The word “discipline” triggers a whole series of emotions for small business owners. There’s that knot-in-the-stomach moment when you realize you need to address a problem, followed by confronting the employee with the issue and then dealing with potential repercussions. It’s far from enjoyable, but addressing misconduct immediately, clearly and consistently is important if you... read more

Nonprofits are skilled at maximizing every resource at their disposal in an effort to make the world a better place. One sensible economic tactic may involve bringing in volunteers along with regular, paid employees. Volunteers are vital to a nonprofit’s success, but they also bring with them occasional discipline problems. The big question: When faced... read more

Digital filing system. Office automation. Cloud-based administration process. Although the terms sound rather technical, the objective is quite simple: an updated, ultra-efficient, paperless business. There are various ways to go about it, but before you can put paper behind you, you need to know if it’s a good idea for your business. Here are the... read more

Raise your hand if you enjoy disciplining or terminating problematic employees. Anyone? I thought so. No one enjoys this aspect of small business ownership, yet it comes with the territory. If you run a business, you must deal with difficult employees. As uncomfortable as it is for both parties, knowing how to manage the discipline... read more

By now, you’ve probably noticed a clear theme with our Smart Apps: a typically time-consuming and paper-intensive process is transformed with an easy-to-use online solution. The latest addition to the family of Smart Apps, the Time Off Request app, is no exception. This new app is a simple and affordable way to capture and oversee... read more

If you own a small business, you know that handling employee time-off requests can be a tough task. Though employees need to have time away from work for a variety of reasons, you’re faced with the challenge of striking a perfect balance between approving requests and maintaining productivity in the workplace. Without clear procedures and... read more