The Thriving Small Business

tips for small business

13 Tips For Improving Job Satisfaction

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According to a Employee Job Satisfaction and Engagement Report by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), 88% of US employees reported overall satisfaction with their current job in 2015.

This number is the highest level of satisfaction in 10 years. The purpose of the survey was to identify those factors that contribute to employee satisfaction in the workplace. Read the Full Article →

3 Tips To Make Managing Employees Easier

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Anyone who is responsible for managing others will attest to the fact that it can be one of the most challenging aspects of a supervisor’s job.

However when done strategically, and with an end in mind, it can be a positive, and even rewarding, experience for both parties. Understanding some simple performance management tactics can help! Read the Full Article →

Wage Garnishments: A Sensitive Legal Requirement

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Early in my career I worked in the payroll office of a large hospital. I was young and naive when I was first exposed to wage garnishments.

I was exposed to wage garnishments at this early age and was required to submit paperwork to have money withheld from an employee’s paycheck when the organization got notice of a garnishment demand. Read the Full Article →

Sample Employee Performance Goals

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We all get that in order to make money, we need to create a quality product or service that someone will pay for. Employee performance goals help organizations do just that.

Providing a well structured performance management process is the most effective way to accomplish organizational goals.

This management of performance should be based on goals set at the organizational level and driven down throughout the organization.

Read the Full Article →

Ask These 5 Questions To Improve Employee Performance

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There is a secret that can help improve employee performance. Sometimes you simply need to ask some questions.

When I was young I measured the work day by biding my time until lunch, enjoying my lunch and then biding my time until I could clock out and go home.

Mornings drug on but afternoons were even worse.  Read the Full Article →

Advantages and Disadvantages of Performance Appraisals

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Employees, as well as managers, often question why organizations do employee performance appraisals.

Anyone who has ever been on the receiving end of a performance appraisal could argue why they perceive it to be ineffective and a complete waste of time.

Employees often feel unjustly assessed, and managers often go through a forced annual process to comply with job expectations. Read the Full Article →

6 Reasons To Encourage Employees to Take A Vacation

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Spring has sprung and vacation season is just around the corner.

From the time we are small children we are programmed to look forward to summer vacation.  And for most of us we carry that into adulthood.

I’m always a little sad when I see an employee who never takes vacation. Read the Full Article →

6 Tips For Dealing With Anger in the Workplace

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Have you ever been in a meeting when an employee just “lost” it and either went on a tirade or got up and slammed out of the room?

If you ever have encountered an employee who has a burst of anger at work, you understand the impact of those behaviors and the ripple effect it has on the entire organization. Read the Full Article →

4 Steps to Successful Termination Through Progressive Discipline

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Anyone who manages people hopes that employees follow policy, accomplish goals and get along with co-workers.

Unfortunately, there are times when that does not happen and managers are forced to correct and discipline employees.

This is one of the least favorite responsibilities of a manager – but a necessary part of  managing employee performance. Read the Full Article →

25 Interview Questions To Ask A Job Candidate

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Anyone who has ever interviewed a job candidate understands that it can be a daunting task.

Knowing the right questions to ask is critical to identifying the right fit for your organization.

Interviewing is a skill that is developed with practice and being prepared for the interview is an important first step. Read the Full Article →

5 Steps To Help You Prepare to Interview a Job Candidate

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Hiring a new employee can be an exciting yet stressful time for a small business owner.

The reason being – no one wants to make the costly mistake of hiring the wrong person.

There are many steps to the hiring process – articulating the need, creating a job description, budgeting for salary, advertising and reviewing applications to select a handful of candidates to interview. Read the Full Article →