Loading ...
by Seth Godin
This is deceptive.
You don’t rock all the time. No one does. No one is a rock star, superstar, world-changing artist all the time. In fact, it’s a self-defeating goal. You can’t do it.
No, but you might rock five minutes a day.
Five minutes to write a blog post that changes everything, or five minutes to deliver an act of generosity that changes someone. Five minutes to invent a great new feature, or five minutes to teach a groundbreaking skill in a way that no one ever thought of before. Five minutes to tell the truth (or hear the truth).
Five minutes a day you might do exceptional work, remarkable work, work that matters. Five minutes a day you might defeat the lizard brain long enough to stand up and make a difference.
And five minutes of rocking would be enough, because it would be five minutes more than just about anyone else.
Posted March 17th, 2010 by Jessica Spinks - Posted in Productivity | |
0 Comments
Loading ...
Found this on Facebook…
A PEO is much more than an outlet or cost effective resource for payroll. What can you do with 4% to 7% of your Gross Annual Payroll freed up from your non-profit generating expenses?
1. Time
PEO’s remove non-productive tasks that take away time and resources so you can focus on bottom line activities such as strategic planning, marketing, and customer service. Could you make more money if you had time to work your business? Time is money in business.
2. Cash Flow
PEO’s improve your cash flow by integrating most of your employee cost-centers into a single cost factor; including employer matching FICA, FUTA, SUTA, Work Comp, Administrative Overhead, and employee benefits. Your cash flows in "real-time" right along with your business income.
3. Workers’ Compensation
PEO’s make buying and maintaining work comp easier than ever. No more BIG down payments. No more year-end premium audits. Because your work comp is built into your PEO rate, you pay as you go which frees up more dollars for company growth.
4. Employee Benefits
Most PEO’s have many "turnkey" benefit plans in place for your employees. Imagine instantly adding a 401(k) plan, a Section 125, Group Health, Vision, Dental and Life, and other valuable benefits to your business without spending a fortune. Best of all, the PEO’s manage the programs, payroll deductions, and benefit records, making employee benefits easier than ever to provide and manage.
5. Government Compliance
PEO’s simplify all the rules and regulations associated with employing people. They can assist you in complying with all federal, state, and local laws and statutes. PEO’s provide you with legally required employee forms and paperwork. They even maintain and store your employee files.
6. Human Resources
PEO’s act as your own personal HR Department, assisting with employee handbooks, job descriptions, recruiting, record management and conflict resolution. Do your business practices and policies protect you from employee lawsuits? PEO’s provide a reliable source to get your employee-related questions answered by HR professionals.
7. Operating Leverage
PEO’s create operating leverage for businesses by creating a fixed cost for employing people. Rather than having to increase your internal investment in human capital and equipment to keep up with external growth, the PEO provides a predictable mechanism that allows you to increase profits at a greater rate than internal costs.
8. Employee Turnover
PEO’s reduce turnover be establishing better systems, policies and benefit packages. Turnover can cost your business thousands of dollars a year in lost production and employee re-training. A good PEO will help keep your employees loyal and motivated and you spend less on training.
9. Risk Management
PEO’s can really benefit businesses with work comp experience modifiers above 1.00. They can offer sound advice for improving workplace safety and preventing claims from occurring. They will proactively manage your comp claims and work with you to reduce claim costs and investigate potential fraudulence.
10. Payroll & Taxes
PEO’s solve each of these problems by becoming a co-employer with you. The PEO issues paychecks, W-2’s, direct deposits and tax deposits. They assume your tax liabilities and responsibilities as the IRS employer of record. This co-employment agreement and payroll administration makes everything possible for employers.
Posted November 6th, 2009 by Jessica Spinks - Posted in Benefits, Customer Service, Health, Human Resources, Immigration, Performance Reviews, Productivity, Recruiting, Wages, Workers' Comp | |
0 Comments
Loading ...
