Summer Check-in on Business Licenses and Permits – Make Sure You’re Operating Legally | Small Business Trends

July 27, 2020July 26, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

How will you remember the Summer of 2020? It’s probably been a bit of a rollercoaster ride for most business owners trying to ride out the pandemic and still keep their businesses healthy, profitable and in compliance with old and new regulations.

Business Licenses and Permits Requirements

One area you may have fallen behind in is making sure the business licenses and permits you need to legally operate your business are still current. Here’s some information to help get you back on track.

Pandemic requirements

Although there may not be specific permits and/or licenses your small business needs to reopen during the pandemic, your city or state will have guidelines you need to follow. New York City, which just began “Phase Four of Restart NYC” requires businesses in specific industries to read, understand and sign off on state-issued guidelines for that industry. Businesses not specifically named in Phases One-Three are required to follow executive orders supplied by the Governor and Mayor. In another example, Philadelphia is requiring each construction site to have a Pandemic Safety Officer with COVID-19 training present to keep workers safe.

How to Calculate Employee Turnover | business.com

July 24, 2020July 23, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Want to track your employee retention? Learn how to calculate your company’s staff turnover rate.

You can calculate your employee turnover rate by looking at the average number of workers who exit your business during a specific time period and are replaced by new staff.

Your business should monitor and track its employee turnover to gauge how appealing your company is to employees. It can also help you improve areas that may be causing workers to leave your company.

Your employee turnover rate helps you evaluate your risk of an employee leaving and recognize opportunities for retention when you hire new employees.

What Separates Great Companies From Average Ones? Arming Your Workers With Data | Inc.com

July 23, 2020July 22, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

A new Harvard Business Review report shows the power of putting data in the hands of front-line workers, but it also reveals that it takes a lot more than just technology and tools to succeed.

According to the report, which was commissioned by ThoughtSpot and based on responses from 464 business executives, employees must be trained on how to act on insights when they have them and be given autonomy to make decisions in the moment.

For companies that are arming their workers with data today, 32 percent see a “significant increase” in product or service quality, while 28 percent see an increase in productivity or efficiency, according to the report.

How to Check Your Devices for Stalkerware | WIRED

July 22, 2020July 21, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

WHETHER IT’S A prying boss or a paranoid partner, no one should snoop on your phone or laptop. But that’s exactly what can happen if stalkerware somehow gets installed on your devices. These software tools are designed to be hidden and difficult to detect, but you can find them if you know how.

There’s a wide range of scenarios here, from friends playing pranks to partners being abusive. If you’re in a relationship where you feel trapped and afraid, help is available from the National Domestic Violence Hotline, the Coalition Against Stalkerware, and many other places—please reach out.

The 3 Meetings You Should Have for Remote Workers | Entrepreneur

July 21, 2020July 20, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Thanks to technology, many companies are still operating, and people are working from home. While remote work offers numerous benefits to both employees and companies, it also presents challenges to everyone, but specifically leaders.

If you’re not used to managing a team remotely, you may be tempted to micro-manage your team. You may want to check in more frequently, ask for status updates and hold regular meetings to foster a team environment.

The three meetings you should hold with remote workers:

All of this new administration and communication activities may interfere with employees’ productivity and lead to frustration all around. To make remote work more efficient and less aggravating, consider holding only three meetings:

Torch Ring | CoolBusinessIdeas.com

July 20, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

While it’s a good idea to wear a headlamp when running at night, the things do have a way of bouncing up and down, and they only shine straight ahead. That’s why the Torch Ring was invented, as it’s worn on the hand – just like a championship ring.

The device was created by entrepreneur Kevin John Nadolny, who clearly has a thing for hand-worn gadgets. He previously brought us the Runbell, which is much like a bicycle bell, except it’s made to be worn on a runner’s fingers like a set of brass knuckles.

The Torch Ring consists of an oversized main ring, with an LED light on top and a cylindrical body underneath. As they run, the user holds the device by sticking their index finger through the ring and holding the body within their hand.

The best way to remember proper mask hygiene? Treat it like your underwear. | Mashable

July 20, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to sweep the globe, many of us are getting used to wearing face masks to stop the virus’ spread. However, an Australian expert has warned simply wearing them isn’t enough. We should also think of our masks like underwear, and keep them, clean, personal, and on.

“Assume your mask is like underwear,” Bruce Thompson from Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne told the AAP on Monday. “So don’t take it off in the middle of public. Don’t fiddle with it in the middle of public, don’t share them with somebody else.

“The concept of actually taking your underwear off in public and putting them on a kitchen bench is horrible — but that’s effectively what you are doing.”

Backup Power Options for Small Businesses | business.com

July 17, 2020July 15, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

It’s important to develop a disaster plan for your business that accounts for the scenario of a power failure.

Power failures pose a serious financial risk to small businesses, interrupting your operations and income if you don’t have a backup plan.
Onsite power backup options include uninterrupted power supplies and generators.
Price and capabilities determine the best generator for your business. Portable, stationary, propane and natural gas versions are all available for commercial use.

How to Prevent Back Pain at the Office or WFH | The Startup Magazine

July 16, 2020July 14, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

You may suddenly start having back pain from sitting at your desk for long periods of time. Whether you work at an office or from the comfort of your own home, back pain is a common work complaint among many individuals. Fortunately, there are some things that you can do to prevent back pain no matter where you are working.

Rest Your Feet On The Floor

If your feet are dangling over your chair, you may find yourself sitting on the edge of it. This can cause you to hunch forward. Because your spine will be in a curved position, it will put pressure on your lower back. This can cause a lot of back pain at the end of each day. If your feet don’t touch the floor when you are sitting all the way back in your chair, you need to get a different chair. Find one that’s adjustable and will go low enough to the ground so that your feet can rest comfortably on the floor when you are sitting back. If you don’t want to buy a new chair, find something to place under your feet like a stack of books or a box.