Does it seem as though you have two jobs?

StaffScapes gives you the freedom to focus on what you do best; growing your business. As a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) we take legal responsibility for a large part of your day-to-day duties letting you concentrate on your core business.

Between running your business and keeping up with ever-increasing administrative responsibilities, you may feel that you actually do have two jobs. Now imagine having only one job. For more details on how a PEO can make your business run better contact StaffScapes, Inc. 303-466-7864 or info@staffscapes.com.

As a business owner, you know how important it is to hire the best employee for your business.  Someone who is a good fit with your company culture, someone who is great at the job they have been hired for and someone that you hope will stay on your payroll for some time.  But how do you know for sure that the excellent resume you reviewed and the person that interviewed superbly with you on Tuesday is as good as they appear?  Unfortunately, there isn’t a 100% guarantee when hiring, but there are a few things you can do to reduce the chances of making a wrong hire.  Here are five key tips for a successful hire:

1. When hiring, it is critical to understand what the job is that you need done before you begin to interview candidates.  Understanding your needs and the skills the person you hire must have will help you identify the right person.  Just hiring a warm body or the person you like because they too have a passion for golf often leads to problems down the road. 
2. Be sure to write down the required job tasks and create a job description and interview questions from this list. Sticking to your list of core responsibilities will help you to stay on track with your needs and not stray from your purpose during an interview.  Have the candidate review the position overview and ask them to tell you their understanding of the position to ensure you are communicating exactly what you intend.  This will help you to feel confident that the applicant has a clear picture of what they would be doing if hired.
3.  During the interview, be sure to ask the same questions of every candidate that you interview in the same job category to help reduce claims of discrimination.  In addition to standard questions regarding the job duties and skills of the candidate, also ask general questions that target your mission, vision, values and ethics.  This will help find the person that will be a good fit with your company culture and current employees too.
4.Consider conducting skills performance testing.  Based on the skills you seek, give each applicant a test for the core competencies you require.  As examples, you could have the applicant complete a project they would do on the job, provide a writing sample, or test on software they are required to know.
5.Do your due diligence.  Ask for references and contact them.  Try and get former managers or business references and ask a specific set of questions designed around the tasks your new hire will perform.

These tips should help you be better prepared to find the superstar you want to add to your team.  Adding staff is just one area of your human resources that requires careful oversight.  Dealing with required laws, payroll, benefits, employee relations and daily operations can be burdensome and overwhelming.  StaffScapes can help relieve many of the stressors related to these requirements.  Contact us today for more information.  303-466-7864 or info@StaffScapes.com.

With Summer quickly approaching, it’s time to think about preventing illness while working outdoors.  The following are suggestions to prevent heat stroke and other heat related issues while working in hot conditions:

1. Be aware of the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses. These include headache, dizziness, weakness, confusion, irritability, thirst, nausea and vomiting.
2. Protect yourself from direct sunlight when at all possible. Wear lightweight, light colored and loose fitting clothing.
3. Use cooling fans and take rest breaks regularly from physical activity.
4. Drink lots of water; about 1 pint per hour. Waiting until you feel thirsty is too late. Drink often and avoid caffeine and alcohol.
5. Wear personal cooling products if possible. Specially designed bandannas, headbands and other gear can be purchased, soaked in water and worn for several hours providing a cooling effect and reduction to body temperatures.
6. Replace lost electrolytes by drinking sports beverages.

Following these tips can help you survive even the hottest of days and help you avoid a medical emergency. Stay safe and enjoy the upcoming summer.

Note:  Recently, StaffScapes had the pleasure of presenting at a local Chamber of Commerce luncheon. During this speech, we focused on points to help the small business owner grow and prosper in 2012.  We have taken this speech and created a series of blogs we will post based on each of the 4 P’s we feel are critical to your business.

So far, we have discussed the People, Profit and Protection within your company and the key methods for business success.  In this fourth and last part of the series, we are going to discuss partnering with the right advisors.  If you missed either of the first two posts, please visit our StaffScapes blog.
 

The Partner Component
As a business owner, you have several strengths that enabled you to start your business.  Focusing on what you do best will allow you to manage your business.  But there are so many tasks involved that it is impossible to do it all.  This is where partnering with the right advisors will help you take your business to the next level.

To begin, we recommend that you review the areas that you excel at and the areas that you could use some expert assistance.  Where do you spend your time?  Identify where you make money and where you don’t.  The areas that do not bring you revenue should be where you start in considering who you can outsource to.

When considering your partners, you should find those that you know, like & trust.  Do your homework to make sure they are trusted advisors who have the expertise you need and some familiarity with your industry. Ask for references and check locally first.  Places like your Chamber of Commerce, business associates, local philanthropic organizations or service groups can also be sources for referrals.

