By Dr. Ellen Fitzenrider, Body Harmony of Arlington

We are in the midst of a conundrum playing out between post-pandemic employees, (who kinda got used to the idea of working remotely in their pajamas) and businesses large and small who have seen negative impacts of remote work in various ways: productivity, bottom line, and company culture. Companies are strategizing on how to get employees back in to the workplace.
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While you can find research to back up either party’s side, I wish to weigh -in as an advocate for a 3rd side: the side of our bodies, which have suffered from remote work, sitting at a computer for vast, unbroken long shifts and Zoom meetings. Or worse: working on our laptop on our squishy couch.

What has also come with remote work is what I can only call a massive loss of daily activity. Before “going remote,” the simple act of going to and from work brought a fair amount of walking, getting in and out of our car, up and down stairs, reaching, bending, and carrying. These typical motions add up, whether we were aware of it or not.

​With remote work, it’s common for my patients to report that there are days where they walk a mere 200 to 300 steps per day, and the cumulative effect on our bodies is significant. This loss of daily activity wouldn’t be so bad if we made up for this in other ways, but the reality is most of us don’t and won’t. This manifests itself in musculoskeletal pain and loss of function and range of motion pretty much everywhere in our body: legs, joints, hips, back, shoulders. What we stop asking our bodies to do, and how to move, our bodies respond by no longer being able to do those things. This diminished overall level of fitness brings with it more profound health implications for all of our other body systems: cardiovascular, digestive, immune, cognitive, and more.
 
Some large national companies have made headlines over the past few months by requiring their employees to come in from remote work for a specific numbers of days per week. There is often resistance. Smaller companies are watching, faced with the same challenge, struggling for solutions.
 
As an advocate for all humans’ bodies, I want to suggest that it’s good for our physical health for most of us to go back to in-person work as much as possible. There, I said it! This won’t be easy, as we are creatures of habit and our habits have changed. On the flip side, businesses need to respond to what will be employees’ greater expectations from the workplace satisfying lifestyle-enhancing benefits. Both “sides” are going to have to communicate and work together through this transition, and it will take time.
 
Action steps for companies:

• Give your employee real reasons why you are bringing your remote people in. If productivity and culture has been suffering, be honest with your employees and tell them.
• Institute “employee workplace wellness initiatives” or enhance what is already in place into something more robust.
• Survey your employees what they would like. Don’t spend money on a bunch of perks that nobody wants. Every company has its own unique culture. Tap into it.
• If your HR Department doesn’t have the bandwidth to take this on as a high-priority project, outsource it.
• You WILL lose some people. Maybe they have changed their living situation over the past couple of years. Work with the people who will work with you.
• Enhance their reasons why your employees want to come into work. The world is different now, and things aren’t going completely back to the way things were.

 
Action steps for humans:

• Be honest and authentic. Tell your employer why you may be struggling (if you are) with coming back in to the office.
• If you need mental health support to help you through this transition, seek it out.
• If you are adamant about staying remote, and your employer is “laying down the line” to bring people in, look for, or train for, a truly remote position and move on.
• MOVE.YOUR.BODY. Taking care of your body is one of THE jobs of your life. You will grow into the body that you have earned (or not) down the road.​

​From phishing to ransomware to IRS impersonator calls, scammers adapt to any method that works. Scammers also take advantage of current events where they can cash in, like those involving donations, like natural disasters, and tax programs. These scams often sound legit because they are a twisted version of true scenarios.
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In his presentation, the IRS representative highlighted two tax scams that are ramping up right now because of aggressive promotion on social media, via email, and by phone – improper employee retention credit claims and promises to settle outstanding tax debt. Both of these scams illustrate how scammers charge for a free service or a service for which the victim does not qualify. Here’s how they work.
 
You may have gotten a call from someone you don’t know saying that you can get a $26,000 per employee tax refund. This “refund” is the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) for qualified employers to retain their staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sounds great, but these third parties charge large upfront fees whether your business qualifies for ERC or not. Scammers may also urge unqualified employers to claim the ERC, which can bring that business under unwanted scrutiny by the IRS. More warnings and tips are on the IRS website.

​During tax filing season, some business and individual taxpayers find that they owe more in taxes than they are able to pay immediately. Or, they may have prior year tax debt. Social media ads and commercials about settling your tax debt with an Offer in Compromise (OIC) sound tempting, but they are also a scam to pay for something taxpayers can do themselves for free. In just a few minutes and for absolutely no cost, a taxpayer can determine if she or he qualifies for an OIC. Once qualification is determined, they can complete the online application and submit it to the IRS per the online instructions.

