Business Up Front

Conducting Your Next Performance Appraisal Many managers anticipate annual performance appraisals with an attitude usually reserved for root canal appointments. While a review can be a valuable tool to help your employees advance in their careers and enhance their performance, you may find yourself wondering how to best plan and conduct performance appraisals. Consider these … [Read more...] about June 2001: Business Up Front

Nine Marketing Myths According to John R. Graham of Graham Communications, "marketing seems to be shrouded in myths and misconceptions." Here are nine myths that can thwart successful marketing efforts:   Marketing can be done on a shoestring. It’s often difficult to understand that marketing is an investment in the future of your company. Nobody expects accounting, … [Read more...] about May 2001: Business Up Front

JUST SAY THANKS A simple "thank you" still goes a long way in motivating employees, according to a recent survey of financial executives conducted by the Accountemps staffing service. Thirty-eight percent of those polled said that, other than monetary rewards, frequent recognition of accomplishments is the best way to encourage staff members. Frequent communication ranked a … [Read more...] about April 2001: Business Up Front

The Best of "Resumania" "Resumania" is a term coined by the staffing firm Robert Half International to describe errors made by job seekers on résumés, applications and cover letters. Although the bloopers are fun to read, the purpose of publishing them is to emphasize the importance of professionalism and proofreading in résumé preparation. The firm has been collecting amusing … [Read more...] about March 2001: Business Up Front

Does the IRS Owe You Money? The Internal Revenue Service is looking for more than 1,100 Nevadans whose federal refund checks were returned as undeliverable. These checks total more than $1 million, with the average refund being about $868. Refunds ranging from $1 to over $66,000 are waiting to be claimed. The IRS reports that most undeliverable tax refunds are the result of … [Read more...] about February 2001: Business Up Front

Employers seeking to make workplace accommodations for employees with disabilities can find help on the Internet through Searchable Online Accommodation Resource (SOAR). SOAR is a Web-based service of the President’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities. The program takes the user through a step-by-step process, beginning with the identification of the impairment … [Read more...] about January 2001: Business Up Front

Massage: Good for You, Good for Your Job Research shows massage relieves stress and encourages sound sleep. Research now confirms it may even improve job performance. In a study conducted by the University of Miami School of Medicine Touch Research Institute, 26 adults were given a chair massage at work for 15 minutes, twice a week. After five weeks, they were compared to a … [Read more...] about December 2000: Business Up Front

FEELING HEAVY? HERE’S WHY Although the mining industry has been in a slump lately, we shouldn’t forget the importance of our friends the minerals, according to Barrick Goldstrike mine, located 27 miles north of Carlin, Nevada. The average United States resident requires 40,000 pounds of minerals annually in order to maintain his or her standard of living. Here is a partial … [Read more...] about November 2000: Business Up Front

Making Scents of Your Computer An Oakland-based company called DigiScents recently announced an ambitious company goal – "to integrate scent with all media." Its "iSmell" device plugs into the serial port of a computer and emits various odors on command. Company officials explain that, just as a computer monitor can display millions of colors by mixing different proportions of … [Read more...] about October 2000: Business Up Front

As technology, information and workloads have surged, so too has the need for consultants, according to Elaine Biech, author of The Business of Consulting: The Basics and Beyond. Biech claims two primary trends have caused a dramatic rise in the number of consulting projects: the trend toward outsourcing services, and the rapid rate of change, which makes it difficult for an … [Read more...] about September 2000: Business Up Front

Prepare for Emergencies Before They Arise An emergency action plan for your business can protect your employees from injury and minimize property loss, according to The Compliance Science Newsletter. Government regulations dictate that the emergency action plan must be in writing and posted in a visible area. For businesses with less than 10 employees, the plan need not be in … [Read more...] about August 2000: Business Up Front

Test Site Worker Compensation Proposed Former workers at the Nevada Test Site and their families could be eligible for federal compensation under an amendment recently added to the Department of Defense Authorization Act. The amendment would provide compensation to nuclear weapons program workers who were exposed to toxic substances such as beryllium or radiation, and also to … [Read more...] about July 2000: Business Up Front