Questions for Entrepreneurs

Stephanie Brown the Business and Economic Review wrote a worthwhile article to entrepreneurs. In it she says:

Unless your business is a “one-man show,” there are a wide variety of human resource issues that should be considered during the process of hiring, managing, and firing employees. Before starting a business, ask yourself the following questions:

– Do I know what qualifications or skills I need in an employee?

– How and where do I recruit this kind of person?

– What will I use to motivate employees and maximize productivity?

– What should my retention rates be?

– What is the correct wage level for this position?

– Do I know all of the legal and insurance issues?

– What kind of training process will I use?

– Will I offer any kind of benefits or other professional development?

– What are my policies, and do I need an employee handbook?

These are just some of the many issues an employer should consider before he/she begins the hiring process. Employers who have done their research and established policies beforehand will be able to better resolve conflict when it arises.

Suffice it to say that if you can’t clearly and definitively answer each of Stephanie’s questions you should seriously consider outsourcing your employment and payroll activities to a Human Resource Organization.

Psycho Employees

Per American psychologist Dr. Paul Babiak, and his Canadian counterpart Dr. Robert Hare, one person in 100 is a psychopath, meaning that they lack a moral compass, sense of responsibility or empathy (this is a personality disorder, not a mental illness). And

although they are overrepresented in the prison system, psychopaths are also

well-represented in corporate environments.

In their book, Snakes In Suits, Babiak and Hare explain how psychopaths manipulate

work environments to get what they want.

“These individuals have charisma, they have strong verbal skills and they’re

able to really weave a compelling story about themselves,” says Babiak. “They’re also quite good amateur psychologists, they can figure out quite easily

the needs, desires, weaknesses, hot spots in individuals they deal with, so they tailor their conversation to begin to build what might be called emotional bonds with individuals.”

Outsourcing to an Professional Employment Organization can protect your business against such psychos. Utilizing the latest recruiting techiniques and hiring practices, HROs can improve your chances of finding qualified and compatible workers.

Small Businesses Could Benefit from Stimulus Package

In case you missed it, there’s an encouraging article in the New York Times about how small businesses could benefit the most from the soon-to-be-signed economic stimulus package.Here’s an excerpt:

Businesses, large and small, will be directly helped by the new economic stimulus legislation passed by Congress last week. But small businesses, in particular, may get the biggest lift indirectly — from consumers spending their tax rebates.

The $168 billion measure, which was approved by both houses of Congress with uncommon swiftness, includes rebates for taxpayers and incentives for businesses, all intended to bolster the sagging economy. President Bush is expected to sign it this week.

DISCLAIMER:  This post may not be directly related to outsourcing, but it is important to us small businesses owners none-the-less.

Notes and Advice on Running a Small Businesses

A recent associated press article offered advice to small businesses on how to save money in “uncertain economic times”.

In addition to simple tips like purchasing energy-efficient light bulbs, the article recommended small businesses contract with a Professional Employment company to handle Payroll and HR chores.

CONCLUSION: PEO’s are like energy-efficient light bulbs!

To read the article click HERE.