Best Tips & Tricks for Employee Scheduling Blog

10 Fantastic Team Building Activities

Team-building activities for work are both informative and fun. They help teams get to know each other, helping them learn how their colleagues think, work, problem-solve, and relate to one another. Team-building activities are often announced to choruses of groans, but there are innovative ways to use them within your team 👯. They can be used during orientation and as icebreakers, and they can be used on team-building days to help bring your staff closer together. Below, we’ve gathered ten team-building activities that are fun and exciting. Take a look and make notes for your next team-building day! 1) Egg Drop 🥚 Source: Semantic Scholar Egg Drop is a traditional team-building game that brings groups together to solve creative problems. It can get messy! But this just raises the stakes, making it more exciting. Your aim is to create an egg package/carrier that can withstand a 2+ story drop while keeping the uncooked egg intact. Like we said, messy 🍳!! Group Size: 2+ small groups. Can work for small to large teams. Run Time: 30-40 minutes. How To Play: Split your team into even groups. Usually, 2-4 people in each team is a good amount. It allows people to work together and build relationships without too many people shouting over one another. Give each team a raw/uncooked egg and provide various office supplies, such as straws, tape, plastic, balloons, rubber bands, and newspapers in a pile. Give teams 15-30 minutes to use the supplies provided to build the best protection for the egg. After they have built protective packages for their eggs, it’s time for the drop. This part can get messy, especially if people’s carriers aren’t up to the task! The winning squad is the one where the most eggs survive the free fall. In the event of a tiebreaker, you can raise the egg-fall height. Or just declare joint team winners with a planned rematch at another time! This team-building activity is a great way to have people think on the spot and work under pressure. They have to think creatively, which can be translated into problem-solving in the workplace to improve company culture. The nature of this activity also means they will have a fun shared experience with their colleagues, which should help them to build deeper relationships with their colleagues. In fact, research actually suggests that shared experiences can be beneficial to colleagues and can help them to recognize each other’s shared strengths and unique abilities. 2) The Minefield / Watch Your Step 🧨 This game is played with a partner. One person is blindfolded and unable to speak; the other acts as the guide. The goal of the guide is to help the blindfolded person through an obstacle course without touching them. The guide is only allowed to speak directions and may not help the guide in any other way. The blindfolded person must not touch, bump into, or trip over any obstacles. Otherwise, the team is out of the game, and you must start over. The game encourages precise communication between teammates. The blindfolded person is reliant only on spoken instructions, and so the guide needs to be clear and give instructions that are easy to follow. It’s probably pretty easy to see how a game like this can be great for developing communication and team bonding, but we’ll reiterate all the same! The game can help people to understand how their colleagues communicate with each other. It allows teams to develop communication habits that work for everyone. This could be particularly useful for remote teams who follow a hybrid working style, as remote work requires clear communication. Equipment for setting up the game can vary. Blindfolds can easily be made from scarves or strips of fabric. Or you could cover safety goggles in masking tape so you cannot see through them. Obstacle options can be small, like paper, pencils, small toys, and more. Or you could build a maze with chairs and tables. Just ensure that the course isn’t too hazardous! Group Size: Groups of 2, small to medium team size. Run Time: 15-30 minutes. How To Play: For this activity, use an open space or activity room. Prepare a start and endpoint. Use the obstacles listed above or get creative with your own ideas. Divide the group into teams of two, each with one member blindfolded. Give verbal instructions to the blindfolded teammate on how to negotiate the course and avoid walking on the obstacles/mines. Time each team from start to finish. The winner will complete the course in the shortest time. With a draw, you could have the two winners face off in a completely new obstacle course to declare a winner. 3) The Perfect Square ⬛ This is a game in which team members must collaborate to build a perfect square with a rope while blindfolded. Communication skills, teamwork, and hilariously out-of-shape courts are all on the menu. This game encourages the group to work together, but they will find that having a team leader may make communication smoother. You can appoint team leaders, perhaps choosing employees who don’t usually speak up or those you think would make good leaders. Appointing a leader can get people out of their comfort zone and help them to open up to the group a bit more. Group Size: 4-20 people. Run Time: 15-30 minutes. How To Play: Gather the group together, have them sit in a circle, and place their blindfolds over their eyes. Take a rope with the ends tied together and give it to the group. Their goal is to form a perfect square out of the rope without taking off their blindfolds. Allow them as much time as they like – once they are happy they have formed a square, they can take off their blindfolds and observe their handy work… If you have time, you can repeat the activity and offer the team another chance to improve. You could also have them create different shapes while blindfolded… five-pointed

10 Secrets to Have a Happy Life

The question of how to live a happy life has plagued generations before us and is likely to trouble us for the foreseeable future. Many people want to be happy but are unsure of what to do (or, more importantly, stop doing). In an effort to not focus on the negatives, we’re not going to look at what can make you unhappy. Instead, we want to take a closer look at the things that can make your life much happier instead. Check them all out below to find out more about living a happier life. 1. Build and Nurture Meaningful Relationships 👩‍❤️‍👨 Source: National Library of Medicine No matter how strong we are, we all want someone to be there with us during the tough moments in our life. We also want someone to celebrate our victories with. And it doesn’t have to be a romantic partner. We just need a person/s who will be there for us, whoever they may be. No one really likes to be alone. So, one of the ways to truly be happy is to spend time with your family, friends, and other loved ones. Time with them is time well spent indeed🥰. In fact, research has shown that social relationships can have a positive benefit on your mental health and your mortality. Positive friendships are associated with a higher perceived level of life satisfaction, so if you want to live a happier life, spend more time with your loved ones ♥️! 2. Indulge in Nature 🌿 Source: Scientific Reports Spending time in nature has been proven to have a positive effect on your mental health. Indeed, in this research on the benefits of nature for those living in urban areas, time spent outdoors was shown to have a positive effect on anxiety, stress, and depression. While we all live busy lives, getting out into nature is essential. So, you’ll be pleased to know that one study found that spending just 120 minutes in nature per week could benefit your mental health and well-being. Fortunately, you can break this up over the week. Indeed, just 30 minutes spent in nature 🌳 is thought to reduce blood pressure by 10%. So by spending 30 minutes in nature four times per week, you’ll be able to hit your quota of outdoor time, feel happier, and even feel physically fitter. 3. Savor Your Victories 🏆 Little or big, a victory is something that should be celebrated. Doing so will remind you that life is not all hardships and suffering. Praising yourself for your achievements will increase your optimism and motivate you to do more for yourself and others. Hint: If you’re working on BIG things, break them down into smaller victories! That way, you won’t lose motivation and can celebrate each of the little wins along the way. Research suggests that there is positive psychology behind celebrating small wins. Celebrating victories along the way to a bigger goal is a trait of happy people. It improves motivation and ensures people feel they are making progress. As progress is part of human nature, if you have this sense of purpose in your life and work, you’re likely to feel greater happiness. 4. Practice Gratitude 🙏 Source: Harvard Health Publishing If you’re looking for an effortless way to reduce stress and improve your overall happiness, practicing gratitude is the best thing you can do. Studies have shown that people who practice gratitude have better mental health and cope with stress better. Practicing gratitude daily can be incredibly simple. You could spend a few moments each evening writing down a few things you’re grateful for each day, or you could incorporate gratitude into a meditation practice 🧘. However you do it, gratitude has been proven over and over to have a positive effect on happiness. So if you want to feel happy in life, start giving thanks. 5. Live in the Moment ⌚ We typically regret what we didn’t do in the past. Or sometimes, we tend to worry too much about our future. But that shouldn’t be the case as we live in the now. While it’s not wrong to reminisce sometimes or plan ahead 📅, remember the importance of being present. You can only live a specific moment once, so make the most out of it. When you do so, you’ll appreciate your life more, and you’ll be thankful that you did. If you frequently feel your mind wandering to the future, overthinking about past actions, or you simply don’t feel present, you could try grounding techniques throughout your day. A grounding technique brings your mind and body back to the present moment. Grounding techniques to try: 5-4-3-2-1: This technique uses all four senses. In your mind, think of five things you can see 👀, four things you can touch 👇, three things you can hear 👂, two things you can smell 👃, and one thing you can taste 👅. By becoming aware of what your senses pick up on, your mind will be forced back into the present moment. Body scan meditation: A body scan meditation helps you to focus on your body and how it is feeling. It pulls you away from everything going on around you and reminds you to stay present. It can improve focus and help to calm you. 6. Be Honest With Your Friends and Yourself 🗣️ Being honest is a simple way to lead a happier life. If you’re constantly lying to people or hiding things, you’ll run ragged, trying to keep up with all the lies you’ve told. Being fair and honest with everyone in your life will boost your connection and ensure your relationship thrives. Honesty is also something you should respect yourself enough for. Being honest with yourself and building self-awareness ensures you keep growing and keeps you moving forward. If you lie to yourself, like telling yourself you’re happy when you’re not, you may overexert yourself, feel more stress, and stay in situations you know harm your well-being

