Tag: Employees

workstation 405768 1920
by James Adam

How to Provide Best Work Environment Employees


Homes

If you have ever overseen managing people, you will know how hard the job is. People are complex. Humans are full of needs, wants, and desires. This makes for a complicated mix that is difficult to understand. For a manager to get the most out of their workers, a worker needs to feel safe, comfortable, and valued. There will be no work done if this is not the case. Think about it; when you are disinterested in something or feel undervalued, your work ethic goes out the window. This is natural. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs serves to prove this. We all need certain needs to be met for us to operate. These needs range from getting the necessities of food to the desire to be promoted. This article is here to provide some information on how you can make the work environment one that breeds productivity.

Make it Safe

This is the most basic. An employee will not be able to work effectively if they do not feel safe in the workplace. There is also a basic moral duty of an employee to provide a safe work environment. It is unfair to risk the employee’s well-being in the pursuit of financial gain. There should be safety procedures in place. The equipment used should be of good quality. Any equipment that is owned by the company must be serviced and checked regularly. For example, if you are in charge of a construction company, then there should be a regular harness inspection that occurs. Taking measures such as this will prevent an incident from occurring. Not only will this save you the time and money involved when there is an injury, but it will also save you the personal grief of feeling responsible for an accident.

Take Care of Employee Health

Studies have shown that an employee’s work improves when an employer takes an interest in their well-being outside of the workplace. There are many ways in which this can be done. One of the most common ways is to provide some form of health and dental cover. This allows an employee to feel safe and secure. They know that if they run into any complications, they will be insured to cover the cost. Choosing the right health or dental clinic to ensure your employees can be a tough decision. It is hard to get the right mix of cover and cost-efficiency. You should read more on this if it concerns you.

Have a Party, Everyone Needs One

When you have provided a safe workplace and insured the employees, then there is only one thing left to do: celebrate! When employees feel safe, the next thing they want is to enjoy life. They get great satisfaction out of socializing with one another. Sometimes even a little acknowledgment can go a long way. Some appreciation gifts on special events for every employee who is constantly giving their hard work to the company. You can view website for some of the best gift ideas. One of the main components of a healthy mind is sufficient interaction with other humans. To familiarize yourself with the concept of mental health, you can check out these resources.

Providing a safe work environment is the duty of an employer. Follow the advice in this article to help you fulfill this duty.


Weekly newsletter

Recent Posts

Visit us on YouTube

Visit us on Google Plus

Visit us on Instagram

Visit us on Pinterest

Visit us on Reddit

Popular Posts

Categories

by James Adam

How to Hire Employees for Your Company: A Simple Guide


Business

In 2018, there was an average of 29 job applications per opening. Statistics show that only about two percent of applicants get an interview. As a hiring manager, how can you ensure the applicants chosen meet the cut?

Even more, how can you be sure the person you hire is the best choice among so many options?

It can be difficult deciding who would be the most valuable asset to your company. Thankfully, there are a few things you can do to help ensure you’re hiring the best employees for your company. With time, the hiring process will come second nature to you.

Ready for our simple hiring guide? Continue reading to learn how to hire employees for your company.

Outsource Hiring if Necessary

Hiring needs to be done by a qualified individual with significant HR training. The new hire process is one of several things HR professionals are trained to do. The task shouldn’t be left to a manager without this applicable training.

If your company doesn’t have an HR department, outsource one. Search online or ask around for HR companies you can outsource the task to. You can likely continue using this same company for future HR-related needs.

Evaluate Your Company’s Needs

Look at your company’s current needs with care and develop positions that cover those. It’s more important to fill vital roles versus filling desks.

A thorough evaluation of needs can help reduce the risk of creating redundant positions. It also reduces the risk of too much overlapping of responsibilities between employees. For the job applicants, understand specific tasks needing doing will create realistic expectations.