The IRS wants businesses and individuals to be cautious of schemes and direct solicitations promising tax savings that are too good to be true. That’s why they post helpful warnings and other information on their website and make knowledgeable IRS representatives available to the business community. Use this information to help you keep our business community safe from tax scammers. 

By Mike Rosenow, Arlington Chamber of Commerce

​The Chamber has additional ways for you to maximize your membership, aside from our traditional events and programming. Since your organization is a member of the Chamber, that means any and all of your employees can participate in the Chamber’s offerings.
 
The Chamber offers four drop-in committees which include:

• Government Affairs and Economic Development Committee
• Community Action Committee
• Sustainability Committee
• Education and Workforce Development Committee

By Mike Rosenow, Arlington Chamber of Commerce

There are many perks to being a member of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce. ​One benefit to membership in the Arlington Chamber is the ability to rent our Boardroom or Small Conference Room free of charge. This opportunity is perfect for the entrepreneur that may not have a meeting space, a nonprofit organization that wants to have a Board of Directors meeting, a potential client meeting where you may not want to meet at a public location, or to have a central meeting location in Arlington.

Conveniently located blocks away from the Court House Metro stop, the Chamber’s meeting spaces offer spacious and private amenities to conduct your meeting. The Small Conference Room has room for up to eight people and is great for a one-on-one meeting or a smaller team meeting. The Boardroom can hold up to 20 people and has a television that can hook up to a laptop for presentations and a coffee machine. This is a great option for lunch and learn presentations, larger Board meetings, or any type of meeting with a larger audience.

Both rooms are available to members on a first come first serve basis, and available during normal business hours, Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The rooms can be reserved as long as the Chamber does not have a previously scheduled meeting reserved.

Booking Details

• Booking covers only the requested room and not general office space
• Use is limited to once per month.
• 4-hour limit per booking (includes set-up and clean-up time).
• With the exception of accessing water, use of the kitchenette is limited to staff.
  
  

Click here to view the full list of our conference room booking guidelines.  Booking can be done through Elizabeth Addington, the Chamber’s Operations Manager. She can be reached at chamber@arlingtonchamber.org or (703) 525-2400. ​

By Maxime Mullier, Intern, Arlington Chamber of Commerce ​
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As a rising senior in college, I realized a stage in my life was ending. For the first time, I had to make important choices that would impact the beginning of my adult life. Researching and looking for internships was easy, but after being denied by several organizations, it began to take a toll on me. One of my friends recommended I look into the Arlington Chamber of Commerce. What attracted me to the Chamber is how they contribute to Arlington’s growth by supporting and providing resources to businesses in order to prosper. Organizing networking and community events creates a space for cooperation between businesses. It grants them opportunities to hear the voice of their biggest supporters, the Arlington community. I am a senior at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. The college I attend partners with the Lutheran College Washington Semester to bring political science students to the Arlington-Washington D.C. area. The program aims for students to gain experience in their field and expose them to the culture of these cities. 

The idea of working in an office with other people who are and look professional made me nervous. However, once I met the staff members of the Chamber, I knew I was in good hands. Coming from Europe, I was used to a more hierarchical system in a business setting. It surprised me when speaking to my supervisor and the President of the Chamber it was appropriate for me to address them by their first name. Aside from culture shock, thanks to the staff, I felt integrated and part of the team. The skills and experience I acquired during my time at the Chamber will be something I will never take for granted. During my time at the Chamber, Operations Manager, Elizabeth Addington was my supervisor and taught me about the operations part of an organization. I was assigned several tasks across my internship by several staff members, including updating and managing a +750 member list, assisting in organizing networking events, and attending some of those events.
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I will use what I learned at the Chamber when applying for job offers. After graduating in the spring of 2023, I plan to attend graduate school in the Washington, D.C. area to pursue a Master of Arts in European Studies. With this post-secondary education, I want to work for an organization in the government affairs department. I would like to thank the Arlington Chamber of Commerce team for allowing me to work and learn over the course of this semester.

By Jeff Hormann, Business Development Manager, Invario Network Engineers
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If you look around your office, how many devices do you see? Now, how many of those are old computers that you have replaced but still have sitting around taking up valuable space? You probably already know that you can’t just take this stuff and toss it in the trash can. So, what do you do with that unused equipment? 