11 Tips to Increase Productivity and Reduce Overtime

Overtime increases labor costs but also contributes to burnout and lower well-being. Finding the right balance can improve your profit and the happiness of your employees. Reducing overtime is essential for a company as it can benefit your staff and the overall success of your business. 📈 To optimize workflows, create a more positive work environment and help your business thrive, follow our 11 tips to increase productivity and reduce overtime. ⏰ Let’s take a closer look into why it’s important: Why is increasing productivity and reducing overtime important? Increasing productivity and reducing overtime is vital due to its positive impact on your business. Employees working too much overtime can increase stress levels and burnout, which may have a negative effect on their job performance. Furthermore, employees will have a better work-life balance, feel more engaged and become more motivated at work if overtime is reduced.😊 Increasing productivity will benefit your business as your employees will be more focused and willing to help your business thrive. If employees are productive, they’ll work to a higher performance level and work hard to succeed.🤔 Here are 11 tips to increase productivity and reduce overtime: 1. Adopt a flexible schedule🗓 Having a flexible schedule will be beneficial for everyone. Employees can choose when they are most productive and happy to work in this setup. Flexible schedules can also reduce employee absences. If a flexible schedule doesn’t suit your business, try to find the most appropriate plan you can. At Mytommy, we offer an elite employee scheduling software to help you stay as organized and productive as possible. With visual features for a streamlined process, and the option of automatic reminders and calendar updates, our scheduling software is the way forward for flexibility and organization. 📆 Source: Zippia 2. Reduce meetings👩🏾‍🤝‍👨🏽 Meetings are often helpful, but sometimes they can be time-consuming and reduce productivity in the workplace. Meetings can hinder productivity due to a lack of preparation, increased distractions and multitasking and changes to schedules and plans. 🗣 According to a study, an estimated $37 billion is lost per year to unproductive meetings. The time spent in meetings can be used to finish other tasks, so aim to set a standard for shorter and fewer meetings or use efficient phone calls as a replacement to manage your time more effectively. Digital task management softwares can keep your time as productive as possible, as you’ll waste less time. Boost productivity by keeping the number of meetings to a minimum, limiting the number of people, and creating a solid call to action for employees to follow up with. Source: Zippia 3. Avoid unnecessary overtime Emphasize work-life balance in your workplace to reduce stress. Remove ‘overtime culture’ from your business by emphasizing the importance of sticking to regular hours. ⏳ Unnecessary overtime can lead to employee burnout and increased stress levels, hindering productivity and motivation. By avoiding unnecessary overtime, employees’ productivity at work will increase, as well as their well-being. ☺️Your employees will likely stick around for longer with an improved work-life balance and a more positive outlook. Extensive overtime may also fail to meet employment laws, so it’s worth keeping in mind. A healthy work-life balance is extremely important and according to a study, 72% of workers believe work-life balance is very important when choosing a job, and 57% of job-seekers say a poor work-life balance is a dealbreaker when they’re considering a new job. Source: Zippia 4. Provide appropriate equipment and resources👩‍💻 Allocate appropriate resources for tasks to increase productivity, decrease overtime and help employees work smarter. Using our software to plan and manage tasks, projects, and time will give you more flexibility and tools to manage and assign tasks. Mytommy’s extensive features can also assist in these tasks. From messaging platforms to team communication, you can keep everyone up to date with the resources on offer. Automation of reporting, communication, training and onboarding will streamline your business and save time and money. 5. Limit overtime hour⏰ Your Human Resources team is responsible for calculating and allocating appropriate overtime based on employment arrangements. Ensure policies are written and shared with employees and their managers to streamline and limit overtime hours. If employees endure too much overtime, it may be a health and safety issue, and they may fail to comply with laws. Mytommy’s time and attendance software effectively keeps track of time and attendance, ensuring all employees are fulfilling their designated hours and avoiding too much overtime.✅ 6. Observe your team’s performance ⭐️ Assessing performance begins with reviewing tasks, time management and communication. Checking the allocation of resources and time can assist in improving productivity. To keep productivity levels and the engagement rate of your staff high, make sure you look at patterns and performances so you can make changes if necessary and alter times to post specific tasks or assignments. If your team is taking a while to complete tasks, you’ll be able to alter the allocation process and find ways to increase workplace productivity. Furthermore, you may notice distractions hindering your team’s performance, like social media or Instagram engagements. 📱If so, you can implement measures to increase their productivity. According to a study, 47% of people use social media at work, creating distractions and a lack of productivity. Teach your employees about productivity techniques, like the Pomodoro technique, time blocking and the benefit of taking short breaks. Communicate with your team and offer them the chance to voice their opinions, and you can consider any comments they raise to ensure they remain as productive as possible.👍 7. Cross-train employees🤓 Cross-train your employees to do various tasks so the responsibilities are shared, reducing overtime and the likelihood of burnout. By cross-training employees, they’ll feel more motivated due to a more developed range of skills, leading to increased productivity as they feel more able to contribute at work. Cross-training employees will result in a more productive workforce, increasing efficiency, teamwork, employee versatility and a positive work environment for employees due to the extra roles

