Author: Aira

Six Workplace Health And Safety Issues Every Employer Should Be Aware Of

The days of deference are well and truly over and whilst a few generations ago staff  were willing to put up with unsafe or unhealthy conditions, these days putting your employees at risk can completely ruin your business.

License: Creative Commons image source
License: Creative Commons image source

A serious accident can mean a huge compensation pay out or even a criminal conviction, but smaller seeming issues can leave companies with a large price to pay if they don’t address them properly.

If you’re a company owner or you manage staff, take a look at these workplace health and safety issues which you shouldn’t ignore.

1. Blowing Hot and Cold

There is no official law regarding the minimum temperature that people can generally work at
, but the health and Safety Executive (HSE) does specify that workroom temperatures should be 13°C if the work is particularly physical and 16°C if it isn’t. The HSE says that workers should be able to carry out their jobs comfortably without the need to wear special clothing. So if your place of work is an ice box in winter and an oven in summer, you could run the risk of getting a serious complaint from staff.

2. Cramped Conditions

Squeezing too many people into a workplace will not only make it an unpleasant environment to be in but could also pose a danger. Injury and death is far more likely to be caused in over capacity buildings in the event of a fire, for example. To calculate whether your workspace meets HSE standards the volume of your space divided by the number of staff who work in it should be 11 cubic metres or more.

3. Lighten Up

The HSE
dictates that workspaces are adequately lit in order for employees to carry out tasks. This means that you can regulate light in different parts of your building. For example corridors don’t need to be as brightly lit as offices. It’s also a good idea to give staff control over light for example by allowing desk lamps.

4. Vibration and Noise

Noise can increase stress levels as well as being physically damaging so if your work environment is particularly noisy you must protect your staff appropriately. If the noise is sufficient staff should wear ear protectors. In addition, body vibration which can be caused by close contact with large machinery or when driving vehicles, can cause vision problems and back pain.

5. Taking a Break

According to the law workplace toilets must be clean, securable from the inside, well-ventilated and accessible, but it’s also essential to ensure you have enough toilet
facilities for your employees. If you have less than 6 staff then one toilet is acceptable but any more than that and by law you should have two or more toilets. In addition, there should be an equal number of sinks and clean drinking water available. If your staff are required to wear special clothing such as protective gear then they should be provided with an appropriate place to change. They should also be provided with an area to rest and eat.

6. Health and Safety

According to the health and Safety regulations set out for first aid in the workplace appropriate first aid equipment should always be provided so that immediate help can be administered in an employee is injured or falls ill. A first aid officer should also be employed who is in charge of maintaining first aid equipment and administering treatment as necessary. In the UK, all public places and workplaces are
smoke free unless they’ve been otherwise delegated which means staff can only smoke if official smoking areas.

John Hinds writes for Lojix. His interests include blogging, reading, playing tennis, listening to music and traveling.

How Will The Affordable Care Act Effect Small Businesses?

If you are a small business owner, you’ve probably heard about the Affordable Care Act. Enacted into law in 2010, the ACA’s aim is to make healthcare more affordable and accessible to individuals in the US. While many view the act as controversial, others appreciate that the government is making an effort to improve the quality of care for the country. Whatever side of the political fence you’re on, there are a few things that you need to know about the Affordable Care Act if you own a small business. Here are four ways that the ACA may affect your company and some suggestions for navigating it.

License: Creative Commons image source
License: Creative Commons image source

New way to find the right plan for your business

In the past, shopping for health insurance was neither fun nor easy. The Affordable Care Act has created a mechanism that allows small business owners to simplify the process. The Small Business Health Options Program (or SHOP) is essentially a health insurance clearinghouse where small busine
sses and individuals can compare plans to find one that meets their needs. While business owners are not required to use the SHOP exchange to purchase their health insurance coverage, supporters of the Act argue that it will simplify the process considerably.

No coverage? Facing potential penalties

One of the biggest implications of health care reform that has small business owners concerned is potential penalties for not providing adequate coverage. Often, the cost of health insurance is prohibitive for some small businesses, so small business owners don’t necessarily provide adequate healthcare coverage. However, under the Affordable Care Act, small businesses that employ over 50 people may be subject to costly penalties. So if you employ over 50 people and do not provide proper coverage, take note. You could be facing thousands of dollars in penalties moving forward if you don’t purchase health insurance for your employees.

Spe
cial tax credits for small business

To offset the cost of health insurance for small businesses, the government is offering tax credits if your business meets certain metrics. For example, businesses that employ 30 or fewer people can potentially receive up to 35% in tax credits off the cost of insurance premiums this year. Moving forward, the same businesses can receive up to 50% in tax credits. One important thing to keep in mind is that the tax credits will only be available for those companies where average salary is lower than $55,000 annually.

Considering a wellness program

If you had been thinking about creating a corporate wellness program for your business, now is the time. Under the Affordable Care Act, businesses that do not currently have corporate wellness programs may be eligible to apply for grant funding that can help get the program up and running. These grants are meant to encourage business owners to implement these changes
and improve the health of employees over the long term. So if you’ve been considering developing a corporate wellness program, it’s a good time to get started!

