NEW YORK (Reuters) - With less than two months to go until the U.S. election, President Donald Trump is having trouble energizing his core supporters, especially white voters without college degrees who were key to his victory in 2016, a Reuters polling analysis shows.

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump holds a campaign rally in Londonderry, New Hampshire, U.S., August 28, 2020. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

The analysis, based on Reuters/Ipsos national opinion polling from May to August and 2016 exit poll data, found that Trump has lost support among non-college educated whites, who made up 44% of the U.S. electorate four years ago and heavily favored the Republican over Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Trump is still more popular with this group than Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, with 46% saying they would vote for Trump, compared with 34% who back Biden. But his 12-point advantage in August is down from a 21-point lead in May, and well below the 34-point advantage he had over Clinton. tmsnrt.rs/2ZajmYu

What is more worrisome for Trump, however, is that the constituencys commitment to voting has remained flat this year, while interest has risen among groups that lean toward Democrats: minorities, women, urban and suburban residents and people with below-average incomes.

The data suggests that this time, there will be greater pressure on the Republican Party - and not the Democratic Party - to boost voter turnout to win.

This is rare, and its an interesting indication of how energized or agitated the electorate is, said Donald Green, a political scientist at Columbia University. People who would ordinarily not make it past the likely voter screen are doing so because theyre so decisively hostile toward the president.

In the August poll, 69% of registered African-American voters and 61% of registered Hispanic voters said they were certain to cast their ballots in November, up 7 and 6 percentage points, respectively, from May. The number of committed voters rose by 5 points each among women, suburban and urban residents, and people who make less than $50,000 a year.

The number of certain voters has remained unchanged among non-college whites since May at 65%, and is down 2 points among rural Americans to 63%.

The number of registered Democrats who say they are certain to vote has increased by about 5 percentage points to 79% from May to August, while it has increased by 1 point among registered Republicans to 78%, the polling shows. That's a reversal from August 2016, when 69% of registered Democrats and 71% of registered Republicans said they were certain to vote. tmsnrt.rs/3jPvUfR

An Ipsos analysis of the data shows that Biden leads Trump by 10 percentage points in election scenarios that include only the most engaged, or likely, voters. Trump claws back most of Bidens advantage only in high-turnout scenarios.

The Republican Party has traditionally attracted the most politically active Americans, including majorities of older, white voters, religious conservatives and gun owners.

Republican candidates usually could expect to perform better in elections where the turnout was low.

To be sure, Trumps base is likely to get more fired up the closer it gets to Election Day. The August polling shows as many as 20% of white voters without college degrees remain undecided. In 2016, about one in every eight Trump voters said they made their choice in the last week of the campaign, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll at the time.

Despite the growth of minority populations, whites still dominate the U.S. electorate, accounting for nearly three-quarters of the voters in 2016, even though they make up only 60% of the overall population.

Their opinions are crucial for Trump, who during his presidency has focused on opposing immigration and expressed his sympathy for white racial grievances. Trump has criticized anti-racism protesters as thugs, and most recently defended a white gunman charged with killing two Black Lives Matter demonstrators in Wisconsin.

According to Reuters/Ipsos polling in August, 61% of non-college whites believe the country is headed in the wrong direction, and 53% think the same of the U.S. economy. More than 70% say they are concerned about the coronavirus pandemic, and only 48% approve of the way Trump has responded to the crisis.

Meanwhile, 48% of college-educated whites said they would support Biden and 40% said they would back Trump. This compares with exit polls in 2016 that showed Clinton had just a 2-point edge over Trump with the same group.

Trump campaign spokesman Hogan Gidley said its internal polling shows that the president is tied or ahead in all of the key battleground states.

Our data shows supporters are wildly enthusiastic and excited to cast their vote for the President, unlike the small minority of Democrats who actually like Joe Biden, Gidley said.

Polls by media and academic organizations currently show Biden ahead by at least a few points in most battleground states, including Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Florida and Arizona, however.

Trumps efforts to discourage voting by mail due to the coronavirus pandemic - saying without evidence that it will lead to widespread fraud - may backfire given that the data suggests a higher turnout would work in his favor.

Some people are going to be discouraged, some people are going to motivated to push back and vote, and some will be confused about what to do, said Myrna Perez, the director of the Voting Rights and Elections Program at the Brennan Center for Justice.

