How To Show Future And Current Employees They Have Value In Your Company

Recruiting, hiring, and retaining high-quality employees is becoming a more challenging task every day. With a large volume of open positions available, employees now have the luxury of being selective with their chosen jobs. You want to make your company inviting to attract and maintain the best people possible. Make these moves today to ensure your business has what it takes to keep your team satisfied and gainfully employed with you - all while scaling and increasing profitability.

Happy Employees = Productive Employees

Have you noticed a general grumbling among your staff or a lackadaisical attitude throughout the workplace? There is a virtual wealth of ways to remedy the mood and low productivity of your employees. Sure, you can try multiple ways to see which one fits best for your unique business setup or patchwork multiple concepts together to boost morale. Instead, try a proven employee engagement platform to seamlessly incorporate a variety of programs into one streamlined platform that everyone will enjoy using.

By initiating an employee engagement platform into your company’s business model, you are giving your staff the opportunity to engage one another in new ways. They will be able to acknowledge one another’s accomplishments with pride and positivity. Company-wide recognition will be readily noticed by everyone. A valuable asset to this configuration is that of easy communication. Employees can use social recognition to quickly reward one another for doing their jobs well. This concept is a win for your employees and the company as a whole because when people are happy and take pride in their work via recognition, they feel motivated to work harder for the company and those around them.

Effective employee engagement platforms also factor in the employees' opinions and suggestions. It is essential to know and understand the hows and whys of your team’s motivations. What brings them to work each day beyond just the paycheck? Why do they choose to keep coming back versus going elsewhere? Use your employee engagement platform to query your people about everything from their answers to the previous questions to what their ideas are for positive change within the company. Once you receive their comments and input, take them to heart and use them to lead better. When people feel heard, they feel valued. When they see that you have valued their ideas and opinions enough to proactively implement them they know they are respected as well.

• Offer Perks

The mere idea of going to work is not as simple as that. With employment comes the logistics of getting there, acquiring child or elder care, eating well while in the office, and the list goes on. Many employees spend too much of their own money getting to the job every day. It becomes difficult for them to spend money to make money only to turn around and do it all over again. Instead, offer them a variety of desirable perks to incentivize them to work for you in the first place and stay with you for the long haul.

• Transportation Allotment

With rising gas prices affecting everyone, offering your staff pre-loaded and reloadable gas cards will help. Other ways to mitigate transportation costs are with rideshare reimbursement incentives or pre-paid parking passes and Metro cards. If people prefer to bike or walk to work, offer them incentives for being healthy.

• Flexible Working Options

The last couple of years has shown bosses and employees alike that a variety of flexible working options are desirable. 

• Telecommuting allows people to arrange their day around other responsibilities or prioritize their health. Employees with mobility issues may appreciate the option of staying in their comfort zone while being productive and part of the team virtually.

• Working in the office is desirable for some as they thrive off camaraderie, in-person motivation and support, and the workplace structure.  

• Hybrid working conditions allow for flexibility when an employee falls ill and needs to stay home but is still able to work or has a lapse in reliable childcare

Here is an informative video on how employees or prospects may view your company’s perks and benefits.

Whether it is through a continuous flow of coffee, tea, or even kombucha on tap, keeping your employees happy and inviting new ones is essential to your company’s continued success. Use an employee engagement platform to keep positivity and productivity part of your bottom line. Engage your employees in the workplace in person or virtually to generate greater cohesion. They will appreciate your efforts and reciprocate them with hard work and dedication.

What Training Should you Recommend for Employees?

No matter what size of business you operate, it can benefit from employee training. Chances are your staff already has the skills needed for the role - that’s why you took them on in the first place - but everyone has their weak spots, and you can build on employees’ strengths as well. 

In this article, we take a look at some of the most common employee training areas and what they can expect to learn when they attend a workshop. These training areas include things like communication strategies, productivity training, project management, and leadership training.

Communication Strategies 

Most people can think of an example of good communication and poor communication. If communication is not working, you tend to misunderstand each other, and complications arise. This isn’t a big deal when you’re going for coffee; it’s more important when you run a business.  

If you want to run your business more efficiently, then focus on your communication strategies. Communication training takes the form of workshops that develop better strategies for listening, speaking, and checking your understanding. This training helps to fine-tune employees’ skills.

Productivity Training 

When it comes to productivity in the workplace, time management is a high priority. Unless your employees are using their time effectively, you will lose money which will affect your bottom line. At the same time, you don’t want to pressure your workers too much, so offer some training.  

In productivity training, your employees will learn how to develop a clear sense of purpose, create priorities for the day and week, change negative behavior patterns, and develop strategies for time management. This type of training can improve your bottom line right away.

Project Management

These days, every task is a project, especially if you are working across platforms and digital workstations. Unless you have a suitable project manager and employees trained in project management strategies, you might run a business that is inefficient and loses out on revenue. 

Again, project management training takes place on retreats and trains employees to work with groups to reach goals and meet targets. Project management can be complicated, especially when sharing complex ideas; these skills need to be sharpened to take your business forwards. 

Leadership Training 

Building a strong and effective workplace takes time; it also takes some investment. One thing you most certainly need in your workplace is leaders, some of them are born, but most of them are made. You can turn your employees into leaders by investing in some leadership training. 

TKI is a form of leadership training that supports conflict handling, which keeps your workplace harmonized and productive. Why not invest in TKI training to create an assertive and cooperative workplace that results in a stronger team that understands each other better.  

Health and Safety Training

When it comes to the safety of your staff, it’s important to do what you can to provide them with all the tools they need to look after themselves and each other. Being able to spot potential risks within the workplace, as well as ensuring they stay on the right side of the law in everything they do, is imperative. 

That’s why it’s good to be mindful of both personal and professional problems your staff can face, especially legally. Fentanyl offenses are on the rise, so it’s good to check in with your staff to ensure they’re doing everything to protect themselves and their peers.

Diversity Training 

The modern workplace contains a rich variety of personalities, ethnicities, sexualities, and genders, but not every workplace is equipped to support everyone in the best ways. Diversity training is important for helping managers to understand and support individual differences. 

However, diversity training is useful for employees at any level. Investing in diversity training helps to create a more inclusive and happier workplace; it also makes your workplace more productive because your employees feel more included and happier in their work environment.  

Digital skills 

Digital skills are often thought to be soft skills, things like word processing skills, email skills, and search engine skills; however, there is a little more to it than that. Although many of your employees will tell you they have digital skills, they might not have all the skills needed today. 

Suppose your employees have limited skills in spreadsheets, presentation software, and customer management systems. Why not send them on a course to upgrade their skills and offer more value to your business? Digital skills don’t take much time to learn but can add excellent value.  

Diversity training is important for helping managers to understand and support individual differences. There are many companies who specialize in diversity in the workplace services that can make sure no one feels left out in the office.

Final Thoughts 

If you want your business to grow in the right direction, then you need to train your employees and add value to the business core. Without training, your staff will be less productive, more fractious, and have less connection - not what you want in the modern workplace at any level. Growing your business takes time and investment, especially in core skills for your staff. 

There’s good news! Training your staff and increasing their skillset has never been easier; all you have to do is invest in the best skills training program for your business. Whether you need stronger leadership or better communication, build up the skill you need in your business today.

Effective Ways To Boost Employee Morale

Morale: It's what your employees need to get them out of bed in the morning.

You don't want to see them walking through your doors looking tired, unenthused, and annoyed that they have to work. You don't want to hear they whispered or very public grumblings.

Rather, you want to see them happy, joyous faces of your employees as they come into your workplace. You want to hear words of positivity, thanksgiving, and gratitude. In short, you want your employees to have a high level of morale, as your business will benefit if they do.

When the morale of your employees is high, they should:

• Work more productively and efficiently

• Pass on their enthusiasm to their colleagues

• Be nicer to your customers and clients

• Be more likely to stick around for the long-term 

• Improve your company reputation 

• Make your business look more attractive to new hires

To consider the effects of low morale, you need only consider the opposite of each of the points above. Productivity might be at an all-time low if your employees are miserable, for example, and the reputation of your business might be at an all-time low too if your employees have been overheard grumbling.

So, do what you can to improve your employees' morale, perhaps by adhering to the following. 

#1: Purchase quality items when buying workplace essentials

There will be things your employees need in the workplace, so make room in your budget for them. But when you're shopping around, don't assume cheap will be better. If you buy your team anything that doesn't make the grade, be it a low-level computer or an ill-fitting work uniform, you aren't going to do much to raise employee morale. Rather, they might assume you don't value them very highly if the value of your purchases is low, and they might become frustrated by what you have given them.

So, give your employees some love by putting quality first. If they need a computer, buy something that has the specs needed to help them work more efficiently. If they need a new uniform, buy them something that both looks and feels good, perhaps akin to those sold by Uniform Advantage if you're in the field of healthcare. And for anything else that you buy them, focus on the needs of your employees, even if you have to save up a little to buy something of better quality. 

#2: Go green in your business

Going green makes perfect business sense, as the measures you put in place can help you to save money, boost your reputation, and, in the context of this article, improve the morale of your employees. Surveys have shown that employees want to work for sustainable companies, and this is partly because they want to work for an employer that doesn't put into place anything that can damage the environment. A greener company can also make employees feel better about the impact they are having on the world.

So, do what you can to make your business better for the planet. Encourage recycling and energy-saving habits. Commit to greener processes within all aspects of your production and manufacturing. And work with eco-friendly suppliers too. 

When you take green steps in your business, your employees will feel happier about working for you. After all, would you want to work for a company that was contributing to the destruction of the planet? We're assuming not!

#3: Make your employees feel appreciated

There is much you can to make sure your employees feel appreciated. A simple thank you for a job well done will often suffice, although you can also reward your hard-working employees with cash bonuses and gifts.

When adding to your website or your company newsletters, you might also name those employees who have contributed to your profits. This is better than taking all the credit for yourself, especially when it is your employees who have put most of the work in. 

You could celebrate your employees' birthdays too, buy them the occasional lunch, and treat them to days off when targets have been met. Check out these other employee appreciation ideas, and use them regularly to show your employees how much you value them.

#4: Give your employees a voice

You might be the boss, but that doesn't mean you need to be in control of all of the ideas that can profit your workplace. It might be that your employees have ideas to contribute to, so give them the opportunity to share their thoughts, as you will improve their morale if you do. 

And when they come to your door with a question or a concern, listen to what it is they have to say. If you were to dismiss them with little recognition for their thoughts or feelings, you might lower the trust they have in you and reduce their morale. 

#5: Allow opportunities for growth

Is there room for promotion in your business? If so, give your employees the opportunity to progress upwards. When they know they have something to aim for, you will give them a greater sense of purpose. This, in itself, is an effective way to boost their morale.

But regardless of promotion possibilities, there are other things you can do to help your employees grow. You could send them on courses or conferences to help them improve their professional skills, and you could give them new challenges at work to boost their level of experience. Such opportunities for growth will boost your employees' morale, as they will feel as if they are progressing within their careers. The alternative is your employees believing that they are in a dead-end job, and that is not something that will increase their morale in any way. 

#6: Mind your tongue

Sure, you could rule your business with an iron fist and a critical tongue, but ask yourself: Is this really going to improve employee morale? They are more likely to fear you, and while they might work harder as a consequence, they are unlikely to stick around for long. 

So, be a boss that is firm but fair. Don't berate your employees too heavily for any mistakes they make. And don't criticize them when no criticism is due. Instead, be respectful in the way you speak to them. Use words that will lift them up and not put them down. And think before you speak, with the knowledge that your employees are human and not mindless worker drones that cater to your every whim.

#7: Bring fun into the workplace

Okay, so your employees are being paid to do their job, but as the saying goes, 'all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.' It makes Jill a dull girl too, and when Jack and Jill aren't allowed to have a little bit of fun, their productivity might start to fall.

So, do what you can to bring fun into the workplace. You could organize team challenges, buy 'fun' items for the break room, or have times in the day when people are allowed to goof around a little. Check out these other ideas for having fun in the workplace, and implement anything that you think is appropriate. You will bring a smile to your employees' faces if you do, and in so doing, you might well boost both their morale and their productivity. 

#8: Don't overwork your employees

As we suggested a little earlier, your employees are not mindless worker drones. They don't have the capacity to work on full battery power at all hours of the day, and they don't have the ability to keep going without any rest! Like you, your employees get tired and weary, so you shouldn't push them beyond their limits. They will start to lose morale if you do overwork them, and they might well fall prey to burnout symptoms too!

