What is VoIP? VoIP (an acronym for Voice over Internet Protocol) refers to the transmission of voice traffic through the Internet instead of a traditional telephone line. It’s become a popular alternative to land lines because of the cost advantages it provides, namely since most VoIP users are simply charged a flat monthly fee. Here are a few interesting facts about the world’s fastest growing telecommunications method:
• By the end of 2009, research indicates that VoIP will be used in approximately 12.1 million households in the U.S. alone (Jupiter Research).
• Japan is the largest VoIP for business market in the world (Net4Now.com).
• In Europe, France is home to the largest VoIP network (Net4Now.com).
• Skype, a major VoIP service provider (primarily in households) has more than 171 million registered users worldwide (TechRadar.com).
Ever thought of moving towards a paperless office? One look at the following statistics and you may be one-step closer to hopping on the “paperless office train”.
An average organization makes 19 copies of every document and it costs them $20 in labor to file each of those documents.
An average organization spends $20 in labor to file each document
An average organization spends $120 in labor searching for each misfiled document
The average employee spends 400 hours per year searching for paper documents. Say you pay each employee $10/hour, that’s $4,000 every year - wasted
The average employee spends 15-30 percent of their work time looking for information
It costs about $25,000 to fill a four drawer filing cabinet and over $2,100/year to maintain it
The average organization spends $2,524 on paper supplies every year (paper, ink cartridge, filing cabinets, cost of occupied space, off-site storage, etc.)
The average organization spends $13,300 every year in time associated with lost paper documents (search, retrieval, recreating lost or misplaced documents)
The White House has six floors: 2 basements, 2 public floors, and 2 floors for the First Family
There are 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms, 412 doors, 147 windows, 28 fireplaces, 8 staircases, and 3 elevator… now the real question is how many of those toilets are the Intelligence Toilet from Toto Toilets?
The White House has 5 full-time chefs and is able to serve dinner to as many as 140 guests and hors d’oeuvres to more than 1,000 at any given time.
The White House receives about 6,000 visitors a day.
If you were to paint the outside of the White House it would require 570 gallons of paint.
The White House has a tennis court, jogging track, swimming pool, movie theater, billiard room and… a bowling lane!
Over the years the White House has been known as the “President’s Palace,” the “President’s House,” and the “Executive Mansion.” President Theodore Roosevelt officially gave the White House its current name in 1901.
From the hottest video game of the year to the worst local restaurants, you name it and it’s probably been reviewed online…multiple times. Consumers have taken to the internet to sing their praises or air dirty laundry about virtually everything you can buy - products, services, food, etc. Customer ratings are one of the main influences on a consumer’s decision to make a purchase. But what exactly are the top-reviewed “things” by consumers?
Electronics - cameras, computers, MP3 players, etc.
Home Appliances - refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, vacuums, dishwashers, etc.
Cars
Furniture - office chairs, mattresses, brands, etc.
Baby Products - car seats, strollers, cribs, baby food, etc.
Services - daycare, housekeeping, auto repair, etc.
Professional Service Providers - doctors, lawyers, accountants, etc.
Restaurants
Food
You name it, it’s probably been reviewed…multiple times.
According to a national study conducted by Kelton Research, approximately 44% of homeowners surveyed reported that window replacement is their top priority in terms of home improvement.
51% of American homeowners say their windows are not energy-efficient or “green†enough.
51% of homeowners also said that windows offer the most promise and potential when it comes to energy efficiency and cost savings. 48% believe lights to be the most important energy efficient home item, while 43% believed it to be the heating systems.
65% of Americans say high energy-efficiency is the most important feature to look for when shopping for new windows.
Due to the economic slump of 2008, it’s projected that homeowners will invest in smaller, less expensive home improvement projects (i.e. giving the bathroom a new modern look by installing a sleek blanco sink themselves instead of an entire costly bathroom remodel). Smaller, less expensive home improvement projects will provide a better return for homeowners than costly, elective ones.
69% of consumers claim they will pay for big purchases (including home improvement products) with cash instead of taking on additional debt.Â
Studies show that couples who live together before getting married are more likely to have marriages that end in divorce.
60% of marriages of individuals between the ages of 20 and 25 end in divorce.
50% of marriages of individuals older than 25 end in divorce.
Children of divorce have a much higher risk of divorce when they marry and an even higher risk if the individual they marry also comes from a home of divorce.
Before You Hire a Divorce Lawyer…
Ask for references. Whether you’re hiring a relatively unknown New York attorney or a renowned Maryland divorce lawyer, it’s crucial that you speak to former clients and references that can attest to the lawyer’s skills, ability, and trustworthiness.
Ask for a copy of the retainer agreement and make sure you understand it before you hire the lawyer.
Make sure you are comfortable with the lawyer. Trust your instincts and you’ll select a lawyer who will have your best interests in mind.
1919 – What became known as the Black Sox Scandal was a scandal that rocked the major league baseball world. It was discovered that gamblers had bribed several team members of the Chicago White Sox to throw the World Series.
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1951 – New York County D.A. Frank Hogan (dubbed “Mr. Integrityâ€) indicted several college basketball players from four New York universities for point shaving. The schools included ManhattanCollege, Long Island University, New York University, and CCNY.
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1978 – Members of the BostonCollege basketball team were found to be in cahoots with mobsters connected with the New York Lucchese crime family in a point shaving scandal.
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1989 – One of major league baseball’s most notorious players, Pete Rose, accepted a permanent ban from the association for purportedly betting on Reds games while he managed the team.
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2007 – One of the most scandalous incidents in recent history, NBA referee Tim Donaghy was investigated by the FBI for allegedly betting on NBA games – including ones he referred. He eventually plead guilty and was sentenced to 15 months in prison. Donaghy and all these other notorious bettors should have stuck to gleaning free basketball, baseball, and football picks! For more sports news, check out basketfall.com
Employee turnover is one of the largest though widely unknown costs an organization faces. While companies routinely keep track of various costs such as supplies and payroll, few take into consideration how much employee turnover will cost them:
Ernst & Young estimates it costs approximately $120,000 to replace 10 professionals.
According to research done by Sibson & Company, to recoup the cost of losing just one employee a fast food restaurant must sell 7,613 combo meals at $2.50 each.
Employee turnover costs companies 30 to 50% of the annual salary of entry-level employees, 150% of middle-level employees, and up to 400% for upper level, specialized employees.
How to Improve Employee Retention
People want to enjoy their work so make work fun and enjoyable.
Understand that employees need to balance life and work so offer flexible starting times and core hours.
Provide 360 feedback surveys and other questionnaires to foster open communication. Consider allowing anonymous surveys occasionally so employees will be more honest and candid with their opinions.
Provide opportunities within the company for career progression and cross-training.
Offer attractive, competitive benefits and 401(k)s.
Over the years, the airline industry has made a multitude of safety innovations from an arc fault breaker to detect faulty wiring to devices designed to prevent fuel tanks from exploding. Yet, many people are far more afraid of flying than they are of getting into car (remember Meg Ryan, in French Kiss?) – though your odds behind-the-wheel aren’t as good as in the air.
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The chances of being involved in an airplane crash is 1 in 11 million.
The chances of being killed in an automobile accident are 1 in 5000.
According to Time Magazine, more than 500 times as many people are killed on U.S. roads than in airplane accidents.Â