10 Social Media Trends That Businesses Should Know This 2023

Is your business a newbie in the social media landscape? Or are you just curious about the latest trends you can use? If so, you’re in the right place!📱 The influence of social media is taking the business world by storm, and keeping up with the top trends will keep you relevant. From content creation to social media marketing, the trends are constantly changing and knowing how to use social media to your advantage will benefit your business.📈 Whether you want to raise brand awareness, increase your visibility online, engage returning customers, or entice potential ones, using social media features can help your business thrive. 🤩 With various platforms and different types of content to create, knowing the social media trends will keep your business as successful as possible and help you get ahead of competitors. In this blog, we’ll tell you the trends you can use to maximize your exposure and increase conversions. Source SmartInsights Why Should Businesses Know About Social Media Trends? In today’s digital age, social media plays a prominent role in our communication, connections, and information, and it’s a vital platform for raising awareness of your business. From online shopping to video adverts, you can utilize social media features, increase brand awareness and stay relevant. You can use social media to your business’s advantage for a competitive edge, reputation building and brand recognition.🤳 By following social media trends, you can reach your target audience and create content to attract and engage them. Social media is constantly expanding, and the trends are constantly changing, so knowing the trends of 2023 will put you in an excellent position to create content your customers will want to see👍 Let’s take a look at the ten social media trends for 2023 that businesses should know: 1. TikTok Marketing Will Grow The TikTok app has been downloaded 3 billion times and is one of the most popular and used social media apps. As the most downloaded app of 2021, TikTok’s influence continues to grow, and social media users can’t get enough of the app’s short and witty videos. With many micro influences and ever-changing trends, keeping up with TikTok as it continues to expand is important. Source Social Shepherd TikTok’s popularity and features make it the sixth most popular social media platform worldwide, and the video content is taking the business world by storm.🌎 Businesses are creating user-generated content and raising brand awareness by creating videos, adverts and selling products for users to buy.💸 More and more brands are beginning to use the app, so it’s vital to follow the trend to stay relevant. By creating short and engaging videos about your products, company, or topics that relate to them, you will attract potential new customers and keep people returning. 2. Long Videos are Ineffective🎥 People have short attention spans, especially in the fast-paced digital world we’re used to. That’s why people will not likely spend their time watching long videos that are more than 2 minutes long. The rise of Tiktok and Instagram Reels cemented this as well. So, to get your audience’s attention, create short videos that are to the point, engaging and entertaining.🙌 Youtube shorts are another way to create short and snappy videos for users to engage and interact with. Avoid lengthy, wordy videos and stick to shorter videos for better results. Often, people spend their time scrolling through social media to find something that catches their eye. If you’ve created long videos with lots of content, a user may find it takes too much confrontation and move on to the next. 3. Instagram Reels Since many people love watching videos, they will be the focus of Instagram this 2023. You can still post images, but Instagram might prioritize IGTV, videos, and reels. “91% of active Instagram users said that they watch videos on the platform every week,” reflecting the importance of engaging video content for the platform. Instagram reels are engaging and enticing; people can easily scroll through and watch your content. The reels don’t necessarily have to promote your products but use relevant information that interests your target audience. So, if you want the algorithm to increase your brand exposure, prepare those short-form videos. Instagram Reels also has features you can utilize to improve the quality of your videos, such as the option to add music.🎶 You can also add hashtags to help the content start trending on social media and increase brand visibility. Source Forbes 4. The Boom of the Creator Economy👩🏾‍🤝‍👨🏽 Creators are influencers and anyone who writes, designs, edits, or films content published on social media. Since that’s a broad coverage, more than 50 million people worldwide consider themselves creators and influencers, and this number is constantly increasing. Brands are starting to see the importance of influencer marketing, and many companies are already paying them to make content to promote their products and use their platform to raise brand awareness. In this way, those organizations are saving money and gaining better results compared to traditional marketing. 5. Paid Advertisement is Crucial No matter how well-made your content is, it might not be seen by all your followers. This is because organic reach has declined, and brands must invest in paid advertisement. This was known for the past few years which might continue up to the future. You or some employees must learn how to create ads or boost content. You can also hire a professional or an agency to handle your ads or content. A team of experienced content writers have the skills and expertise to help your website rank higher in a search engine for more potential customers to interact with using content like blogs and articles. This way, when customers search for a question, query or keyword, your website will be there, ready to supply them with all the information they need. 6. Social Shopping 🛍 Because of the pandemic, more people decided to shop online and browse the wide range of products at their fingertips. This extended into

7 Tips for Business Owners’ Financial Health

7 Tips for Business Owners’ Financial Health If you own a business, it’s not just your own finances that you have to contend with. You also have to maintain the financial health of your company, too. It’s not easy to juggle both. We have curated seven tips to help you improve your financial health. Consider this your ultimate guide to financial success. Why Managing Financial Health Is Important 🤔 Money is the backbone of any business. As inflation rises, companies must navigate the potential impacts on their revenue. According to the Financial Health Network, the percentage of people considered financially healthy decreased in 2022 to just 31%. Now is the right time to get on top of your finances. Source: Financial Health Network Managing your money well has several benefits: Allows you to make effective use of resources Has a positive effect on your credit scores Helps you gain a competitive advantage Ensures you can prepare for long-term financial stability You might feel confused by your finances, but if you can get your numbers in order, you’re on the right track to financial success. Here are seven strategies to help you out. 1. Keep Track of Your Numbers 🔢 The first step to being financially healthy is to keep track of your numbers. You need to monitor expenses, revenue, payroll, and others. There are numerous ways to track your income and expenditure, ranging from simple spreadsheets to complex data analysis machines. Every so often, check your expenses and revenue to measure the return on investment (ROI). That way, you can make smarter money decisions and prioritize expenses. 2. Separate Personal and Business Finances 💰 As a business owner, it might feel like your organization is your whole life. However, it’s wise to separate your personal and business finances. It means you can protect your personal assets if something happens to your business. Have separate credit cards for your business and personal expenses. Managing everything separately is useful for keeping everything organized, including taxes and checks. 3. Fulfill Your Financial Obligations 🏦 It’s crucial to meet all your financial obligations. As a business owner, you need to pay IRS, utilities, and labor costs. Missing any of these payments has consequences, from fines to loss of staff. Giving salaries to your employees is one of the highest priorities, so makes sure you have a budget to do so. Automating your invoices is a great way to stay on top of things. 💡 Top Tip: Your payroll costs should be below 15-30% of your gross revenue. 4. Reduce Your Expenses 📉 There are many reasons why new businesses fail. But did you know that the most common reason (for 38% of businesses) is that they run out of cash? Source: Cbinsights Sometimes we all purchase things we don’t really need, and this also applies to business owners. Try to think first before you buy new equipment or software. Maybe your equipment is still working efficiently or there is a free software you can use. List down the things that you want to upgrade or buy and identify which ones you urgently need and which ones you can buy next time. Only buy things that you really need. Prioritizing in this way can help you with long-term financial planning. When in doubt, ask yourself if this is a meaningful investment that will make a big difference. 5. Optimize Your Company’s Workforce 🧑‍💻 Optimizing your workforce can help in many areas, not just financial health. By taking steps to increase productivity and employee engagement, you can achieve many benefits, including: Reduced overtime (and lower costs) Productive staff with a high output that benefits your revenue Happy staff with low churn rates, reducing the cost of hiring and training Alongside staff, consider the non-human elements of your business, too. Can you invest in any products and services that will streamline your workflows? Affordable software like Tommy can help you stay on top of tasks and time-tracking, increasing efficiency without breaking the bank. 6. Prepare Cash Reserves 💵 It’s best to have a small fall-back cushion in case of an emergency. Ideally, you should have about six months’ worth of living expenses stashed away. Aside from emergencies, you can use savings to improve your business, such as investing in hiring staff. Set yourself a long-term goal for saving, and you will thank yourself later. It will prevent you from having to take out loans when you need cash. 7. Set Goals and Measure Results 📈 Setting financial goals is crucial if you want to succeed. You should have a plan in place for 1-10 years, reviewing it annually. Set specific goals such as selling a certain number of units or acquiring a certain number of clients. You can only monitor your progress if your goals are actionable and measurable, so make sure you implement the SMART goals method. All goals should be: Specific Measurable Achievable Relevant Time-bound With this in mind, you can work toward a financially secure future. Regularly monitor your progress to determine what’s working and what’s not. Even if you don’t meet your targets, you can learn useful data points that will inspire you and help you refocus. Looking for Better Workplace Management? 🐕 It’s not just your physical and mental health that are important. Your financial health is important, too! There are many ways for business owners to strive for financial health. Hopefully, the steps in this guide have given you something to work towards. Why not start by streamlining your productivity and managing workflows? Tommy is on hand to help with exceptional time and attendance software to help you see what your workforce is up to. Check it out today! 7 Tips for Business Owners’ Financial Health Why Managing Financial Health Is Important 1. Keep Track Of Your Numbers 2. Separate Personal And Business Finances 3. Fulfill Your Financial Obligations 4. Reduce Your Expenses 5. Optimize Your Company’s Workforce 6. Prepare Cash Reserves 7. Set Goals And Measure Results Looking For