So, do what you can to alleviate the workloads of your employees. It might be that you outsource some of what you give them to do, especially those tasks that aren't really befitting of their job descriptions. You could help them to streamline their to-do lists with those apps and pieces of software that can make light work of manual processes. And you could cut down the number of meetings in the day, as your employees would then have more opportunities to get work done before overtime rears its ugly head.

When your employees aren't burdened with massive workloads, and the need to work overtime on too-regular a basis, they should become happier in your employ. They will be physically and mentally healthier too, which is another way of ensuring their morale doesn't drop when they are in your workplace.

Finally

When you boost the morale of your employees, you also boost the chances of success for your business. Happier employees will always work harder and more diligently than those that are unhappy, and for you, that means bigger profits and the chance to grow your business.

So, consider your employees today. Are they happy? If you suspect their morale is low, do whatever you can to increase it, for their sake, as well as your own. 

4 Employment Laws All Businesses Need to Be Aware Of

Hiring your first or second employee? Need to outsource work to an independent contractor or agency?

Having a small knowledge base of employment law isn’t enough when you’re an entrepreneur who will be hiring support. You need to know the ins and outs of what’s legal and what isn’t to protect yourself, your business, and your employees.

Employment law is an essential factor that both small and large businesses should be aware of when they start the hiring or recruiting process. Unfortunately, many small businesses and large companies are completely oblivious to the fact that they are committing crimes by not paying attention to the most common and relevant employment laws. One wrong decision could cause your business to be dragged into legal disputes when it comes to managing your employees and their rights. Obeying with employment law will ensure your company is safe from having to undergo a tribunal, which could not only leave your business bankrupt but lead to a tarnished reputation. Be sure to stay apprised of the latest laws and trends and consult an experienced and capable employment law attorney, when needed.

Here are the most common employment laws and things to know in when you’re a business owner:

Don’t confuse independent contractors with employees. Make sure your independent contractors understand their position, tasks, and entitlements.

Some businesses refuse to hire employees, but instead, aim to integrate as many independent contractors into the company as possible for cost reasons. Businesses pay out thousands of dollars every year towards employee wages, vacation/parental leave, taxes, health benefits, and sick pay which can become extremely expensive for smaller businesses, (especially when the employee leaves).

In contrast, independent contractors have far fewer benefits and rely on the company a lot less. Businesses themselves don’t decide if individuals should become employees or contractors – this is in the hands of the authorities. It’s essential to ensure you have properly categorized the worker to prevent legal disputes occurring. Still, if you have made a mistake, it would be recommended to seek help from Spillane Law to win your business trial. Spillane Law lawyers are professionals in dealing with a range of employment disputes.

Ensure your employees and independent contractors understand your organizational health and safety policies and procedures. Ensuring the safety of your employees and other team members is of the utmost importance.

Employers are held accountable for the wellbeing of their employees (and independent contractors) when they at the workplace physically. This is especially true if they are required to use specific equipment, machinery, or hazardous chemicals that could pose of injury or illness. Workplace injuries occur daily, but all businesses should make sure that employees are kitted out with the necessary safety gear and ensure that risks are kept to an absolute minimum by putting health and safety strategies in place. Employers should also make sure to hang relevant signage for employees and independent contractors to see safety protocols.

Beware of discrimination, what’s legal and what’s not during the hiring and employment process, and how it can impact your business.

The Equality Act is a policy to ensure that all employees are treated with equal rights while in employment. Discrimination of all types is prohibited, and it doesn’t have to be intentional to be seen as illegal, leading to legal disputes. Some of the most common examples of discrimination in the workplace include:

·       Disabilities

·       Sexual orientation

·       Religion

·       Race

·       National origin

·       Marital status

·       Genetic information

·       Illnesses

·       Pregnancy or parental responsibility

·       Age

·       Gender identity

With this in mind, discrimination in the workplace isn’t always obvious and may be taken wrongly or misinterpreted by an employee. As an employer, you may have good reasons to put your point across without being discriminative. If the employee brings the matter up with you, it is your responsibility to try and resolve the issue as soon as possible, but they have every right to seek legal action if they aren’t satisfied with the outcome. It’s important to keep that in mind going through the hiring process.

Be fair to all employees when it comes to benefits, vacation, paid time, and wages. Pay according to skill level and job responsibility.

All employees are entitled to at least the minimum wage when hired on a full-time or part-time basis. To prevent being faced with a lawsuit, you must research and meet the current National Living Wage. Employees should also be entitled to around a four to five-week vacation allowance with full pay.

If you want to attract and retain the best team members to your business, then you need to ensure your organization is fully compliant with all employment laws. One little mistake or mishap can cause significant legal issues for your business.

Why Employee Incentive Programs?

As much as any boss or manager would love to work with a team of driven self-starters, it’s often not the case. What to do then? How do you go about motivating a group of people who you know is most likely showing up to work only to keep paying their bills? It’s not easy, that’s for sure.

Perhaps you’ve heard of the psychological terms ‘negative reinforcement’ and ‘positive reinforcement.’ Negative reinforcement is the reinforcement of desirable outcomes with actions rooted in fear, such as punishment, shaming, or physical abuse. Positive reinforcement, on the other hand, is the reinforcement of desirable behavior with incentives, such as monetary bonuses, praise, and social acceptance. Do you have any idea which type of support is more likely to give you a hard-working team?

If you guess the latter, you’re right. Research shows that positive reinforcement will often generate more desired outcomes than negative reinforcement. It makes sense, then, that this theory would apply, if not flourish, in the workplace as well. But how exactly can a higher-up implement positive reinforcement to motivate his team.

Three words: employee incentives programs.

Employee incentives programs are the corporate version of a carrot on a stick. Well, a solid gold carrot that is. Your paycheck is most likely the regular carrot. Whatever kind of carrots are involved, it doesn’t take away from the fact that there are a lot of fabulous programs like these that get employees taking action and contributing more wholeheartedly to their company.

However, one question that remains is, how effective are these programs? The statistics are promising. Ninety percent of big-name companies already use employee incentive programs, and for a good reason, as 80 percent of employees would prefer incentives over a bigger paycheck. Moreover, 78 percent of employees are willing to stay in their current positions thanks to the fabulous incentives and rewards programs they have access to in their company. Think employee incentive programs are a crock? Think again.

Of course, not just any incentive will do; these programs should be designed with your average employee’s wants and needs in mind. After all, how much good would a hoop and stick be in this day and age? Unless there’s a viral video idea swirling around in one of your employee’s heads, chances are you should pass on this kind of incentive.

So if you’re in a managerial or leadership position at your company, stick around. Today, we’re going to talk a little bit about the wonderfully diverse employee incentive programs available right now.

Paid vacations of your choosing

There’s nothing like winning the lottery at work--the vacation lottery, that is. But how can you design a rewards program with customized vacations? Doesn’t that involve a lot of planning and extra work? It does, but you can streamline the process to make it easier for everyone. All you need to do is have your employees fill out a survey asking them questions about their preferred destinations, time frames, and travel budgets. That way, you’ll have their dream vacation info on file if they do end up winning one of these great trips. You can go one step further by creating a custom itinerary according to their preferences. It will also help your company to allocate an annual travel budget for this purpose.

Unlimited sick leaves

This incentive almost sounds too good to be true. Believe it or not, it isn’t, and it takes a few protective measures to make it that way. First, you’ll need to adjust your employee’s file to reflect their newly-minted status as an unlimited sick day-haver. Next, make sure you have a work management plan in place for when this employee decides to take sick days at will. This backup plan will help prevent any extra work buildup that may accumulate in the employee’s absence. Finally, allow for a two to three-day adjustment period where your employee is given half of their regular workload. This lighter schedule will facilitate their transition back into the office.

Streaming subscriptions

What better way to motivate your employees than by giving them something they can completely veg out to? Streaming subscriptions are now more valuable than ever, and they’re sure to be a hit with your employees. Before you do anything else, though, make sure you’ve allocated the amount for these streaming subscriptions in your budget. Don’t forget to give your employees options, too; we recommend the popular streaming services, like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and HBO+. Not only is this an amazingly relevant incentive, but it could even promote lively cultural discussions around the water cooler, or wherever employees like to take a break nowadays.

Spousal death benefits

Giving your employees’ spouses ample time to grieve their loved ones is an excellent way to demonstrate how much their husband or wife meant to your company. While this incentive works better for larger businesses, you can still retool it to work for small to mid-sized companies. Many companies with this incentive design it like this: stock benefits, $1000 monthly to the employee’s children until they turn 19, and half of the employee’s annual salary to the spouse for a decade.

