As one of the biggest expenses a small business will regularly incur will be the cost of it’s employees, namely in wages but also in ACC payments and down time for staff sick days; these costs can get as high as 40% …

Ever had an employee who made outrageous demands (for salary, promotions, time-off etc) and you gave it to them because you felt you ‘had no choice’?

don’t know how many times I here a business owner or manager say “if it wasn’t for the staff this job would be great”, like it or not most of us need staff to complete the work we do for our customers.

Today, the Internet for businesses is an essential tool of trade, and any business without an internet connection will find it difficult to operate effectively.

Businesses of all sizes face the dilemma of internet misuse and internet abuse on a daily basis. The internet is a necessity for business, and since the advent of Web 2.0 technology, the ways of exploiting the internet for our own use have flourished.

I recently read an article by someone I haven’t met, but have learned to respect, by what they’ve written before. This article had two spelling errors in it; well one spelling and one, the incorrect word used eg to, two, too.

Following on from the article in the last issue of NZSM, ‘Hiring your next superstar – making the most of the interview and selection process’, …

Understandably companies are trimming the fat and letting staff go as they react and adapt to continuing tough market conditions this new year.

During training sessions, the people working in those industries talk about their favourites but there is always one that becomes the problem they have the most trouble with.

For many people the thought of an interview can be pretty scary. We think of interviews in terms of what we have to go through to get a job or promotion.

First of all, understand the difference between being fired and being made redundant. You are fired because off poor performance, attitude, attendance, and a multitude of other reasons that reflect on your ability to perform your job properly.

You have worked hard for this, and finally you have been made manager of your department or business. This might not be as easy as you believed it would be. Now that you are the leader, you must teach, guide, direct, and set the example for the people who work under you.

If an employee has done something which could amount to misconduct, then the last thing you want is for that employee to attempt to wriggle off the hook because you have made a procedural mistake by suspending the employee from work.

You’ve got your business plan in place, and you have the money to get started. Now you need to build an organization of employees that know their jobs, understand the business goals, believe in what your doing, and can work together as a team to have your business running smoothly.

It must be 9 because last night the Jasmine Thai Restaurant in Tauranga made 8 screw ups:

Employees have changed. Rules don’t cut it anymore. The newer generation isn’t sure it even wants to go to work and has in some ways decided to retire BEFORE working. How do you as a Business Owner respond to this new world?

Bob was fed up with hiring the wrong staff. Twice he had his fingers burnt. The first time he ended up defending a personal grievance…

The metal stake had pierced his right side, gone through his torso and was now protruding from his stomach.

Most business owners know that it is against the law not to have a written employment agreement with their staff.

I want to share with you what I learned from an event I attended and how it greatly helped the success of my business.