Tax Update February 2013
Our regular monthly tax update for businesses of the South West, WA.
Write a great job ad
Tips for writing the most successful job ad, employing the right person for the job and keeping everyone happy.
Growing vs. contracting in harsh economic times
With businesses panicking in the face of a recession over the past six months, staff downsizing has often seemed like an obvious cost-cutting measure for businesses looking to survive a crashing economy. When a business’s goals are limited to survival, active leadership is often neglected – which actually contributes to decreasing your chance of survival over time.
Generation X - middle generation
Knowing more about Generation X and how they operate can help employers understand the generation. They’re progressing from young upstarts into mid-level management and beyond.
Empower your employees
If you’re wondering how you can dramatically enhance the customer service experience in your business while decreasing the amount of time you actually spend on customer service activities, consider that the solution might be to empower your employees to do it for you.
Contributing to superannuation
A guide to how much you can contribute to your super each year.
When an employee leaves
Having to replace someone who has retired, or simply decided they want a change, can be a challenging experience for a manager. As managers typically rely on their key employees, the transition may even have a detrimental impact on operations.....
Bonus or cash? What's the difference?
With Christmas fast approaching, now is the time for employers to consider their end-of-year plans....
Duty of care at Christmas time
It is that time of year again, the holiday period is just around the corner and the excitement of the work Christmas party is setting in. Ideas are being tossed around about locations and caterers and the Christmas spirit seems to be flowing through the office....
Tax Update November 2011
Keeping you informed with all the tax office initiatives, changes and lastest news.
Creating can create wonders
If you’re really serious about encouraging your staff to be creative and contribute more to your business, then you really need to get creative in the ways you encourage them to do this.
Wanted for hire - only the best will do
"Hire people who are better than you are, then leave them to get on with it. Look for people who will aim for the remarkable, who will not settle for the routine." - David Ogilvy, Advertising Icon
Why hire Gen Y?
‘They are lazy, selfish, overpaid, arrogant, spoilt, demanding and over-confident!’ But....
5 ways to hit back at the July wage increase
With natural disasters, the dollar at an all-time high, petrol prices going through the roof and energy costs sky-rocketing – what else can happen to harm small business? To add insult to injury Fair Work Australia has approved a $19.40 raise to the minimum wage, taking it to $589.30 after 1 July this year.
How happy are your employees?
As long as employees turn up to work and complete tasks, that’s all that matters right? Wrong! Learn what smart employers do to ensure they have happy employees!
Every business needs a system
A business without a system is like a car without wheels. Whether you are a one man band, employ 50 people or are somewhere in between, every business needs a system and that means Marketing and Sales, Operations, Finance and Human Resources.
The Art of Following
If leadership is a skill, then getting people to follow you is an art.....
Employee appreciation
Creating a successful and profitable business relies heavily on the employees you hire. As such, it is essential to respect and acknowledge every member of your small business team.
Tax and Christmas party expenses
Christmas parties are a great way to bring your staff together, boost their morale and propel them into a successful new year.....
How to develop a gold medal attitude in your team
Recently, Aussie hurdler, Sally Pearson won her first Gold Medal in the 100m race at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, in Dehli. It was a great day for the Olympic Silver Medalist, as just the week before, she had won another race but was later disqualified for a false start. I can’t imagine the disappointment you’d feel at an adjudication like that, but in true fighting spirit, Sally came back in fine form yesterday, even setting a record for the race!
Benefits of a healthy work environment
A major influence upon the success of your business is your staff. They represent the engine of your business and so to keep the business moving forward all components need to be working at an optimal standard.
Teaching Teamwork
We all know how important teamwork is for a thriving organisation. Without some degree of cooperation between your staff, literally nothing would ever get done. You might think that right now your team is working pretty effectively together and that they understand the concept of ‘teamwork’ – however, improving on and refining the way your staff work together can have massive implications for your bottom line.
Employees - Age Diversity Checklist
Take this Age Diversity Checklist and find out how well your business scores on the age diversity of your staff and policies. Any "No" answers indicate an area for future development.
Empower your employees
If you’re wondering how you can dramatically enhance the customer service experience in your business while decreasing the amount of time you actually spend on customer service activities, consider that the solution might be to empower your employees to do it for you.
Performance Standards
Question: “I'm noticing that some of my key staff are beginning to come in later than they should. It's not by much, sometimes half an hour late. However, these same staff members are known on occasion to work back. The thing is, other staff members are noticing and are beginning to creep in a little later than they should. Should I address this with both parties, or just those who haven't put in the extra hours?”
High morale means high productivity
With rising redundancies and greater job insecurity among employees it’s no wonder that morale is low among many team members as they fear for the future of their current job. Have you taken the time recently to consider how high the morale of your employees is? You as a business owner or manager need to know how your employees are feeling at work, emotionally and mentally. Not knowing how your employees feel can have dire consequences.
Cut expenses, not staff - strategies for cutting expenses
During tough economic times like this it’s critical that businesses reduce expenses, especially the largest, however as explored in the “Growing vs. Contracting in Harsh Economic Times” article, staff cutting should be an absolute last resort regardless of how much of a quick fix it may appear on the surface.
Staff training can transform your business
Ever considered what specialist training for your staff could do to improve your bottom line?
Rewarding talented employees
Tips for rewarding talented or loyal employees without breaking the bank
Hire right the first time
Finding the right workers can be a challenge. Since much of a small company’s success depends on the quality of the people they hire, this is a critically important task.
Keep staff in the loop!
Your employees are the foundation of your business, helping keep it afloat among a tide of uncertainty and competition. As such, it is crucial that you meet regularly with them to steer the course of your company in the right direction.