Author Archives: Ella Mason

Small Business Entrepreneurs: 5 Steps for Running Your Own HR Department

Posted on by

Turning a small business venture into a successful, profitable machine is a difficult thing to achieve.  According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 34 percent of new business ventures fail within two years and 56 percent fail within 4 years.  Assuming a business venture is properly planned and funded, the single biggest error that small business owners make is neglecting management.

Things like managing payroll, hiring employees and tracking their performance, taking the proper steps prior to terminating employees and complying with local, state and federal laws may seem like tasks better suited for large companies.  But if entrepreneurs wish to become big business owners, they should act like a big business owner from the outset.

1. Create an Employee Handbook

An employee handbook is one of the employer’s best tools to inform employees regarding workplace policies and procedures, prohibited conduct, potential grounds for termination, clarification of employee status and handling of grievances.  Small business entrepreneurs may have rules in mind, and they may even have conversations with employees regarding workplace rules.

Without a handbook, however, employees could argue that they were never properly informed of policies and procedures, making it more difficult for employers to justify discipline or termination based on violation of the rules.  Small business entrepreneurs should strive to create an employee handbook, regardless of the size of their workforce.

2. Don’t Hire Bad People

This seems straightforward enough, but many small business entrepreneurs are unfamiliar with the tools at their disposal to identify candidates with skeletons in their closets.  Employee background checks are essential toward bringing the right people into the company.

These checks may include a review of an applicant’s criminal history, credit history and references.  In so doing, however, business owners must comply with a litany of federal and state laws controlling how such checks should be performed and what information is permissible for them to acquire and use in the decision-making process.

3. Set Up an Employee Training and Discipline Program

While entrepreneurs need to hire the right candidates, they also need to retain the right employees and discipline the right employees. Proper training initiatives can result in increased productivity and retention, reduced turnover and the need to spend valuable time and money hiring replacements.

Similarly, performance improvement plans, applied fairly and consistently to employees, can produce positive outcomes or, where employees are unsalvageable, lay the groundwork for lawful discipline or termination.

4. Manage Payroll Like an Accountant…with a Law Degree

This is a complex area of the law, but the complexity is no excuse, even for inexperienced entrepreneurs.  Employers are obligated to pay their employees in a timely manner, deduct and remit the proper taxes to local, state and federal authorities, report accurate information and account for benefits.  Thankfully, automated payroll systems exist to take much of the guess work out of this process, but small business entrepreneurs must familiarize themselves with the regulations and take steps to implement procedures to comply with the law.

5. Don’t Act in Haste; Build a Case

Inevitably, employers will need to take action against problematic employees, whether the action is warning, suspension or termination.  In some cases, however, a hasty response can create additional problems for the employer, resulting in costly, time-consuming litigation.  To guard against this possibility, employers must fully and contemporaneously document all instances of employee misconduct, warnings, progressive discipline and the results of internal investigations.

When employers have built up evidence to substantiate a decision to warn, suspend or terminate, they must still be cognizant of state and federal laws that protect employees from discrimination or retaliation.  Only after employers have reviewed the evidence and the law should they take action.

Ensuring Your Child’s Safety On The Road

Posted on by

 

For any parent, the moment that your child passes their driving test is an undoubtedly daunting experience. Whilst you may have had months to prepare for it, you’ve not even contemplated that moment when they’re legally allowed to drive out on the big wide road world on their own.

Now, I know it’s only a natural parental instinct to want to wrap them up in cotton wool and drive them around everywhere yourself, but there comes a time when you have let them go to enjoy their own independence and freedom.

However, there are things you can do to both increase their safety and ease your own parental worries, whilst they’re out on the road.

Enroll Them In a Pass Plus Course

Although your child has already invested a lot of time and money into initially learning to drive, once they’ve passed their test, you can arrange for them to take ‘Pass Plus’ – a 6-hour driving scheme that allows new drivers to gain more confidence in other driving conditions that they may not have experienced in their normal lessons, such as town driving, all-weather driving, driving out of town, night driving, driving on dual carriageways and driving on motorways.

