Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Employee Recognition

Honest appreciation is something we all desire, and something we are unlikely to forget. Praise for our efforts motivates and re-energizes our enthusiasm for our work. That is why employee recognition is so valuable in the workplace. Many companies take the time to recognize the efforts of employees on every level to boost morale and encourage camaraderie. In a time when few companies can afford high priced incentives, many employers are looking for ideas for employee recognitions.

Here are some fun ideas for employee recognition:

1. Creative and personal certificates of recognition
2. Hand written thank you notes
3. Mention employees in company newsletter
4. Support flexible hours when possible
5. Recognize those going above and beyond the call of duty by managers voting on Employee of the Month
6. Give Employee of the Month special recognition, certificate, and gift
7. Remember birthdays
8. Encourage those continuing their education
9. Day off for special recognition
10. Serve a "hero" sandwich to the employee going the extra mile on a project
11. Do random drawing for specific prizes
12. Randomly hide small gifts at workstations to be found during the day
13. Allow employee of the month to join you in your job to experience and learn more about the company
14. Recognize from the bottom up and eventually recognize everyone for something
15. Spring for professional business photos
16. Have lunch or breakfast together
17. Use company logo on cups, pens, jackets and more to use as recognition
18. Wash every employee's car
19. Provide one on one coaching
20. Spend time finding out a specific employee's desired career track
21. Give additional leadership roles
22. Write fun and interesting thank you notes on dry erase boards for staff
23. Set up a special coffee bar
24. Encourage others to praise their workmates
25. Set up a $20 tip of the day and draw the name of a winner

Every Company Should Incorporate Recognition
One of the pitfalls of many employee recognition programs is that it can cause bitterness between employees. However, by implementing a company-wide campaign that employs a wide range of ideas for employee recognition, every employee feels valued. When employers make it relevant, honest, and thoughtfully specific, it can encourage greater levels of cooperation, communication, and better job performance.

Pre-Employment Screening

Pre-employment screening is a process of background investigation. Its purpose is to make an inquiry into the background of an individual with regards to civil, criminal, medical history, employment records, and credit score.

Sometimes the educational background is included, particularly, if it is an employment screening background check. Often, such background screening is requested by employers for applicants aspiring for high position, like in a school, government, financial institution, and airport.

The civil background checks include any civil cases filed by the job applicant or against the job applicant. The third-party agency doing the pre-employment screening may make telephone calls to various trial courts and inquire whether the job candidate has ever filed a lawsuit against his former employers.

In the United States, many individuals make a living by suing other people, including companies. Hence, companies may do well to be selective on their prospective employees. The Criminal Background check is quite general. It is also among the most serious categories in employment screening background check.

The purpose of criminal background check is to ensure that the company and all incumbent employees are safe from any physical and emotional harm. Calling the criminal courts or visiting them will prove helpful.

To grant access to someone's criminal records, the agency conducting the pre-employment screening may need information such as the complete name, birth date and social security number of the job applicant.

Included in the check is information on arrests, incarceration, conviction, imprisonment, sex offense, and litigation incidences. Besides this, the employer may also look into the legal working status of the job candidates. To this category includes the citizenship and immigration information, if applicable.

The driving and vehicle records are equally important, specifically, if the job applicant is applying for the position of a company driver or if the company belongs to the transportation industry. In most cases, clean driving records have higher chances of getting hired.

The Drug tests may also be a requirement in doing a pre-employment screening. Its purpose is to measure the performance of an employee or the potential of job candidates, about corporate ethics, and sometimes, to keep the worker's compensation premiums low.

The substances that are commonly looked into are methamphetamine, alcohol, amphetamines, MDMA, barbiturates, cannabis, cocaine, heroin, morphine and codeine. The methods used can be urine, hair follicle and saliva of the job applicant.

At times, even the credit history is included in the employment screening. This is especially true if the applicant is seeking for a position that handles or involves finances, such as accountant, compensation and benefits personnel, and finance manager.

The information provided by the credit bureau determines the credit worthiness of the person. It also tells a lot about his capacity in handling his finances. The company may consider thoroughly whether a poor credit score still makes a person the ideal candidate for a particular position.

Pre-employment screening can also check on the medical, mental and physiological history of a potential employee, although, it is rarely done by most employers. The information contained on this report is highly sensitive and confidential; hence, it cannot be pursued without written consent from the person.

Pre-employment screening on educational background, relevant work experience and home address history of an applicant verifies the accuracy of information indicated on his or her resume.

Do You Need Help

What is an LLC and why should you form an LLC? Which incorporation services company would provide you security and satisfaction?

If you decided to run a business, then it will do you good to look at the advantages that LLC has. LLC or Limited Liability Company is a combination of partnership and corporation. It involves the characteristics, methods and processes found in both of these organizational structures.

As much as it worth it, investing your money in a business would require you exert a massive amount of effort and courage. There are always risks in the commercial world. Aside from the stiff competition, the never ending fluctuations and financial crisis may also increase the risk. Now, where does forming an LLC or incorporation of services enter here?

As mentioned, LLC is also partly a corporation. In that case, it will also be a legal entity that is separate and different from its owner. The limited liability in LLC is a very important reason why you should form your company with it. In the LLC, if it fails your personal assets can not be attached and liquidated. This is because, the persona properties of members do not form part of the organization's assets.

Like corporations too, it involves other businessmen who are called members rather than stockholders. What's very interesting about it is the LLC does not have limitation on the number of members. It can accept members as long, as they can comply with the bylaws. Moreover, LLC can offer a more flexible taxation rate.

Incorporating services of your business to an LLC would also require fewer formalities. This is one of the advantages of Limited Liability Company versus partnership and corporation. Nevertheless, the simplicity of its formation doesn't mean that LLC is less effective than the other two.

Nowadays, more and more businessmen start a LLC. They are found and scattered all over the internet and the world. Organizations such as My New Company, First Capital Advisors and Grays LLC offer incorporation services. They provide incorporation advice to many clients before and after the incorporation. They may also offer them alternatives and choices.

Starting an LLC could either simple or complicated; it actually depends on your understanding of it. However, there are some guidelines that have been posted in the internet. They are purposely disclosed by government agencies to aid anyone who intends to register LLC incorporation. They believe that by letting the people know what to do, what to bring and where to go is more practical for everybody.

There are also forums and other resources that could help in creating an LLC. People love to share experiences, ideas and information on the net. Some of them are helpful, while others are not.

Moreover, you may also hire the services of a registered LLC agent or an incorporation services company. An agent is usually expert and knows everything about his job. Hiring his services, though would cost you money, but his services would surely save you from making filing mistakes