Flexible schedules

Flextime is a beautiful reward for employees whose personal lives are a bit unpredictable. Moreover, giving your employees a sense of autonomy over their work schedules is an excellent way to convince them to keep working for you. However, it’s good to give your employees a set of options they can choose from rather than letting them have total full reign.

As the employer, you can design these options any way you’d like, but there are a few popular choices that seem to work well for several companies. Some of these options include four-day workweeks with ten-hour shifts each, rotating shifts, four days of nine-hour shifts, and then one day of a four-hour shift, or six and a half-hour shifts six days a week. Parents with school-age children will appreciate flexible schedules, especially, as they’ll be able to fit in their work around their hectic personal lives. If you want to get a better idea of what flexible shift options your team would prefer, conduct an office-wide survey.

Tuition reimbursement

The armed forces aren’t the only ones who can help people pay for their schooling; more and more companies are beginning to offer the same. This incentive might work best for companies whose workforce is younger than 40, as millennials tend to be the ones saddled with the most school debt. Furthermore, this kind of reward might function better in companies that demand specific training, such as engineering. That way, employees will be incentivized to continue working for the company, as the company will be the one footing most of the bill for the training that will help their company grow.

House cleaning services

Unless you have a team of neat freaks, this reward will be a hit with just about any of your employees. Who has time to clean their place after a long day at the office? Perhaps the aforementioned neat freaks do, but the vast majority of people don’t. This reward is powerful as it helps employees maintain their personal space outside of work. A housecleaning voucher signals to your team that you care for their wellbeing--both in and out of the workplace.

Now that you’ve learned a little bit about the fantastic benefits of employee incentive programs, what are you waiting for? For more ideas on rewards programs like these, visit this website: https://www.mtievents.com/employee-incentives/.

Employee Health And Wellbeing: It Matters More Than Ever

The health and wellbeing of your employees matter more now than ever. While many workplaces are closed, businesses are beginning to think about life after the pandemic and what it’s going to be like when colleagues start working together again.

There’ll be a lot of changes to make to policies and workspaces, but the health of your employees is what should take priority. Take the following into consideration and make sure your employees’ health and wellbeing come first.

Put new measures in place to keep employees safe

Coming back after periods of lockdown, remote working, and isolation, the workplace is going to be an entirely new landscape. Your company will need to look at its policies and ensure that employees are as safe as they can be when they return to work. From putting more sanitation products out for employees to being strict on quarantining, there are different measures you can put in place to maintain a healthy workplace and keep your teams safe.

Get ready to offer flexible working

Many employers have had to adjust their working practices to be able to survive the pandemic. It’s new territory for many businesses, but allowing employees to work from home is not only keeping them safe, but it’s demonstrating that it is something that businesses can implement successfully in the future. First, Twitter, and now Facebook has announced permanent work-from-home arrangements for employees, and it could be a trend that many other businesses adopt over the coming months. Flexible working could have many benefits for your business, and potentially save you money on your operating costs too. 

Consider changing employee benefits

People are starting to become more concerned about their health, and this is something your business should be thinking about too. There are various health benefits your business could be provided in lieu of others to help match their priorities. Private health, vision insurance, gym memberships, and other types of employee benefits could be of interest to your employees right now. Consult with your workers about any proposed changes to make sure they have a say.

Help employees keep on top of their mental health

Mental health is just as important as physical health. It’s been a difficult time for many recently, and as an employer, you could do a lot to boost employees’ mental health. There are ways you can support employee mental health during a pandemic and beyond, helping to build a happy and healthy workforce. It’s important to be understanding as people transition back into the office environment, so make allowances and be prepared for things to take time.

Employee health and wellbeing should always be a priority for your business, but it will be even more important going forward. To help build a strong team, you need to keep them healthy and motivated, and prioritizing health in the workplace will make a strong start. Focus on what you can do to improve employee health and wellbeing both now and for the future.

Employee Rights: What You Need to Know

Many things can happen in the workplace. Some are positive, such as being offered a promotion or making friends out of colleagues. On other occasions, you might face situations that make you uncomfortable or fear to lose your job. While in some circumstances there might not be much you can do, it’s important to be aware of what your rights are as an employee.