The implantation of the Affordable Care Act means several changes for small businesses. The ACA simplifies the process of shopping for insurance by providing small business owners and individuals with access to the Small Business Health Options Program. Some businesses may be hit with hefty penalties for not providing adequate coverage, so it’s a good idea to start shopping! Tax breaks are also available for businesses that meet certain criteria, and companies may choose to apply for grants to help them create corporate wellness initiatives. No matter which end of the political spectrum you fall, these changes are being implemented across the country. So small business owners should be paying attention.

About the Author: Elizabeth Alton is a freelance business and technology writer. She covers trends related to small business, entrepreneurs, the evolving digital landscape, and writes for Engagement Health about the latest trends in employee wellness programs.

How To Make Your Business Run Efficiently

Having an efficiently run business is vitally important, it is the only way that you can maximize the profitability of it. We live in a world that is dominated by business and there are so many companies out there looking to make a fortune. It is vitally important that any new or existing company is efficiently organized, I can’t stress enough the significance of it.

License: Creative Commons image source
License: Creative Commons image source

This article will aim to highlight what it takes to run an efficient business and why that is so important. Anyone looking to make money needs to have a hierarchical structure and internally they need to have a computerized filing system.

It’s very difficult in such a technologically dominated world to not be on the same wave length as the technology.

Re-Structure

This is a good way to make your business run efficiently. A complete restructure can help to keep things fresh and provide inter position competition which is good for people, especially in a world that is so competitive. People want something to aim towards and a position to try and take away from someone else, it’s just the way people’s minds work.

An efficiently run business can increase profitability dramatically, similarly, a poorly designed business can result in large losses. It is just a matter of finding the right balance and ensuring that organizationally everything is in its right place. Different companies have different ideas about how this is best done, some favor inclusion and some favor a more dictatorial approach, both work and it just depends on the person.

In the internet age we live in the focus of everything is on speed and efficiency and thus your company has to be the face of that if you are hoping to be successful.

Clerical

Clerically your company has to be well organized as well. Everything has to be scanned and filed correctly and organized neatly. This helps when dealing with clients directly and the internal aspect of the organization process. Investing in your own document scanners and photocopiers can be the best way to ensure your internal organization is kept neat and tidy.

The last thing you want to do is lose the files of a client that can have a lot of money invested in your company. We live in the age of the internet and much of the clerical stuff nowadays is done online so with a little training you can digitalize your whole system.

You may also want to digitalize your legal documents signing. More law offices are now accommodating e-signature, allowing you to securely sign legal documents online – this reduces paper consumption and makes document signing – and counter-signing – a swift process.

Communication

You have to communicate in all areas of the business if it is to run efficiently. Communication between bosses and lower level workers is extremely important, this creates a bond and a level of respect. If workers see a difference in status and feel that in the workplace it can make things extremely difficult so try to avoid this as much as possible.

As a business owner you have a level of responsibility to look after your clients and let them know about business plans, where the company is heading and weekly targets. Keep your workers in the loop.

About the Author: Andrew is an author with a love for business, he studied it at university and has a masters degree in this field. He now has over 15 years writing experience and he knows what he is talking about

5 Components Of A Successful Business Plan

A business plan is a documentation of a business’ future. It contains strategies, goals and solutions to potential challenges in a business. It can also contain important information about the structure of a business, business concepts and finance. In other words, a business plan is a blueprint of a business.  The success of a business depends on how successfully an entrepreneur puts this plan together. There are a few things that find special mention in a business plan and upon which the success of a business is largely dependent. In this post today, we will try to take a quick look at some of them and try to formulate an ideal strategy for the success of a business:

License: Creative Commons image source
License: Creative Commons image source

Communication

Communication is an indispensable part of a business. You need to communicate with customers, vendors, partners, investors, your colleagues and employees for various business reasons. Building a proper channel of communication is therefore imperative for the success of your business. A phone system can prove to be expensive for a new entrepreneur or for a small business. Moreover, in today’s time, when business can happen anytime and anywhere, it is important for an entrepreneur to use advanced features that ensure business always and at any place.

Solution to try: Try using a virtual phone system. According to Carol Wasserman, Online Marketing Executive at iTeleCenter, “a virtual phone provides entrepreneurs all the benefits of a traditional phone system and a few advanced features that keep them connected and encourage business 24×7. Features including advanced call forwarding, auto attendant, voicemail and virtual fax deserve special mention.”

Website

Website performs dual functions – it acts as the gateway to the online business world and also brands a business – businesses invest hefty amounts of money in developing their corporate website. But investing heavily may not ensure an effective website. There are other things to consider as well. Content of course is important. But it is not the only component necessary for building effective websites. In today’s world, where people use a variety of browsers and devices to access a website, developing an effective website can be a challenge.

Solution to try: While developing your website, remember to check its browser compatibility. There are tons of browser with a variety of versions available – make sure to check the compatibility with each one. Also, check your website using devices including desktops, laptops, smart phones and tablets. Change the pattern and layout of a website if necessary to suit each of these devices.