Reporting by Chris Kahn, Editing by Soyoung Kim and Sonya Hepinstall

Link:
Supporters who helped Trump win presidency lagging in motivation this year - Reuters

MASON Bennett has revealed his main motivation to get the most he can out of his career to make a future for his young daughter.

Bennett has moved from Derby to London, and will travel back regularly along with Scott Malone who is also from the Midlands to visit five-year-old Aaliyah and the rest of his family.

Despite being just 24, former England underage international Bennett spent thirteen seasons with the Rams and made his senior debut when he was just fifteen.

He spent time on loan at Chesterfield, Bradford City, Burton Albion and Notts County, but this is the first time he has moved permanently away from Derbyshire.

My family are all up north but I can keep in touch through Face Time, Bennett said. They understand, my daughter understands that this is what daddy has to do and Im trying to make a future for her, at the end of the day.

My daughter is so young and I thought, what am I going to do? It gives you that motivation to run harder, run faster, work harder. She knows whats happening. Now Im really happy to be down here.

I spoke to a lot of players at Derby, they couldnt believe how young I still was. I made my debut so young.

I spoke to people at Derby and my own personal team and we agreed that I needed to broaden my horizons and try a different challenge. This is a big challenge for me coming away from where Im used to, where Im comfortable close to home and friends and family.

Im just delighted to get on this journey and Im going to make the most of it.

[Alex Pearce] was on to me since the day I left, he actually wanted me here the first day of pre-season. Which I was trying to do but obviously these things take a while because its a permanent move.

I only had six days off in the summer. I went away with Connor [Mahoney] and Billy [Mitchell] and I was saying to them, Ill see you soon. It didnt happen as quickly but as I had said before my mindset was always here. I knew I couldnt go back to Derby with a negative attitude [for the start of pre-season], I had to be 100 per cent at it and put the work in. I knew I needed to hit the ground running when I got back here.

Im here to work and try to get the team into the play-offs and get us promoted. Thats my main priority down here.

We got so close last year and the group and staff realised that. Weve made some great additions already with Scotty [Malone] and Troy [Parrott] coming in, thats only going to boost us more.

You can see it already in training, even in my first day it was, wow, the lads have come on leaps and bounds. So Im going to have to up my game as well as everybody else.

Its going to be an exciting season, Im sure there will be ups and downs but its a great group and everyone sticks together. I think its going to be a good season for us.

Ive got to Wembley [with Derby] and I know what it takes. Its going to take everyone in the squad, not just the starting XI and all the subs. Its the young lads as well. Everyones got to be pushing every day and with the squad weve got we can definitely achieve something.

Fans are also set to be allowed back to The Den after October 1.

Bennett added: I loved playing at The Den last season, the few games when the fans were there, the atmosphere was electric. They really got behind us and also put the opposition team on edge. Ill be excited for them to come back in.

But weve got a few games at home before then so we need to be at it and create that atmosphere ourselves within the dressing room.

Image: Millwall FC

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Millwall's Mason Bennett reveals powerful motivation and what makes him work harder - News At Den

Excluding Friday nights game at Tampa, the Red Sox had 14 games left in this 2020 season, and its worth exploring the motivations behind recent performances by certain players.

Rafael Devers, Bobby Dalbec and Mike Kickham were the standouts on Thursday night at Tropicana Field. Devers and Dalbec both homered while Kickham enjoyed his best outing since July 2013.

The worst team in the American League East beat the best. Boston squeezed out a 4-3 victory, its fourth win in its last six games.

Devers is on a four-game hitting streak thanks to two singles and a two-run homer. Hes pounded out six extra-base hits in that span and has 16 in his last 26 games. Devers managed just six extra-base hits through his first 20 games of this lost season.

"Im just coming into work every single day like Im supposed to and just putting in the work and trying to get better and better," Devers said through translator Bryan Almonte. "Obviously during the beginning of the season things werent going my way, but now that they are Im starting to reap the benefits."

Devers turns 24 in October. Hes still a young player establishing himself as one of the top offensive third basemen in the game. The Red Sox arent going anywhere barring a seemingly impossible winning streak, but personal motivation stretches beyond the teams current track outside the playoffs.

"I would come here every day happy, but I would still be frustrated with the way things were going for me," Devers said. "I just understood that was part of the game and I continued to go after it and tried to just improve and tried to get better every day. Now Im hitting the ball better."