12 Essential Skills In The Workplace

12 Essential Workplace Skills There are certain skills that can transform the way you work, no matter what industry you operate in. Whether you’re a manager, CEO, or staff member, there are particular attributes that make you a better team player. For job seekers, these are skills that will make you more employable, too. Here are twelve soft skills you need to succeed in the workplace. 1. Time Management 🕑 In most jobs, there are many things you need to do in a day. When you know how to properly manage your time, you’ll prioritize important tasks and delegate to others when needed. When you have time management skills, team members will value your ability to work to a deadline. Plus, you’ll be less stressed because you won’t be trying to tackle twenty jobs at once. Moreover, good time management is great for your personal life. It helps you manage your work-life balance and switch off after work. Master This Skill: There are plenty of time management tools to help you manage your tasks. For instance, try Tommy! 🐕 2. Critical Thinking 🧐 Critical thinking is an essential skill set. Even if you think it’s not important for your job, chances are you will need these skills at some point. It will help you solve and prevent issues in the organization by analyzing trends and information. If you can learn how to view and analyze data, you’ll become a highly valued team member. Master This Skill: Whenever faced with a difficult decision, try to think of it from a different point of view. Analyze any data with a close eye, vetting it cautiously. Plus, look at where information has come from and consider alternative views. All in all, this is a skill that takes practice. 3. Confidence 😄 Confidence is one of the most vital soft skills you can possess. It will help you make better decisions and defend yourself when needed. Employers will also have more trust in confident employees, providing them with growth opportunities. Plus, confidence can help you with project management and other tasks. When you’re confident in your decisions, you can better delegate and manage other employees. Master This Skill: Dress for success in the morning, and fake it ’til you make it! Project confidence even when you don’t feel it, and try to emulate your confident peers. Finally, you can improve your confidence by investing time and effort in professional development to cement your skills. 4. Flexibility 🤸🏼‍♀️ Changes always happen, sometimes when you least expect them. You should be willing to embrace new developments and adjust to various situations. Furthermore, make sure you’re able to work in a team but also comfortable working alone. In the long-term, learning to be flexible not only benefits the organization, but also yourself. It means you can comfortably tackle wherever comes your way, saving you unnecessary stress and anxiety. Master This Skill: Adjust your expectations and learn to stay positive. Furthermore, set non-negotiables so you know which limitations you can’t compromise on, even in case of an emergency. 5. Emotional Intelligence 🧠 Although emotional intelligence is not an obvious attribute for employees, it’s a key skill in the workplace. It will help you empathize with your workmates, superiors, and even clients. When you know how others are feeling, you can better understand them. Then, you will know how to move forward. Master This Skill: Read books and articles on management skills. Also, improve your emotional intelligence towards yourself by paying attention to how you feel and behave. Bring those critical thinking skills into play by questioning your own opinions. 6. Innovation 👩‍🎨 Sometimes, you need to think outside the box. Whether you use creativity in your day-to-day job or you make the big decisions for the company, innovation can be a fantastic weapon in your arsenal. Your workmates and superiors will both appreciate your innovation skills. Don’t be afraid to make suggestions and put yourself out there–people will remember you for your confidence and creativity. Master This Skill: Attend workshops and push yourself out of your comfort zone. If you prioritize your mental wellbeing and examine diverse perspectives, you will create room for creativity to flourish. 7. Communication Skills 🗣 Every workplace requires communication skills. If you can’t communicate properly, you will have a hard time finishing tasks! In some ways, this is more important than technical skills. You should know how to express yourself through both writing and speaking. Don’t worry if communication doesn’t come naturally to you. Master This Skill: Attend classes and workshops centered around communication. These will give you some ideal practice with real-life examples of tough workplace situations. 8. Leadership 🧑‍💼 If you see a promotion in your future, having strong leadership skills will help you get there. Knowing how to lead a team will help you progress along the career path. But please note that managing people is not easy! Being a leader requires a combination of multiple skills, such as communication, innovation, reliability, and more. Master This Skill: Find someone you look up to in your career and ask them for advice on mastering leadership skills. Be passionate about learning and development, showcasing your commitment to leading a team. 9. Problem-Solving 🧩 Organizations encounter various problems. In fact, 36% of organizations across all industries require complex problem-solving. Source: gpscorporate It’s really helpful if their employees can help them to address these issues. Companies can save money every time they solve problems quickly and efficiently. Problem-solving skills are therefore highly valuable. You should know how to: Identify the problem’s source Solve the problem Prevent it from happening again Innovation is important here, too, because it helps you think outside the box. Master This Skill: Exercise your brain with logic puzzles or games. 10. Organizational Skills 🗂 Having organizational skills doesn’t only apply to your desk. You can use these skills to handle other staff and clients efficiently, alongside juggling multiple projects. If you work in an industry like social media, you

