Chamber Updates

Business Predictions for 2022 As we close the chapter on another year, it’s once again time to pull out the crystal ball and take a look at some of the top predictions for the business world in 2022. The end of the year not only provides a natural opportunity for reflection, but it’s also the…

Reflecting on 2021 The end of the year, especially a year like 2021, is a time when a myriad of emotions are naturally present. When I step back and think about where we were one year ago, I am blown away. The resilience I have witnessed, the leadership we’ve encountered, and the light of goodness…

A 4-Day Workweek There’s been a lot of talk about the potential benefits of a four-day work week instead of a five-day week. Several studies have shown that at some point, productivity decreases as the number of hours worked increases. A four-day workweek is, ideally, a 32-hour workweek with no loss in productivity, pay, or…

Job Shadowing and Employee Retention Job shadowing has become so valuable to both hiring and retaining talent that in 2019, it was named the “gold standard solution” in small business hiring trends by Monster.com. We’ve heard the song and dance of employers hiring a candidate only for them to turn around and leave days, sometimes…

Giving Tuesday The end of the year is a time for reflection and getting ready for fresh starts. If you’ve ever thought about giving back around this time but weren’t sure where to begin, Giving Tuesday is an excellent opportunity to do so. When you think about Thanksgiving weekend traditions, it’s hard not to immediately…

Cape Girardeau Gift Guide The holidays are quickly approaching and there’s never been a better time to support local business! We’ve rounded up 32 Cape Girardeau businesses for you to shop local with this holiday season. 1. Annie Laurie’s “You can walk the store for hours and still find something new each time you go…

Vaccine Mandate and Area Businesses Big changes are contained in the new vaccine mandate released by the Biden Administration late last week. The new rule from the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers with at least 100 workers to ensure they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or submit to weekly…

Supply Chain Issues and Holiday Shopping Should you really start your holiday shopping now? We are aware of the worker shortage facing our country. And now, supply chain issues are also prominent. During the pandemic, consumers shifted much of their spending habits away from services to more tangible products. As a result of issues related…

September Jobs Report The recently released September jobs report showed U.S. job growth fell to the slowest pace in 2021. The economy added 194,000 jobs representing the smallest monthly gain since December 2020. The unemployment rate dropped to 4.8% as many workers exited the workforce. A decline in public sector jobs, primarily in schools, was…