Business

Shining the spotlight on the neglected areas of your business

August 20, 2015 by Reporter Leave a Comment

For Australian businesses, there are areas that they do really well in. However, the focus on the successful areas often leads to the neglect of another area. In the following article, we seek to help business owners overcome the challenges with their business’s ‘blind spots.’

Operational health and food safety

It is something that is promoted to businesses time and time again, but businesses still seem to fall through the cracks. There are cases where occupational health and safety is put at risk because businesses don’t put safety practices in to prevent customer or staff injuries or health risks. Food safety is just as important and many in the hospitality industry still don’t take significant measures to ensure that their food preservation and hygiene methods are up to the health and safety standards. A simple solution to food preservation would be for businesses that deal with foods, to partner with a wholesale packaging supplier that can offer packaging and preservation solutions.

Looking at your business with fresh eyes

When you are involved in your business operations day to day, your behaviours start becoming habits and you start to become more used to your environment. This makes it difficult to pick up any errors or mistakes that is happening with your business, particularly areas that are being neglected. A better option would be to bring someone in (ideally an expert) that can look at your business with fresh eyes and provide you with a report breakdown on the areas of your business that need more attention. Once you have generated a list of those items, it makes it easier to focus on those areas of your business that have been lacking attention. Sometimes it is the little details that can sabotage the greater operations of the business.

Keeping your business clean and tidy!

First impressions count when you have first time customers. You shouldn’t risk the prospect of gaining a long-term customer by bringing them into an untidy workplace. Even though it may not be through any fault of your own, it is important that you instill clean and tidy practices throughout the workplace. Ensure that hygiene is always maintained and that the business is free from odours or unsavoury sights.

Punctuality and distractions

Is punctuality working at your business? People’s lack of punctuality can be costing you more in terms of operations. Someone’s tardiness can be adding to an unnecessary workload and backlog to your business. Even worse than bad punctuality is the amount of distractions that impact the momentum of your business’s productivity. If these issues arise, deal with it immediately as the longer they continue, the more it will negatively impact your business.

Attention to detail when it comes to customer service

The experience the customer has with your business can make or break your business. As important as this is, it is still amazing to see how poorly businesses fail with their customer service management. Whether it is inside the business, training staff, managing complaints, managing new enquiries or etiquette, it all adds to the overall customer experience. It is much easier to lose a prospect than to gain one. It’s not worth letting all the hard work you’ve done to build your business become undone, due to poor customer experience management.

Organisation and planning

This is something that all businesses should have under control from the day that they open their doors, however organisation and planning is an area that is a weakness to many, and their business suffers because of it. Administration is probably the key area that businesses fail to keep organised. Files and receipts go missing and there is no structure or system to keep, manage and maintain records. It is ideal to hire admin staff that can help you manage and stay on top of administration work. When it comes to other areas of your business, hire strong candidates in planning, project management and organisation. Additionally, there are software applications that help to make organising your life and business easier.

Businesses shouldn’t make excuses to neglecting areas of their business. While it can be accidental, measures should be put in place to review the business practices once every few months to ensure all areas of the business are being covered sufficiently.

Simple modifications that will transform your café

August 19, 2015 by Reporter Leave a Comment

You’ve got a cool café concept, it’s doing pretty well, but you’re looking to move your business onto the next stage by adding a bit of pizazz without spending a fortune?

Relax, the good news is that today’s customers are looking for unique, quirky and niche alternatives to the ubiquitous coffee shop and restaurant chains they see everywhere. This means that neighbourhood cafes and bars are ideally placed to capitalise on local trade. So, why not revamp your venue using some of these cool, chic and cost-effective ideas and modifications:

Signage

Clearly marking out your café’s different areas – and also the facilities available – makes the space so much more user-friendly and inviting. Where should people pay? Is there wifi? Are there books and magazines to read? What’s on the menu?

