Companies who invest more in training employees, value their employees more. That’s according to recent research that found pre-pandemic investments in employee training resulted in fewer lay offs during the pandemic.

“Importantly, these findings provide evidence that the same investments that firms make to support the development of employees’ human capital in normal times also offer a buffer to employees’ job security in the face of financial precarity,” wrote the co-authors of Investing for Keeps: Firms’ Pre-Pandemic Investments in Human Capital Decreased Workforce Reductions Associated With COVID-19 Financial Pressures, Rebecca Kehoe, Scott Bentley and Hyesook Chung.

Organizations that consistently invest in training are less likely to see employees as resources that can just be let go via layoffs or early retirements when they are under pressures to reduce costs.

Press release: https://www.newswise.com/articles/employee-training-pays-off-with-fewer-layoffs?ta=home

The SCORE Foundation has appointed Liz Sara as its new president. She will lead the foundation by supporting SCORE’s overall mission of mentoring and educating American small business owners.

Previously, Sara successfully ran Best Marketing LLC, that she founded in 2001. Her company worked with more than 100 early stage and growth-stage tech companies. She also co-founded B2B e-Commerce software company SpaceWorks.

“As someone who has regularly worked with entrepreneurs, small businesses and non-profits, we welcome Liz’s wealth of experience and knowledge,” said SCORE Foundation Chair Pat Loftus. “Liz believes deeply in our mission and brings unique strategic perspectives combined with significant, diverse nation-wide business community connections to advance the Foundation’s purposeful philanthropic work. We are thrilled to have her incredible talent and look forward to propelling the Foundation to new heights in 2022.”

Press release: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-score-foundation-welcomes-liz-sara-as-president-301455002.html

Small business hiring was up in December. With seasonal adjustments, the CBIZ Small Business Employment Index (SBEI) reported an increase of 1.05% in December after a hiring decline in November. The SBEI tracks payroll and hiring for more than 3,700 companies with 300 or fewer employees.

“December is typically a month where we see positive hiring trends due to the holiday season, and this month was especially strong,” said Philip Noftsinger, Executive Vice President, CBIZ, Inc. “It’s possible that workforce safety confidence was a growth factor earlier in the month prior to the omicron variant becoming a larger headline later in the month.”

Press release: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220107005056/en/Small-Business-Hiring-Sees-Growth-in-December

NerdWallet, a website and app that provides financial guidance, announced the winners of its 2022 Best-Of Awards. The awards recognize the best financial products across banking, credit cards, insurance, investing, mortgages, personal loans, student loans, and travel rewards.

“Winners are chosen through a rigorous evaluation process involving a team of our NerdWallet writers and editors with years of experience reviewing and writing about personal finance products and services,” said Hanah Cho, Vice President, Content at NerdWallet. “Our Nerds spent countless hours assessing these products’ key features by combing through the terms and comparing rates and rewards to create this list of winners.”

The winners are:

• Best Checking Account Overall: Discover Bank Cashback Debit
• Best Checking Account for High Interest: Lake Michigan Credit Union Max Checking
• Best Checking Account With No Monthly Fee: Ally Bank Interest Checking Account
• Best Checking Account for Overdraft Fee Avoidance: Ally Bank Interest Checking Account
• Best Bank or Credit Union for Sign-Up Bonuses: Chase Total Checking
• Best Savings Account : Marcus by Goldman Sachs Online Savings Account
• Best Money Market Account: Zynlo Money Market
• Best Bank or Credit Union for CDs: Marcus by Goldman Sachs High Yield CDs
• Best Online Banking Experience: Discover Bank
• Best Bank or Credit Union for ATM Access: Schwab Bank
• Best Bank or Credit Union for Branch Access: Wells Fargo
• Best Checking and Savings Combo: Alliant Credit Union High-Rate Checking & High-Rate Savings
• Best Checking and Savings Combo: Alliant Credit Union High-Rate Checking & High-Rate Savings

Press release: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nerdwallet-reveals-2022-best-of-awards-winners-301455929.html

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Kate Baggott is a former Managing Editor of B2BNN. Her technology and business journalism has appeared in the Technology Review, the Globe and Mail, Canada Computes, the Vancouver Sun and the Bay Street Bull. She is the author of the short story collections Love from Planet Wine Cooler and Dry Stories. Find links to recent articles by following her on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-baggott-9a0306/

• B2B News for Friday, January 7, 2022: Training Investments & a Stable Workforce, More Small Businesses Hiring – January 7, 2022
• B2B News for Wednesday, January 5, 2022: Greenwashing Dangers, Chief Sustainability and Energy Positions, FinTech Finalists – January 5, 2022
• Merry Christmas from All of Us to All of You! – December 24, 2021