What to Do With Old Computers 
​Here are three things you can do with your outdated electronic devices: 
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1. Donate  
If you have devices in good working order, they might be useful to a local school or other charity. For example, Virginia non-profit Computer CORE has an annual goal of 500 laptop donations. These devices support the organization’s mission “to prepare underserved adults in Virginia to realize career aspirations with foundational digital and professional skills.” 

2. Trade-In.  
Some sellers offer credit toward a new device in exchange for trading in your old one. The dollar amount varies based on the age and condition of the device. In my experience, it is likely to be less than $100. However, you can easily check your trade-in value online at retailers like Dell, Amazon, Apple, or Best Buy. Many of these stores also offer free recycling services. 
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3. Recycle.  
Recycling offers a way to recapture and reuse many of the materials that go into making computers and other electronics. In Arlington County, you can schedule online for electronic recycling pickup.  

To celebrate America Recycles Day on November 15, Invario is hosting a computer recycling open house at our office in Falls Church, VA. Come by between 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. to drop off your old computers, laptops, monitors, or cell phones. For more information, click here.

Before You Dispose of Your Old Computer  
The most important thing to remember when disposing of old computers is to make sure all of your data is securely removed from the old equipment. Failure to do so opens you up to security risks. Criminals may be able to access your information left on the device and use it to hack into your systems or steal your identity.  

• Back up the data, you want to keep. Your old equipment probably has data on it that you want to keep. You can either transfer data to your new device, move it to the cloud, or simply archive it to a storage device. 

• Remove all of your information. Most reputable donation, trade-in, or recycling programs are good stewards and will make sure your personal data is removed from the device once it is in their possession.  However, I think you can never be too secure. After your files are backed up, I recommend deleting them from the device you plan to dispose of. Also, unlink and uninstall programs. This will remove your login information and also prevent the program from linking to a cloud backup and unintentionally restoring all the data you just deleted.  

• Factory Reset the device to its original state. 

 
The Risks of Disposing of Old Computers Incorrectly 
Old computer equipment contains toxins like mercury and lead that require special consideration. While Virginia does not currently have a landfill or disposal ban on electronic devices, the District of Columbia and 19 other states do. This means that, in certain places, your company risks being subjected to fines for improper disposal of computer equipment. There are also regulatory considerations related to the cyber security concerns I mentioned above.  
 
In 2019 global electronic waste generation reached a record high of 53.6 million record tons. That number has only continued to grow along with business and consumer demand for more new devices. Knowing how to dispose of old computers properly is something every business needs to know how to do.  

By John Musso, Government Affairs Manager, Arlington Chamber of Commerce

Hello, fellow Arlingtonians!

I am John Musso, the new Government Affairs Manager at the Chamber. I’m more than happy to be in a role where I can support the Arlington community.

I graduated from George Washington University in 2019 with a degree in political science and public policy. Previously, I spent three years as a Local Government Associate for Stateside Associates in Rosslyn. I’m originally a native of New Jersey, but I’ve called Arlington “home” for the last three years. I’ve always had an interest in local politics and enacting change at the municipal level. I’m excited to join the Chamber in a position that fits my interests and focuses so well.

​As Government Affairs Manager, I serve as the point person for all our members on policy-related issues. I draft all of the Chamber’s public policy positions, working with our advocacy leadership and ultimately the Chamber Board for position approval. I also am excited to serve as the Chamber’s representative at events such as County Board sessions and meetings with elected officials. There’s no such thing as a boring day at the Chamber, making it an engaging place to work!
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Outside of work, you can find me watching Premier League soccer and Formula One at Crystal City Sports Pub, on a run along the Custis Trail, or out with friends exploring all the culinary options Arlington has to offer. I look forward to meeting and serving all of you!

By Holly Harper, Principal,  Blue Bike Communications

Are you overwhelmed and stressed at work? Turns out 30% of ALL workers are. Wherever you are in an organization, you're probably seeing some stress, exhaustion, burnout, and maybe even resignations. 

What’s worse: 56% of employees believe their bosses don't even care about how they are faring under the strain of a post-Covid workplace. Meanwhile 90% of bosses believe their employees are happy with leadership’s engagement on well-being and work-life balance. 

Disconnected Leadership Means Ripple Effects Across Organizations
Knowledge workers today won't tolerate jobs that make them unhappy, stressed, burned out, and undervalued. So if nearly 60% of your employees think you don’t care about them, it’s a problem.