Don’t let your boss or other senior staff members get away with illegal practices — here are some of the basics that you ought to know.

You Can Say No

The general attitude to getting by in the workplace is that you’re expected to say ‘yes’ to everything. It’s true that being an employee with a positive outlook who is a team player will be looked upon favorably. However, don’t make the mistake of thinking this means you have to carry out tasks that make you uncomfortable. While your job might challenge you from time to time, if you feel unsafe or insecure about doing something your boss has asked you to do, you have the right to say no.

Harassment

No one should be made to feel uncomfortable or upset in their place of work — not by their boss, and not by their colleagues, either. Harassment can come in differing forms: you might be receiving threats, or being constantly undermined and ridiculed. Or perhaps you feel as though someone at work is making inappropriate remarks to you of a sexual nature. If you feel as though you are being harassed, make a formal complaint to HR. If this procedure fails, you may have to seek legal action and take it further.

Training

You are entitled to receive adequate training for your job role. If you feel as though you need to learn more about your job, you have the right to ask your boss/manager to provide further learning programs for you. This might involve retaking previous training courses or using alternative learning methods.

Redundancy

There might come a time when the business you work for has to make some cut-backs. Unfortunately, this could result in you losing your job. If you are facing redundancy, or have recently been made redundant, the company you work for should give you a reasonable period of notice. You might also be entitled to some severance pay, although it is probably best to get some legal advice on redundancy to know fully what your entitlement is.

Discrimination

It is illegal for an employer to dismiss or treat certain employees differently due to their gender, race, sexual orientation, disability, or mental health. Naturally, some things may have to be altered to better suit a person’s circumstances, but these should always be discussed respectfully and agreed upon by both the employer and the employee. If you feel as though you are missing out on opportunities or targeted at work due to race, gender, etc., again, report it to HR and take it further if necessary.

If you’re unsure about a situation at work and what you can do, take the time to further research your employee rights for guidance.

How to Leverage Your Human Resources to Achieve Your Business Goals

Within a company, you have several assets. You have your liquid assets, your invested assets, and all the elements of your business that constitute your operational arms. But, perhaps most importantly, you have people – workers who are willing to graft for hours each week to work towards the goals you set in the board room. To leverage this all-important asset effectively, you need to work towards efficiency and productivity in your workforce, and this guide will explain how you can achieve that leap.

Managing Your Resources

Next up, you should consider how you’re organizing your workforce to get the best out of them every day. This is less about man-management and more about the structures that facilitate the efficient work of all your staff – and your ability to be flexible with workloads and projects. 

Using software developed to help HR departments can solve structural issues in your workforce, freeing up labor to work on different and more exciting projects. OKR software can help you not only organize your workforce but also spread tasks evenly between your employees – and translate goals drawn up in the board room to actionable smaller tasks for all your staff to rally around.

Motivation

Amongst workers, motivation is as important as skills and knowledge. The most motivated staff will solve problems without consulting a manager and will go the extra mile to get projects finished by their deadlines and to put in the extra hours to meet their targets. In contrast, demotivated staff are far less likely to pull towards a common goal – leading your business to lower efficiency and missed targets.

Motivating your staff can be difficult. It requires a blend of contractual benefits – like better pay and perks like healthcare – and managerial nous, which will help employees feel they’re valued on a personal level. Regarding the latter, if your managers can organize frequent meetings with the staff that works under them, they’ll be able to receive and give feedback – motivating staff to feel they’re being invested in by their superiors.

Incentives and Rewards

Finally, if you’re pushing to get your business to the next level, you’ll be setting ambitious targets that all of your workforce will be striving towards. Whether those targets involve sales figures, profit percentages, overhead cost reductions, or marketing successes, it’s important to set these goals – but also then offer incentives and rewards for staff when you manage to hit them. 

A reward can take many forms. An office party can help you celebrate when you hit the customer figures you’ve been aiming for, while an investment in your office environment, following a successful scale-up, can reward employees by improving the space in which they work. You should also consider personal rewards – like vouchers, pay rises, or company-wide recognition – for those whose work contributes the most to the realization of your business goals in 2020 and beyond.

Use these three tips to leverage your human resources for the good of your business, making your staff a key asset in your up-scaling and target-meeting.