Practical advice for business owners
One of the best managers I ever worked for taught me that the most important thing I will ever do in my working life is to hire the right person for the right job. Hiring someone at $50,000 who works for you for 15 years can easily be a million dollar decision when considering fringe benefits. Do it right. If …
“I don’t have to pay overtime because my employees are salaried.” “I don’t have to pay overtime because my employees are making so much money they are already getting paid for it.” If you are a business owner or manager that thinks this way, there is a chance that the Employment Standards Act of Ontario is not being followed. If …
The decision to tell an employee “You’re fired!” should never be taken lightly or without full consideration of all the facts and potential ramifications. From the standpoint of the employee, losing a job can be a life changing event. The loss of position, income, prestige, identity, self-confidence and self-esteem can be impactful and painful. For some, replacing the job and …
The Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs has been holding meetings around the province to hear submissions from various interest groups on the Wynne government’s Bill 148. The proposed minimum wage hike to $15.00 per hour by January 2019, appears to be a flash point at these meetings, with detractors claiming the sky will fall on many small businesses …
Proposed changes to Ontario’s minimum wage, together with reforms to the province’s employment and labour laws, could cause significant hardship to small and medium sized business owners (SMBs) unprepared to meet the challenge. The proposed changes include the following: A 32% increase in the provincial minimum wage from the current $11.40 per hour to $15.00 per hour by January 1, …
Owning and managing a business is hard work. Running a successful business, satisfying customers, finding new customers, fighting off competition and staying current on the technology curve is harder still. Doing it year after year can be gruelling. You can never take anything for granted, you certainly can’t do it alone, and you dare not take your eye off the …
It can be far more difficult for leaders to establish and maintain separation in smaller companies than in large corporations. It is not uncommon for small and medium sized business owners (SMBs) to be intimately involved in every aspect of their businesses, fully hands on and always there to answer the call, pick up the slack, and do whatever is …
If your business is struggling under the burden of entrenched mediocrity with a disengaged workforce and the consequent frustration of dissatisfied customers, and if you are unable to see a way out of the morass, just look to the rejuvenated Toronto Maple Leaf franchise for hope, inspiration and direction. After floundering in aimless pursuit for relevance for more years than …