The ‘Pass Plus’ scheme can usually be done with their current driving instructor and in the car they’ve recently been learning in, however, many driving instructors will be happy to do it your child’s own car – should they have one waiting for them after they’ve passed! Once the 6 hours have been completed, it requires no test, and your child will receive a certificate stating they’ve completed it. Undertaking the scheme may also reduce the cost of their insurance if you notify their car insurance provider once it’s been completed.

Enforce Mobile Phone Rules

One of the biggest and most common problems amongst new, young drivers is the distraction of a mobile phone whilst on the road. We all know how much they’re already glued to them when they’re using them in the home, but quickly checking a test message or replying to a BBM whilst behind the wheel can have devastating impacts.

Once your youngster has passed their driving test, it’s important to sit down with them and discuss a personal set of rules that they must adhere as soon as they get behind the wheel to drive. Encourage them to switch their mobile phones once they get in their car, in order to make sure there’s no possibility of distraction whilst they’re on the road. As well as removing the distraction, doing so will also have the added benefit of saving their battery life, should they break down or run into a situation where they may need to call you.

Fit a GPS Tracking System

Now, I know you’ve probably read the heading of this and thought “surely having a tracking system fitted is going a little too far when it comes to parental worrying?’ but, hear me out, because having a GPS tracking system fitted in your child’s car will not only put your worries to rest, but it’ll also make sure they do actually drive safely.

I’m sure that you’ve probably already sat down and discussed with your child the importance of driving safely, but we know how exciting passing your driving test is, and all you do is want to get out on the road, show your car off to your friends and offer to drive them around everywhere. But, unfortunately, sometimes the excitement can often lead to lack of concentration and even sensible awareness, which can lead to accidents.

Are you sat at home late at night worrying where your child is if they haven’t got home at the time they said they would? Well, with a GPS system, such as those available from Track What Matters, you can easily track their location, track what route they’ve taken, and even track what speed they’ve been travelling at – so you’ll easily be able to tell both if they’re safe and if they’ve been also been driving safely.

The Benefits of Playing Bingo

Posted on by

Ah, the game of Bingo; we all know someone who plays it regularly, whether it be our mums or our grandmas, and although we all know how to play it ourselves, none of us do. Why? Because, I bet we all believe the stereotype that the game of Bingo is only for the elderly generations, right?

Well, it’s time to quash the stereotype, because playing Bingo isn’t just for the over 65’s. In fact, the game holds many benefits for all, and more and more of the younger generations in Britain are enjoying the game because of them.

Still don’t believe me? Well, here’s a rundown of some of the benefits that playing bingo could bring you:

1. Money, Money, Money!

So, although this benefit may be pretty obvious, it often baffles me that people shun the benefit of being able to win money just because they feel the game’s for the older generation. Whether you choose to play at your local bingo hall, or whether you choose to join an online bingo website, join up fees cost next to nothing, when you consider that you have the chance to win up to thousands of pounds!

However, aside from also helping you to make money, playing bingo can also help you to save money – particularly if you choose to play online. Many bingo sites offer promotional incentives, either in the form of voucher discounts for all your favourite stores, or even the chance to earn points which can be accumulated over time to be spent or exchanged at some of the nation’s biggest stores. 

2. Play From The Comfort of Your Own Home

As I’ve mentioned, bingo can be played online – there are thousands of sites, such as this online bingo voted best site, designed specifically to let you do so. So, if you’re desperate to play and start winning but are a little conscious of popping down to your local hall on your own, then you can play from the comfort of your own home!

The huge benefit of this is that the traditional game of bingo can be played in a much more contemporary way. And, this is one of the main reasons that the game has seen as huge rise in popularity in recent years amongst the younger generations.

Signing up to an online bingo site is quick and easy and you can be on your way to playing bingo against thousands of others up and down the country in a matter of minutes. And, what’s more, the thrill and excitement of getting a full house is just as fun if you were to play it in a bingo hall.

3. Social Aspect

Bingo, whether played virtually or for real, is a great social game. Traditionally, it was the thrill of playing in a packed, buzzing bingo hall that lured in players, but now, with online chat facilities and forums, you can meet and play other bingo fanatics over the web. So, whether you’re looking to grab some new bingo tips from someone who’s been playing a lot longer, or whether you just want to have a good old natter with a regular you play against often, then online bingo is the perfect way to do so

Why Your Business Needs Car Bumper Stickers

Posted on by

When you run your own business getting your message across is an important factor. If you are offering the best service or goods then you’ll want to shout from the rooftops about it. Most people have exhausted all of the usual marketing tools at their disposal, but if you don’t use car bumper stickers then you are definitely missing a trick.

 

Car bumper stickers are a great way to advertise your business or get your point across without the hard sell aspect of some other marketing options. Compared with other outdoor marketing tools, bumper stickers are relatively cost effective considering their reach. You can fork out huge amounts of cash for perfectly placed billboards advertising your company and offers but a bumper sticker can often be seen by many more potential customers as they are a form of mobile advertising.

 

If you decide that car bumper sticker advertising is for you then ensure your feature all the necessary information – whether you are advertising a business or an offer you must give people a way of contacting you or taking up the offer. The easiest way to do this is with a phone number or email address. Your sticker should also feature your company logo. Bumper stickers are well received if they are humorous in nature, have you ever laughed at a political bumper sticker and made a mental note to get one for your car?

 

Your bumper stickers aren’t just for people who work for you, give them out to satisfied customers to extend your advertising reach even further. You can even offer a discount to customers who have one of your bumper stickers on their car.

 

Bumper stickers are also a great way to keep an eye on your employees. Many commercial vehicles now feature stickers that ask fellow road users ‘How’s my driving?’ offering you valuable feedback.

 

Grab the very best car bumper stickers for your business from harris screen print, they offer a full range of screen-printed stickers that they print in-house.

New Year, New You, New House! – Part 4:

Posted on by

So, it seems that I’m still loving this whole “New Year, New You” series of mine – I keep thinking of more things to write about! Well, in this series (which I think is part 4 – however, I have lost count a little bit…), I’ve decided to write a little chapter for those who are deciding to build their own houses in 2013. After all, taking the decision to build your own home can be an exceptionally daunting prospect for most, so it’s always nice to have a little helping hand along the way.

Part of the problem of building your own home is actually knowing where to start; how do you know what design to choose? How do you go about choosing the best sub-contractors? How do you source the right materials for the right price? With all of these questions, it’s easy to get lost in the self-build-construction-jungle.

Well, in order to help you along a little bit, a good place to start is with the actual structure of your future home; from the bricks, to the walls, to the roof. Surely it’s just as simple as a few bricks and tiles, right? Wrong. Because, the key to a well built home lies with a strong and sturdy well built frame.

You’ve been looking at the range of options available to start with this all-important structure, but with so many choices available, you feel like you’re back at square one with all the confusing questions and decisions. However, in your desperate hunt to find one, you have come across one that sounds quite interesting; timber frames.

But, how do you know if timber frames are the right option to exactly meet the requirements the planned structure you hope to build? Well, this run-down of these benefits may just help you decide:

1. Highly Adaptable

Timber frames are the perfect option for all kinds of building design needs; whether you’re looking to self-build communal buildings, flats or housing, as they can be altered and adapted to fit any structure. As well as providing the highest quality supports for your build, they also boast high environmental performance, energy efficiency and the ability to meet top sustainability targets.

2. Reduce Building Times and Costs

Timber frames also dramatically reduce building times – in fact, timber frame construction requires 20% fewer on-site labor days than traditional methods. So, that means 20% fewer days your sub-constructors have to be on-site, and therefore, 20% less time that you have to pay them for! Sounds like a good option, right? And what’s more; timber frames also save up to 5% in building costs compared to traditional brick and block construction – so you can save your money for other aspects of your home build process.

3. Environmentally-Friendly

Another key advantage of using a timber frame, such as those available from http://www.eco-dam.com/, in a self-build project, is it’s ability to help cut onside waste into the environment. So if you’re looking to help the environment and are particularly conscious about being ec-ofriendly throughout the entirety of the construction process, then a timber frame structure will be the perfect option for you!

Making Memories This Christmas

Posted on by

The festive period will soon be over; in 5 short days, all of the presents will be ripped open, the turkey will be eaten, and the Queen’s annual speech will have been broadcast.

We all love Christmas, but as quick as it comes around, it seems to vanish just as fast, every year. And, even though the kids are off school and we’ve taken a few extra days off work to try and savor every festive moment, it seems like it’s always over before it’s even started – and when it’s all over and done with, we’ve not had any time for savoring those special moments at all. You’ve been too busy faffing around preparing the turkey, making sure all the wrapping paper has been cleared up, and making sure your in-laws are all catered for, that you haven’t had any time to watch as the kids open their presents with excitement.

So, in order to help you do so a little more of the important things this year, here are a few ways you can document your own personal Christmas period – so you make sure you’re able to look back at those priceless family moments, when the festive period has passed:

Take Plenty Of Photos!

Now, I’m sure taking photos is the last thing you think of doing on Christmas Day – the day is hectic as it is, let alone trying to get the whole family to pose for photographs!

So, rather than getting the kids to pose for them, take the photos amidst all the excitement; such as everyone’s opening all of their presents or whilst Dad’s trying to carve the turkey. Taking photographs amongst all the hustle and bustle is the best way to really capture the special moments of the day as they happen.

Make a Photo Book

Once all of the hectic-ness of Christmas is over, take time to look over all of the photographs you took on the day – you’re guaranteed to have captured plenty of moments that’ll make you smile and laugh as you look back over them. Print them off and make a photo book with them all, so you can reflect back on them all year round. Or, if you’ve got some thank you cards to do, print off the pictures and attach them to some card for a homemade personal touch, so everyone can see for themselves just how much their gifts were appreciated!

Make a DVD

As well as photographs, a great way to capture the Christmas memories is with videos – whether taken with a video camcorder, or captured on your mobile phone, they’re so easy to make and they can be uploaded straight to your computer – so you can upload them to your social media pages for all of your family and friends on the other side of the world to see, or you can make great presents with them.

Making DVD’s with your videos and photographs couldn’t be simpler – there are plenty of DVD duplication programs available for download on the Internet, which allow to burn a range of media files straight onto a DVD, so you can send them out to all of your loved ones. Or, there are a variety of companies who’ll sort it all out for you! So, all you need to do is relax as the company send your DVD straight to you, and sit back and put your feet up as you watch back over your special memories from Christmas!

Top Tips For Choosing The Ring For The One

Posted on by

With only 10 full days until the end of 2012, it’s time to get thinking about those all-important New Years Resolutions – What are you going to vow to stick to? Have you got something in mind you want to do that’ll make 2013 unforgettable?

For many couples that have been together for a relatively long time, the turning of a new year can often signify the pondering of the big question; “Will he or won’t he this year?” Yes, that’s right; I’m talking about the big decision of proposing.

Choosing the right time for get down on one knee can be a difficult decision as it is, but choosing the right ring can take on a new meaning of ‘difficult’ altogether; after all you know that you need to buy an engagement ring, but with so many colors, stones and styles available, you feel completely lost in the engagement-ring-jungle.

So, for those of you out there who are thinking that 2013 is going to be the year the for proposing to The One, in order to help you on your quest, here are my top tips for not only choosing the right ring, but for choosing a truly amazing one:

1. Listen To Everything Your Loved One Says

If you’ve got no clue what kind of ring your loved one would love, then a good tip is to listen to everything that the say – because chances are, they will mention things that they like – and if you’re listening hard enough, then they may even mention something to with rings specifically!

Things such as what colour ring they’d like, to even what stone they’d like may be mentioned on the off-chance, so rather than just nodding “yeah, yup, uh-huh” whilst pretending your listening like you usually do, it’ll definitely pay off to listen for once…

2. Ask Family and Friends

The family and friends of your loved one should be one of your first points of call, when it comes to deciding what ring to choose – after all, their mum, dad or siblings are bound to know exactly what they kind of ring they want!

If you also all chip in and put your heads together, chances are, you’ll all contribute to the choosing of a truly amazing ring. So, when you’re about to embark on stepping into the jewelers to take the plunge of buying a ring, make sure you take one of them with you – not only will they help you choose one, but at least you won’t have to take the sole blame if your choice isn’t to their liking!

3. Look At Their Other Rings For Sizes

Now I know what you’re thinking: “You have sizes for rings? Surely, they just come in small, medium and large, right?” Well, unfortunately for you they don’t – engagement rings or eternity rings sizes are normally determined by a range of letters.

So, if you have no clue what size your loved one is, then a good tip is to take one of their most worn rings and take it with you into the shop when you’re choosing one – the jewelers may then be able to determine what size ring they may need. However, it’s important to note what ring they normally wear that chosen ring on – after all, your ring finger is a completely different size to the middle or forefinger!

 

 

 

The Top 3 Must-Have Tech Gifts This Christmas

Posted on by

So, with 10 days to go until the big day, that dreaded Christmas-shopping-panic feeling has just set in; you’ve still got all the food to buy and you’re nowhere near to getting finished with the present purchasing – quite frankly, you’re in dire need of a Christmas shopping fairy to help you get it done all in time.

Part of the problem that’s stopping you from getting all of your gifts bought is the fact that you haven’t got a clue what to get everyone – your daughter has just said she wants the latest tablet, your son just wants a ‘cool’ game, and your other half has said he’s more than happy to have anything ‘techy’. And, this is where you say hello to your second problem – not knowing what to get them is one thing, but not knowing what on earth the latest technologies even are, opens up a whole new can of Christmas worms all together.

Well, if you’re struggling for inspiration this year or are in need of a little guidance on what to buy, here is our guide to the top 3 tech gifts you should buy this Christmas:

1. Kindle Fire HD 7 Inch Tablet

The Kindle Fire HD is the perfect gift if you’ve got a book-lover in your family. Combining free wireless with liquid ink technology, this eReader is the closest you’ll get to reading a real book – but, with the added advantage of being able to store all your favorite books in one handy device to read on the go! Sporting a full QWERTY keyboard, soft-touch finish, exclusive Dolby audio stereo speakers, as well as boasting the world’s first tablet with dual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi for 40% faster downloads and streaming (phew! That was a mouthful – don’t worry, your tech-mad recipient will know exactly what all that means), it really is a must-have present this Christmas. For a 16GB data memory, you’re looking at a price tag of £159, or for the larger 32GB, it’ll set you back around £199.

2. Google Nexus 7

If you’re looking for this year’s newest and most exciting touch screen tablet, then Google’s rival product to the Apple iPad is the perfect option this Christmas. With impressive specifications, solid performance and raving reviews, whoever you decide to buy the gift for will not be left disappointed.

And what’s more, at costing far less than Apple’s new iPad mini, it’s the perfect option for you if you’re being particularly cautious on what you spend. Just like the Kindle Fire HD, a 16GB data memory will cost you around £159, with the larger model setting you back around £199.

And, if you’re feeling extra generous, you can also shop around for the best Internet bolt on deals, so your loved one can get using the Google Nexus 7 as soon as they open it. Whether they want to use it to hunt out the latest fashions from Topshop, New Look or Topman, or want to buy themselves some more techy gadgets in the sales, such as the latest transducers from www.transducertechniques.com, they’ll be able to surf the Internet to their heart’s content on Christmas Day!

3. Arcadie for iPhone

The Arcadie for iPhone is the perfect stocking filler present if you’ve got a gaming-fanatic youngster in the family. Simply pop an iPhone or iPod Touch into the case and it’ll convert it into a miniature arcade. With 6 free apps available, your recipient is bound to have endless hours of fun with this great device! And, even better for you, depending on where you buy it, you can grab for anything between £8 to £17 – it’s the perfect stocking-filler!