Dalbec drove a solo home run to right field leading off the top of the fifth inning, his fifth in as many games. He became the fifth player in Major League Baseball history to crack as many as six home runs through his first 10 career games. No other Red Sox rookie has gone deep in as many as four straight.

"Pretty cool seeing Bobby coming up his first year and doing this," Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke said. "Its pretty amazing, actually."

Dalbec struck out in his first at-bat against Josh Fleming and eventually took a hat trick on the night. His final line is likely something well see often over the course of his career. But fanning is nothing new to Dalbec, and putting those at-bats behind him is something hes been forced to practice at every level dating to his college career at Arizona.

"I guess the thing I like is after he strikes out hes not down," Roenicke said. "Theres still a lot of fight in him. When you strike out, its easy to get down and get upset about it, and then you dont bounce back and have that same fight in you."

Kickham is a 31-year-old who made just 18 appearances in the minor leagues in 2015 and 2016. He rattled around independent leagues at times awaiting his next chance. The left-hander was stuck on the 14 appearances he made with the Giants for six years before being recalled by Boston on Aug. 31.

"Getting back into pro ball and getting back to the big leagues, that was something I was able to accomplish this year," Kickham said. "Thats very important to me.

"Now the next goal is to stick at this level and have success. Now thats my focus. A strong finish to this month and Ill set myself up good going into next year."

Kickhams eight strikeouts in four innings against the Rays bettered the six he posted in a July 2013 outing with San Francisco. Tampa Bay hitters went down 17 times in all against five Red Sox pitchers. Kickham picked his way through the lineup while throwing just eight four-seam fastballs and a lone sinker among his 65 pitches.

"Ive added the cutter," Kickham said. "Thats something I didnt have early in my career. Its something Ive developed when I found myself in indy ball and just kind of honed that on the journey all the way back into affiliated. Thats kind of my foundation."

Devers, Dalbec and Kickham would seem to have little in common at first glance. Theyre different ages and at different stages in their professional careers. But they all have something to prove in their own way, and that helped lift Boston to victory on Thursday.

bkoch@providencejournal.com

On Twitter: @BillKoch25

Read more here:
REASONS TO WIN: Personal motivations drove Red Sox to Thursdays victory - The Providence Journal

Now that the kids are back in school, whether in person or remote, you might be looking for some motivation to get back on track after a carefree summer filled with indulgences when it comes to food choices and physical activity with less structure.

However, you might be feeling a bit stuck after a spring of quarantine already had you deviating from regular workouts and reaching for food choices that werent ideal due to pandemic-related stress.

Robert Matthews, executive director and owner of Pottstown Athletic Club, has some words of motivation for you.

Self-care is critical, he said. Our whole role is to try to get the family in shape and into fitness.

The facility offers everything from adult karate and Dragon Warriors to weight lifting and CrossFit.

We are just starting boxing later in the fall and we are starting to get members to train now to get ready for it, he said.

Matthews invites adults to come in for a free week to try out the club. For those of you who might find themselves tied down during the day with kids at home due to remote learning, you can take advantage of workouts after school hours.

We have 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. classes and weekend classes, he said.

If you need to have the kids in tow, Matthews encourages bringing them as long as you can manage them in class. If they are 8 years of age or older, they are welcome to join you in your workouts. That way you can have your children be a part of your new commitment to fitness.

If the parent is coming into training class, our rates for family are $100 a month and I dont care how many family members you have, he said. We try to encourage kids to get on the floor with their parents.

At a non-profit fitness center, Pottstown Athletic Club offers reduced rates and a free week to try out the club.

We can offer rates cheaper because we get donations from large health organizations, Matthews said.

When it comes to determining what it is you wish to pursue once on the fitness floor, if you are looking for results, Matthews said CrossFit stands out among its variety of fitness offerings.

I have been doing this for 30 years and there is nothing like CrossFit, he said.

At Pottstown Fitness Club, you dont have to be intimidated if youre new to it. Each person moves at their own pace and according to their own ability.

Our primary goal is safety first, Matthews said. Once you are able to move safely and consistently, then we can dial in the intensity.

The club offers free workouts open to the community seven times a year. They offer a great way for about 75 to 100 people to come together and get access to the club so they can learn what they are all about while paying tribute to a good cause.

