7 Small Business Success Factors

open sign in window of small business

Running a small business is no easy feat. From the early days of knowing what business license to apply for to growing your business and figuring out how to handle quarterly taxes, there is always something new to learn about being a business owner. Whether you are just getting started or have been an entrepreneur […]

4 Tips for Creating a Positive Corporate Culture

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People care about working for companies that are focused on creating a positive corporate culture now more than ever before. In fact, a Columbia University study showed that job turnover is 48.4% more likely when people are working somewhere that they perceive as negative. A company’s culture ultimately tells prospective employees how management will treat […]

How CART Services for Virtual Meetings Work

young woman on computer using CART for virtual meetings

When the pandemic first drove people out of offices and into their homes, the idea of virtual meetings was kind of exciting. However, after nine months of working from home, virtual meetings have become the norm. More people than ever are logging on to platforms like Zoom and Google Meet every day. For people who […]

Reflecting on 2020: What Lessons Can We Take Into Next Year?

reflections on 2020

If you spend any time reading the news or online publications, you have probably seen the term “unprecedented” about a thousand times since March. While there are a few other words to describe the year, unprecedented probably is the most accurate. Many of us are starting to feel like we have lived through an entire […]

5 Ways to Avoid Job Interview Bias

three women around an interview table examine interview bias

When searching for candidates to fill a position, it is important to stay as impartial as possible. You want to bring in the best person for the job without consideration of age, gender, diversability (diverse ability), religion, or race. Unfortunately, many people have unconscious interview bias that can affect the hiring process. Unconscious biases, or […]

5 Resources for Veteran-Owned Businesses

silhouette of a young woman in military uniform veteran-owned business

Applied Development is proud to be a veteran-owned business. Time in the military helps veterans develop the necessary skill set to be successful entrepreneurs. In fact, in the United States, there are currently 2.52 million businesses that are majority-owned by veterans, making up about 9.1% of all U.S. businesses. These businesses employ over five million […]

What to Know if Sections 504 and 508 of the ADA Apply to Your Business

computer with code represents section 504 and 508 of the ada

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) helps protect people with diversabilties (diverse abilities). Its primary job is to increase accessibility and inclusion for anyone who is differently-abled. Two sections of the ADA, 504 and 508, apply specifically to federal departments and agencies, meaning private sector businesses and businesses that receive federal funding are exempt from […]

Six Ways to Make Your Website More Accessible

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A 2019 report from Hootsuite and We Are Social found that people are currently spending an average of over six hours online every day. Some are spending even more time online than that between work and other extracurricular activities that are now virtual due to COVID. Many people take for granted how easy it is […]

504/508 Compliance in the Time of COVID-19

man using screen reader software

There is no question that COVID-19 has changed the way that we work and interact. Many employees are spending more time working at home or in offices with fewer colleagues than before, including federal agency workers. For those with diversabilities (diverse abilities), this can present challenges that these agencies have not had to prepare for […]

What to Expect from a Federal Contractor Compliance Audit

federal contractor compliance audit paperwork and compliance officer

The Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) will sometimes conduct audits to ensure equal opportunity in the workplace. The audit process is thorough and ranges from paperwork reviews to an on-site audit that ensures compliance with postings of current EEO notices. An audit does not necessarily mean that there is anything […]