9 Interview Techniques to Recruit the Best Employees

9 Interview Techniques to Recruit the Best Employees Interviewing candidates for a role is challenging and requires specific techniques to understand potential employees, their skills, interests and capabilities. During an interview, it’s essential to put the person at ease and allow them to present themselves effectively. 🤩 For any business, hard-working, dedicated and motivated staff are essential, and the interview process can help you employ the best employees for the job. Hiring the right employees is vital for the growth and success of any business.📈 Interviewing can be challenging, and it can be hard to know what to look for, especially in the busy, fast-paced world of work. To find the best, most successful employees for your business, follow our top nine effective interviewing techniques and tips. Why are Interviewing Techniques Important?🧑‍💻 Effective interviewing techniques are important as they’ll help you decide on the best candidate for the job. Whether it’s a single-person interview or a group setting, it’s important to put the candidates at ease to get the best results.👩🏾‍🤝‍👨🏽 During an interview process, copies of your resume aren’t enough. A candidate may seem experienced and suitable on paper, but an interview will allow you to get to know the person further. See how they react under pressure, whether they show up on time, how they present themselves and if they seem like a suitable candidate for the job with effective interviewing techniques.⏰ Let’s take a look at our nine interview techniques to recruit the best employees: 1. Pre Screening Candidates via Phone📱 This essential first step in interviewing candidates can illustrate the strength of their communication skills, which will help your hiring decision. From a shortlist, a phone interview can assist with further refining potential candidates for a face-to-face interview. In this prescreening step, you can ask critical questions, including essential skills, experience and aptitude for the available role. This step allows your business to quickly assess the candidate’s confidence, communication skills, skills for the job and experience. These interviews are important as they’ll keep the process streamlined and productive. Source: Forbes 2. Ask What They Know About Your Business and the Role💭 Assessing a candidate’s knowledge about your business, the critical skills needed for the role and their experience in similar positions can assist in refining the shortlist. A candidate passionate about succeeding in the interview and getting the job should know about your business and the role they may be doing. Asking interviewees this will highlight their motivation and dedication to getting the job, as you can tell if they’ve spent their time preparing for the interview beforehand. 47% of employers said they’d be more likely to reject a candidate with limited knowledge about the company they’re applying to, demonstrating the importance of asking the questions. You’ll want to hire someone who shows interest and passion towards your business, and this is an effective way to find out. 3. Start With Introductions🤝 Good communication skills are essential to almost every role and can be assessed through informal and formal conversation. Introductions are an excellent way to begin an interview and show how candidates present themselves. A candidate should be professional but friendly and avoid treating you like a family member or close friend. Take note of their body language and see if they struggle to maintain eye contact. 67% of employers feel that eye contact can make a difference to a person’s interview performance as it makes candidates look more prepared and confident. It’s important to remember that interviews are nerve-wracking😬, so keep this in mind, as the candidates will most likely be tense. However, if they arrive a few minutes early, demonstrate a confident and polite manner and seem like they want to make a good impression, you can begin to make a judgment about whether they’re suitable for the job. 4. Panel Interviews May Offer Greater Benefits Panel interviews can offer significant benefits as different interviewers have different styles, illustrating how a candidate responds. Furthermore, if questions arise during the interview, other interviewers may have the time to consider follow-up questions while the others listen and respond to the candidate’s answer.👥 A panel offers more objectivity on the candidate’s suitability, and once the interview is complete, you can discuss your opinions together. You may have a different interviewing style from another person on the panel, and you’ll be able to consider the candidate’s skills and answers by their responses. 5. Ask Situational Questions❓ Situational questions mirror common workplace issues and can help demonstrate the candidate’s capacity. By asking situational questions, you’ll be able to see how well the candidate can think on their feet and how they’d approach specific situations that may arise. 🤔 Examples may include: What would you do if you made a mistake? How do you manage conflict? How would you go about learning a new task? Allow the candidate some time to think about how they’d approach the situation. Take note of their confidence and their approach to the questions. 6. Consider Role-Playing Role-playing situations with a potential candidate can present opportunities to see how they react to conflict, difficult situations or fast-paced environments. How the candidate responds to the situation may offer insight into their suitability. Role-playing is a good interviewing technique as it gives insight into how a person may react in a particular situation. This behavioral interviewing technique will show how a person might handle a challenging situation, which is vital when finding the best employees for your business.👍 7. Ask Open-Ended Questions Open-ended questions allow candidates to expand on their answers and illustrate their skills and experience. Asking ‘why’ or ‘how’ questions are generally more open-ended. Using the candidate’s resume to ask for further details about their skills, experience, and specific achievements can assist in refining the shortlist. 8. Confirm the Candidate’s Expected Salary💸 Asking the candidate to confirm their expected salary may show their confidence in their professional skills. Their answers may demonstrate their interview preparation and dedication to working in a particular job.

8 Strategies to Improve Employee Retention

8 Strategies to Improve Employee Retention Retaining employees is an important issue for organizations worried about the cost of hiring and training new employees. Considering the reasons why skilled employees resign can be beneficial to businesses when considering future hiring processes. Furthermore, business owners can consider key aspects of retention and the changes needed to reduce attrition in the future. You can improve your retention rates with the eight simple employee retention strategies in this guide. First off, why do you need to implement these strategies? Why Use Employee Retention Strategies? 🤔 Employee turnover happens in any business. It’s natural. The average employee turnover for your business depends on the industry you work in. According to Gallup, the cost of replacing a churned employee can range between 0.5 and 2x the employee’s annual salary. It pays to keep employees in their role, which benefits your business in the long run. Source: Gallup What’s more, a team member leaving is a downer for the rest of your employees. Investing in a thriving workplace culture where employees are happy and stay longer benefits everyone. Fortunately, it’s easy to keep employees in their job if you’re willing to put in some time and effort. Although some employee churn is inevitable, these eight strategies will help you reduce it to only the most necessary resignations. 1. Offer Competitive Salaries 💰 A key reason employees resign is insufficient compensation and benefits. According to Business News Daily, poor salaries and benefits drive employees to seek other opportunities. Rewarding high-performing employees with competitive salaries and other benefits helps to keep them on the payroll. Plus, competitive salaries can increase productivity and engagement. When setting a competitive salary, consider the cost of living in your area. At the very least, you should offer employees a living wage so that they do not feel stressed about paying rent. This way, they can focus on their job and bring their best ideas to work. Next, analyze the salaries set by your competitors. You can reduce high turnover by matching or exceeding the salaries offered by others in your industry. If you’re a small business, focus on the living wage and then provide additional benefits to attract the top talent. 2. Prioritize Career Development and Growth 📈 Employees often cite limited opportunities for growth as another key reason for resignation. Business News Daily reports that 26% of survey respondents would leave a job if there were no career opportunities. Offering personal development programs to improve the skills and training of employees is a valuable investment. By providing opportunities for upskilling or mentoring, employees will boost their capabilities and stick around. Make it clear during the onboarding process that your company offers growth opportunities. Later down the line, encourage employees to apply for management positions later down the line. Saying there are opportunities is one thing, but sticking by your word is another. 94% of employees say they would stay in their role if their role if their company invested in helping them learn. As a result, giving employees a path to improve their skills and grow in their career means they will stick around much longer. Source: LinkedIn 3. Skilled Managers 👩‍💼 Managers play a key role in retention, especially in organizations with several layers of management. If employees think their bosses micro-manage or have poor people skills, they are more likely to resign. Training and mentorship of managers are crucial to employee retention. It takes money to invest in training employees, but it’s worth it. When your managers are competent and helpful, it will boost employees’ confidence in their role. As a result, they can be more productive. Plus, they will lead in your management as head of the company. 4. Broad Benefits 🎟 While salary is an important factor in retention, many employees feel more strongly connected to their employer when given benefits. These include flexible working arrangements, entertainment vouchers, or employee events. Flexible working arrangements, such as remote work, are a key factor in employee happiness. According to Upwork’s “Future Workplace” report, over 40 million Americans will work from home by 2025. Plus, during the Great Resignation, flexible working There are plenty of ways to reward employees. From access to mental health apps like Calm to vouchers as a reward for good work, consider what your employees enjoy. Survey them to see what kind of benefits they would prefer. Showing your employees that you value them is an easy way to reduce turnover rates. While praise is one thing, benefits are a tangible way to express appreciation. 5. Employee Engagement 😊 Employees who are engaged and connected with their colleagues are more likely to stay in their job. Employers should develop engagement initiatives and programs to build a sense of community. Programs could include team building, rewards, or coffee and cake mornings. Welcoming new employees into this friendly environment is a crucial part of retention. All of your team members should feel connected and comfortable at work. This starts with a leadership example, so lead from the front by making your workplace a welcoming environment to be in. 6. Be a Leader, Not a Boss 🧠 Leading a team is about connecting hearts and minds. Paying attention to the happiness and culture of the organization or team is a powerful way to improve retention. When employees feel connected to their team and valued by their manager, they are more likely to be resourceful and efficient. Here are three characteristics of strong leadership which employers can consider utilizing: 1️⃣ Motivation: Motivate your employees to challenge themselves and consistently strive for improvement. 2️⃣ Resilience: Show resilience during difficult times to inspire your employees, solving problems creatively to lead by example. 3️⃣ Open-mindedness: Accept opinions and suggestions from employees to show a strength of character and confidence in your team. 7. Encourage Independence 👏🏻 Empowering employees to lead can significantly improve retention. By rewarding their ideas, solutions, and problem-solving skills, you can show them that you value them. When employees

