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LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz announces an investigation of Lilium N.V. (“Lilium” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: LILM, LILMW) on behalf of investors concerning the Company’s possible violations of federal securities laws. If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. On October 24, 2024, Lilium disclosed that it had been unable to secure government funding for two of its German subsidiaries, and had not been able to raise sufficient additi

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- #dealmaking--Northern Edge Advisors served as the exclusive financial advisor to privately-held US-based Amran Instrument Transformers and India-based Narayan Powertech Pvt. Ltd. (“Amran/Narayan Group”) in the sale to Standex International Corporation (NYSE: SXI). Structured as the simultaneous sale of two separate companies, the acquisitions are the largest in Standex’s history, with a combined enterprise value of approximately $462 million consisting of both cash and stock consi

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- #comvest--Comvest Private Equity (“Comvest”), a leading middle-market private equity investment group, is pleased to announce a majority investment in Riccobene Associates Family Dentistry (“Riccobene”), a leading dental services organization (DSO) based in Cary, N.C., in partnership with its Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Michael Riccobene, DDS. Riccobene becomes the 14th healthcare services platform investment by Comvest’s private equity strategy. Found

RESTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nacha’s Payments Innovation Alliance, a membership program bringing together diverse global stakeholders seeking to transform the payments industry, has published Protecting Payments in the Quantum Era: What You Need to Know. This free publication outlines the basics of quantum computing, explaining key concepts and how it differs from classical computing. It explores the potential applications of quantum computing in the financial sector, particularly in payments,

AUSTIN, Texas & SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Serent Capital, a growth-focused private equity firm that invests in founder-led B2B SaaS and technology companies, announced that its portfolio company, Landscape Management Network (LMN), a premier provider of business management software for the landscape industry, has been acquired by SingleOps, a leader in business management solutions for green industry service providers. Founded in 2009, LMN provides a comprehensive software suite that help

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Chicago Atlantic has closed a $30 million senior secured credit facility to Nevada cannabis operator, Deep Roots Harvest.

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz announces an investigation of First Northwest Bancorp (“FNWB” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: FNWB) on behalf of investors concerning the Company’s possible violations of federal securities laws. If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. On October 25, 2024, FNWB disclosed that its second quarter 2024 financial results should no longer be relied upon due to an additional $6.6 million in charge-offs and incr

VANCOUVER, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ZoomInfo has been named a Leader in Snowflake’s 2025 Modern Marketing Data Stack report in the “Enrichment and Hygiene” category.

WESTLAKE, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Schwab Trading Activity Index™ (STAX) increased to 48.37 in October, up from its score of 47.10 in September. The only index of its kind, the STAX is a proprietary, behavior-based index that analyzes retail investor stock positions and trading activity from Schwab’s millions of client accounts to illuminate what investors were actually doing and how they were positioned in the markets each month. The reading for the four-week period ending October 25, 2024,

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "United States Cashback Programs Market Opportunities Databook - 50+ KPIs on Cashback Market Size, By Business Model, By Channel, By Cashback Program Type, By End Use Sector - Q3 2024 Update" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The cashback spending through cashback programs is expected to experience significant growth, with spending projected to surge by 13.4% annually. The medium to long-term outlook for cashback spending in the United Stat

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Accenture has acquired Allitix, a consulting and technology company specializing in Anaplan solutions.

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--FRMO Corp. has expanded the size of the Board of Directors to nine and has appointed R. Rimmy Malhotra to the Board.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--After 14 years as Chief Executive Officer of Haymarket Media, Inc., Lee Maniscalco will be stepping away from that role within the next year and taking on a new set of responsibilities with the company. He will remain CEO through the end of June 2025 and will then stay on as a corporate non-executive Board member and strategic advisor. Haymarket has retained an executive recruitment firm to conduct a search for his replacement. Maniscalco, who joined Haymarket in 2001

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- #NapoliShkolnik--Paul Napoli’s commitment to advocating for communities affected by pollution has grown as public awareness of environmental issues has increased.

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz Announces the Filing of a Securities Class Action on Behalf of The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) Investors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds investors that a shareholder filed a class action on behalf of purchasers and acquirers of securities of GitLab Inc. (NASDAQ: GTLB) between June 6, 2023 and March 4, 2024, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”). GitLab is a software company. For more information, submit a form, email attorney Phillip Kim, or give us a call at 866-767-3653. The Allegations: Rosen Law Firm is Investigating the Allegations tha

Firing people is one of the most difficult tasks managers face. However, keeping the right people on the team and removing the unproductive person(s) is a critical role of a good manager or business owner.

While a disruptive employee can create various problems in a business, from theft, adding to poor morale, to damaging the firm’s reputation, the individual’s release must be handled with care.  In a small company with fewer people, termination is a noticeable event that creates both a temporary void and uncertainty.

First, lay out a framework for deciding whether the employee can be coached to be a better performer or needs to be terminated.

