federal government Archives

Guardian

Why a modest US interest rate rise won’t change much for most businesses

(This column originally appeared in The Guardian) With the appointment of a new Federal Reserve chair, the latest concern is that interest rates will go…

Gene MarksJuly 20, 2026

Philly.com

Hiring foreign workers has become more difficult. These options still exist.

(This column originally appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer) Employing foreign workers is more difficult than ever. But it’s not impossible. A Philadelphia employer can potentially secure…

Gene MarksJune 17, 2026

Guardian

Trump tariff refunds are actually happening — and businesses should pay attention

(This column originally appeared in The Guardian) When the supreme court struck down Donald Trump’s tariffs, many small importers assumed any refunds would be tied up in bureaucracy for…

Gene MarksMay 11, 2026

Philly.com

Are Trump’s new federal IRAs good for small businesses?

(This column originally appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer) More than 56 million workers, including self-employed people, lack access to retirement plans, according to AARP. In…

Gene MarksMay 6, 2026

Entrepreneur

Pay Transparency Is Changing the Rules for Employers — Here’s What You Need to Know

(This column originally appeared in Entrepreneur) Key Takeaways Pay transparency is quietly reshaping hiring and compensation decisions in ways many employers don’t expect. As the rules…

Gene MarksMarch 4, 2026

The Hill

All of these things are ‘killing’ small businesses — so why are they optimistic?

(This column originally appeared in The Hill) Wow, there are certainly a lot of things “killing” small businesses today, don’t you think? The Wall Street Journal says…

Gene MarksSeptember 25, 2025

Philly.com

No tax on tips: What businesses and workers should know

(This column originally appeared in the Inquirer) The tax and spending bill passed by Congress and signed into law by the president on July 4 contained…

Gene MarksSeptember 16, 2025

Guardian

Here’s a tip: eliminate US tipping culture and pay people a living wage

(This column originally appeared in The Guardian) I’m here in Las Vegas for a conference where I just paid $7 for a cup of coffee and…

Gene MarksSeptember 14, 2025

Guardian

The panic over tariff details is different than its bigger picture

(This column originally appeared in The Guardian) Earlier this month the Trump administration moved forward with eliminating a loophole that allowed businesses to avoid tariffs if…

Gene MarksSeptember 7, 2025

Entrepreneur

You Might Be Violating Federal Labor Laws — Use These 6 Tools to Find Out Before It’s Too Late

(This column originally appeared in Entrepreneur) Key Takeaways Proactively using these tools can reduce legal risk, minimize fines and demonstrate good-faith efforts to follow federal workplace…

Gene MarksAugust 18, 2025