Build a Recruitment Strategy

Your recruitment strategy should be as far-reaching as necessary. Look at your potential options and utilize those that will be most effective. Examples of recruitment options include:

  • Ads in local newspapers
  • Ads on popular job search engines
  • Using your company’s social media pages
  • Asking current employees to use their social media pages
  • Posting print ads on local community boards or out front of your office

These are only a few options. There are many other ways you could build a recruitment strategy that works best for your company.

Wait for the Right Choice

You need to wait for the right employee choice and not hire someone without skills matching after desperation. Even if it takes weeks, it’s essential to hold out for someone who will be a valuable asset to your company.

More Questions About How To Hire Employees for Your Company?

Hiring employees for your company can feel overwhelming. Following the simple guide above can make it easier. Most important among these tips is to wait for the right hire instead of hiring out of desperation.

Do you have more questions about how to hire employees for your company?

Check out our other posts. You’ll find blogs on hiring employees and other business-related materials to help you learn more on the subject.

 

by James Adam

How to retain your best employees


Business

Staff turnover in a business will always occur, despite your best efforts. It’s incredibly rare for an employee to start working with your business and stay there until they retire (as nice as that would be!).

Having said that, a high employee turnover can cost a business greatly, and efforts should be made to reduce it as much as possible. Employees will always leave to further their careers or take advantage of great opportunities, but if staff are leaving due to poor management, lack of opportunities to develop, or a general unhappiness in the business – it’s time to take action.

We’ve identified a few key things any business can do to help reduce staff turnover today, and help to retain their best and brightest.

  1. Think beyond salary

Many people think that the salary an employee is paid is the biggest factor in whether they would be likely to be retained in the business, but that’s not always true. More increasingly, employees are retained by added benefits, positive working environments and most importantly, doing the job they love.

When trying to devise a strategy to retain your best employees, don’t fall into the trap of thinking money will solve the problem. An employee’s salary is important, and is likely a significant factor, but it’s not the be all and end all.

  1. Invest in your HR team

For any business looking to retain its people, a well developed and functioning HR team is essential. A major part of the HR team’s role is to ensure employee wellbeing and to identify and address any recurring issues employees might be facing which leads to them leaving the business.

Invest in your HR team by ensuring they have the numbers, skills and will to do the best job possible in retaining the best employees. Invest in HR software to allow the HR team to focus on the more important parts of their roles, rather than being snowed under with paperwork.

  1. Recognise your employees

When surveying employees who have recently left a business, one of the main issues which arises is a lack of recognition. A business who does not show recognition for it’s employees can be seen to undervalue them, which is a major driver of a lack of employee engagement. Would you want to work somewhere where you didn’t feel valued?

Review your processes, either via the HR Team, or with individual managers, to ensure that staff recognition is built into the processes of each team, and that good work is recognised and rewarded – even if only verbally.

  1. Involve employees in the process

One of the biggest mistakes a business can make is to think it has all the answers – this is often not the case. If you’re struggling to reduce staff turnover, why not try asking the staff what the issue is, and allowing them to feedback on the process to address it?

Tap in to the watercooler conversation, and try to get a real understanding of concerns amongst the workforce, and identify ways – in accordance with employees – in which these issues can be addressed.

Not only will this help to drive new ideas to reduce staff turnover, it can also give the team a sense of inclusion and value, as they’re being asked to contribute to the business strategy for retaining employees.

by James Adam

Effective Ways to Keep Employees Motivated


Business

Boredom and monotony are among the most common emotions felt by many members of the workforce. Reporting to the same location and performing the same menial tasks day after day can lead to reduced job satisfaction and low rates of employee retention. In short, if people don’t feel as if what they do matters, they’re liable to have a difficult time staying motivated at work. Fortunately, keeping employees happy and driven isn’t nearly as daunting as one might think. Employers looking for effective ways to keep their team members operating at peak efficiency would be wise to consider the following pointers.