We just had one on Labor Day, Matthews said. The next one is on Thanksgiving. They come in and do a 20-minute workout and then are on their way we make them earn that turkey.

More:
Family fitness: Motivation to get moving this fall - The Mercury

The Red Sox have 15 games left in this 2020 season, and its worth exploring the motivations behind recent performances by certain players.

Rafael Devers, Bobby Dalbec and Mike Kickham were the standouts Thursday night at Tropicana Field. Devers and Dalbec both homered while Kickham enjoyed his best outing since July 2013.

The worst team in the American League East beat the best. Boston squeezed out a 4-3 victory, its fourth win in its last six games.

Devers is on a four-game hitting streak thanks to two singles and a two-run homer. Hes pounded out six extra-base hits in that span and has 16 in his last 26 games. Devers managed just six extra-base hits through his first 20 games of this lost season.

"Im just coming into work every single day like Im supposed to and just putting in the work and trying to get better and better," Devers said through translator Bryan Almonte. "Obviously during the beginning of the season things werent going my way, but now that they are Im starting to reap the benefits."

Devers turns 24 in October. Hes still a young player establishing himself as one of the top offensive third basemen in the game. The Red Sox arent going anywhere barring a seemingly impossible winning streak, but personal motivation stretches beyond the teams current track outside the playoffs.

"I would come here every day happy, but I would still be frustrated with the way things were going for me," Devers said. "I just understood that was part of the game and I continued to go after it and tried to just improve and tried to get better every day. Now Im hitting the ball better."

Dalbec drove a solo home run to right field leading off the top of the fifth inning, his fifth in as many games. He became the fifth player in Major League Baseball history to crack as many as six home runs through his first 10 career games. No other Red Sox rookie has gone deep in as many as four straight.

"Pretty cool seeing Bobby coming up his first year and doing this," Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke said. "Its pretty amazing, actually."

Dalbec struck out in his first at-bat against Josh Fleming and eventually took a hat trick on the night. His final line is likely something well see often over the course of his career. But fanning is nothing new to Dalbec, and putting those at-bats behind him is something hes been forced to practice at every level dating to his college career at Arizona.

"I guess the thing I like is after he strikes out hes not down," Roenicke said. "Theres still a lot of fight in him. When you strike out its easy to get down and get upset about it, and then you dont bounce back and have that same fight in you."

Kickham is a 31-year-old who made just 18 appearances in the minor leagues in 2015 and 2016. He rattled around independent leagues at times awaiting his next chance. The left-hander was stuck on the 14 appearances he made with the Giants for six years before being recalled by Boston on Aug. 31.

"Getting back into pro ball and getting back to the big leagues, that was something I was able to accomplish this year," Kickham said. "Thats very important to me.

"Now the next goal is to stick at this level and have success. Now thats my focus. A strong finish to this month and Ill set myself up good going into next year."

Kickhams eight strikeouts in four innings against the Rays bettered the six he posted in a July 2013 outing with San Francisco. Tampa Bay hitters went down 17 times in all against five different Red Sox pitchers. Kickham picked his way through the lineup while throwing just eight four-seam fastballs and a lone sinker among his 65 pitches.

"Ive added the cutter," Kickham said. "Thats something I didnt have early in my career. Its something Ive developed when I found myself in indy ball and just kind of honed that on the journey all the way back into affiliated. Thats kind of my foundation."

Devers, Dalbec and Kickham would seem to have little in common at first glance. Theyre different ages and at different stages in their professional careers. But they all have something to prove in their own way, and that helped lift Boston to victory on Thursday.

bkoch@providencejournal.com

(401) 277-7054

On Twitter: @BillKoch25

Read more from the original source:
Personal motivations drove Red Sox to Thursday victory - The Providence Journal

Mark Kirby, President and Chair of the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (CHFCA) once again welcomed f-cell+HFC attendees as they prepared for a second day of thought-provoking presentations.

Hello again and welcome to f-cell+HFC 2020, he said. Kirby took the opportunity as Chair of the session to discuss the CHFCA, highlighting how the association supports it members, and drives deployment of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.

Next to take to the stage was Minister Bruce Ralston, British Columbias Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. During his address to the event, Ralston spoke about hydrogens potential in British Columbia, explaining how the fuel can cut greenhouse gas emissions and help economic recovery in a post-pandemic world.