Check out reclamation yards for vintage memorabilia. You’ll find some great items ranging from ‘toilet’ and ‘cash’ signs to old tin and ceramic advertisements for chocolate and other food items, which will create a great vibe.

Chances are there are many abandoned wooden pallets lying around at your local recycling centre too. Screw a whole one onto a wall to make a great notice or menu board. Or, chop the pallet up into appropriately sized pieces and use stencils and spray paint to create your own signs. These can then be either attached to the wall or hung from pieces of wire or chains from the ceiling. The possibilities are endless.

Blinds

If your venue has an outside seating space, why not think about extending the period of time you can use it by adding some robust but stylish all-weather café blinds? These come in both tinted and see-through PVC, so the beauty of them is that it can be used without obscuring any views you might have, or your on-street visibility to customers.

Storage and display

These are essential to any café. They ensure you can store essential items whilst at the same time showcasing the fantastic products and produce you have for sale in their full glory. And, once again your recycling depot could be your friend:

· Use old upended wooden fruit boxes to display plates of mouth-watering cakes and cookies. Or, turn them on their sides and fill it to the brim with delicious loaves of bread, baskets of apples, etc.

· Pallet wood can upcycled to create a rustic serving counter, window bar or shelves.

· Nail the lids of jam jars to the bottom of shelves and then use the glass jars that screw back on to them to store coffee beans, sweets, different kinds of tea bags and much more.

· Simple, small metal buckets are a great way to both contain and display packets of biscuits, fruit, toys and anything else that could create clutter.

Furniture

We all know that furniture is usually one of the most expensive factors in any revamp. Why not check out the local papers and online sites like Gumtree for any office or home clearance sales coming up? You might find some great leather armchairs and retro filing cabinets, coat stands and much more.

Lighting and power

Definitely one of the most important parts of any design scheme, yet lighting is often neglected in redecoration projects. It’s a good idea to analyse how well the lighting is currently and think about how it could be improved.

Are there any dingy areas that could do with better illumination? Consider how your customers use the space – if you have an area where individuals tend to come and work on their laptops, consider installing some extra power points and lighting nearby. If there are areas where people go to sit and read a book or the paper, it may be wise to add a floor lamp or a couple of anglepoise lights to make it as comfortable as possible.

Pay special attention to the areas where you position things you aim to sell. If you are installing some shelving to promote sales, think about getting some with in-built lighting – or install some strategically placed spotlights.

With a little thought and some imagination, a few key modifications could transform your café into the cool, ‘new’ place to hang out.

Choosing the ideal crane for your commercial project

August 18, 2015 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Taking Proactive Steps To Avoid Commercial Plumbing Issues

August 18, 2015 by Reporter Leave a Comment

In any business, the best way to conserve your money and stay profitable is to be proactive in all areas of your business. Instead of reacting to situations and emergencies that arise, you need to take the initiative and think ahead about what possible problems may arise. Ensure that you have a solid plan in place to resolve these potential issue.

One area that is extremely important for your business is commercial plumbing. Commercial plumbers in Melbourne cover a wide scope of issues that could occur in the maintenance and day-to-day operation of your business. Some of these areas include:

● Drains and Sewerage- This area is extremely important for your company to maintain, so that you don’t have minor issues that turn into major problems from neglect. You also can’t afford downtime that may result from any major problem.

● Backflow Testing and Water Filters- This ensures that your employees as well as customers that may utilize your facilities are safe from water contamination. This needs to be constantly monitored to prevent any major problems that could result in loss of work time, which could result in loss of profits

● Gutters and Roofs- This is another area that needs to be maintained at all times, in order to avoid costly repairs.