Securing outside assistance is a move that can benefit your business in many ways.  We recommend that you look at outsourcing in areas such as human resources, marketing, printing, financial planning, accounting, legal assistance and business advising.  Whether one time advice or long-term assistance, speaking with knowledgeable advisors can help you make the right strategic decisions.

We hope this four part series has been informative.  To learn more about how StaffScapes can help you grow your business, call us at 303-466-7864 or email us at info@StaffScapes.com.

At StaffScapes, we specialize in helping the small business owner understand the business of employment.  StaffScapes can help you be confident in your human resources practices. By helping you to stay compliant and assisting you with key business decisions surrounding employment, we will help you grow and prosper. After all, you got in to business to do what you love and not all the paperwork and daily legal requirements.

Many of us wear jewelry and other accessories daily and don’t think twice about it.  However, there are risks to your safety when working.  The following are tips to help protect you on the job so fashion does not mix with danger.

1. When operating equipment that have rollers or that are designed to feed objects, be aware of ties and long necklaces.  These items can easily get caught and pull you toward the machine resulting in everything from bruising to strangulation.
2. If working in field operations or around equipment, be aware of any rings you wear and consider taking them off prior to work.  Rings can easily get caught and fingers and/or hands can be bruised, cut, scared or worse, severed.
3. Do not wear long earrings or those that have large hoops that can easily be snagged when working around equipment where you either have to bend to retrieve items or are at the height of your head.  If caught, they can easily be ripped out of your ear and cause tears and infections in your ear lobe.
4. Be sure to wear properly fitted pants.  If worn low for trendy purposes, it is possible to trip and fall causing injuries to many parts of your body.
5. When wearing high heels, be sure to watch your step.  Cracks in pavement, frays in area rugs, holes in carpet and uneven surfaces can be great traps for pointed shoes and could cause you to trip and fall.

By considering your clothing and accessory choices and being aware of your surroundings, you can help in reducing workplace accidents and avoid serious injury from seemingly very simple things.   As a part of the services that StaffScapes offers, we will conduct risk management assessments for our clients to ensure safety on the job.  For more information about these and other services offered by StaffScapes, please call 303-466-7864.

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) employee rights poster that had been released and was to be required by all employers to be posted by April 30, 2012, has been postponed.

This decision is due to district court proceedings in D.C. and South Carolina in which state governments appealed the validity of the NLRB authority to require employers to allow employees the ability to form unions.  Oral arguments before the DC Circuit are slated for September.  We anticipate the issue will most likely go to the Supreme Court.

In accordance with the initial request, StaffScapes recently mailed all clients a laminated copy of this poster to be attached to their current ring of required employment posters.  We ask that you do not post the notification.  If and when changes occur, we will notify everyone.

For questions regarding this poster or its regulations, please contact StaffScapes at 303-466-7864 or info@StaffScapes.com.  We thank you for your assistance.

Workplace injuries happen frequently and they can cost thousands of dollars. As an employer, we recommend that you put in place policies, procedures and training programs to help prevent accidents.  At StaffScapes, we deal with workplace injuries frequently with our clients.  Often, employers believe risk management applies to big business and especially those that deal in professions that are high risk such as construction.  However, many of the claims that we see involve small businesses with less than 20 employees and in industries that would normally be viewed as “safe”.  Common injuries include trips and falls, muscle strains and tears, and cuts.  These simple injuries can result in missed work, loss of wages and many additional issues for the employer. 

Here are some key points to consider at your workplace:

• Keep all boxes away from doorways and emergency exits
• When lifting anything off of the floor, squat and lift straight up. Do not bend over to pick the item up
• Do not stand on a chair or box to get an item off of a shelf
• Do not stand on the very top of a ladder
• Don’t run, walk
• Close desk drawers or cabinets to prevent injuries
• Tape down electrical cords that must be in walking paths
• If you see something you feel is unsafe, contact your manager for assistance
• Use chemicals properly and follow all instructions.  This includes standard office cleaning.
• Wipe up all spills
• Only open one cabinet drawer at a time
• Ask for help when moving large or heavy objects
• Always wear protective equipment
 

These are just a few suggestions. We encourage you to review your safety practices and if you need additional advice or a safety review, please contact StaffScapes today.  We can be reached at 303-466-7864 or info@StaffScapes.com

Our very own Lora Manternach, PHR and Jake Stratton along with long-time business associate John Gallo, CPA have been honored with an invitation to speak at an upcoming event for Lorman Education services.  On May 22, 2012, the team will present a one day seminar on the IRS Form 1099 and what you need to know regarding regulations and reporting. 

The seminar will be held at the Crowne Plaza Denver at 1450 Glenarm Place in Denver from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.  Registered participants will receive a complete reference manual in addition to the presentation and Q & A portions of the seminar.  Continuing Education Credits are also available. 