We are now in a great position to make hydrogen an important part of our clean energy future. The fact is, hydrogen is a vertical energy source that will play a huge role in reducing greenhouse gases across the BC economy, to meet our clean BC objective, he said.

Hydrogen is both safe and clean when produced either from hydroelectricity or natural gas with carbon capture, and we will support only low carbon hydrogen pathways. By 2050, hydrogen alone has the potential to reduce emissions by 15.6-megatonnes or 31% of BCs greenhouse gas reduction goals.

The pandemic could be a great opportunity for us to turn the economic challenges imposed by covid-19 into an opportunity of resilience and long-term energy sustainability from British Columbians.

We now host the largest cluster of hydrogen and fuel cell companies in Canada. British Columbia is considered to be a world leader in the commercialisation of this technology, exporting clean solutions for decarbonisation to Asia, Europe and to the US.

Today, the motivation for hydrogen is driven by the need for emissions reductions across our energy systems.

Concluding his presentation, Ralston said, Hydrogen is the only practical solution for addressing the hard to decarbonise fossil fuel end users like heavy duty transportation and industrial heat. Government support for hydrogen needs to be clear, start early and include infrastructure investment, which is what we are doing.

A huge market opportunity

Andy Marsh was the next speaker on the virtual stage. Having joined Plug Power twelve years ago, Marsh holds a great knowledge of the hydrogen and fuel cell sector and has helped to grow the Nasdaq listed company, which now stands as the largest manufacturer of MEAs in North America.

I think we are all finding the hydrogen economy very exciting at this time. McKinsey is forecasting that the hydrogen market could be a $2.5 trillion-dollar opportunity by 2050, he told attendees, emphasising the great potential for hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.

When you take a look at governments and policies that countries are focusing on and developing to reach the climate goals, there are certain applications where the only solution is hydrogen and fuel cells.

Theres a multitude of applications where fuel cells and hydrogen are so important, and that is why we are seeing all of the ongoing work happening around the world. Hydrogen is becoming mainstream.

Marsh then went on to talk about some of the moves that companies are making to shift towards a renewable energy future. BP, Shell, Nikola, Air Liquide, NextEra and Bloom Energy were just a few which he discussed, highlighting the hydrogen efforts that the companies are now pursuing.

An overview of Plug Powers operations which are helping to company to grow and drive down costs of fuel cell products were also discussed. Today we have over 35,000 fuel cells operating in the field. Many of those operating 24 hours a day in varying temperatures. On top of that, we are operating some of the most difficult and challenging operations in the world.

It is a big market opportunity for all of the companies in the states, and to the critics wondering if the hydrogen market it real, you just need to look at all the investments and the projects happening around the world.

Scaling up

Dr. Sunita Satyapal, Director for the US Department of Energys Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office followed Marsh, providing a deep insight into the US hydrogen and fuel cell market growth and how the country is moving away from fossil fuels.

Today, we [the US] produces 10 million metric tonnes of hydrogen annually in the US, the worlds largest hydrogen storage cavern, more than 1,600 miles of hydrogen pipeline and a growing network of refuelling stations, she told attendees.

During her time on the virtual stage, Dr. Satyapal discussed some of the exciting projects and programmes that the Department of Energy is working on to push forward the hydrogen and fuel cell market, telling attendees how such technologies can transform different markets.

Concluding her presentation, Dr. Satyapal then went on to discuss just how important collaboration is. Its really about all the people, and if we are going to get this happen, we really need all of the players in the industry, the government and the investors on board.

Decarbonising maritime

Trong Stromgren, from Ocean Hyway Cluster in Norway rounded up the first session on the main stage and share insights on the Norwegian maritime hydrogen development. He informed attendees about some of the hydrogen ferry models that are set to be operational in Norway.

As well as discussing hydrogen-powered vessels, Stromgren also spent some time discussing hydrogen opportunities in offshore wind and ports in and around Norway. He also told attendees about the upcoming maritime hydrogen energy conference in Norway.

Continued here:
f-cell+HFC: The motivation for hydrogen is high - H2 View

It's a sunny weekend morning and if every ounce of yourself wants nothing but to stay tucked in bed and not move an inch, look no further than Karisma Kapoor. Serving as fitness motivation to get you out of bed and kick start the day on an energetic note, the Bollywood actress posted a picture on Instagram looking fresh faced with a black snapback cap, a sports bra and fluorescent tank top thrown over. And if her svelte physique wasn't the kind of motivation you were looking for, maybe her fitness fashion choices will be.