In order to avoid potential issues in any of these three areas, it would be best to have some kind of maintenance program to monitor the condition of each of these. That is where a qualified commercial plumber comes in. They offer preventative maintenance programs on each of these areas. They will come to you and, after touring your facility, discuss what type of program you should have and the costs involved, based on your particular needs. They will outline a program that will monitor all your major plumbing systems, so that minor issues don’t become major repairs. Let’s face it, if you don’t fix the little things, you will be forced to fix the big things which will undoubtedly cut into your profit margin because of the cost of major repairs or replacement. Don’t forget the loss of profits, resulting from downtime.

Even if you have preventive maintenance programs in place, nothing can prepare you for natural disasters such as hurricanes or other acts of God. You also have to be prepared to deal with emergencies that may occur just by chance. Again, commercial plumbers can be of assistance. Ensure that you select a reputable commercial plumber who has ample experience in delivering the services required.

Ideally, you want to choose a commercial plumber that has been in operation for an extensive period of time. Ensure that they are members of the Master Plumbers Association and are legally licensed through the Plumbing Industry Commission. This ensures that they have received extensive training and possess the expertise to resolve your plumbing issues.

Commercial plumbing issues can have a drastic impact on your business. Preventive maintenance programs will go a long way to protect your profits from any major repairs that would be needed if plumbing issues were not properly maintained and monitored. Also, if an emergency does arise, you want to know that you have a 24-hour commercial plumber that is only a phone call away. You want them to take care of your problem immediately, with the least amount of downtime. After all, downtime eats into your business funds. If you have programs in place to prevent major plumbing problems, you will have done all that you can do to protect your business from spending too much of your hard earned profits on maintenance of your business.

Click is Not Always a Good Sound

August 18, 2015 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Click is the sound that your door makes when it closes. That sound is supposed to make you feel safe and secure. However, if that sound comes and you have forgotten your keys on the inside then it is the sound of despair. Most doors lock from the inside which means that you don’t need a key to lock it. Once the door shuts, it is locked. Your options for attaining entry back into your home are slim.

Check to see if there is an open window or door
Call a relative or neighbor to whom you have given a key
Locate the hidden key that you placed under a rock, inside of a planter or attached to another part of the property

In recent years, most people do not live with any close family nearby who could come to your rescue. Most people do not really know their neighbors. You may say “Hello” every once in a while, but do you really want to give them the keys to your castle? Another problem might occur if you have a security system that is linked to the police station. Your best option is to hire a licensed locksmith to come and open the door for you. It is often the less expensive option compared to replacing a window or a broken door.

Cars today also emit a clicking sound when you lock them. You park at a garage, lock the car and put in key in your pocket or bag. When you go to retrieve your vehicle, you can’t find the key. It is nowhere to be found. Your options are very limited. Since 1997, most new cars have adopted a transponder module into the keying system. It is a great way to keep thieves from stealing your car and belongings. Unless you know for certain that the key is in the car, then breaking the window will not assist you in your problem. The reason for this is because unless the transponder code and the car’s computer system’s code match, the car will not start. The only reliable, safe method is to call a locksmith. Licensed locksmiths have access to the data of car manufacturers’ codes. With this information, they will be able to make a new key.

If you need an emergency locksmith in Perth, Australia, a reliable business to contact is SAS Locksmiths. They provide 24 hour service for autos, homes and businesses. They have trained professionals who specialize in all types of locking mechanisms. They are also licensed by the police departments to assist you in gaining access to your home. SAS Locksmiths are also consultants for installing new equipment for your business or home. They will do a security check of the property that you want to be guarded and advise you the correct locking systems for your needs. With their state-of-the-art cutting system, they will be able to duplicate a key either on the road or in their shop.

Now that you have gained access to your home and/or car, it is time to do some serious thinking so this will not happen again. First, think about having a dead-bolt lock installed, so that you need a key to actually lock the door from the outside. Next, if you have no family close by to rescue you, make friends with one of your neighbors. Have them keep a set of keys to your home and car. If that is not possible, find an excellent stashed place outside of the property to keep a key.