• You should coach a poor-performing employee when they put in genuine effort but lack specific technical skills, have a few specific weaknesses but many strengths, are eager to learn, even if they lack the skill sets needed, embody the business’s culture, and are not jerks.
• If someone is the former, your goal as business manager/owner is to provide coaching and mentorship; there is potential for the employee to perform better. However, having an employee who is the latter would indicate the worker needs to be removed from the team.

• First, define what is not working with the employee and put it in writing.  Then, you need to have a well-articulated reason for firing the employee.

Here are some things to ensure the employee termination process is legal and fair.

In today’s litigious world, it is essential to have documentation (emails, deliverables created, on why someone is being terminated so they cannot file a claim of discrimination or wrongful termination. 

Be careful to avoid discrimination or any claim of discrimination. Remember, it is illegal to fire an employee because of their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or other protected characteristics. 

Avoid wrongful termination.  If an employee thinks they were wrongfully terminated, they can file a claim with the appropriate federal or state agency and, in some cases, file a lawsuit.  This will cost the business time and money, perhaps reputation and other employee morale.

Photo by Kampus Production

• Document the firing process by setting up a formal termination process in advance that is consistently used and carefully documented at every step. This includes conversations regarding performance and giving the employee a chance to do better. Make sure your reasons for termination are legal.

Have an initial honest, open discussion with the employee to raise the red flag about what is not working. Provide examples of the problems, clarify any issues, and discuss how to solve them. This step is critical so the employee is not surprised if they are terminated.

Put the employee on a documented and measurable Performance Improvement Plan (PIP). Then, have regular check-ins to share whether performance is improving as defined in the PIP. 

• If the employee is still not performing, identify how you will fill the gap from the person’s role so there will not be a business disruption.  The departing person may have responsibilities that need to be accounted for, so you will need to ask other people on the team to cover their role and monitor the person’s email account until a replacement is hired or the duties are finally redistributed.

Photo by August de Richelieu

• Coordinate with HR and Legal to proceed with the paperwork for the firing, including, but not limited to, any legal letters, the employee’s final paycheck and expense check(s), and perhaps severance, depending on our business policies and finances.

• Also, plan the firing for a time and day of the week that is less disruptive to your business schedule. Some recommend terminating first thing in the morning, ideally before others arrive for the day. Consider having a third person, such as your HR leader, in the room observing the firing.

• Be direct and compassionate during a private meeting. Inform the employee of the decision and clearly state the reason for termination. Keep the meeting brief, factual, and respectful.

Your conversation with the departing employee should be simple and to the point; do not say, “I’m sorry.”  You need to start with the news as soon as you sit down. Say something like, “We need to have a difficult conversation. Unfortunately, things aren’t working out here, and today will be your last day at the company.” 

If the employee argues, do not engage. Rather, end the argument quickly. Say something like, “Unfortunately, this decision is already finalized, so it won’t be productive to go back and forth on it right now.”  Have a box of tissues and treat the employee like a human.

Provide the next steps along with documentation that the departing employee can later read.  Outline the following steps, including details on final pay, benefits, and company property to return.  If applicable, offer assistance such as references or career counseling. Be available for follow-up questions.

Image by Freepik

• Now that the hard meeting is completed help the terminated employee physically transition out.  You can offer to help them gather things from their desk as well. You may need to answer some questions about transitioning work or unemployment benefits.  It is essential to stay with the departing employee until they leave the building to ensure no technology is touched, business materials and equipment remain behind, etc.  Then, you should walk them out, shake their hand, genuinely thank them for their efforts, and wish them the best for finding something new.

• Communicate effectively with other employees so the firing doesn’t negatively impact morale. Keep it brief and have a plan for covering the departing employee’s work, as discussed above. Focus on moving the business forward. 

• Consider your hiring practices moving forward. What needs to be changed to minimize future firings and/or make the firing event go more smoothly?

Please share any processes or tactics that you have found to be effective in managing a firing.

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pantheon, the leading WebOps platform for developers, designers, and marketers, today announced the appointment of Sameer Kazi as Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Kazi, a veteran leader with over 20 years of experience scaling SaaS organizations and driving operational excellence, will spearhead Pantheon’s next phase of accelerated growth and innovation. Former CEO Bill Ingram will continue to support the company as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Kazi’s background

SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Snap Finance, a leading provider of innovative and flexible pay-over-time financing solutions, today announced that Ted Saunders will succeed Matt Hawkins as Chief Executive Officer. Hawkins, founder and current CEO, will transition to the role of Executive Chairman. This change is part of a strategic leadership transition plan, with Saunders set to fully assume the CEO role by January 1, 2025. Matt Hawkins built a transformative legacy as the founder and CEO of

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Earnix, the leading AI, real-time platform for intelligent decisioning SaaS solutions for the insurance and financial services industries, today announced its third annual survey on the state of the insurance market, the 2024 Industry Trends Report. The survey of over 400 global insurance executives uncovers key findings, trends, implications for what’s next in insurance, and sheds light on the role technology can play in shaping a better future. Key findings from the 2