An unlimited paid time off (PTO) policy differs from traditional PTO by allowing employees to take as much vacation time as they want with virtually no limits. Some companies are experimenting with unlimited PTO to improve work culture, give exempt employees more work/life balance, and allow senior staff more vacation and travel time. A recent…
Employment Verification Letter ― Free Templates & How-to Guide
An employment verification letter, also called a proof of employment letter, is a written document that provides employer confirmation of an employee’s current or former job status. It’s often requested by an outside agency, such as an employee’s landlord or creditor. Businesses typically provide verification letters on company letterhead, signed and dated by the employer….
Top 5 Salary Comparison Tools
Before you can set or negotiate an employee’s pay level, you’ll need to do a salary comparison using salary data you’ve gathered for similar roles at other companies. There are a number of tools that can help you with this. We list the top 5 salary comparison tools and explain what makes them unique and…
Everything You Need to Know About Finding and Hiring a Business Coach
A business coach, or corporate coach, is a trusted advisor with industry management experience who can guide you through start-up challenges like hiring staff and paying taxes, as well as help you plan your growth strategy, make sound marketing decisions, and recommend software. Most also provide coaching to help you grow your personal leadership skills….
Small Business Maternity Leave Policy & Laws – With Examples
Under the federal Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA), employers with 50 or more employees must provide new and adoptive moms up to 12 weeks to care for themselves and their infant. Although FMLA only requires employers to offer unpaid leave, some also choose to offer paid maternity leave. This article covers both federal and…
Gifts for Employees: Top 25 Employee Appreciation Gift Ideas
Good employers reward staff with more than a paycheck. They recognize excellent workplace performance with gifts that build workers’ self esteem and motivate them to continue contributing their best efforts to your business. And you know what? Happier employees means happier customers, and that leads to repeat business. You can shop for similar fun gifts…
Self Management: 5 Steps To A Self Managed Workplace
Self-management means that a manager sets the overall direction of a project or task, and employees implement the details with minimal oversight. The manager’s contact with reports generally consists of meetings for project updates, issues, and resource requests. Otherwise, employees complete their own tasks, run their own projects, and try to solve their own problems….
26 Team Building Activities & Ideas From The Pros
Do you feel like there’s something missing with your staff’s performance? Then read on! Team building activities are great, fun ways to improve dynamics among company employees and boost employee morale. Here’s a list of the 26 best team building activities and ideas from the pros: 1. Volunteer Together Holly Harper, Director for Marketing at…
Top 10 Best Management Styles – And Which Ones To Avoid
A management style is a short descriptor summarizing specific behaviors exhibited by managers. There are hundreds of theoretical models describing what makes a good manager or leader, typically based on personality or temperament traits such as directness, empathy, flexibility, and agility. Some management styles are better suited than others for certain scenarios and business types….
Sexual Harassment Training Guide for Small Businesses
Formal sexual harassment training is not required under federal law. However, California and Connecticut require training for supervisors within 6 months of hire/promotion, and Maine requires training for any employer with 15 or more employees. It’s a best practice to train managers and supervisors to recognize and address prohibited behaviors proactively. There are elearning courses…
Compa Ratio: Definition, Formula, & Examples
Compa Ratio, short for comparison ratio, is a comparison of the salary you are paying your employees versus the market midpoint for similar positions at other companies. Compa ratio is a useful metric to have when setting salary levels or negotiating raises, and it helps you avoid losing talent to other companies. How To Calculate…
What is Business Casual? Outfit Tips & Examples
Business casual attire is less formal than traditional business clothing but still professional enough to be office appropriate. For women, this typically means a skirt or slacks, a button down blouse, and closed-toe shoes. For men, this typically means a button down shirt, slacks, and dress shoes. Over 60 percent of businesses now allow business…