#getfit

A post shared by KK (@therealkarismakapoor) on Sep 11, 2020 at 3:50am PDT

Opt for neon tones like Karisma the next time you exercise.

Throughout the months spent quarantining at home, Karisma has been working on her fitness (we've been witness!) and has been setting workout wear goals while she has been at it. Striking a pose in her balcony, she wore a captioned muscle tee with tights and a matching pair of black sneakers.

(Also Read:Karisma Kapoor Cannot Get Enough Of Coloured Eyeliner And We Can See Why)

When she wore a black sleeveless top and a cap to match, her bright blue pair of shorts added a fun pop of colour. Take her tip to add a colour pop to your outfit even when sweating it out.

Another time she sported the tried-and-tested formula was when wore an orange and pink top with a pair of black shorts. We didn't miss the colourful strap of her watch as well.

And how does she take on chilly evenings in the city? With a vibrant pink sweatshirt of course. We could see ourselves adding it to our weekend workouts.

(Also Read:Karisma Kapoor Loves Simple Things Like Wearing Jeans. We Do Too!)

Disclaimer: The Swirlster Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Swirlster has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

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Karisma Kapoor Is Our Weekend Motivation To Get Up And Get Fit - NDTV

The coronavirus pandemic has reached all corners of the planet and changed our lives in one way or another. It has forced the world to slow down in a lot of aspects, the most important one being the economy and everything that surrounds it.

We live in a highly competitive world, in which, for years, salaries, healthcare benefits and holiday time have been the deal breaker when choosing one position or the other. With a generational change and startups coming to life, this is slowly shifting. Nowadays, nearly half of the working population is composed of millennials, who are known to value work-life balance, flexibility and experiences. Not only are they pickier about who they work for, but they also take a deeper look into the values and culture of the company.

This year and the upcoming ones will be tough for a lot of businesses around the globe. Most have been, and will require to, cut down as many costs as possible, one of them being freezing salaries. Communicating this to a team might not be the easiest task for a manager, but before doing so it might be good to get the leadership team together and work on some non-monetary motivations for the employees that revolve around building up a stronger company culture, rewarding employees for their outstanding work and giving them a better work-life balance.

Below we highlight 5 great ways to motivate your startup employees beyond their salaries.

1. Recognise a job well done

Recognising someones work shouldnt have to be pointed out, but sometimes words like well done and thank you are left unsaid without even realising it. These two phrases can go a long way and boost the confidence and overall self-esteem of a person. Recognition creates an emotional connection between the team member, the manager and team that keeps people engaged, connected and motivated.

Heads-up though: Make sure to divide the congratulations and give them on special occasions. Sometimes, congratulating someone in particular too much or for little day-to-day things can divide a team and create an unmotivated environment towards other team members.

2. Flexibility

Work from home and remotely has become the new normal in just a few months. We have learnt that we do not really need to be at the office everyday and that 9 to 5 is slowly vanishing to let work-life balance become a core value to employees.

Flexibility translates into understanding that employees have other lives outside of work and helping them to accommodate their work around this as much as possible. This goes further than the three paid weeks-off and some work-from-home days. In fact, many companies are adapting some aspects indefinitely, like remote work opportunities, flex-time and allowing pets, and sometimes even kids, at work. Giving employees the tranquility of knowing that they can accommodate their work to their life is beneficial for them, their engagement and overall performance. Theres no price on time.

3. Office perks

There are many ways this one can go. The office and its design can be seen as a perk, but most importantly, it can be the key factor to creating a strong company culture and enhance the importance of teamwork. This is all possible when the space is well thought out to create bridges between teams and give them the opportunity to work together more often.

Other small details like a coffee machine or a basket of fresh fruit is also highly welcomed by employees, as it shows appreciation and encourages a healthy environment. If you want to go the extra mile, some companies also host monthly breakfasts with special goodies that make people head into the office 30 minutes earlier. If you see that your employees are more into after-work activities, hosting a monthly free drinks afternoon in a nearby bar is another good option.

5. Create a good environment

We spend most of our day at the office, therefore its important to make sure that employees have the greatest experience while working and feel part of something bigger than just positive results at the end of the day. Communication is one of the most important steps towards creating a hard working and well-functioning team. Giving employees the opportunity to speak up, share and put their ideas into action are some actions that are greatly appreciated and help to boost their confidence and feel appreciated in the company.

