large employers to train managers to handle abusive behavior. However, the law does not make workplace bullying itself illegal.

In fact, state and federal laws do not specifically prohibit workplace bullying. Nevertheless, bullying can fall under federal and state laws regarding discrimination and harassment. These laws protect employees on the basis of certain characteristics, including:

• Race
• Color
• Religion
• Sex
• Age
• Disability

In June 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court added sexual orientation and gender identity to this list.

How Do You File a Workplace Bullying Lawsuit?

If you’ve been targeted for any of these characteristics, you’ve reported it, and the bullying has continued, you may have a legal case. The first step in filing a hostile work environment claim is to find an experienced lawyer who can evaluate your situation.

Here again, the documentation you’ve compiled is essential. At this stage, the evidence you’ve gathered should include:

• Instances of mistreatment
• The effects it has had on you
• The steps you’ve already taken to try to resolve the issue

Again, be sure to document the date, time, location, and parties involved in every internal report you made. Also, document the outcome of each report in detail, including any retaliation you experienced.

Unfortunately, some victims of bullying are further victimized when they report mistreatment. Retaliation can include being disciplined, having your pay docked, receiving a negative employee evaluation, being demoted, or even being fired. These forms of retaliation themselves qualify as harassment, and your attorney needs to be aware of them.

Armed with all of the evidence, including any instances of retaliation, your attorney can help you determine if you should file a hostile work environment complaint. Involving an experienced attorney and making this decision as soon as possible is crucial because you have a limited time frame — often only 180 days — in which to file such a complaint.

Filing such a complaint is a prerequisite to filing a workplace bullying lawsuit, so meeting these deadlines ensures that you protect your legal rights and have time to build a successful case.

Sticks and Stones Can Break Your Bones, But Words Hurt Just as Much

Most bullies leave their playground weapons of sticks and stones in school. However, they bring their weapons of words and subtle actions into the workplace. Because they can be covert, protecting yourself against these weapons can be more difficult. With proper documentation and an experienced lawyer, however, you can protect yourself.

Consulting a lawyer in a timely manner is the first and most important step toward filing a workplace bullying lawsuit, protecting your rights, and maximizing your success and happiness at work.

For more information about maximizing your success and happiness at work and at home, check out our blog.

Cannabis is a controversial topic that everyone wants to get their hands with. Even though it ruffles a lot of feathers, people see potential with this product. With numerous famous people getting caught using it as on this site, it is not a surprise that the interest is piquing other people. However, there is an ongoing issue between its legalization and its total introduction to society.

The word marijuana needs almost no introduction. It is a plant whose origins can be traced in Asia but can now be found all over the world. There is evidence suggesting that smoking marijuana is already something that some ancient civilizations have already done before. It is just in recent memory when people started prohibiting it from use. This has not stopped in propagation though, and its iconography is one of the most well-known leaves worldwide.

The Potential For A Miracle

No matter what kind of issue though, its possibility as a cure is undeniable. You can see it through the breakthroughs in its product use and development. There are so many derivatives that it can be overwhelming to see a lot of them in the market. Websites like Cheefbotanicals have been selling them ever since it was legalized in some states here in the US. However, we cannot deny that we are still a bit too far from other countries.

As mentioned before, there are online stores that you can explore regarding the use of marijuana. It can be quite perplexing to see since there are so many of them clustered together even in a vast area such as the internet. You may also not have an idea if they do work or not, since you cannot easily just test it outright due to the distance. The coronavirus pandemic has made it more complicated to go to stores as well.

If you want to truly know which ones are the best, then you need to start looking for your answers. Many review sites cover cannabis and related products, so you can start learning from there. Meanwhile, you can also try to test out by buying a little amount. However, this is not worth it because shipping fees alone can cost you a lot.

If you want to buy any kind of cannabis product, it is vital to analyze your situation first. It may not be in your mind, but it should be a prerogative. You need to balance some things as you may know that the very existence of this drug is still in question.