12 Tips to Boost Employee Happiness in Your Restaurant

12 Tips to Boost Employee Happiness in Your Restaurant Your employees may be performing well, but are they happy at work? In the fast-paced environment of a restaurant, employee happiness is vital and can largely benefit your business. By putting measures in place and taking action to boost employee happiness, you’ll experience a better work environment and more motivated staff.👩‍🍳 We’ve compiled 12 tips on improving the happiness of your restaurant staff to help you create a productive and positive workplace! 🍴 Why is employee happiness important? Employee happiness is important in the workplace as happy workers generally feel more motivated and are willing to succeed. Source: Indeed A positive work environment where employees feel valued and respected will improve happiness and productivity. This can lead to improved work relationships, increased performance and staff loyalty. Ensuring employee well-being is vital, and by following our 12 tips, you’ll find yourself in a much happier workplace. 😊 Let’s take a look at our 12 top tips: 1. Provide Training To boost employee happiness, provide training to ensure everyone feels confident and up to date. No matter how experienced new staff are, providing recurring training is important. This allows employees to voice questions or sharpen their skills in specific areas. Share your restaurant and company culture with them, how to use the different equipment and everything else they need to know. 🧠 Productive training will create a more positive atmosphere amongst all your employees, which is crucial to employee happiness 79% of U.S. workers say company culture is an important job satisfaction factor, and training will ensure everyone feels equally involved, creating mutual respect. You and your staff may also have off-site training to motivate them and enhance satisfaction. 2. Find Room For Growth Employees are usually always keen to learn or have more prominent roles in your business. So, prioritize promoting internally to allow employees to grow with the business. Offer staff the chance to try other job roles within the company to keep them happy and engaged. Healthy and engaged employees, in concert with a strong workplace culture, are the secret sauce for business success. For example, a server may want to try cooking to boost and improve their skills, and by offering them a chance to enhance their knowledge in the field, they’ll enjoy a new experience. This will increase job satisfaction and improve employee retention. 3. Celebrate Work Anniversaries💸🗓 Restaurants typically have low retention rates, which can have a negative impact on your business and decrease the motivation of existing staff. You can employ measures to improve that, like giving a bonus or a rate increase to employees that have stayed for a year or longer. This will increase staff motivation as they’ll feel more appreciated. If you can’t afford a pay increase or bonus, other ways to celebrate their efforts include more time off or a flexible schedule. Not only will this increase staff morale, but they’ll also experience a more positive work-life balance. 4. Reward Good Performance⭐️ One way to motivate employees is by acknowledging them for their excellent performance to ensure they feel appreciated for their hard work. If your employees are rewarded for their efforts, they’ll be more likely to continue to work to a high standard. Reward your staff who are “Employee of the Month,” “Perfect Attendance,” etc., to help boost their morale and motivate them to work better. You don’t need to provide costly incentives because what’s important is that you make them feel that you’re sincere and thankful for them. 5. Give Benefits😇 Show your staff you value them to increase employee morale, motivation and happiness. A way to do this is providing them with benefits. You’ll find that your team will appreciate the benefits you offer, and as a result, loyalty will increase, and their motivation will thrive. Provide health care, paid time off, and more! When you do that, they will know that you care about them and will be more likely to stick around. 6. Make Sure They Have Great Working Conditions👨🏽‍🍳 You should ensure that your restaurant is not only great for your guests but also your staff. To avoid unhappier counterparts, ensure proper kitchen ventilation to reduce health hazards and keep the environment as efficient as possible. This will also allow your employees to work better and more comfortably, increasing work performance and employee happiness. To ensure your staff are comfortable, provide a place for them to rest when they get tired. 😴 Another way to put your staff’s comfort first is by considering providing them with food so they don’t work on an empty stomach, as this can decrease their work performance. 7. Offer Compliments and Constructive Criticism👏🏽 When an employee does well, or you notice top talent, compliment them and appreciate their hard work. By remaining constructive and motivating, you’ll create a positive work environment, and your staff’s confidence will increase as they receive praise. If an employee makes a mistake or something goes wrong, try to remain as constructive as possible with your criticism. If you notice an issue, offer advice on preventing it from happening again. Remain as calm as possible to maintain a positive working environment and atmosphere. 8. Create a Policy for Shifts And Overtime📆 Ensure your staff gets the rest they need to keep their morale and energy levels high. This way, they won’t get sick or have regular days off, and it will help them work to a better standard. By allowing them to take time away from work, they’ll return feeling rejuvenated and able to work to the best of their ability. Create and implement a policy about fixed shifts and overtime to ensure all staff have equal opportunities to take the rest they need. Provide compensation to employees who work overtime to avoid resentment or low morale. 9. Supply The Tools and Equipment They Need🍽 We know buying modern tools and equipment can be costly, but it’s a necessary investment in a fast-paced work environment like