As we all know by now, gas prices are on the rise. As they are not declining any time soon, many companies are converting to the “4 day work week.” Whether companies decide to allow their employees to telecommute once a week, or fit their employees 40 hour work week into 4 days (10 hours a day), many business owners are trying to help their employees during this time. ABC News released a news report explaining that Birmingham, Alabama is one of the first cities adapting to this trend. Four thousand employees in the area are taking advantage of this four day work week. Other services businesses are offering include money for public transport, providing carpool arrangements, and the option of telecommuting. ABC News did a calculation as follows:
- Average commute: 30 miles round trip
- Average car gets: 17 miles/gallon
- Average gallon of gas: 4.10
- Result: 7.24 a day, 377.52 a year
This shows the estimated amount that people could save. Imagine if a whole town, state, or even the whole country did this. A lot of money could be saved, not to mention we would cut down on the amount of gas demanded and the amount of pollution we output everyday. Everyone would be better off. Utah is one of the first states converting all of their state officials to this system next month, and Arizona has been talking about doing the same for their state employees.
Time magazine recently reported about the four day work week, explaining that Brevard College in Florida went to a four day week for summer session and saved $268,000. In addition, sick leave dropped by 50%, and turnover among the staff decreased by 44%. Here at Creative Business Resources, an HR outsourcing firm we deal with lots of different clients and business owners on a daily basis. We have had to alter our processes such as dates of payroll because one of our own personal clients here in Arizona has converted to the four day work week in direct response to higher gas prices. If you are a business owner and you want to boost the morale of your employees you could implement this new trend. In addition, stay tuned for our newsletters in July and August that gives more tips on how businesses can survive and prosper in this economic downturn.
Posted July 9th, 2008 by Jessica Spinks - Posted in Human Resources, Productivity | |
1 Comments
Loading ...
An article I ran into at BusinessWeek.com talks about when employees know they are being cared about, they will in turn step up their efforts around the office. Also, it says to be careful not to neglect a valued employee because they can probably go elsewhere and make the same amount of money, if not more, doing something similar or more compelling.
With that said, you must be thinking, “what can I do to make sure my employees aren’t going to leave me? You are in luck. Another section of the article gave a list of suggestions for managing the type of valued employees that fit the about criteria? Rank-order each of your direct reports in terms of his contribution to your customers and your company.
• Ask yourself, "How many of these people could leave our company and get another job—with a pay raise—in three months?"
• Make sure you express your sincere appreciation for the contribution these great people are making to your company.
• Make peace with the fact that you need them more than they need you.
• Ask each of them, "What can your manager do to create an environment where this is a great place for you to work?"
• Don't focus on what you cannot change. Focus on what you can change. Let's say you can't give them a raise. Accentuate the things you can give them: recognition, educational opportunities, the chance to work with a wider range of people, both within the company and outside of it.
• Listen to their ideas, and do whatever you can to keep them coming to work with you.
• Treat them as a great human services leader would treat valued volunteers.
Posted April 18th, 2008 by admin - Posted in Human Resources, Performance Reviews, Productivity, Recruiting | |
1 Comments
Loading ...
Everyone has their reasons for being late at one point or another. Some of the stories can seem quite far fetched if you ask me. Here is a list of the top 10 unusual excuses for being late to work from the Business Journal.
According to the survey, hiring managers gave the following top 10 unusual excuses they've heard for being late to work:
- While rowing across the river to work, I got lost in the fog.
- Someone stole all my daffodils.
- I had to go audition for "American Idol."
- My ex-husband stole my car so I couldn't drive to work.
- My route to work was shut down by a Presidential motorcade.
- I wasn't thinking and accidentally went to my old job.
- I was indicted for securities fraud this morning.
- The line was too long at Starbucks.
- I was trying to get my gun back from the police.
-
I didn't have money for gas because all of the pawnshops were closed.
Do you have any other stories that can top this list?
Posted April 11th, 2008 by admin - Posted in Human Resources, Productivity | |
1 Comments
Loading ...
The ability to give and receive criticism is an art that few have mastered. If you can, you will have a leg up on managing your employees.
A line from BusinessWeek.com points out some ground rules to go over before you criticize someone.
When you want to criticize someone:
1. Begin by finding something you like or appreciate about the person you’re about to criticize. This is not only fair, but will also make the person more likely to be receptive to what you have to say.
2. Focus on what that person has said or done, not on him or her personally. Only the former is relevant and likely to be acknowledged.