Business of Your Future For Sale

August 8, 2015 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Australia is booming economically. Building is going non-stop as entire neighbourhoods are created where once there were only grasses and wildlife. Now is your best time to invest in the business of your own dream you have held so long. Whether you are interested in flexing your business muscles in a bustling supermarket or wholesale commodities, this is the time and Melbourne is the place.

Franchise or Business Owner?

There are business and franchise opportunities in practically every industry from wholesale to retail, manufacturing to repair, from vehicles to home fixtures. All categories have Business for sale. As a business person, you know where your skills lie and how you can turn them into a solid income for now and your future. If your business interests are more in the services area such as cleaning, restoring or renovations, there is an opening for you to toss your hat today.

Selling or Buying?

To cash in on the anticipated upswing in the economy can also be the wisest move for you to sell your business that has given you excellent income. Your company and its client base offered as a Business for sale should bring in a substantial price if brokered wisely, and you would be free to invest in another area. Either selling or buying a business is a life changing event, and you must have the best representation available or face heavy and lasting disappointment.

Professional Advice and Representation

Knowing when and where and how much is an educated professional’s forte and you should retain the best advice available in the form of a business broker. The broker’s job is not to just file the appropriate documents. He is representing you, as either seller or buyer, in the business of your dreams. You want the person representing you to have clear communication, integrity and persistence –these are the keys, whether you are vendor or purchaser of a Business for sale.

Your expert consultants should meet with you in the first instance before details are discussed. Maintaining trust in your business broker is of utmost importance, particularly with confidentiality agreements. Ensuring all parties are comfortable and confident during meetings, discussions and inspections are a critical measure of a successful broker. Successful broker means he successfully negotiated a sale or purchase for you!

BPA Brokers Have Right Stuff

Growing from a one man operation in 2000 into the well established brokerage today, with over 15 team members, did not happen by luck. It occurred because of its founder’s perseverance and unflagging zeal for his business sales. It also happened because Mino Stronghilis, founder, treats every contact with the same attention, respect, and willingness to go the extra mile to complete the transaction in a trustworthy, professional manner.

You need the confidence of having the BPA Brokers firm representing you, whether you are interested in buying a $750,000 cafe or selling a $40,000 ethnic Takeaway. That need is the strong suit of BPA Brokers, in that the team of 15 professional brokers share the same vitality and expertise in bringing a sale or purchase to fruition. The word which stands apt to describe Mino and his team is "professional", because that is exactly descriptive of who and what they are.

The BPA Brokers firm will handle your business for sale or purchase in a professional yet personal manner. They represent you and not a bank or other entity. They will never enter into any promise, agreement or reveal any details without conferring with you first.

Contact Mino Stronghilis at BPA Brokers today to discuss your present in regard to your future.

Achieving operational efficiency with pallet racking systems

July 29, 2015 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Storage and inventory management is one of the major challenges for a growing business. In industries that require precise recording and tracking of goods, it is ideal to have a system and infrastructure in place that can facilitate the operational efficiency required to ensure a smooth supply and delivery process. Businesses in FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) have realized this and are one of the leading sectors in using pallet-racking systems to better manage their stock inventory. Metal pallet racking shelves have become become an essential part of the industry, not just in Australia, but across the globe. As businesses seek to improve their infrastructure with pallet racking systems, pallet racking companies in Melbourne look at the benefits that lie ahead for businesses and considerations that need to be made prior to their pallet racking selection.

The business benefits of pallet racking

Selective pallet racking is ideal where flexibility, access and speed of operation are the main objectives of the required business system. Pallet racks save time and energy by storing the entire pallet as opposed to breaking down the pallet and storing the items elsewhere. This saves in additional manpower and labour costs. Pallet racking offers businesses a warehouse storage solution both laterally and vertically. As businesses grow and require storage for their inventory stock, a storage management system is required that will allow the business to store and rotate their inventory as per the business requirements. Pallet racking provides a good system for stock accessibility and rotation, as the pallets can be accessed and moved individually, allowing for rapid handling of pallet goods.

