SayYes to LivingFirst

The culture at Banner starts with transparency and open communication throughout the company. When I started here, it only took a few conversations to realize the leadership team’s open-door policy was a full-on invitation for ideas, suggestions, and questions from anyone and everyone in the organization. When we talk about the company’s vision for the future, we know what to expect because we have goals and hold one another accountable – in a good way.

We collaborate across departments to make sure every project gets the attention it needs. We celebrate the wins together and pick each other up when we miss the mark. The unique part is all of that happens so naturally here, like geese flying in a formation so the whole group can go further than they would alone. We set our own course, follow our proven processes, and take care of each other to support our staff and clients’ needs.

Our culture is more than how we operate: It’s who we are.

Shawna Witt Human Resources Manager Banner Associates Brookings S.D.

VP

At KLJ we take a people-centric approach to culture. When you focus on the individual employee and give them the opportunity, the support, and the tools to do their job, the culture takes care of itself.

We believe if you take care of your people, ask what they want and need, the sales and revenue will follow. We are also always looking for cultural additions, not just culture fits.

If you keep adding the same types of individuals to your organization, you lose opportunity for new ideas. We want to continue to move forward and grow and you need new ideas and mindsets to do that successfully.

Job Openings

Nationwide, the number of job openings decreased to 11.4 million on the last business day of April 2022. Hires and total separations were little changed at 6.6 million and 6 million, respectively. Within total separations, quits were little changed at 4.4 million, while layoffs and discharges edged down to 1.2 million, their lowest level since December 2000. On the last business day of April, the number of job openings decreased by 455,000. The largest decreases in job openings were in health care and social assistance (−266,000), retail trade (−162,000), and accommodation and food services (−113,000). The largest increases were in transportation, warehousing, and utilities (97,000); nondurable goods manufacturing (67,000); and durable goods manufacturing (53,000).

Fatal Work Injuries From Weather

In 2020, 55 fatal work injuries occurred where the primary or secondary source was weather and atmospheric conditions. This was a 29.5% decline from 2019 (78 deaths) and the lowest count since 2015 (52 deaths). Most of these deaths have weather and atmospheric conditions as the secondary source. Primary source refers to the object, substance, exposure, or bodily motion responsible for a death. The secondary source refers to the object, substance, or person (if any) that generated the primary source or contributed to the event.

Workplace deaths with weather and atmospheric conditions as the primary source of injury dropped 84.6% from 2019 (13 deaths) to 2020 (2 deaths). The 2020 count is the lowest over the 2011–20 period. The 2 deaths in 2020 were both due to lightning. Fatal injuries where weather and atmospheric conditions were the secondary source declined 18.5% from 2019 (65 deaths) to 2020 (53 deaths). This was the lowest yearly count since 2015 (46 deaths). In 2020, 41.5% (22 deaths) were from “Ice, sleet, or snow.” Another 35.8% (19 deaths) were from “High winds, gusts, and turbulence.”

Nonfarm Business Sector

Nonfarm business sector labor productivity decreased 7.3% in the first quarter of 2022, as output decreased 2.3% and hours worked increased 5.4%. This is the largest decline in quarterly productivity since the third quarter of 1947, when the measure decreased 11.7%. From the same quarter a year ago, nonfarm business sector labor productivity decreased 0.6%, reflecting a 4.2% increase in output that was outpaced by a 4.8% increase in hours worked. This is the largest four-quarter decline since the fourth quarter of 1993, when the measure also declined 0.6%. Unit labor costs in the nonfarm business sector increased 12.6% in the first quarter of 2022, reflecting a 4.4% increase in hourly compensation and a 7.3% decrease in productivity. Unit labor costs increased 8.2% over the last four quarters. This is the largest four-quarter increase in this measure since another 8.2% increase in the third quarter of 1982.

Producer Prices For Goods

The Producer Price Index for final demand increased 11% from April 2021 to April 2022. Producer prices for goods rose 16.3%, while prices for services rose 8.1%. Producer prices for foods rose 16.3% over the year ending April 2022, while prices for energy rose 40%. Prices for goods less foods and energy rose 10.1%. Producer prices for trade services rose 15.4% over the year ending April 2022, while prices for transportation and warehousing services rose 22.6%. Prices for services less trade, transportation, and warehousing rose 3.2%.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics