http://blog.inc.com/human-resources/ en-us 2008-12-15T17:47:20-05:00 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 http://blog.inc.com/human-resources/2008/12/making_a_list_and_checking_it.html This time of year I find myself writing many lists -- holiday gifts to purchase, greetings cards to send, and New Year’s resolutions to strive for. In the same way that we all use lists in our personal lives to... 4082@http://blog.inc.com/human-resources/ 2008-12-15T17:47:20-05:00 http://blog.inc.com/human-resources/2008/12/small_business_compliance.html Basically, small business compliance involves doing a lot of administrative stuff to please various government agencies. Sure, these rules and regulations provide necessary societal safeguards, but, at the same time, they also take the fun out of being an entrepreneur.... 4049@http://blog.inc.com/human-resources/ 2008-12-09T16:53:10-05:00 http://blog.inc.com/human-resources/2008/11/staying_afloat_in_a_down_econo.html Here are 10 tips for keeping your business in business during the economic crisis: No.1 - Protect Your Revenues Without revenues, you don't have a business. Protect your revenues by making sure that you don't lose key customers. Double up... 3985@http://blog.inc.com/human-resources/ 2008-11-19T16:39:44-05:00 http://blog.inc.com/human-resources/2008/11/health_care_that_wont_break_th.html Times have gotten tough for small-business owners. By containing your healthcare plan costs, you might help ease some of the economic pressures bearing down on your business. Health insurance can be emotional. After all, we’re talking about your health and,... 3958@http://blog.inc.com/human-resources/ 2008-11-11T14:31:10-05:00 http://blog.inc.com/human-resources/2008/10/motivating_staff_during_tough.html It’s challenging to keep up morale and motivate staff when the marketplace is filled with uncertainty. Having survived several economic cycles, I’ve seen the benefits of investing in staff even during the lean times. During those times, I’ve been able... 3884@http://blog.inc.com/human-resources/ 2008-10-20T16:58:20-05:00 http://blog.inc.com/human-resources/2008/08/a_handbook_on_handbooks_1.html Do you really need an employee handbook for your small business? Or would an employee "handpage" be enough? Many small-business owners wonder if documentation outlining company policies is really necessary to maintain an effective and growing company. Let's take a... 3582@http://blog.inc.com/human-resources/ 2008-08-26T16:57:57-05:00 http://blog.inc.com/human-resources/2008/07/sensible_compensation.html Compensation is a hot-button issue for employees, but it's an even bigger deal for small-business owners these days. With shrinking profits in this tight economy and costly benefits hanging over your head, there's no room for error in defining employee... 3352@http://blog.inc.com/human-resources/ 2008-07-03T15:01:18-05:00 http://blog.inc.com/human-resources/2008/06/the_benefit_of_benefits.html Every entrepreneur knows that benefits play a central role in employee compensation packages, and as a result, most business owners happily invest in good benefits to be competitive. But smart entrepreneurs also use benefits as a way to filter out... 3266@http://blog.inc.com/human-resources/ 2008-06-09T11:34:17-05:00 http://blog.inc.com/human-resources/2008/05/earning_employee_love.html What's your approach to attracting top talent and keeping your employees? Sure, you could just pay them a bundle and buy their loyalty. But, sometimes, it's better to think outside the box and focus on other ways to compensate your... 3204@http://blog.inc.com/human-resources/ 2008-05-21T16:20:16-05:00 http://blog.inc.com/human-resources/2008/02/paychecks_arent_everything.html Creating a great working experience can lower your payrolls and boost staff morale at the same time. Think your employees are asking for too much money? If so, you may want to think about how you can motivate them without... 3108@http://blog.inc.com/human-resources/ 2008-02-19T15:46:36-05:00 http://blog.inc.com/human-resources/2008/01/performance_based_pay.html A well-structured incentive program can boost productivity and instill a sense of shared responsibility among employees. Fed up with compensation plans that are fueled by an entitlement mentality, some employers are turning the tables and indexing pay to the one... 3107@http://blog.inc.com/human-resources/ 2008-01-25T15:38:45-05:00 http://blog.inc.com/human-resources/2008/01/keeping_top_talent_happy.html Employee retention doesn't happen by itself. It requires a proactive strategy from the business owner and management team. One of the most enjoyable aspects of my job as a payroll services provider is that I have the opportunity to talk... 3106@http://blog.inc.com/human-resources/ 2008-01-08T15:23:52-05:00 http://blog.inc.com/human-resources/2007/09/workplace_cell_phone_policies.html Employers can be liable for road accidents caused by worker cell phone use. A strict safety policy can help. While text messaging, photos, and Internet access have boosted the popularity of cell phones in the workplace, they've also increased the... 2303@http://blog.inc.com/human-resources/ 2007-09-21T17:58:11-05:00 http://blog.inc.com/human-resources/2007/09/stressfree_firing.html Letting an employee go is never a pleasant experience, but with the right approach it can be done with a clear conscience. No one enjoys the task of firing employees. But far from being a necessary evil, terminating an ineffective... 2302@http://blog.inc.com/human-resources/ 2007-09-10T17:54:19-05:00 http://blog.inc.com/human-resources/2007/08/tougher_rules_on_deferred_pay.html The Treasury Department is clamping down on tax regulations for deferred compensation plans. Are you in compliance? Executive compensation plans frequently involve what are known as nonqualified deferred compensation plans, or NDCPs. These plans allow executives and their employers to... 2209@http://blog.inc.com/human-resources/ 2007-08-08T12:00:23-05:00