Getting It Yourself

• Reasons You Need It

You need to ask yourself first: why do you need it? If you are looking for a potential cure for your issues,

then this might be the answer. Several studies have shown that it can help with pain and psychological disorders. There is even a study that says it could help with people who have epilepsy. However, you still need to visit a physician before using it. Meanwhile, you might also want to use it for pleasure.

• Legality In Your Area

If you want to just use it for fun, then you need to know whether it is legal or not in your state. Remember, not all states allow the use of marijuana or cannabis. Some allow it for medical reasons only, while others ban it outright. If you do not want to get arrested for possession, then make sure that you know the legal implications of your actions. Read about these rules here: https://www.ncsl.org/research/health/state-medical-marijuana-laws.aspx.

• Possible Sources Aside From Local

As we have mentioned before, a local business was booming according to many reports before the pandemic. Even during the quarantine, some people are willing to risk it just to get their wants in check. However, it would be better to just depend on the internet for now. You just need to be wary of possible fraudulent products.

• Business Or Pleasure

Lastly, it is crucial to think whether you just want to indulge in using cannabis or if you want to extend into a business. Just as we have said prior, this is said to be lucrative. The quarantine might affect sales, but you can always start online. Cyber Monday is coming as well, so you may want to take advantage of that.

 

Isn’t it the ultimate betrayal? When all you want to do at the end of an exhausting day is get in bed and have some beauty rest, only for your mattress to disagree? Your expectations of waking up refreshed and ready for another productive day are thrown out the window, and you wake up stiff and sore.

Did you know that your type of mattress could be the culprit behind your neck pain, joint pain, back pain, night sweats, or allergies? Even more surprising than that, it could be releasing toxins as you sleep. You’re right to be looking for a new mattress.

The question is, what type of mattress do you get? With the global mattress market projected to hit $43 billion by 2024, there are so many types of mattresses that picking one is a task in itself. The last thing you want is to have another type of mattress giving you another problem, so due diligence is essential to ensure you get the perfect purchase.

Worry not because we’ve got your back (pun intended). In this post, we’ll guide you through everything you need to know about choosing the right mattress.

What Type of Mattress Do You Need?

Apart from personal preference, there are several more things to consider while choosing the right type of mattress. This may be the hardest choice you have to make, but the type you choose could make a world of difference for your sleep and rest. We’ll break down some of the most common types of mattresses and help you make an informed decision.

Memory Foam Mattress

Memory foam mattresses are some of the most common, and for excellent reasons. They only consist of memory foam, and they are incredible for body contouring, pressure relief, and offer great support. Some older versions can be quite hot, but you can get an advanced version that features cooling properties.

Latex Mattresses

Latex mattresses are exclusively made with latex foam and come with great comfort, cooling properties, bounce, and responsiveness. Unlike memory foam, latex foam does not come with body contouring, so if you don’t like the concept of a pronounced hug, this may be the best type of mattress for you. It’s firmer than a foam mattress, though, and can be quite expensive.

Innerspring Mattresses

Innerspring mattresses or coil mattresses are also very popular. They are built with one or several layers of springs, and with the advancement of technology, better versions of this type of mattress are being designed to offer ultimate comfort. The more the coils, the better the comfort level and if you want good support, strong edge and a great bounce, this is a good choice.

Hybrid Mattresses

As the name suggests, hybrid mattresses are a combination of other types of mattresses. The agenda here is to maximize certain benefits of different materials while minimizing the cons as well.

For instance, latex foam combined with memory foam offers incredible cooling properties, a high bounce rate, excellent responsiveness, pressure relief, and support. If you like two different types of mattresses, you can get a hybrid and get the best of both worlds.

Adjustable Mattresses

With this type of mattress, you can easily change your sleeping position by elevating your feet or inclining your back. If you have specific needs, like back or pain neck relief and issues with your spine, you can get an adjustable mattress that allows you to adjust your sleeping position accordingly.

Consider Your Budget

All these mattress types come in a wide range of prices, and with so many mattress brands in the industry, your budget will play a huge role in the type of mattress you get. The thing is, though, that a high price range does not always equate to the best type of mattress. Still, don’t go cheap because you want something that will last you a few years and serve you well within that lifespan.