8 Excellent Strategies For Social Media Branding

8 Excellent Strategies For Social Media Branding Almost everyone uses social media nowadays. People use it to communicate, network, and buy or sell products and services. That’s why it’s an excellent idea for your brand to use it too. However, the social media landscape can be confusing for those not well-versed in its branding uses. This article will break down eight strategies that you can use for social media branding and why you need to use social media in your marketing strategy in the first place. Learn more below. Why Do You Need Social Media For Branding? Social media provides a direct and personal way to communicate and build relationships with your clients. By providing relevant and valuable social media posts, you can portray your expertise in the field, build trust, and develop customer relationships. A social media presence can build awareness of and engagement with your brand. It helps you to stay ahead of trends and developments in your industry and is the perfect space to differentiate yourself from the competition. Which Social Platform Should You Use? There are various social media platforms available, but it doesn’t mean that you have to join all of them. Each has a specific purpose, so you should only use the ones that will benefit your business. Below, the social media platforms you can use are explained. Source – Statista 1. Facebook This social media platform is more personal than others because users typically use it to communicate with their friends and family. However, Facebook is great for advertising and cheaper than other platforms. It is a great place to develop new business leads through targeted advertising. In fact, according to Statista, 89% of social media marketers use Facebook to generate business. 2. Instagram Instagram relies more heavily on visuals than Facebook does. Social media users on Instagram post pictures, videos, and stories (that are only viewable for 24 hours). You can use this platform to create content that shows off your products and services as well as company events. It is also an effective social media for establishing your branding. Posts can include your brand colors, typeface, and more. Developing consistency in branding is vital to a successful marketing strategy. 3. Twitter Twitter is more famous for promoting special offers and sharing news. But you can also advertise on this platform. Because of the mechanisms of this social media platform, people can easily engage with your posts through likes, retweets, and replies. You can also use direct messaging to speak with customers online, answering key questions. Twitter is an excellent social media channel for showcasing brand voice. This allows you to develop the relationship you want to have with customers. Are you relaxed and laid back? Or are your tweets more formal and business-like? Some brands find Twitter a good place to be more relaxed, often joking with customers and other brands. While it may not be direct marketing, it builds a rapport with your customers and endears the brand to them. Check out the Bugles marketers’ approach below: Image credit: Alidropship 4. LinkedIn As a site with professional intention, LinkedIn allows you to build social media networks with colleagues, peers in the industry, and some prospective clients. It’s well-known for B2B (business-to-business) interactions. Where LinkedIn differs from other platforms is the content you produce, which will have a much different target audience. It’s not a site that should be used for marketing to clients but to others in the industry. Social media content on this platform should be designed to build relationships and supply valuable content to others in your industry. It helps to establish you as an authority in your field. It may even draw in new talent. 5. Pinterest This social media platform allows you to share a visual story about your company. Through the pictures and videos you post on Pinterest, you can show your audience who you are as a company and the products or services you can offer. Pinterest also provides incredibly shareable content. Your posts can be embedded into blog posts around the web, pulling people back into your profile and, by extension, your website once more. 6. YouTube YouTube is a great place for marketing. It can increase your presence on Google and bring much website traffic in. As a video platform, the content you create can be a long or short form and should be as shareable as possible. 7. Blog Blog posting is an older format, but it is still incredibly effective. You can create a blog on your site to build more traffic and prove your authority in your field. You can focus on niche topics within your industry, using popular search queries to drive topics and, in turn, drive traffic to your website. 8. TikTok Source: Statista TikTok is a video-based social media site. It caters to a much younger audience than other platforms and can bring in a new generation of customers. In fact, the 18-24 age group is the largest of TikTok users globally. As of 2023, you can create TikTok videos lasting from 15 seconds to 3 minutes. However, this has changed multiple times since the app’s inception, with most updates lengthening the video times further and further. TikTok has its own set of influencers and tends to be the starting point for many new social media trends. 9. Threads Threads is a new Meta app connected to your Instagram account. It is easy to set up from your Instagram and automatically transfers lots of your followers over there too. Considered a clone of Twitter, Threads currently (July 2023) does not allow marketers to purchase ad space, but this doesn’t mean it can’t be used for marketing. The app allows users to like, repost, and reply to threads from others, but there is currently no direct messaging feature. As the app is in its early days, not much can be

8 Workforce Management Tools Every Boss Needs

8 Workforce Management Tools Every Boss Needs If you want your business to be successful, you need to focus on managing your most valuable resource—your workers. A company’s capacity to achieve its full potential and maximize profits relies on high-performing staff. HR departments are finding it challenging to keep up with the rapid digital change of today’s workforce. It is getting increasingly difficult to manage staffing and scheduling in the modern workplace. In order to maximize efficiency and employee happiness, firms must invest in workforce management software. This automates typical, everyday HR operations to free up time for the business owner. Workforce management (WFM) is about making the most use of your workforce and assigning the right tasks to the right individuals. From employee scheduling to attendance monitoring to leave management to new hire onboarding, these solutions have capabilities for it all. What is Workforce Management Software (WMS)? 🤔 Human resources and the people who work for them rely on workforce management software to help them get their jobs done. This software can take care of: HR management duties Timesheets Labor-management forecasts Performance management Absent employees Task management Work schedules The best workforce management tools have multiple functions, so you can view all of this in one place. However, each one has slightly different features that can make it more or less suited to your business. Why Use WMS? ❓ In the fast-paced world of small businesses, managing your workforce efficiently is crucial. That’s where workforce management software (WMS) comes in, giving you the tools to streamline your operations and boost productivity. But why should you consider implementing WMS? Control Labor Costs: Keeping labor costs in check is essential for sustainable growth. WMS empowers you to accurately track employee hours. Plus, you can optimize schedules, and identify areas where you can save money, all in real time. 🤑 Enhance Efficiency: Time is money, and WMS helps you make the most of it. With automated processes and intuitive interfaces, tasks like shift planning, time tracking, and payroll become a breeze. By removing manual errors, you can free up valuable time to focus on what really matters—growing your business. Stay Agile in Real Time: In today’s dynamic business environment, flexibility is key. WMS keeps you updated with real-time data on employee attendance, leave requests, and workforce analytics. This enables you to make informed decisions on the fly, ensuring your business stays flexible and responsive to changing needs. By leveraging the power of WMS, businesses can take control of their labor costs, enhance efficiency, and be more flexible. Depending on the industry, companies lose up to $24.2 billion per year in lost productivity due to absences. Addressing these issues is therefore paramount for businesses, especially small and medium enterprises. Source – Statista With effective time management software, companies can reduce the chance of burnout and boost employee morale, leading to reduced costs. Furthermore, it contributes to employee retention with HR management solutions, reducing churn. This, in turn, cuts the costs associated with hiring new team members. Overall, WMS can have some huge benefits for your business. Here are eight of the best tools to consider. 1. Connecteam 🔗 Companies across various industries, including retail, food and beverage, transportation, construction, and healthcare, could use Connecteam’s workforce management system. It improves participation, transparency, and feedback collection. It also provides a wide range of communication options. As a mobile workforce management tool, you can access it from anywhere. While not exclusively a time management software, Connecteam has tons of management features, including: Task management Time clock with GPS Checklists 2. BambooHR 🎋 BambooHR provides small and developing enterprises to manage all areas of the employee lifecycle with a single solution. The mission statement is to “set people free to do great work.” BambooHR makes easy to focus on your employees by allowing you to hire, onboard, prepare compensation, and establish a culture. The features cover every stage of the employee lifecycle. From onboarding to payment, you can do it all in one place. Features: Employee workflows Applicant tracking Payroll tools Performance management tools 3. People HR 🧑‍💼 Applicant tracking, performance management, and other critical HR operations are all managed in one place with People HR. This cloud-based platform aims to help small businesses scale with the same level of HR management as larger businesses. The software helps to manage staff, from mobile workers to in-house employees. As a result, it’s a comprehensive system with tons of features. Features: Workflow software Appraisal tools Absence management Payroll software 4. Tommy 🐶 Want to put your employees first and promote a healthy work-life balance? Tommy is your answer. It focuses on employee well-being by providing tools that promote work-life balance, especially for shift-based employees. Tommy facilities work-life balance by providing a communications app for your team that is aware of your schedule. Tommy knows when you’re working with an inbuilt team scheduler and can customize message notifications around your life. Features: Smart shift scheduling Shift notifications Messaging Workforce analytics Check out Tommy today! 5. Oracle Workforce Management Software 🔮 Oracle links time, labor, and leave management to payroll, financial, and people data in a fully integrated HR solution. As a well-known company, Oracle is a trusted source. Its WMS helps bosses manage time, labor, and absences all in one place. In particular, the absence management software is useful. It provides data analytics to give you a full overview of your workforce. Meanwhile, the software also allows you to track time easily with simple data entry and flexible scheduling. Features: Absence management Time tracking Health and safety reporting 6. Paylocity 💸 As a cloud-based HCM platform, Paylocity helps firms manage their key HR operations. Designed with employees in mind, Paylocity provides human resources and payroll management capabilities. This software is more focused on employee experience, making it a good option if you’re searching for mobile workforce management software. While it also tracks attendance and assists with payroll, the employee experience features are perhaps the best part. Features: Payroll and