Recognize Individual Effort

An employee who feels that his or her efforts are doomed to go unnoticed may not always be willing to put their best foot forward. In the absence of positive reinforcement, some people feel as if the level of effort they pour into their work is immaterial. After all, if the end result is always going to be the same, why expend any more than the bare minimum of time and energy? With this in mind, employers should make a point of recognizing and rewarding individual effort. Members of your team who consistently go above and beyond the call of duty should regularly receive gratitude in the form of verbal congratulations, promotions and appreciation gifts, like office art posters.

Eliminate Boredom

Boredom is one of the most prevalent problems facing modern-day workplaces – and it isn’t hard to see why. Although most full-time employees are required to be physically present for 40 hours a week, a sizable percentage of them don’t have enough work to eat up that much time. As a result, many workers have no choice but to twiddle their thumbs and wait for the workday to end after completing that day’s work quota. Businesses looking to stamp out boredom can benefit from being more flexible with regard to work hours. As long as deadlines are met, there’s often no reason for employees to be present for a full 40 hours. Allowing employees to assume greater control of their schedules and not require them to remain in the office when there’s no need for their presence can result in enhanced job satisfaction and more efficient workers.

Give Employees Something to Work Towards

At many jobs, it’s very easy to fall into a rut. If one’s efforts will never lead to pay raises or promotions, they’re liable to feel as if they’re just spinning their wheels in service of nothing. Employers can keep motivation high by promoting from within and offering raises to employees who perform well and/or have been with the company for many years. If employees always have a tangible reward in their sights, waning motivation will seldom be a problem.

Individual workers are any employer’s most valuable resource. When your employees are happy, their job satisfaction and the quality of their output are practically guaranteed to improve. As such, every employer should take measures to keep their team members motivated and enthusiastic about their jobs. If your workforce is need of motivation, encouragement or appreciation, the previously discussed tips can do your business a world of good.

by James Adam

StaffScapes Shares 6 Things A Manager Should Never Ask Their Employees to Do


Business

Managers should always set professional boundaries with employees. Failure to do so can result in uncomfortable situations when it comes to establishing leadership.

To draw a clear line where managers should not cross, here are six questions to avoid asking employees, detailed by StaffScapes, a top Colorado PEO.

Can you work over 40 hours this week?

Businesses such as accounting firms have busy seasons that almost always require overtime commitment. However, if seasonal or deadline expectations are unclear, a manager should never ask an employee to continuously work more hours than the original amount established upon hire.

Alternative solutions for teams working crazy hours week after week include alternating priorities or requesting a new hire to help lighten the workload.

I know you’re sick, but can you come in for work today?

Managers should also never ask employees to work while they are sick. Allow for recovery to take place to avoid getting the entire office ill. The last thing a manager should be doing is putting an employee’s health, and the health of other coworkers, at risk for company gain.

Can you keep in touch during your vacation?

Controlling managers often feel the need to establish a presence and dominance in all areas of an employee’s life, even outside of the office. This characteristic usually blossoms from power-hungry individuals in leadership positions. These individuals believe that as long as they pay people for their employment, employees belong to them.

In situations such as this, employees are forced to set boundaries for themselves to ensure their freedom outside of work. Create a form highlighting current work updates before leaving for vacation to avoid emails and calls.

Can you investigate what is going on with your teammate?

If an employee’s work ethic is declining, the last thing a manager should do is involve another employee, or worse, ask one to perform an investigation. Such involvement is disrespectful, a betrayal of trust, and exploitation of employee privacy.

The appropriate way to handle the situation is to schedule a one-on-one meeting revolving around performance evaluation. A personal meeting protects employees when they would rather keep their personal life private.

Can you forge a signature on this document?

For legal and ethical reasons, an employee should answer this question with a “no.” Believe it or not, this scenario occurs more often than it should.

Managers who ask employees this question will lose respect as a leader. No matter what, a good manager always delivers honesty and would never put an employee in such a predicament.

Can you clock out before wrapping up?

