Emails may be causing much of your workplace misunderstandings. According to a study by Preply, a foreign language platform, 87% of people believe that email causes much of the fractured communication and anxiety happening in today’s workplace. Most of us have received an email from a colleague that has perplexed us. Without hearing their voice inflections, or looking into another’s ...
There are certain chapters in the Bible that seem to overflow with pearls of wisdom. For wise business counsel, I find great treasures in Psalm 37. As a young man, I was frequently around a mechanic who had a quick temper. He had very little patience for people questioning his work. This resulted in angry responses at times that ...
The Federal Trade Commission wishes to eliminate most noncompete agreements, causing concern in the business community. If I sell you my business, it would be foolish for you to allow me to start a competing business across the street. A noncompete can be a reasonable solution. But some companies force employees to sign restrictive noncompetes that jeopardizes their employee’s ...
Previously, we discussed the Federal Trade Commission’s desire to eliminate most noncompete agreements. There are usually two primary reasons for noncompete agreements: protecting customers and/or protecting trade secrets. To protect the loss of customers, you might use a non-solicitation agreement instead of a noncompete agreement. Non-solicitation agreements prevent former employees from pursuing your customers after they have left your employment. ...
As if small businesses need any more trouble, a Quest Diagnostics study reveals that marijuana use in workers has surged 44% since 2016. Many of your employees may be stoned while working with your customers. With marijuana now legal in 17 states, many dismiss concerns about the use of pot. But if you’ve ever been around heavy marijuana users, you ...
Conducting performance reviews with staff members who need some correction can be very stressful. When I was in banking, I had some staff that I liked personally, others, not so much. Over time, I learned that when I didn’t have a personal connection to someone it was easier to come across as cold and uncaring. This caused the truth of ...
In 1882, the first Labor Day parade was organized by the Central Labor Union. Laborers in that era were forced to work seven days a week for 60 hours or more! Many laborers felt like they were being worked as essential laborers but treated as nonessential. Due to Covid, the government this year declared some workers as essential while others ...
The US Chamber of Commerce describes two major employee challenges for reopening business, “First, are your employees willing and available to come back? And secondly, are they able to follow the proper procedure to reopen safely?” Reopening a business presents employee challenges that may be difficult to navigate. Knowing how to reincorporate employees into the work environment can lead to ...
In the show, Undercover Boss, a CEO goes undercover within their own business, working closely with frontline people to learn more about their business. During the show finale the CEO’s usually give some employees promotions, bonuses or help them with family issues. Rick Betenbough, founder of Betenbough Homes, contends that this happens because of what he called “close engagement.” When ...
The founder of Betenbough Homes, Rick Betenbough, was surprised when his CFO pronounced that he was leaving the company to start a new business. When Rick asked what kind of business, he was stunned to learn it was going to be a competing home building business! Rick wrestled with this news until he remembered that his own provision comes from ...
Equipping Others to Do Work Differently
