Qualities of a Great Boss. How would you rate yourself?

Being a good boss is crucial for your organization — a third of employees in one survey revealed that they’d quit a job because of a bad boss or manager. There are several characteristics that most employees appreciate in a boss. Which of the following six do you possess?

  1. Open door policy – being accessible to employees creates a sense of community and teamwork.

2. Treat everyone fairly and equally – you don’t show favoritism in the office.

3. Try new ideas – even if the idea isn’t yours. 

4. Take (and encourage) constructive feedback – there is always room for improvement.

5. Offer well-being incentives – employees appreciate bosses who encourage a work/life balance. 

6. Share credit when credit is due – employees value recognition for a job well done.

How many of these characteristics do you have? If you possess all six, congratulations! You’re doing a great job as a leader. If you possess less, then there may be room for growth and improvement. Part of being a great and effective boss is the ability to reflect on your own performance and make changes when necessary.

Seven Tips for Employee Appreciation and Retention

The most expensive thing you can do is to lose valuable employees. In a competitive workforce with an upcoming generation that cares about immediate lifestyle benefits and incentives as much as a competitive pay rate, employers should be looking for new ideas to show hard-working employees they are appreciated. So how do you offer incentives that attract and retain employees without breaking the bank?

1. Offer VIP parking for a week – Let them park up close and avoid the long walk from the parking lot or garage.

2. Bring a pet to work day – Employees will love the chance to show off their ‘best friend’ at work.

3. Lazy Mondays – As a reward for a job well-done, allow an employee to sleep in and start work an hour or two later than usual.

4. Work-from-home day – Most employees will appreciate the chance to work from home and avoid the commute for a day.

5. Double their lunch break – Once a work-related goal is accomplished, let an employee relax and take two hours instead of one for lunch.

6. Find an excuse for a holiday – Celebrate the first day of summer or Valentine’s Day by closing the office for a bonus holiday off.

7. Quarterly bonuses – With this competitive market, we are finding employers are looking at a more-frequent quarterly bonus instead of a yearly bonus. This will be helpful in retaining employees throughout the year and keeping your competitors at bay.

Hot Jobs, Inc. recruiters work closely with both clientele and candidates to create a successful placement by identifying, screening, as well as helping with retention according to the clientele’s personnel needs. We service the Roaring Fork Valley and surrounding areas including Glenwood Springs, Basalt, Aspen, New Castle, and Rifle, with our corporate headquarters located in Carbondale, Colorado.

A Better Normal: Strategies for Getting People Back to Work

Instead of looking to a new normal, employers should embrace looking at better normal. Forward-thinking employers will find that the new employment options presented this year will continue in cutting costs for their work force by offering flexibility of what now is acceptable with remote working and thinking outside the box. There are several things businesses can do to encourage potential employees when hiring:

  1. Offer incentives – Employers are offering a set bonus, once the season is complete, or a full-time, year- round position may receive quarterly bonuses. Instead of cash, some offer gift cards, time off, bus passes, or other rewards for fulfilling their commitment and getting back to work to take advantage of the excellent opportunity incentives which would supersede unemployment benefits.
  2. Be flexible – Taking a flexible approach to scheduling will increase the likelihood that employees will want to return to work. Remote working is a reality many employees have begun to enjoy. Therefore, employers that can be flexible in this regard will be a win-win for retaining long-term employees who can work independently and have the flexibility of remote working.
  3. Explain vaccine and safety protocols – Be clear with potential employees as they want to feel safe coming back to work. Although federal guidance is changing daily, it is important to present on-going protocols and policies to ensure employees are informed of evolving policies.

While we continue to move forward through the pandemic, potential employees may be hesitant to return to work. There is no doubt that employees have enjoyed the different avenues and flexibility in the workplace more than ever before. Employers who embrace this will find that a happy team will produce a financial gain.

Hot Jobs, Inc. recruiters work closely with both clientele and candidates to create a successful placement by identifying, screening, as well as helping with retention according to the clientele’s personnel needs. We service the Roaring Fork Valley and surrounding areas including Glenwood Springs, Basalt, Aspen, New Castle, and Rifle, with our corporate headquarters located in Carbondale, Colorado.

Encourage Your Sick Employees to Stay Home – Extra Preventative Measures to Safeguard Your Business.

There are several ways to help prevent the spread of germs and viruses in your business.

  1. Clean personal areas. Most people clean their phone and keyboards with disinfecting wipes regularly, but many forget the small things like file cabinets and door knobs. Encourage employees to consider everything they touch over the course of a day and to add a little extra cleaning time to their routine.
  2. Clean common areas. Shared surfaces like printers and copy machines harbor germs and may help to spread viruses from one person to the next. Other places like break rooms and coffee stations can become hubs of germs and viruses – taking down large numbers of employees with ease. Don’t assume that your cleaning staff is getting every surface.
  3. Remind employees to wash their hands. It can’t be said enough: employees should wash their hands several times a day with warm soapy water for at least 20 seconds. Being diligent is the best defense against germs and viruses.

Being proactive can be the difference between having a few employees out sick versus an entire team or department. Letting your employees know you care about them more than the bottom line will help your employees to feeling good about staying home when they’re sick.

Hot Jobs, Inc. recruiters work closely with both clientele and candidates to create a successful placement by identifying, screening, as well as helping with retention according to the clientele’s personnel needs. We service the Roaring Fork Valley and surrounding areas including Glenwood Springs, Basalt, Aspen, New Castle, and Rifle, with our corporate headquarters located in Carbondale, Colorado.