This question might seem harmless to some, but it is an illegal request. Some managers undergo penalization for allowing overtime because of established payroll targets. Encouraging employees to work off the clock to avoid punishment is not only wrong but is also a fast track to creating a bitter employee.

by James Adam

How to Motivate Your Employees: 5 Practical but Effective Tips


Business

An astonishing 70% of employees are either not engaged or are fully disengaged at work. This lackluster attitude costs businesses $300 billion a year in lost productivity.

Thankfully, learning how to motivate your employees isn’t that difficult and it doesn’t have to be expensive. Certainly keeping your employees motivated will be less expensive than all that lost productivity. Check out these fun ways to motivate your employees.

  1. Recognize Your Peeps

People love it when others notice that they are doing well. Recognizing your employees for their achievements is an excellent way to encourage them to make more of them.

The best part for you is that recognition is cheap or even free. It can be something simple like sending your employee a thank you note or email. Or it can be more formal, like naming them employee of the month. You can even give your employees the opportunity to vote for each other.

  1. Bonuses and Rewards

Everybody loves a little extra cash. Perhaps the best way to motivate your employees is to offer simple bonuses that will make them feel as though you care about them. You might give them a little reward for meeting a certain goal, or you can recognize them for their birthday or work anniversary.

You can use a tool like Bonus.ly to automate the process and help you keep track of your spending. Making your employees feel appreciated was never so easy!

  1. Friendly Company Culture

People always do better in positive environments. Work to create a company culture built around friendliness and camaraderie.

The people you choose to hire will have an effect on this, but your own attitude is perhaps your biggest asset. Your employees will look to you to understand how they should treat one another. If you are friendly and kind, they will be too (for the most part). If you are harsh and exacting, that will come out in your company culture as well.

  1. Encourage Ideas

Everyone has something unique to bring to the team. Show that you understand this and appreciate diversity of thought by being open to new ideas. Encourage your employees to come to you with their innovations. Sometimes they may seem silly at first, but with a bit of refining, they can blossom into an effective strategy for your company.

  1. Foster Friendly Competition

Most people are competitive at some level. Use that to your advantage and create little competitions among your staff. Keep it lighthearted and healthy fun, acknowledging those who do well and encouraging everyone to always strive for their best.

Keep Learning How to Motivate Your Employees to Success

Don’t ever stop innovating at any level of your business, including learning how to motivate your employees. Fresh ideas and new ways to show your appreciation keep things from getting dreary and losing their specialness. Try these tips now and add a few more later to keep your employees motivated for the long haul.

Looking for more great business advice? Don’t hesitate to check out our other articles!

by James Adam

Like a Boss: How to Create a Pay Stub for Your Employees


Business

If you run a small business and have to manage your employees accounting but don’t know how to create a pay stub, this post will show you how.

You have probably come across a pay stub, but do you know how to create one?

If you own or run a business, you’ll eventually need to hire employees. Those people want to get paid, and you need to know how to create a pay stub. Don’t worry, it’s easy with modern software once you know what you’re doing!

Keep reading for your quick guide to creating your own pay stubs for your employees.

What is a Pay Stub?

A paycheck isn’t just a check. It includes two parts, the check that the employee gives to a bank, and the stud that the employee keeps as a record.

One part is a piece of paper is deposited at the bank and traded for money. Employment pay stubs contain another part that is a sort of receipt that includes an itemized list of things that are being paid out.

You need to know how to create pay stubs for employees if you want to run a business. A financial advisor or a lawyer can help. There are some standard items on all pay stubs, gross wages, pay, taxes and with holdings.

Gross Wages

“Gross” means the number before deductions are taken out. It’s the amount of money the employer is paying out of his pocket total before any deductions or taxes are taken out.

Hours worked

If the employee is an hourly worker, the pay stub should include the total number of hours worked. Break down into the types of work performed, and if the work is overtime or regular wages. There is no independent contractor pay stub, just use the appropriate tax forms.