Executives say they "plan" to address employee wellness, they “want” a collaborative office culture, and they "care" about their employees. Yet, employees are reporting that their companies are taking little or no action.
What’s causing this inertia?

• ​20% of C-suite leaders are overwhelmed and don’t know where to start...(Counter: successful businesses understand to bring in help, so this doesn’t hold up.)
• 18% don’t feel qualified to take ownership of these areas...(They're EXECUTIVES. They are qualified and have a responsibility.)
• 17% don’t have enough funding (but 83% do, so...)
• 16% don't have support from other executives (if those "other" executives don't want to support well-being, why are they on the team?)
  
  

Pause “Training Programs” - Choose the Right Sort of Help
Employees, especially mid-level managers, are tired of “training” programs that provide a nice metric for the annual report but no meaningful change.
 
Consider your annual dollar-investment in DEI training as an example. According to Harvard Business Review in 2019, “evidence has shown that diversity training can backfire, eliciting defensiveness from the very people who might benefit most. And even when the training is beneficial, the effects may not last after the program ends.”

Add in the disconnect effects of virtual work, and companies are making expensive investments in “training” that has potentially toxic results.
 
The Solution: Realign the Company with its Values
If your company’s core values include encouraging and supporting a happy, healthy, enthusiastic work culture, you need a values-alignment exercise.

“If there’s a fire you’re trying to douse, you can’t put it out from inside the house.” -Lin Manuel-Miranda

Hiring an organizational behavior consultant to conduct a values-alignment assessment of your workplace culture is critical, especially before any major initiatives or changes take place. Values-alignment is the most effective way to prepare employees and leaders for change. By asking hard questions of everyone, the mission, vision, and values of the company move from an abstract to a real decision-making and accountability framework.
 
Asking leaders and managers to consider: What do you really want for your employees? For yourself? When you launched this company or took the helm, what were your goals? Who in the company are leaders of a firm culture you want to strengthen? Are there policies and systems that could help guide behavior?
 
By inviting a consultant to assess the culture of your organization, a new set of eyes can identify and address previously-unexplored awkward or uncomfortable topics. A fresh voice can ask these questions, including how many employees think your sexual harassment training is a colossal waste of time? Or why some people are adamantly opposed to returning to in-person work?
 
There’s no one-size-fits all solution to strengthening an organization’s workforce, no one way to start the journey back your own principles, but it’s time to try. By bringing in a skilled navigator to advise, executives can come to understand the varying needs of their workforce they may have previously overlooked.
 
Aligning a company's brand and values with actionable human-centric structure is the path forward in business. Get on this bus or continue to, literally, suffer.

​By Kyle Black and Clara Falkenheim, Interns, Arlington Chamber of Commerce
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​Throughout the month of July, the Chamber hosted two high school students from the PRIME internship program with Arlington Public Schools. Kyle Black joined us as our membership intern and Clara Falkenheim was our operations intern. Both students are rising seniors and placed as interns with the Chamber based on their fields of interest. Continue reading to learn more about these wonderful students!

​Before starting my four weeks as an intern at the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, I knew very little about what a Chamber of Commerce does and how it serves to benefit its surrounding business community. Little did I know that my internship would be one of the most valuable experiences of my life, and that I would learn everything from the ins and outs of the Arlington economy, the ways in which an office works, and more.
 
My name is Kyle Black and I am a rising senior at H-B Woodlawn Secondary Program. I was introduced to the Chamber through PRIME, a summer internship program in Arlington that matches rising juniors and seniors with internships corresponding to their interests. Being interested in social entrepreneurship and business, I was eager to get started with the Chamber, but I had no idea how much I was going to learn.
 
While my tasks during my internship experience always varied, I was consistently applied to do work and research surrounding businesses in Arlington. With the direction of my mentor Mike Rosenow, I helped the membership department in many ways, including updating Chamber databases, conducting research on prospective members, and even attending in-person events. All of this experience opened my eyes to the Arlington economy and taught me the many ways that businesses, from large corporations like Amazon to small local restaurants, can work. Additionally, my experience with Chamber sponsored events allowed me to realize the power of connection and how valuable it is in the world of business.
 
Overall, I am very thankful for my experience at the Chamber and the many amazing people that made it possible. I plan on furthering my interests in social entrepreneurship and economics in college, and although I have not decided on an exact career path, I would love to pursue a career where my impact on the world is just as profound as that of the Chamber. 