Pallet flexibility

Selective Pallet Racking can also be easily adjusted or relocated at any time. For companies that choose to make the investment in pallet racking; one of the key features that the business will notice is the ease of assembly, disassembly and transportation. Pallet frames can easily be transported by containers to the warehouse location and developed as per the business’s needs. Businesses can further develop the pallet racks within their warehouse by creating access to single or multiple bays.

Pallet racking requires a relatively small investment.

Over the long term, it is ideal for businesses to have their own storage facility. The initial outlay that is required to setup pallet racking in the warehouse is relatively small when compared to outsourcing storage services that could cost the business hundreds of thousands or millions annually.

Improved space management

The clever thing about pallet racking is it’s flexibility when it comes to using space. Pallet racks offer diversified rack and shelving solutions

It provides easy beam adjustment and accommodates various pallet heights. Additionally, lower level pallets can be located on the floor for picking purposes.

Pallet racking safety

It is the duty of the business to design and supply a safe warehouse storage facility that will support the business’s heavy inventory. These types of racks are also improving safety due to the load-bearing steel structure. People may be concerned that the rack would collapse, however with the right rack and maintenance, it isn’t something that should arise as a concern.

Considerations when choosing your pallet rack

When deciding which rack to go from, there are a range of options that need to be considered to fit in with your business’s operational objectives. The types of racks that are available to choose from include:

• Selective racking

• Double deep racking

• Drive-in pallet racking

• Narrow aisle racking

• Push back racking

• Pallet live racking

• Pallet runner

• AS/RS.

Business spaces and needs vary. And the warehouse storage solution needs to reflect the business’s needs. The management of inventory stock, records management and supply chain management with the warehouse is important; hence the need to develop a solid infrastructure to support these business demands.

Improve your business’s operational efficiency with pallet racking systems and improve the efficiency and management of warehouse storage, for the long term success of your business.

Reviewing the fundamental elements of your employment contract

July 27, 2015 by Reporter Leave a Comment

The foundation of any employment relationship is the employee’s contract of employment. Whilst existing in conjunction with the companies own policies and guidelines, an employment contract provides the fundamentals of what will hopefully become an ongoing and fruitful employment relationship, It is therefore important for all new employees to carefully review the fundamentals of any proposed employment contract with a business lawyer in Melbourne, in order to fully understand your rights and obligations under the contract.

The Position

Any employment contract should provide a prospective employee with a clear understanding of the job requirements, the hours of employment and the essential duties it entails. This should be written in straightforward language, so that you are fully aware of your expectations as an employee should you choose to enter the contractual relationship.

Understanding your obligations in fulfilling the position offered by the employee is important in regards to ‘repudiation’. In contract law this refers to unwillingness or an inability to substantially perform the contract and is grounds for termination. It is therefore important to understand the standards of performance that your prospective employer has included as terms of the contract, in order to avoid a breach of the contract which amounts to grounds for termination.

Length of Agreement

An employment contract should contain an original term of employment and specify conditions that are applicable in relation to extending or reducing the contract term. This is particularly important to review for those entering into seasonal or fixed term employment. This ensures that you are fully aware of the length of the employment, and that an extension of the term may not be a definite when entering the employment relationship.

Compensation

Adequate compensation for hard work is a fundamental of any employment relationship. If a salary has been negotiated it is important that these figures are entered into the contract, or that a base hourly wage that has been agreed upon by both parties exists within the terms of the contract. If the position involves the payment of a commission, it is important that the percentage is included and agreed upon as a term of the contract and that any overtime authorization policy that exists in the company is fair and agreeable.

Restraint of Trade and Confidentiality clauses

Restraint of trade clauses are commonly found in employment contracts and are therefore an important condition of employment which is hard to fully understand. Restraint of trade clauses regulate an employee’s conduct normally in the work area or workplace while employee is still engaged in the employment relationship and furthermore restrict a former employee’s conduct once the employment relationship has ended. This therefore also protects the employer’s business interests.