Pay Rate

The pay rate should be shown on the pay stub. Hourly workers should be shown the amount they are paid per hour. Salaried employees should be shown the amount due during the entire pay period.

Taxes, deductions, and Contributions

In the United States and many other countries, salaried employees get a rebate at the end of the year by the IRS [or whatever tax authority]. That’s because the employer must “deduct” the government’s take, and list it on the paystub. The money gets taken in advance before it’s paid to the employee.

Send this money to the IRS, and applied to the taxes due to the employee. Be sure you contact the proper tax authorities, and actually pay those taxes. Deducting an employee’s taxes and not actually paying them is about the fastest way to end your business there is, don’t do it!

How to Create a Pay Stub With Software

All modern accounting software either has a paystub generator included with it, or it has a plugin that can do it. It’s very easy to find a check stub maker template online for a pay stub. You can create a pay stub either using software or by using a template on the web.

You should definitely find a pre-maid solution instead of trying to create your own with a spreadsheet. A professional solution has already researched how to make pay stubs. Theirs will not only look better but will also prevent you from making a mistake.

It’s An Incredible Planet

Running a business can be hard, but it gets a lot easier when you know what you’re doing. You don’t have to know how to create a pay stub from scratch, just find the right software solution that outputs the right template. Then get back to doing what you do best: running your business!

by James Adam

5 Important Tips for Successfully Managing Remote Employees


Business

Remote workers play an integral role in business today. If managing remote employees is part of your day job, here’s how to keep them informed and inspired.

Technology has made the idea of employing a remote workforce a real possibility for businesses. In fact, 53% of people around the world work remotely at least half of the week.

In order to be successful, remote workforce management techniques must be in place. If they’re not, things could fall between the cracks.

Let’s go over five tips that will make managing remote employees easier.

  1. Strong Engagement with Your Employees

Because remote workers aren’t physically in front of you, it’s easy for communication to suffer. As a manager, you can’t let this happen.

It’s absolutely critical you communicate with your remote staff on a daily basis. This ensures everyone is clear about what tasks are a top priority and that no questions go unanswered.

Make sure everyone has access to the tools necessary to maintain a strong line of communication with you and the clients. Use a free conference call program to host meetings and incorporate a reliable chat service for quick outreach.

  1. Meet Face-to-Face

If you employ full-time remote workers, you still need to make it a point to visit with them face to face. This helps strengthen the bond between you and your staff and allows them to discuss any issues they may have.

If your remote workers are local, have them come in for a meeting once a month. If they’re far away, there are plenty of video conference tools you can use.

When meeting face to face, ask your remote staff if there’s anything you can do to make the overall workflow easier. There’s a good chance they’ll have ideas you haven’t thought of.

  1. A Clearly Defined Process

With any remote team, a detailed process must be in place from the beginning. This will define the way jobs get assigned, completed, and submitted.

Your remote workers must also remain accountable for adhering to this process. If someone feels they can get a project done more efficiently, they need to communicate this to you instead of working outside the project guidelines.

  1. Provide Regular Feedback

Workers who telecommute sometimes feel unsure whether their work is up to par or if they need to improve on things. To avoid this, help them out by providing constructive criticism.

Take some time to evaluate each person’s work, then set aside time speak with them about their performance. This allows them the chance to evolve and also ensures you’re providing a high-quality product.

Your face-to-face meetings are the perfect opportunity to give feedback.

  1. Keep Their Career Goals in Mind

You remote staff produces work for you on a regular basis and is the backbone of your operation. However, they’re individuals with their own career goals. It’s easy to forget this when you don’t see them on a regular basis.

Make sure you provide opportunities for them to learn new skills and hone their talents. You should also offer promotions and give remote workers the chance to move around within the company.

Make Managing Remote Employees Easy

Your off-site staff is just as important as employees you see on a daily basis. Make sure they have the management support they need to do their jobs the best way they know how.

Integrate these tips on managing remote employees into your operational process and enjoy continued growth.