Having a good company environment motivates employees to go into work every morning and impacts positively on their performance. Going to work knowing that your voice is heard and that you have a team to lean on are two of the best feelings in the world.

Making sure that your companys values and culture are at the centre of the organization and everything you do. This builds trust, motivates the employees to support these values and live by them, as well as becoming a brand ambassador of the company.

5. Offer experiences

To close down the list were pointing out something that we think is going to take off in the current economic situation. With events and team building activities being complicated at the moment, its time to find other ways to reward and engage employees.

In the beginning of the year most employees were forced to shift to work from home and remote without any previous notice. This change might have affected their performance due to the newness of the situation, but also because of the lack of office supplies and a workspace at home. Offer the opportunity to financially help your employees have what they need to do their work. If they have a second screen at the office, make it possible for it to be delivered at their home as well as other day-to-day things they might need to be able to work.

Granting experiences to your employees can come in many shapes and forms, depending on the person, the company and the financial capabilities. Some companies host workshops, webinars and language lessons in-house, while others prefer to have team building activities. There is no right or wrong in this case, it comes down to knowing what your team would appreciate more.

Conclusion

The current situation is tough and complicated in many ways, but its in times like these that we get the creative juices flowing and find ways to make it work with less. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in what we can and want to do that we dont give attention to the economic impact that it can have.

Yes, salary is important but its even more important to wake up every day and be excited to go to work, see your colleagues and find ways to make someone elses life a little better with your product or service. For this reason, we stand by the fact that building up a company culture that is based on cooperation, communication, employee recognition and a good work-life balance is the right way to go in the world we live in.

Read more here:
5 great ways to motivate your employees beyond their salary - EU-Startups

KYLE Hayes has already captained Limerick at minor and U21 level and on Sunday captains his club Kildimo-Pallaskenry into the Lyons of Limerick Premier IHC final.

The men in blue and white return to the final which they lost to Blackrock after a replay 12-months ago.

Not yet 22 years old, Hayes has already won Munster and All-Ireland U21 and senior tiles with Limerick as well as a National League medal.

On Sunday, at club level, he seeks another adult championship title - to add to the 2017 IHC final win over Glenroe.

"Obviously it was different this year when the format had to be split up into two groups of four. We said that it might suit us as long as as we built momentum and kept it going for the group games," he explained of the Covid-19 restricted championship.

On Sunday the prize for Kildimo-Pallaskenry and Mungret is promotion up senior.

"The goal was to get back into the final and thankfully we have got there," said Hayes, who scored 1-5 in the semi final win over Bruff.

After final defeat last year and then losing to final opponents Mungret earlier in the championship, motivation won't be short for Kildimo-Pallaskenry.

"I don't think you need much motivation and it doesn't matter who you are playing when it's a county final to try and get up senior," said Hayes.

"We didn't mind who we are playing once we are here in the final again - a county final is all the motivation that you need," he stressed.

Sundays' finalists are no strangers.

"They are only over the road and we have played the last few years - we know eachother pretty well which might make it a bit more interesting!"

Kildimo-Pallaskenry beat Bruff in last Saturday's semi final - Hayes' side were 1-6 to 0-1 clear after 15-minutes in that semi final.

"A quick start always helps in any match you play and it obviously helped today and especially when we were with the wind as well. They were against the wind with their own puckouts and we targeted that and once you get on top with the puckouts it's easy to build from there," he recalled.

The 2018 All-Ireland SHC final Man of the Match had a heavily bandaged hamstring in that semi final.

"We will recover and be 100% - we will train during the week and look forward to it," said Hayes of the first Limerick club hurling championship final of 2020.

Read more:
'A county final is all the motivation that you need' - Kyle Hayes ahead Limerick PIHC final - Limerick Leader

SAN ANTONIO, TX Two broadband veterans are partnering to help get fiber broadband technology to more consumers. BroadMax Group specializes in consulting fiber broadband companies with strategy, marketing, communications and product technology development. Bruce Forey and Tom Zanoli are joining forces on the venture and offer a combined 25-years industry experience.

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Originally posted here:
BroadMax Group New Consultancy is Motivated to Close the Digital Divide - Broadband Communities