3 Ground Rules To Set Your Employees

When bringing a team together, you need to set some basic ground rules for everyone to follow. This doesn’t mean you become an overly strict employer that runs an incredibly tight ship, it’s more a sense of putting rules in place that let everyone understand what’s expected of them and the company ethos you’re pushing forward. 

Setting these rules is important, and here are three examples of great ground rules your team should follow:

Always be on time

Punctuality is so crucial in the world of business. It might not seem like it, but a lack of punctuality can be the difference between a business succeeding or failing. You need to encourage your employees to always be on time, ensuring they turn up for work when they need to be in the office. Late arrivals can set you back some valuable minutes every morning, which translates to hours a year. It’s not just the morning arrivals that demand punctuality; they should be on time for meetings, sales calls, events, etc. Make it known that you value people that turn up on time and expect punctuality from everyone in your team. 

Put the customer first

Another clear ground rule is to put the customer first. This concept means that your employees will always make the customer’s needs the main priority in everything that they do. For example, they won’t try to upsell to a customer that’s clearly happy with the product/service they already have. Too many teams get into the habit of making sales the primary concern of daily life. This means you lose sight of the customer and stop catering to their needs. Always get to know the customer, understand what they want, then put them first. Even if this means going out of your way or doing something you’d rather not do; if it’s necessary to keep customers happy, your team needs to do it. 

Reduce, reuse, recycle

Lastly, you should set a company policy to ensure that everyone recycles as much as possible on a daily basis. The idea of promoting workplace recycling means that your employees will generate less waste. This is beneficial for all kinds of reasons, the primary one being that it helps the environment. You create a much greener workplace and can be proud of the fact that you are reducing waste and doing your bit to battle climate change. As a knock-on benefit, your reputation will increase as consumers recognize your recycling efforts. Consumers respect companies that make an effort to be green, and it all starts with you and your employees. Put a policy in place and make sure that your team follows it, increasing the number of recycled goods in your business. 

Clearly, there are lots of other ground rules you might want to set for your employees. Some of these rules can be industry-specific, but it’s all about considering the main behaviors or concepts that are critical for business success. The ones above are very general, meaning they can be used across industries. One final point is that the rules will only hold weight if you lead by example. If you want your employees to follow them, you need to do so as well!

Five Tools For DIY Projects

We all have days when we want to do a little DIY project but can’t find the right tools. Whether you’re trying to hang some art on your wall or put together furniture for your new apartment, you’ll need the right tools for the job. There are many different kinds of tools that may come in handy when it comes to DIY projects. Here are five specific types of tools that every household needs for DIY projects.

Multi-bit Screwdriver

These screwdrivers are perfect for tight spaces. They typically have a short length, making them ideal for use in these areas and easy to fit into small grips. This quality also means they won’t slip out of the fastener as easily as longer screwdrivers can when you apply pressure or torque during turning. Multi-bit screwdrivers also store bits vertically in the handle so that you can access them with one hand. This makes it easy to switch between screwdriver and bit without having to put down your tool or fumble with a separate case of extra bits.

Positive Displacement Compressors

Positive displacement compressors are used in the majority of applications. Compressors can be used for many different applications, such as spray painting, pumping air into tyres, and even nail guns. An article such as positive displacement compressors explained will be able to describe all the ins and outs of the different compressors available. So whether your goal is; larger projects, home improvement, or DIY at-home projects, this tool will make life easier!

Circular Saw

A circular saw is an essential tool for any DIY project. It can cut through wood, metal or plastic quickly and easily (even if it’s on the ground). The best part about circular saws is that they are relatively inexpensive. They also have fantastic safety features like a blade lock system that prevents accidental start-ups, along with anti-vibration technology which minimizes fatigue when cutting for extended periods at a time.

Multifunction Oscillating Tool

A multifunction oscillating tool is one of the most valuable tools to own. It can help you complete various projects with its multiple attachments and accessories, saving you time and money in your DIY efforts. For example, if you are looking for an easy way to cut through rigid materials like tiles or concrete, this tool has a special oscillating saw that can be used as a blade. This also works great for sanding wood surfaces down too.

Drill

Owning a drill means you can make holes in walls, screws on cabinets and more! A drill will be your best friend when it comes to these projects. There are many different types of drills. The cordless versions tend to be a bit more expensive, while the corded versions usually sell for about half the price or less, depending on where you buy them.

DIY projects will save you money and allow you the creative freedom to design and create things precisely as you want them. Achieving the best results in DIY projects requires using professional tools, no matter how simple the job may seem. There are many attachments and special equipment designed to help you complete various tasks such as sawing, sanding wood, and painting. Even if something like this sounds too expensive right now, don’t forget about their benefits over time. It is cheaper than purchasing new materials every single time and much faster than doing everything manually.

Employees Steal. Here’s What To Do About It

Most business owners and managers would like to believe that employees would never steal from them. After all, if you are at the top of a company, you are probably an honest person. 

However, that’s not the reality. According to research by CBS, the average company loses around 5 percent of its revenue to employee fraud. And when you think about it, that’s a huge amount. What’s more, small businesses are affected by theft disproportionately, meaning that the losses can be immense. 

So what can you do about it as a business owner. Here are some ideas: 

Create A One-Strike Policy

Before employees take work with you, they should know that you operate a one-strike-and-you’re-out policy. Even if they steal just once – and it’s a small amount – they’re gone. 

Most retailers and other businesses use this approach. Over the years, they have found it to be the most effective way to prevent theft, even if replacing criminal staff members is expensive. 

You should also talk to your employees about how you monitor for fraud. So, for instance, you might want to make it clear from the beginning that you record them on CCTV. CCTV for shops is particularly common. 

Improve Your Relationship With Employees

If employees love their work, believe in your mission and like you personally, they are much less likely to steal. They will view themselves as “team players,” committed to the success of the brand. However, if they don’t align with your values and dislike management, they may use that as justification to steal. 

Senior partners, executives and managers must be careful. Do whatever it takes to build quality relationships with your staff. If you can’t make it work, then it may actually be better to let somebody go before they damage your company. 

Create An Accountability System

You should be able to detect shrinkage no matter how small by comparing your takings to your overall inventory. The two should match exactly. However, if they don’t, it is a sign that somebody is stealing from the company. 

In many cases, you will be able to account for losses – damaged or spoiled goods. But if there is a substantial remainder, then it is a clear sign that somebody is taking money from the firm. When this happens, try to create more accountability. Assign employees to individual tills. Keep track of all the money they contain. Always review footage of employees to check that they are behaving honestly. 

Stop Relying On Cash

Cash is a big problem for businesses. That’s because it is so easy for employees to steal. All they have to do is put their hands in the cash register and take it out. 

However, it is much more difficult for them to steal when you take money via card payments. POS systems automatically shuffle funds around between banks, without any involvement between employees. 

The lesson is clear: don’t rely on cash. Minimize cash usage where you can. Encourage customers to make card payments by offering lower limits and minimum spend amounts.