Marketing and sales

Building a healthy communications channel or developing a responsive website – the ultimate goal for any of these is to make people aware about your products/services and ultimately successful sales. How does an entrepreneur ensure effective marketing and successful sales?

Solution to try: Use toll free numbers. Research shows that these numbers are successful in generating response from a marketing campaign. These numbers do not charge callers instead it charges the recipient for the cost of the call. This is an important reason for attracting people to call a business.  A business can also try using vanity or a sequential toll free numbers.

A webinar is also successful in attracting, retaining and finally converting a lead. This is because a webinar is an audio-visual aid and hence more efficient than simple text on web page.

Brand

How do people recognize you? The question might sound funny but it’s important to answer this question. You’ll say by your name. Exactly! How do you know a business? The answer is the same – by its name. Every business has a name but that is not its brand. A brand involves more than just a name – it involves your customers’ trust and your brand shows your professionalism and credibility.

A brand is often compared to a magnet that draws in people’s attention and interest. Developing a brand is not easy.

Solutions to try: Accordingto Ken Carbone of Carbone Smolan Agency says, a “brand is the magnet that draws consumers to…products or service.”  While planning for your brand, closely follow your marketing strategy and marketing plans. Also understand your customers’ behavior. Importantly, keep space for any future growth. You can depict your corporate ethics and beliefs through your brand or you can focus solely on your product/services.

Online presence

Online presence is important for each and every business. It’s important for individuals and for businesses it is even more so. But creating an online presence is not easy. Entrepreneurs need to develop a different strategy to approach the virtual world. Creating a presence on social networking sites including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or YouTube needs a different style.

Solution to try: Quality content can help to get you noticed on social networking platforms. The content need not always have a sales tone but it should be informative. Simultaneously, you should also decide the matter of discussion on these platforms – should it be general or you would like to create a niche corner of your conversation. Every networking site has characteristics of its own. It is important to formulate a strategy compatible with the characteristics of the site.

About the Author: Alex Christopher is an Online Marketer. For years he has been monitoring and advising the implementation of online marketing strategies for small businesses and start-ups. He is responsible for the success of quite a few online marketing companies. 

Four Simple Ways To Keep Your Employees Happy

When running a business, it is important to keep team morale high in order to create a successful, productive workplace. There are lots of factors that can make an employee feel unhappy in their job, so as a business owner, it is important that your company is constantly making the effort to ensure that every member of their team feels confident and happy in their working life. Regardless of industry, there are a number of ways that every business can improve employee happiness and almost guarantee that they have a satisfied workforce-

License: Creative Commons image source
License: Creative Commons image source

Offer Regulated Breaks

Make sure that your employees are alert whilst sat at their desks working, or helping customers on the shop floor, by giving them an appropriate amount of breaks throughout their shift, or working day. Depending on how long they work during a day or week, and what type of work they do, depends on what kind of break your staff need. The law states that employees are legally entitled to a 20 minute break for every six hours of work, but this the minimum you should offer.

Giving your staff regulated breaks at spaced out intervals throughout the working day will have a positive effect on both their focus and happiness in regards to their job, so is ultimately beneficial to your company.

Make their working Environment Comfortable

If your staff are regularly on their feet in their job, make sure that you are providing a break room, or area, that has plenty of comfortable seats so they can properly relax before and after their shifts, and during breaks. Having a break room that contains basic kitchen utensils allows staff can prepare refreshments throughout the day.

Businesses that utilise an office space will also benefit from a break area, but it also important that their workspace is a comfortable working environment. Replacing old, worn office furniture with items that are specialised in comfort and functionality will benefit your staff. Ergonomic chairs will help reduce issues with health and stress, and clean office spaces with natural lighting and positive colour schemes will help promote productivity as well as help to improve an individual’s working happiness.

Focus on Pay

It is indisputable that the main reasons people work is to earn money, so making sure that your staff are paid correctly and regularly each month, or week, is essential to maintaining a happy workforce. When it comes to organising payroll, whatever the company size, it is best to keep control of outgoings, and stay within the law by outsourcing to a professional payroll bureau that offers complete payroll management.

A complete payroll service will work out employees’ tax and National Insurance contributions, but as a business owner, you may want to stay up to date with rising minimum wages and social factors to make sure that you are paying your staff a good salary.

Reward Excellence

Employee of the Month has become a cheesy, antiquated way of recognising excellence within a business, but is still one of the best ways to celebrate an individual’s hard work, and encourage members of staff to maintain or increase their levels of productivity. Providing an extra monetary reward, or even a gift item, can be a great monthly incentive for staff to put extra effort into their daily work.

At the end of the year, businesses may want to reward every member of staff for their continual focus by gifting them with an annual bonus and implementing clear pay schemes and promotional structure that will give staff a working incentive, whilst increasing their happiness.

About the Author: Beth Stubbings works for Trace Payroll. She thinks that ensuring that your workforce are happy will mean that your workplace is more productive.