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About Rieva Lesonsky

Authored 13 articles.

Articles

• 8 Tips for Retailers When Dealing with the Holiday Labor Shortage

  Features, November 11, 2016

  With unemployment rates dropping and retail wages rising, small retailers who need seasonal holiday employees are facing stiff competition from big retailers this year, Monster.com reports. Adding to the crunch, since Christmas falls on a Sunday this year, more consumers are projected to head to brick-and-mortar stores for last-minute gifts since they won’t be able to get products shipped fast enough. That means more customers and potentially less help. How can your business successfully compete for retail employees at this critical time of year? First tip: Start hiring now.

• Are Exhausted Employees Destroying Your Business?

  Features, May 24, 2016

  Very few entrepreneurs get enough sleep, and the “sleep shortage” is affecting employees too. Seven out of 10 workers in a recent survey (PDF) by Accountemps/Robert Half report they are frequently tired on the job — which could be putting your business at risk.

• Are Your Employees Getting Enough Sleep? (And if Not, Why Do You Care?)

  Features, April 13, 2015

  It’s no secret to any harried entrepreneur that getting too little sleep has plenty of ill effects. But did you ever stop to think about the effect lack of sleep might be having on your employees. And, by extension, how that could be affecting your business?

• Should You Ever Make a Counter Offer to an Employee?

  Features, July 11, 2014

  It’s no secret that competition for experienced employees is heating up. Despite the economy’s ups and downs, the news continues to be filled with reports that businesses seeking to hire can’t find qualified workers. So if you have qualified workers on board, how far should you go to retain them? When a key employee gets a job offer, should you consider making a counter offer?

• Are You Hiring for the Right Traits?

  Features, June 06, 2014

  There’s lots of talk lately about the talent shortage – how employers, especially small ones, can’t find workers with the skills and experience they are seeking. But maybe the problem is that small business owners are putting too much emphasis on the wrong things.

• How to Keep Your Family Business All in the Family

  Features, May 19, 2014

  Is your small business family-owned? Family business owners are feeling optimistic about the short term, but pessimistic about the long-term outlook for their companies, says a recent survey by The Alternative Board. The good news? If your family business is on the wrong track, there are some simple steps you can take to right it before it’s too late.

• How Do You Feel About Raising the Minimum Wage?

  Features, April 11, 2014

  President Obama’s efforts to encourage Congress to raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $10.10 have received a lot of press. The Small Business Majority polled (PDF) small business owners to see how they feel about this controversial issue and found that—well, actually, they found that there’s a lot less controversy than the news media might lead you to expect.

• The $7,000 a Month Intern: How Can Your Company Compete?

  Features, April 08, 2014

  Spring is here and summer’s not far behind—which means businesses that use interns are starting to think about their summer needs. Qualified interns can be tough to find, and now the competition is getting even stiffer.

• The Benefits of Giving Your Staff a Raise

  Features, February 28, 2014

  Are you trying to keep your key employees happy by offering them perks like work-at-home days, cross-training and flexible hours? That’s great and I encourage you to keep offering those extras, but a new study shows that they may not be enough to retain workers.

• Do Men and Women Have Different Small Business Outlooks?

  Features, November 18, 2013

  How are men and women entrepreneurs feeling about their businesses’ prospects for the coming year? The 5th in a series of studies by Hiscox Small Business, the DNA of an Entrepreneur (PDF), found that while both men and women small business owners are optimistic about their futures, there are some important differences in how they run their businesses.

• How Do Your Employee Benefits Stack Up?

  Features, August 12, 2013

  Are you worried about retaining your key employees as the economy heats up? Or do you need to attract new workers to help with growing demand for your product or service, or to expand your business? In either case, employee benefits are an important factor in whether employees choose to join your company, stay with your business for the long haul or jump ship. How do you know if your employee benefits measure up?

• No Ifs, Ands or Butts: Get Your Employees Fit!

  Features, July 29, 2013

  Are your employees sitting at their desks all day? If so, chances are they’re not maximizing their productivity—and they could be racking up your health insurance costs. If you’re looking to build a healthier workforce (one that won’t have as many accidents and illnesses, and saves you money on health insurance and workers’ comp), consider ways to make yourself and your team more active at work.

• Are Tough Times Inspiring Better Leaders and Increasing Engagement?

  Features, July 15, 2013

  Are your employees engaged in their jobs? A Gallup poll measured the growth of employee engagement and which of 12 different occupations tend to boast the highest engagement.