This should come as no surprise to restaurant owners. The Zagat 2012 America’s Top Restaurants Survey found that 66 percent of consumers say service is their main complaint. Additionally, a Loyalty360 poll found that 78 percent of customers believe a great customer experience creates “longstanding, loyal relationships.”
This information comes from the article, “Use online guest feedback to motivate, engage employees” in which writer Ashish Gambhir suggests that the best way to build a “strong, distinctive customer experience” and “drive customer retention, loyalty and, ultimately sustainable business performance,” is through employees. And who exactly are employees?
You may have never considered this [...]

If you’ve never heard of presenteeism, it’s a concept that has been around for some time:
The opposite of absenteeism, presenteeism is a common practice of sick employees who should stay home and get well going to work and very likely infecting their co-workers. The end result is that the ill employee does not get well and may need to take time off anyway. Not to mention the number of co-workers who may wind up requiring time off, too.
Unfortunately, many employees who work for small businesses (defined as those with less than 50 employees) have no choice but to go to [...]

Over at the “X-Factor,” three on-camera personalities – Nicole Scherzinger, Paula Abdul and Steve Jones – were given their walking papers this week, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Seems lead judge Simon Cowell decided it was time for a shake up before the second season returns this fall. Apparently the three didn’t have what Cowell needed.
According to the LAT article, “In some ways, the departures are not a surprise. The singing groups mentored by Abdul were eliminated in short order on last fall’s shows, a result that irked Cowell. Scherzinger’s contestants – all over 30 – fared better, but Cowell [...]

Word on the street has it that Newt Gingrich wants to have a permanent base on the moon by the year 2020. And then when it holds enough people, he suggests it should apply for statehood.
Wildly creative, some say. Just wild say others. Regardless of whether or not Gingrich will be the Republican nominee or even have a chance to implement his idea, at least he isn’t afraid to throw his ideas out there.
Can you say the same about your team? Are they willing to dream up new ideas? As a small business owner, there are steps you can take to encourage [...]

Recent news out of China is that as many as 300 factory workers responsible for manufacturing Microsoft Xbox 360s threatened to throw themselves off the factory roof over a payment dispute.
Supposedly the incident began when the employees asked for raises. They were asked to either resign with pay or retain their jobs without a raise. Most chose to quit. No confirmation from Microsoft as to the validity of the story or whether the factory in question – Foxconn Technology Park in Wuhan, China – is even a manufacturer of Xbox 360s.
Regardless, what this story demonstrates is that compensation is a [...]

Governor Brown of California recently signed a new bill into law that takes effect January 1, 2012 and prevents employers from using credit reports when deciding to hire workers except in limited circumstances such as for a managerial position or sworn peace officer.
In the SFGate.com article, “New law stops bosses using credit info in hiring,” writer Kathleen Pender notes that California is actually the seventh state to enact this type of law. She goes on to write, “at least 20 other states have considered them.”
Federal vs. State Credit Reporting Laws
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), “you may use consumer reports [...]

If you were a fly on a wall listening to your employees, would you hear them call you egotistical, intimidating, or a jerk? Would they use profanities when describing you?  Do they call in sick, just to get a break from work?
If you even consider saying yes to any of these questions, then you may literally be causing your employees to become sick.  Researchers recently looked at more than 70 studies to find the psychology behind job related stress and physical ailments and found a strong correlation between the two. Surprisingly, the top seven reasons employees feel sick can all [...]

In the United States we are allowed to punish our children with a swift smack on the rear. It happened to me, and I’m sure it happened to you – it’s just so normal. The key phrase here is “In the United States.” Other countries do not take the same attitude to a swift spanking as the United States does. In 1979, the Swedish government became the first country to ban spanking. In fact it is a form of physical abuse punishable by legal ramifications. Since 1979 there are now a total of 30 countries that have banned this type [...]

Taylor Swift has proven time and time again that she is the MVP of her industry by winning countless awards and adulation. Her music and unassuming smile speaks to millions and that is why the Country Music Association awarded Taylor Swift the coveted “Entertainer of the Year” award during their annual awards show on FOX. Rewarding accomplishments is important in every industry from music and sports to your own small business.
Rewarding your employees for their dedication and service can only make your business stronger.
1. Provide a Bonus. Employee bonuses have been given for as long as business has existed (or so it [...]

To say that Herman Cain’s play for the nod to run for President of the United States has been strange would an understatement. Herman Cain is a very colorful political character who was also an accomplished CEO with the famed Godfather’s Pizza. In the 1990s Cain was head of the National Restaurant Association. It is during this time that he has been accused of improper behavior toward two female employees. Cain at first denied the allegations but now he says he can’t remember and is trying to “think back” to the time period in question. Harassment of any kind in [...]