Best Way to Hire Restaurant Employees: 8 Mistakes to Avoid

Best Way to Hire Restaurant Employees: 8 Mistakes to Avoid Besides your customers, your staff is the lifeline of your restaurant. So, it’s important to treat your employees well. However, you might be making certain mistakes that will be bad for them. What’s the best way to hire restaurant employees? And better yet, what’s the best way to retain them? In this guide, we’ll talk about the common mistakes restaurant owners make when hiring and handling employees. That way, you can learn how to manage restaurant employees effectively. 1. Unclear Job Description 🗒 Restaurant staff have to do various tasks. You need to post a clear job description that clearly describes the responsibilities and goals of the role. Without it, your employees will become confused about their job. They won’t know how to contribute well to your restaurant, stopping them from being productive. Plus, unclear job descriptions can contribute to high employee turnover. Unhappy staff won’t stick around, so you need to make it clear what they will be doing in their day-to-day. You should also post job openings on multiple channels, including social media, job boards, and more. That way, job seekers will find your business easily. 2. Insufficient Training 🤔 Whether your employees are experienced or not, you need to provide ongoing training. Onboarding training during the hiring process is not enough on its own. Your staff are human beings, and there’s a chance they’ll forget the things taught when they first arrived. Allocate time for training and upskilling, or at least a refresher course. Source: LinkedIn Not only will training help your staff get clarity on their job, but it will also enhance their skill set. It benefits the business as a whole. Also, you should provide regular feedback on your staff’s work. If you let them know they can ask you anything about their job, there won’t be any confusion. 3. Communicating Poorly 🗣 Communication is the key to your restaurant’s success. A restaurant business is like a well-oiled machine with a lot of moving part. Each part needs to know its role in order for the machine to work properly. Hold regular meetings to update your staff on the company’s goals so they can help you achieve them. If they know what goals to work toward, they can implement them in day-to-day restaurant operations. Ask your restaurant team for comments and suggestions, too. They might see aspects of your business you haven’t noticed. When you open the floor to your staff and let your employees know they can talk to you, it will do wonders for your business. 4. Not Promoting Internally 🧑🏻‍🍳 When you need to fill a higher position, make sure you promote internally instead of hiring external candidates. By doing this, your staff will see that they have room for growth and will be loyal to you as well. For example, if you want to hire an executive chef, consider training and promoting the sous chef. You will be surprised to see how many qualified candidates are right under your nose! It will also save you time and money. Job posting in itself can be costly. Training external candidates can be expensive. But, because your staff already know the restaurant like the back of their hand, you can conserve valuable resources. 5. No Staff Appreciation ❤️ If you want to reduce employee turnover, it’s crucial to show your staff that you appreciate them. You can do this my complimenting them when they’re right and correcting them when they’re wrong. You can also consider giving out awards, like employee of the month, attendance rewards, or bonuses for staying in their role for extended periods of time. Alongside individual awards, consider implementing team building exercises and company days out to help your staff gel. 6. Improper Delegation of Tasks 😣 To help reduce the workload of some employees, you need to delegate tasks to those who can handle them properly. Providing them with more responsibilities shows you can trust them, and it will help improve their skills and knowledge. However, you need to ensure that you don’t overload your staff with work because they may have a burnout – and that benefits nobody! 7. No Flexible Schedules 🕜 The restaurant industry is demanding, and some employees work very long hours. Because of this, they don’t have a healthy work-life balance. This can easily lead to burnout. By offering flexible employee schedules and having an overtime policy in place, you can reduce overworking and provide more rest to your employees. Happy employees are productive ones, so keep this in mind when setting a rota. 8. Low Compensation 💰 If possible, provide your staff with market rate or higher salaries. This way, they won’t easily resign when they find another role that pays higher. By doing this, you’ll also save time and money hiring and training replacements. The restaurant industry has a huge turnover rate, with roughly 75% churn. When faced with low wages and long hours, many staff will leave restaurant jobs for something more fulfilling. By making an effort to compensate employees, you will build loyalty and satisfaction. Plus, you’ll build long-lasting relationships with skilled and productive staff. How to Motivate Restaurant Employees 😁 There are plenty of ways to motivate your employees. Try using the following suggestions: Motivating your staff is about fostering a positive company culture that employees want to be a part of. An employee-centric mindset will help you keep employees happy and retain staff. Summing up: Best Way to Hire Restaurant Employees It’s not easy to own a restaurant. But, when you avoid these common mistakes, your business can grow and reach the peak of its success. It’s essential to prioritize your employees and make them feel valued. By offering bonuses, incentives, career paths, and more, you can motivate staff to work hard. Use this guide as a checklist to make sure you’re on the right track. Avoid these common mistakes, and you’ll make your staff happy in no

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Creating a Work-Life Balance in an “Always On” Workplace