The Level of Firmness You Need

How hard or how soft would you like your mattress to be? The level of firmness is highly subjective because it depends on your description of firm, medium, and soft. Beyond this, you need to consider your weight, body type, size, and spouse preferences as well.

Understand that support and firmness are two different things. Support means that your spine will be in proper alignment with your pressure points, and firmness refers to how hard the mattress is when you sink into it. If you’re not sure, you can use a mattress firmness scale to gauge what you’d like or get a universal comfort mattress, which is designed for different types of people.

What’s Your Sleeping Position

Are you a back, stomach, or side sleeper, or a combination of all? One of the worst mistakes people make when searching for a suitable type of mattress is disregarding their sleeping style. Different sleeping positions have different mattress needs.

Side sleepers, for instance, need soft-to-medium firmness levels because they keep changing their positions. They need a mattress that contours to the curves of their bodies. Firm mattresses that don’t contour are likely to give them back, shoulder, and neck pain.

Back sleepers, on the other hand, need support and firmness because soft mattresses create pressure points. The spinal alignment easily goes off, leading to back pain, so if you’re back sleeper, get a mattress with a firmness level ranging between 4 and 7.

Stomach sleepers need equal support across their body because the torso applies the most pressure on the mattress. If the mattress sinks too deep in the midsection, they will experience back pain, so they need to be flat, so a mattress with a firmness level of 5 to 7 is more ideal.

How Much You Weigh

Weight is super important when choosing the best type of mattress because it plays a considerable role in sinkage, cooling, support, hug, and feel of the mattress. It’s imperative that you get a mattress that your body needs.

Other Considerations

While purchasing your mattress, consider sleep trials and returns, shipping and delivery, and the warranty offered. Sleep trials, especially, are a good idea because you can return a mattress if it feels off.

Mattress Buying Guide: What Is the Best Mattress?

There you have it! This is the ultimate buying guide for the best type of mattress, and if you put all things into consideration, you’re bound to find the right mattress.

If you’ve found our guide helpful, please head over to our blog, where we have more guides and more informative and valuable posts lined up for you!

What does CNC machining have in common with the automotive protective film? As it turns out, cold-war-era helicopter blades!

Around the same time that 3M was developing their protective coating for helicopter blades, John T. Parsons was manufacturing Sikorsky rotor blades for the US Army and trying to fulfill the orders.

Using IBM accounting machines, he was able to calculate coordinates and table settings. Though machining had been around for hundreds of years, 1949 was the birth of CNC machining as we know it today due to Parsons’ efforts, along with MIT.

In less than 70 years, the advances have been fabulous.

Keep reading to see why CNC milling is more important than ever!

The Age of CNC Milling

Milling is the process of cutting away material using rotating tooling, whether metal, plastic, or wood. They are used for cutting slots or complex geometry.

To know how that works, first, we need to know what 3 axis machining is. 3 axis refers to the x-y-z coordinates that you probably remember from middle school.

CNC milling involves a:

• Worktable
• Saddle
• Spindle
• Knee
• Column
• Machine tooling
• Arbour

The worktable is the work area, where the material is positioned. The saddle works to adjust the worktable in relation to the spindle. The spindle is where the machine tool is rotated, and ready to mill!

The machine tooling is a cutting tool, known as a mill cutter. This is the business end of the CNC milling machine. Milling shoulders, edges, and grooves may use a combination of the end, peripheral, or face milling operations.

The arbor connects the tooling to the spindle.

The fixed base of the machine, much like a foundation for a home or building. It also often houses oil and coolant used in the process. The knee is below the saddle and supports the saddle and worktable at an adjustable height.

End vs. Peripheral Machine Tooling

Shoulders usually have two faces, while grooves have three surfaces. Peripheral milling cutters have cutting edges on their ends, and they’re preferred for cutting grooves and slots, partially due to their disk shape. Peripheral milling tools are better for long slots or grooves because they won’t wear so quickly.