Topics include:
• 1099 Reporting Requirements
• Penalties
• Required Forms
• Independent Contractor vs. Employee
• Advantages & Disadvantages
• IRS Factors
• Safe Harbors
• Case Studies, Q & A, Open discussions
 

To register for the event, please visit www.lorman.com/ID386294.  Cost to participate is $319.  For more information please contact StaffScapes at 303-466-7864.  Mention this blog post and receive a discount code for 20% off when you register.

We are pleased to announce that Angela Winget has joined StaffScapes as our new Benefits Specialist.  “She will join Lora Manternach and Shannon Briggs in providing quality personalized service to our valued clients and employees” said Jim Thibodeau.  The primary focus for Angela in this new position is to reach out to all clients to review their current benefit plans and recommend any changes that will enhance the programs available to employees.  Individual questions regarding coverage can be directed to Angela.  In addition, she will handle all annual reviews, open enrollments and new hire selections to ensure complete satisfaction in the process as well as selection of plans.

Angela comes to us from Cedar Rapids, IA where she worked for Mercer Health and Benefits in a similar position.  As a newcomer to the Denver area, Angela loves having the mountains so close and is looking forward to exploring new trails as well as trying out new places to dine and shop. She plans to join a local sand volleyball team (she is already checking out which ones are the best in the area) and with our beautiful Colorado weather, can’t wait to take her bike out with friends.

You can expect to hear from Angela soon with information for open enrollment which kicks off in May. For human resources needs including employee relations and workers’ compensation, all clients and employees will continue to work with Lora Manternach, PHR.  Shannon Briggs remains the primary contact for payroll, employee maintenance and unemployment claims.  All StaffScapes employees look forward to helping with your needs and can be reached via phone at 303-466-7864.

Note:  Recently, StaffScapes had the pleasure of presenting at a local Chamber of Commerce luncheon. During this speech, we focused on points to help the small business owner grow and prosper in 2012.  We have taken this speech and created a series of blogs we will post based on each of the 4 P’s we feel are critical to your business.

So far, we have discussed the People within your company and the key methods for working with your numbers for business success.  In this third part of a four part series, we are going to discuss managing your risk and liabilities through protection.  If you missed either of the first two posts, please visit our StaffScapes blog or view specific posts "People" and "Profit".
 

The Protection Component
As a business owner, you are keenly aware that there are risks associated with doing business.  These risks can present themselves in many different ways.  Obvious risks include workers’ compensation injuries, theft or gross misconduct.  Lesser thought of risks include cybercrimes,  errors and omissions and identity theft.  Risk surrounds you and your employees daily.  So how do you manage the risk and reduce your liability?
Begin with reviewing your potential risks and liabilities.  Look for and expose problem areas, visual dangers and procedure or communication breakdowns.  During this process, it is often helpful and prudent to work with one of your trusted advisors or an outside consultant. This person can often help you identify risks that many times are missed by individuals closely involved such as the business owner.

After identifying your risks and liabilities, you need to determine the costs/benefits associated with each risk and how you can effectively reduce or manage the risk.  Consult with your insurance agent to discuss programs and policies that can be implemented or underwritten to reduce your risk should something occur.  Review all of your internal operations for opportunities for improvement in procedures and policies. If you need further assistance, partnering with a risk management specialist may be a good idea. 

On an annual basis, we suggest that you once again review all of your liabilities.  Meet with your insurance agent to review changes that have occurred in your business and/or personal life as you may need more coverage.  In some circumstances, this review may even lower your premiums.   It may also be a good idea for you to bid out services and coverage at this time as well.  Sometimes, competitive offers can provide you with new services, better programs and cheaper rates just by asking.  An additional source that may be worth talking with are your associations.  Are you a member of a trade association for your industry?  If so, they often provide discounted programs and services for their members that may cost you less than contracting with someone in the open market.

Taking these steps will help you to reduce the opportunity for risk. Owning a business comes with challenges and certain risks that you cannot avoid. But by mitigating the risk potential, you can operate a successful small business and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Our next and final post will focus on partnering to help your business thrive.

Understanding the business of employment is tricky and StaffScapes can help you improve the “Protection” component of your business. By helping you to stay compliant and reducing non-revenue generating activities we can help you grow and prosper and keep you focused on the reason why you got into business. We will help you with payroll and tax compliance, claims mitigation, and other human resource tasks to give you the time to concentrate on your business.

The new National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) poster that is required for all employers to post at their business location by April 30, 2012, has been mailed to all StaffScapes clients.  This poster provides notice to all employees of their right to organize and bargain collectively with their employers. In addition, it allows employees to engage in other protected activities or to refrain from engaging in activities associated with collective bargaining.

Some highlights under the NLRA regarding employee rights include the ability to:

• Organize a union or negotiate with their employer their wages, hours & other terms & conditions of employment
• Form, join or assist a union
• Take action with one or more co-workers to improve working conditions
• Strike and picket
• Choose not to participate

For more information on the new National Labor Relations Act, or you do not receive your poster, please contact StaffScapes at 303-466-7864 or info@StaffScapes.com.