Forest Software
Web, SEO and IT & Business Advice for the Smaller Business
Smoking at work
Since the no-smoking laws were introduced in 2007, you might assume that by now everyone is aware of the smoking regulations that prohibit smoking at work and in some enclosed public places (most people are probably also aware that smoking is not allowed on public transport). The question is though, what exactly constitutes a “workplace” and what are the penalties for getting caught smoking there?
Despite what you may think, a work-place needn’t be an office or a building, for instance if you are a taxi firm, then your cars (even if they belong to your drivers) are classed as a workplace and must display a no -smoking sign and must not be smoked in (even by the passengers). Other “strange” work places are to delivery vehicles such as vans or lorries, or any vehicle used for business (for example those trailers that are used for corporate entertaining or act as a temporary office/sales-room at country fairs). Continue reading
As a business owner of any size you are probably aware of the need to train your staff. Almost every business that the author has worked in has carried out some sort of training, even if it’s something as “simple” as how to enter items on a computer, what departments to use on a till for the different types of products, how to fill out the day to day forms that many businesses rely on and even fire training so that staff know how to use a fire extinguisher and what to do in the event of a fire.
Much of the “normal” day to day training is usually carried out by having an experienced member of staff sitting down next to the trainee and showing them what to do. The problem with this is that more often than not the person doing the training doesn’t understand how to train, they know how to do the job as they “have been doing it for years” and just follow the process without explaining – I’m sure you have seen or experienced this yourselves, it often goes something along the lines of : Continue reading
As an ex-contractor I have attended many job interviews for contracts so I thought I’d list six steps to help you be prepared for leaving a lasting impression on the interviewee.
- Do your research
As the old saying goes, “fail to plan and plan to fail”. There are certain questions that you are bound to be asked during an interview. Obviously, as a freelancer or contractor you are going to be asked about projects you have worked on and the skills you have but you may also be asked what you know about the firm you are looking to work for. So, be prepared, talk to the agent that is putting you forward for the contract if there is one, look up the prospective client on the Internet before you go to the interview and find out what they do, how big they are and so on. Also take a look on the web for developments relating to the industry that your prospective client is in.
If you employ people as a small business there will come the time that one of your employees suffers a bereavement and no doubt you will be sympathetic if it is a family member but would you be so sympathetic if the death is of a pet?
You may think that “it’s only a pet” and even suggest that the member of staff “just gets another one” but before you do stop to think for a moment.
For some people pets can be a friend, a companion, comfort or even family – I know couples that can’t have children and dote on their pets, treating them as the family that they can’t have. How do you think these people would feel if you suggested they just get on with it and get another pet? Continue reading