​My name is Clara Falkenheim and I am currently a rising senior at Yorktown High School. I received the opportunity to intern with the Chamber’s Operations Department through Arlington Public School’s PRIME program, which pairs students with internships of their career interest. I was excited because working with the Chamber would place me in close proximity to Arlington’s business environment and give me experience in an office environment.

Throughout my time at the Chamber, I discovered more about how the businesses which I have been surrounded by my whole life are involved in the community. I also learned more about how the Chamber is such an integral part of Arlington’s economy, as a key resource to all members. 

I have had a variety of responsibilities, such as helping to manage the Chamber database, organizing the office space, sorting through financial records, sending and assembling mail outs, and more. I attended staff meetings and had the opportunity to attend the monthly Chamber Breakfast Connection. This event allowed me the opportunity to meet the faces of some of Arlington’s businesses and practice my networking skills. The Chamber has such a collaborative and friendly work environment that has helped me thrive in adjusting to the 9 to 5, business casual, professional, lifestyle. This opportunity has allowed me to gain confidence in such an environment, which no doubt will benefit me in my next job interview and in my future career. 
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After graduating from Yorktown, I hope to study mathematics and either finance or economics in college, and to afterwards continue on with a career in those areas. I am certain that my experiences at the Chamber will continue to help me as I pursue these goals. 

By Brian Wendroff, CPA, Managing Partner, Wendroff & Associates, CPA
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​Whether you’re considering entrepreneurship, you’re running a start-up, or you have an established business, there are always improvements that can be made to how you manage your finances. 

For example, a well-organized budgeting and forecasting process ensures you’re aware of and adhering to the reality of your business' cash flow while thoughtfully planning for the future. 

Here are seven helpful tips for improving your business budgeting and forecasting process:

​1. Treat the process as a critical business function - just like any major business task, there’s a cost that comes with not taking enough action. Budgeting and forecasting lay the foundation for your organization’s fiscal health. As you would with other major business projects, it’s important to involve department leaders and/or managers in the process as they likely have invaluable insight on metrics and trends in the marketplace. Sharing information between teams and among business leaders can help establish more accurate budgets and forecasts.    

2. Start with clean data - a forecast is a financial model that executes predictive budgeting given inputs from a budget. If the inputs are bad or incomplete, the forecast is bad. We advise starting your budgeting and forecasting after a timeframe that has been well reconciled. Creating a budget with outstanding P&L items or inaccurate payables/receivables can misinform your future projections charting a course for disaster.

3. Leverage historical data - evaluating your past performance will help you set realistic growth projections in your business and forecasting process. While the past doesn’t automatically dictate the future, it can be a strong predictor of what to expect. It can also help you more clearly see trends and dips in your standard business cycle. 

4. Create a “working budget” - consider your budget an active, ongoing process rather than a static “set in stone” document. Being flexible and continually reviewing your budget/making adjustments will help you see your business more strategically, mitigate risk, and capitalize on opportunities. Your budget should be updated as frequently as necessary to account for economic shifts, organizational changes, market trends and other outside variables. Similarly with your forecast, it’s important to measure your actuals against your forecasts monthly to improve your budgeting and forecasting skills.

​5. Make cash flow a top priority - the first, and most important, thing a business owner needs to know is whether his/her organization is generating positive cash flow. If your forecast shows that your organization is not generating cash to sustain the business in the short- or long-term, it's time to address your expenses, working capital, or capital expenditure budgets.

​6. Look into the future - unpredictable situations can interrupt the regular business cycle (see our last point about being flexible with the process). In a volatile economy like the one we’re experiencing now as the result of COVID-19, changes in resource levels, access to supplies, and market fluctuations are certain to happen. A future-thinking budget and forecast takes into account performance under “what-if” scenarios. Balancing your business’ historical data with potential positive and negative shifts in the external market will help set more realistic metrics to prepare your business for the unknown.

7. Automate where possible - consider using Cloud-based accounting software, such as Quickbooks Online, that can integrate with other business applications rather than relying on basic spreadsheets to manage your organization's budgeting and forecasting. More sophisticated accounting tools can increase efficiency by generating automatic reports and producing preliminary forecasts that are more accurate. Investing in the right technology will give you access to more data and projection tools than standalone spreadsheets.

Using the two distinct processes of budgeting and forecasting together allows you to understand your current financial position, see how projections compare to reality, and more accurately map out a healthy financial future for your business.