FEI Weekly

December 28, 2017

How board members can prepare for a #MeToo moment, recovery after a bad interview.

European Companies Disclose How U.S. Tax Bill Will Affect Bottom Lines

WSJ - Paywall

Shell estimated its U.S. tax-related charge in the fourth quarter could amount to between $2 billion and $2.5 billion, stemming from a reduction in the value of its deferred tax assets. Barclays, meanwhile, said it would take a noncash charge of $1.3 billion in the fourth quarter, citing similar changes in the value of its deferred tax assets and liabilities. Both companies said that despite the big paper losses, they viewed the drop in U.S. corporate taxes as a positive in the longer run.

The 40-Hour Work Week Just Isn't Healthy

Tech.Co

Experts have found that working for eight or more hours per day for five or more days per week causes stress, sleep deprivation, and a lack of work-life balance, all of which have been proven to have a negative effect on everything from work performance to general innovation. However, the only thing it doesn’t have a negative effect on is a company’s bottom line.

88% of Board Members Aren't Prepared for a Sexual Misconduct Accusation

Compliance Week - Paywall

A survey of 400 board members revealed that 77% of the directors had not discussed accusations of sexually inappropriate behavior and/or sexism in the workplace on their respective boards. More importantly, 88% of them had not implemented a plan of action, in light of recent allegations of sexual misconduct, to deal with such an accusation at the board level.

Why the CFO/HR Partnership Will Be So Important in 2018

Director of Finance

A recent EY CFO report showed that 80% of finance and HR professionals surveyed said that their relationship is becoming more collaborative. Finance must work closely with HR to better understand where costs can be saved through reducing employee turnover. CFOs are also well-positioned to maximize workplace skills development, identifying and taking into consideration the hidden expenditure related to training.

Recovery After a Bad Interview

The Motley Fool

If the role in question was truly a dream opportunity, it pays to fight for that job and see if you can overcome that bad interview. After some self-reflection, reaffirm your interest in the role and ask for another meeting. You can even be honest about the fact that your first interview didn't go the way you wanted it to, and that you're confident you'll do better if given another chance.