End milling cutting tools are round have cutting edges on their sides and ends. Since they cut more on their sides, they wear a little quicker and are preferred for short slots or grooves, and complex shapes.

That covers most of the cutting tools in milling.

The Final Cut

Machining is the bread and butter of virtually everything you see around you, no matter the material it is made from. Because machining is a subtractive process, it can be used in conjunction with another innovation, 3D printing.

3D printing is an additive process, and the two together herald a new age in machining. CNC milling isn’t going anywhere but up!

If you enjoyed this article as much as we did, keep browsing for more tech, industry, and business news. We’re sure you’ll find more info on the cutting edge!

Did you know: up to 60% of the human body is made of water.

Given that the human race could not survive without water, how often do you actually consider what you’re consuming?

In this article, we’ll look at the health benefits of bottled water vs tap water? And are there any other factors you need to be aware of?

Read on for a discussion about the best way to hydrate yourself, and learn is tap water safe to drink.

So Which Is Better: Bottled Water vs Tap Water

Let’s examine, factor by factor, what are the pros and cons of bottled water and tap water. We’ll take a look at health, cost, and the environmental impact as the aspects to consider.

Health

The potential impact on our health is, of course, the driving factor in our choice between bottled water and tap water. Let’s take a look at some of the facts when it comes to which type of water is better for your wellbeing.

Despite common misconceptions, tap water is just as healthy as bottled water. In fact, the source of bottled water is often tap water itself!

Some people suspect bottled water to be the healthier option, however, there is a greater risk of microplastic particle contamination.

The pH of tap water is typically 7.5, while for bottled water it can range from 6.5 to 7.5.

Because tap water is a public utility, the government is required to ensure it is drinkable. That being said, calcium and magnesium scale can form within pipes and home appliances.

Tap water can have the remaining tiny impurities removed with the help of a tap water filter or softener. When thinking about a water softener vs water filter, this depends on a number of considerations, such as if you live in an area with hard or soft water.

Cost

$100 billion is spent on bottled water in the United States every year. This statistic is even more shocking when we consider that many parts of the world don’t have access to clean water at all.

It has been estimated that bottled water is up to 2000 times more expensive than tap water. Of course, buying one bottle from a store does not seem like a huge expense, but these small costs add up and can have a significant impact on your expenditure.

While some people may claim bottled water has a higher quality taste, blind taste tests often prove that we are, in fact, unable to taste the difference between bottled water and tap water.

Environmental Impact

Finally, it is important to consider the impact of bottled water and tap water on the environment. Let’s find out which of these options is the greener choice.

It has been calculated that between 2012 and 2014, 9,000,000,000,000,000 (that’s nine quadrillion!) water bottles were produced worldwide. This has detrimental consequences for the environment, as much of the waste is not recycled and results in the pollution of oceans, rivers and in landfills.

Moreover, a huge amount of oil is required for the production of plastic water bottles, as well as for their distribution.

Filling a reusable bottle with tap water helps the environment as well as saving you money.

Which Is the Best Choice for Me?

Having examined a variety of factors, it’s safe to conclude that between bottled water vs tap water, there can only be one winner. Tap water ticks all the boxes in comparison with bottled water.

Choosing tap water allows significant financial savings, is just as healthy as bottled water, and is by far the greener option.

If you found this post helpful, make sure you check out our other articles!

One of the most important functions of accounting and HR is to ensure employees get their pay. A paycheck stub example will cover everything from employee pay to tax deductions.

Keep reading to learn what you should put on your pay stubs and why the information is important.

Employee and Employer Information

A good pay stub example will include the name and contact info for the company and the employee. Company information can include the name, address, and phone number.

Employee information might include the individual’s social security number and address.

Including employee information helps keep employees from accidentally getting other pay stubs. Company information can be useful for employees who work two or more similar jobs.

The information is also useful if someone leaves a job in the middle of the year but needs the pay stub for their taxes.

Pay Period Dates

To differentiate a paycheck stub from month to month, you’ll also find the pay period dates. The dates should show the beginning and end of the pay period to help with record keeping.