3. Conclude by affirming your faith that the other person will consider what you have to say. This is both a respectful way to wrap up the criticism and the best way to ensure that your remarks will be given their due.
Living by these rules, before you attack someone, will make you a more respected manager/co-worker with everyone involved in the situation. Also, it will allow more communication to pass through one another. Next time you have a beef to pick with someone…remember the rules.
Posted April 4th, 2008 by admin - Posted in Customer Service, Human Resources, Performance Reviews, Productivity | |
0 Comments
Loading ...
"Interpersonal skills are extremely important for managers dealing with a wide variety of personalities. All of your employees will be different—each will have his or her own way of thinking and operating. Your challenge is to be able to help them overcome these differences and mesh as a team. "
This is a exert that I found in Businessweek.com. Managers are the ones that lead the many and need to be the ones that show the many how things are done. Leading by example and being interpersonal are two of the main factors of being a "good" manager.
Do you have the right managers in place to make your business run flawlessly?
Posted March 28th, 2008 by admin - Posted in Human Resources, Productivity, Recruiting | |
0 Comments
Loading ...
Creating a wellness program for your company can mean more than just getting in shape. It can mean a whole new lifestyle for all your employees. When you are feeling healthy, you are more energetic and motivated to face each day. Who wouldn't what all their employees to feel great and perform at their best?
In an article from Business Week, "Some companies hand out small cash bonuses or gift certificates for reaching predetermined milestones. Others offer discounted insurance premiums. Still others make it a “team thing” and set up competitions between departments. "
By making heath exciting, everyone will want to join in and be a part of the new family. Make it a priority in your company and watch the benefits exude from your employees.
Posted March 14th, 2008 by admin - Posted in Benefits, Health, Human Resources, Performance Reviews, Productivity, Recruiting, Workers' Comp | |
3 Comments
Loading ...
Its coming up on March Madness time. For all you college basketball fans, the most exciting time of the year is right around the corner. To make it even more exciting, what do you do? Start up the company office pool! A little gambling should help spice it up just enough to make it interesting to even the uninterested.
In the article from the Business Journal is a survey relating to productivity and March Madness. An interesting stat that I couldn't believe was, "Very few employers offer guidance in their policies regarding office pools, even though it may mean taking a hit in terms of productivity, Spherion officials said."
Maybe its time to update the employee handbook and put some guidelines or rules in on office pools, or maybe its just time to enjoy March Madness!
Posted March 7th, 2008 by admin - Posted in Human Resources, Performance Reviews, Productivity | |
1 Comments
Loading ...
If you are sick, should you go to work anyways? This is a great debate among many. Staying home to watch tv and lounge on the cough is an easy suggestion, right? To some it may be, but to others a day staying home from work is just creating more work to go back to, or some feel they are indespensible and can’t miss a day, while others just don’t have the time to take work off. Whatever the reason is, is it really a good idea to go in to work when you are under the weather?
An article from Business Week that I ran into goes into great detail of the downfalls of having a sick co-worker show up on the job. “Illnesses like the cold and flu can be spread by physical contact. When we're sick, the people with whom we come into physical contact have a significantly increased risk of coming down with the illness, according to virologists, epidemiologists, and other experts. There is a causal relationship between being sick with a cold or the flu and making others sick by touching them directly or handling an object that they soon touch themselves.”
Some other points brought up in the article for staying away from the office were, if we can actually perfrom to the best of our abilities while not feeling well, getting other co-workers sick, getting co-worker’s families sick, and the last one here that caught my attention, “going to work sick is unfair to your employer. According to a report published in The New York Times in 2006, researchers at Cornell University found that ill workers on the job could account for up to 60% of corporate health costs. The recently coined phrase "presenteeism" speaks to the financial downside of overly motivated workers who bring their upper respiratory illnesses to work with them.
All in all, is it fair to yourself to work when you are not feeling well? I guess that is up to you.
Posted February 29th, 2008 by admin - Posted in Benefits, Health, Human Resources, Other, Productivity | |
0 Comments
Next Page »
(2 votes, average: 4 out of 5)
(2 votes, average: 4.5 out of 5)
Call us:
1 (888) 700-8512
