How to Find and Hire High-Quality Employees
Computer technology may be an earth-shaking breakthrough in gathering information, but it can’t always help with one simple problem common to shop owners everywhere: How to find good employees. Countless sociological and economic issues have come into play in recent years that, despite helpful technological advancements, can’t be fully compensated for in the recruitment of
Job Interviewing Takes Time and Preparation
To at least some degree, I think everyone at a job interview is a bit of an actor. No employer likes to admit in the interview that he yells at his crew or expects them to work late to satisfy a customer. And job seekers aren’t likely to mention the shortcuts they’ve taken to save
How Health Care Reform Affects Small Businesses
There’s plenty of debate about whether the new health care reform bill is good for America. Whatever your views, it looks like the Affordable Care Act – a massive piece of legislation passed by Congress in March – is here to stay. The majority of Americans without health insurance are the owners or employees of
When it Comes to Employee Skill, You Get What You Pay For
If you’ve never seen the mockumentary “This is Spinal Tap,” put it in your Netflix queue. The plot: Spinal Tap, the world’s loudest band, is followed by documentarian Marty DiBergi (played by Rob Reiner) on a disastrous tour. My favorite scene shows guitarist Nigel Tufnel, played by Christopher Guest, showing DiBergi some of his equipment.
Good Interviewing Takes Time and Preparation
To at least some degree, I think everyone in a job interview is a bit of an actor. No employer likes to admit in the interview that he yells at his crew or expects them to work late to satisfy a customer. And job seekers aren’t likely to mention the shortcuts they’ve taken to save
Grab That Wheel: Create an Employee Handbook to Take Control
When most owners of tire businesses see the term “employee handbook,” they are likely to have one of several thoughts – usually all negative. You might be thinking that you simply don’t have time for that now, feeling that business is simply too tough to mess with minor details. “I’ll get to it when…”
Why They Stay, Why They Leave
It was about 10 years ago that USA Today ran an article titled "High-Tech Skills Give Auto Mechanics More Power." In the article was a reference to a graduate from the automotive maintenance program of a technical college who was hoping to find a job for $25,000 to $30,000 after a worrisome search. Wasn’t he
Terminating Employment: Six Steps to Help in the Process
The decision to terminate anemployee is never easy and is usually a last-resort measure. But unfortunately,termination may be inevitable. To avoid legal problems down the road, youshould establish a set approach to employee management that includes proceduresfor firing an employee. The following six steps can help you effectively handleterminations. First: Document Set out reasonableexpectations from
Signs of a Misplaced Employee
Do you have an employee whopossesses all the attributes you want in your staff, but just doesn’t do his orher job that well? Instead of letting that person go, reassign them to anotherrole. You probably have veryspecific roles that each employee must fill and don’t have the resources tocover that staff member until he/she starts
Family Leave Options
Are you sure you’reup-to-date on family leave in your business? This has become a hot topiceverywhere in our country as federal and state lawmakers push employers toprovide leave benefits for their employees. Whether you’re obligated toprovide time off or simply wish to provide it to your employees as a benefit,consider the following before implementing a
Success Starts at the Top
Even in ancient times the notion of teamwork was a difficult process. Take, for example, "The Iliad," Homer’s story about the ancient Greek King Agamemnon and Achilles, his best warrior. In the story, Agamemnon cares more about proving his power than he does about motivating Achilles to capture Troy, and nearly loses the Trojan War
Do You Know Rest Rules?
When do your employees get alunch break? Did you know the federal government doesn’t have a law requiringbusiness owners to give adult employees rest periods or meal breaks during theworkday? In fact, only l9 states specifically require rest or meal breaks foradults. Interestingly, the Fair Labor Standards Act states that if employerschoose to provide employees