You may also find a paycheck stub example with the pay date on it. That can be useful if a pay date is the following month or year.

It can also help employers prove when they pay their employees. That way, they can show they aren’t breaking any laws.

If employees need to refer back to a specific pay period, the dates can help them, too.

Pay Rate

You’ll also find the pay rate somewhere on a pay stub. The pay rate will either be the salary or the hourly rate depending on an employee’s status.

Salaried employees will get the same amount each paycheck, but it’s still important to include this information.

Hourly employees will be able to see the number of hours worked in a pay period and their hourly rate. If an employee worked overtime, the pay stub should notate that.

When hourly or salaried employees use paid time off, that will also be reflected on most pay stubs. The base pay will determine the rate for other types of pay and compensation.

Earnings Breakdown

Probably the biggest section on any payroll check template is the earnings breakdown. This section lists everywhere an employee’s pay goes, from their check to taxes.

The breakdown typically starts with an overview of gross income, which is your earnings before taking anything out. Next, you can have a list of the different income taxes for social security and other purposes.

If the employee contributes to a company-sponsored retirement plan, these contributions will be on the list. The same is true with company health insurance and other benefits.

You may also list the amount of taxable income for employees who pay into retirement or other pre-tax deductions.

Your Best Paycheck Stub Example

Whether you’re looking to hire employees or rework your payroll system, consider a paycheck stub example. You can use the example to figure out what to include and how to format everything.

Then, you can make sure you and your employees understand the pay breakdown, and you can avoid pay-related issues.

Did you enjoy this article? Check out the business section for more business tips.

If your business recently started using a fleet of commercial vehicles, you will need to get them insured. But finding the right insurance may be more difficult than you think.

Commercial trucks need a special kind of insurance that differs from typical auto insurance. We’ve put together this list to help you find the best commercial truck insurance available.

1. Research!

If you’re looking at purchasing commercial auto insurance, it is vital that you do plenty of research beforehand. Like in the landscaping business, it is essential to look for the right commercial landscaping automobile insurance. Never go into a situation blind and without options.

Different companies offer different kinds of coverage for different rates. You want to be certain that the insurance company you decide to go with provides all the coverage you need at a price that fits your budget.

2. Risks

There are a number of risks that come with purchasing insurance for commercial trucking and you should be aware of them all.

Look into all of the options available to you, don’t just go with your first instinct. There are likely several options for commercial truck coverage available in your area, take advantage of that. Don’t lock yourself into an agreement with the first insurance company you talk to.

3. Know The Premiums

Insurance premiums depend on a number of different factors. However, they can vary from company to company.

Prices can also be deceiving, so be sure to ask lots of questions. Just because a price seems fair and fits in your budget, it doesn’t necessarily mean it is the best.

If a premium is lower, it could mean that the service you are getting will be of lesser quality, so you want to be careful. Another thing that companies can do is set the premiums low and entrap you with hidden fees. These fees will pile on top of each other and make your payment even more expensive than some of the higher premiums out there, watch out.

Be sure to take all of these factors into consideration before you make a purchase. Ask lots of questions and weigh all your options, don’t just go with the cheapest you can find.

4. Coverage Options

There are lots of different coverage options available. Semi-truck insurance will most likely include some or all of the following types of coverage:

• Towing expenses
• Injury and damage liability
• Comprehensive and collision
• Loading and unloading liability
• Medical expenses

Different companies will have a variety of plans that include these different coverage options. You will just need to find the right plan for your needs.

5. Commercial Truck Insurance Credentials

Finally, it’s very important that your commercial truck insurance company is actually certified to sell you insurance. There are several credentials and licenses that an insurance company must have to be authorized to sell commercial truck insurance.

All of these documents should be available for the public to see, so if you cannot find them yourself, be sure to ask for them. Failure to present these documents should be an immediate red flag and you should look elsewhere for your insurance.

Read More!

We hope that you feel more prepared to purchase commercial truck insurance. Thank you for taking the time to read this article. Be sure to check out the other great articles on this site!