A restraint of trade clause can have lasting effects on your prospects – be it leaving your current work or then looking for other jobs, following the end of your employment relationship. It therefore is important to seek the advice of an experienced business lawyer in order to determine whether the terms are enforceable, and how they may impact you upon the end of your employment.

If a confidentiality clause exists in an employment contract it is important to understand exactly what is defined as ‘confidential information’. This will differ between companies and areas of employment, so it is important to ensure that you fully understand your obligations and the circumstances in which the disclosure of confidential information is permitted, should you choose to enter into an employment relationship.

Termination of employment

No termination of an employee’s employment will occur without a careful examination of the terms of that employee’s contract of employment. This is because the termination of employment is the end of the contractual relationship that exists between the employer and employee and therefore must comply with the terms agreed to within the contract. The elements of the contract in relation to grounds of termination are important for both parties, as they can result in claims for unfair dismissal under the Fair Work Act if a later termination of employment is a direct breach of the employment contract.

Reviewing these relevant terms in your employment contract with an experienced business lawyer is an important step in understanding your rights and entitlement for damages, should your employment later be terminated. It ensures that you enter into an employment relationship fully informed of your rights and obligations under the agreement, and will help foster a long and successful relationship with your future employer.

Bio: Laura Costello is in her third year of a Bachelor of Law/International Relations at Latrobe University. She is passionate about the law, the power of social media, and the ability to translate her knowledge of both common and complex legal topics to readers across a variety of mediums, in a way that is easy to understand.

4 dangerous costs your business has been ignoring

June 6, 2015 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Whenever you step into the field of business, you have to be very calculative about your expenses. Usually the product’s selling price includes the cost incurred during the manufacturing of the product, but there are many regular and petty expenses that the business needs to account for to ensure they attain profitability. These costs can include the employees’ salaries, promotional and marketing campaigns that are always budgeted for carefully. However, there are a few costs that many business owners ignore, to the detriment of their bottom line. The dangerous costs your business may have been ignoring could include…

Office supplies

There is a considerable cost that comes with purchasing office supplies if your business doesn’t get it right. These costs include papers, pens, staples and other items that can be purchased from a wide range of suppliers, and you should certainly shop around to try and get the best deal- you don’t have to put all of your eggs in one basket. Among the costlier of office supplies are printer cartridges. Printer cartridges can be expensive but are commonly used in every business in some form so there are options to lower your printing costs if you shop around. Negotiating the best deal on each and every one of these office supplies, from pencils to printer cartridges, and doing so regularly will ensure your office supply cost is kept to the absolute minimum.

Maintenance costs

Overheads are often seen as a necessary evil, and therefore office maintenance costs are often ignored. Office costs usually include electricity, heat, water, power back-ups, air-conditioning and cleaning and are usually in place once a business starts trading. These costs can be left to run at their starting rate for years after implementation, but there is money to be saved here. Looking at the costs regularly in order to negotiate the best deal may seem like a lot of work, but ignoring these costs can leave you paying over the odds, having a real effect on your bottom line. Twice yearly checks on maintenance costs are enough to ensure you’re taking care of your overheads.

IT Costs

Many businesses fear technology will always be expensive and without looking into the ins and outs of IT services, may stick with what they know, paying over the odds for a service they barely use, or that doesn’t help them do business better. Overhaul your IT Costs by speaking to various service providers and ask for their advice on what you need. There are a wide variety of options out there for every size of business and there are scalable solutions for every type of business, from ecommerce to marketing sectors. Cloud based solutions are becoming extremely popular, and you may be able to pay monthly for a solution that grows with your business, meaning you’re not throwing money away for a service you’re not using.

