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Financial Turbulence Rattles Sluggish Recovery, Prompting Revised Growth Forecasts

The national and international economic challenges have have cast a huge shadow over the commercial real estate recovery. The indicators have grown progressively weaker since late 2010 and, while last year they signaled improvement in employment, with the level of job growth expected, it no longer appears to be the case. Economists state that while the office market seems weaker in the near term, the warehouse market sees demand improving. The demand forecast in the retail market is notably weaker in the sluggish economy resulting. Overall, rents and values will not come close to recouping their losses by 2015.

Management & Technology

The huge number of advances every year makes it difficult for engineering and maintenance managers to maintain informed off all the latest building technology. Missing out on opportunities to decrease costs and improve tenant comfort and staff productivity. A recent article in Facilities.net offers a strategy for managers to stay current with all new technologies that impact their building. The technology strategy that can make the difference for managers is by selecting one new topic each month or two and researching it during that time. This strategy can help managers take full advantage of technology and the implement changes to improve their buildings.

Bed Bugs: The Issues, Challengers & Facts

Even in large commercial facilities, survey shows bed bug pandemic is growing. Offices, schools, hospitals, hotels and other large buildings are not immune to the bed bug problem. According to the 2011 Bugs Without Borders Survey conducted by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) and the University of Kentucky, bed bug infestations have increased and are now being found just about everywhere.

More specifically:

• College dorms (54%, up from 35% a year ago)
• Hotels/motels (80%, up from 67%)
• Nursing homes (46%, up from 25%)
• Office buildings (38%, up from 18%)
• Schools and day care centers (36%, up from 10%)
• Hospitals (31%, up from 12%)
• Movie theaters (17%, up from 5%)

Study: U.S. Employees are Willing to Take Pay Cut for Job Flexibility.

A survey conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of Mom Corps, was conducted among 1,071n working adults nationwide about their preferences around the workplace. The results show a significant preference for more control over work schedules not just tied to parents of Millennials.

Key findings include:

- 42% of working men are willing to give up some percentage of their salary for more flexibility at work

- 62% of working adults agree that flexibility is one of the most important factors they consider when looking for a new job.

- 79% of working mothers and 77% of working fathers agree they would stay with a company longer if it offered flexible work options.

  Read the full article at MarketWatch.com