It is normal for workplace issues to arise amongst colleagues – after all most Americans spend more time at work than any place else. When employees are having difficulty getting along with each other, or when they are having performance problems, small business owners may question how to handle the issues at hand. Companies of all sizes must manage employees that turn out to have difficult personality traits, are a poor fit for their current role or have trouble working with others....

Working remotely has become commonplace for businesses of all sizes. According to a recent IDC report, the United States has the highest percentage of mobile workers in its workforce, 119.7 million workers or three quarters of the workforce expected to be mobile by 2013. Currently, nearly 85 percent of employees work remotely one day a week or more. Technology has made telecommuting a viable and attractive alternative.  Advanced laptops, smartphones, wi-fi, high-speed internet and cloud...

What has happened to the idea of taking vacation time? Even if your small business has a formal vacation policy, the reality is this: In a down economy, many employees are afraid to take vacation time because they feel like they are leaving their employer in the lurch and that they might not have a job once they return.   Further, according to a 2010 survey from consulting firm Right Management, 66 percent of employees polled did not use all of their accrued vacation time in 2009....

As we celebrate Thanksgiving, small business owners should take time to say thank you to the people who serve as the backbone of their company – employees.  Some owners may be in the position to throw an extravagant end-of-year party or give significant bonuses.  However, if you are looking for something that won’t be cost prohibitive but will still be meaningful and memorable, consider the following A-to-Z list of small business holiday gift suggestions. Athletic club memberships can be...

Every day, there are 11 million meetings held in the United States, and 3 billion take place each year.  How can you, a small business owner, make the most out of company meetings? To start, there are different types of meetings. To ensure you are being smart in your approach, know the type of meeting you intend to hold: Brainstorming meetings should be held when you want to generate as many ideas as possible. This is the one type of meeting where you can do away with a specific...

What kinds of incentives should your small business consider? By Christopher Freeburn Enthusiastic, well-motivated employees are the backbone of your small business's success. Fostering an environment in which employees feel both rewarded for their performance and part of a team can greatly increase your company's productivity and competitiveness in the marketplace. Your customers will certainly notice the difference between happy, well-motivated employees and dissatisfied, disinterested...