Staffing Costs

The temptation when business is booming is to recruit, but companies that think twice about the way they go about this will be better off in the long run. Firstly, you should consider whether you need someone permanently or whether this is a temporary busy period that can be coped with by either paying existing staff overtime, or by looking for a temporary employee. Another possibility would be to hire a freelancer for certain tasks. The freelance market is becoming an attractive talent pool where employers can pick the most qualified people for certain tasks and save on unnecessary employment. Secondly, consider recruiting without an agency if you need to take on someone permanently. Although businesses usually have a relationship with recruitment agencies, it’s entirely possible to find good candidates through social media platforms such as LinkedIn.

Whatever sized business you’re running, there are always costs that are ignored, so why not take a good look at yours today and start to improve your bottom line.

What Your Employees Are Begging You To Do

May 10, 2015 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Good employees are too often hard to find, and even harder to keep. With competitors lurking around every corner, keeping your employees happy where they are is essential. Few people feel comfortable approaching their superior with requests, so how are you to know what practices you can adopt to best suit their needs? These are a few simple ways to improve your relationship with your employees, while simultaneously boosting your business. From going green with recyclables which could be considered a small change (click here) but make employees happy, to considering changing working hours, read on to make your workplace a little happier.

Reward them

One thing we all want is to feel appreciated, and what better way to do that than with rewards? Consider giving a bonus vacation day in exchange for meeting a sales goal. Most people will work harder if they know they can make more money. Giving bonuses at holiday is always a great way to stay in your employee’s good graces. When times are hard, a little extra money can go a long way.

Consider Flexitime

In the fast paced modern world, it’s often difficult to check off all those items on your To Do list. Fun things like soccer practices and ballet lessons often become more of a chore due to conflicting schedules and long work weeks. This is one of the main reasons your employees are pushing for your implementation of flextime into your business. Studies show that happy employees are productive employees. Whether they have children waiting at home for dinner, or split their time between work and animal shelters, your employees do have a life outside of the workplace. Acknowledging that life is a great way to show your employees that you care. By allowing for flextime, you have given them a good deal more power over their own lives. Now, taking an elderly relative to an hour long appointment won’t necessitate using an entire sick day. That hour is easily made up for with flextime. The more hours your employees work, the more work is done. This couldn’t be much more simple. Allowing for flextime can reduce sick days taken, hence increasing productivity.

A flexible schedule doesn’t necessarily mean midnight meetings and complete chaos. For typical type A business owners, the idea of flextime is scary to say the least. Should you choose to incorporate flextime into your business practices, you can simply set whatever guidelines best fit your business practices. For example, if you are in the plumbing industry, you probably won’t be able to get much work done in the middle of the night as your customers and co-workers are sleeping. Maybe your flextime would run from 6am to 8pm. There is more likely work to be done during these times. In some industries, flextime helps to save on overtime costs. Because some employees come in later than others, they also leave later than others. Say you have an emergency call at 6 pm, which would normally push employee hours. An employee exercising his rights to flextime may still be working. In this way, flextime definitely benefits the employer as well as employee.

Go Green

Another way to boost employee morale is by going green (or at least green-er ). Energy efficient options can save on monthly costs while saving the environment too. Mother Earth gives us life, and is likely near and dear to the hearts of many of your employees. Talk to them about ideas they may have for going green in the office. Chances are, they already have ideas in mind. Many supply companies give discounts on future purchases for recycling their used products. For example, ink toner cartridges are usually reusable. Check with your suppliers to find out what materials they can reuse, and what programs they offer in relation to recycling. When your employees feel good about the things they are doing, they do better work.

Although they may seem fairly insignificant, these three simple changes can make all the difference in your business and business relationships. Employees are more likely to remain loyal to companies where they feel appreciated and listened to. By implementing one or all of these small changes, you can ensure a lower turnover rate, and higher production quality. Simply put, a happy employee is a good employee … and who couldn’t use a little more joy around the office?

Business

Shining the spotlight on the neglected areas of your business