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humanresource2lyn · 8 years

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10 Ideas To Help You Plan Your 2016 Incentive Program

Dear Friends,

Thanksgiving is a time for reflection and appreciation; Strategic Incentives would like to take this opportunity to extend our gratitude to the many contributors to our success and growth. We thank our clients for their continued faith and support, and for allowing us to assist them in providing their customers and employees with custom designed motivation and loyalty incentive programs.

Thank you as well to our team of experts for their tireless efforts in providing client satisfaction in terms of sales incentives, marketing, quality, loyalty, change management, and customer satisfaction. The Thanksgiving long weekend marks the beginning of the busy holiday season; heralding the beginning of a new year just on the horizon. What better time to start planning your 2016 incentive program? Devising a solid plan for your incentive program now will assure time for a smooth and successful implementation in the new year.

10 Ideas To Help You Plan Your 2016 Incentive Program

Planning and implementing an incentive program is an excellent strategy by which to attain your 2016 business goals. Working with you, Strategic Incentives will create a custom-designed incentive program for your organization. Whether you are trying to foster customer loyalty, increase client base or motivate your sales team, there are several key strategies that should be kept in mind.

1. Budget: Know your budget and plan accordingly. Never try to engage in an incentive program that exceeds your means. Attempting too grand of a plan can undermine its very purpose, resulting in an inability to follow through or a decrease in profits and productivity. We provide you with the tools to measure program effectiveness and return on investment.

2. Know your Audience: It is important to properly identify your target demographic. We will provide you with detailed report results that quantify employee/client needs and concerns. Armed with the knowledge collected through various means, such as surveys and marketing reports, we will be able to design an incentive program specific to your needs.

3. Establish Goals: It is imperative to define clear goals and objectives. Knowing where you are heading will help to determine how you plan to get there.

4. Spread the Word: Communication is key to the success of any incentive program. Not only is it essential to build up anticipation prior to launch, interest must be held as the program progresses.

5. Be Prepared: “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry” (adapted from Robbie Burns’ “To a Mouse”). Not all variables can be anticipated so it is important to plan for contingencies.

6. Assess Progress Regularly: If there are any concerns with the design or implementation of an incentive program it is far better to find out sooner rather than later. Assessing progress on a regular basis will allow for detection of small issues before they become large ones.

7. Be Creative: Contrary to popular belief, money is not the best motivator. Unusual rewards will generate more excitement and interest in your incentive program.

8. Appropriate Duration: A market analysis can lend insight into the proper duration for your incentive plan. It must be in place long enough to generate the desired outcome, but no so long as to become tedious and redundant.

9. Less is More: There is no need to overcomplicate your incentive program. If your plan is easy to understand it will be easy to follow. This will result in higher interest and increased motivation for enrollment and continued participation.

10. Consult a Professional: Engaging the services of a professional consulting firm will take the guesswork out of planning your incentive program. Strategic Incentives utilizes a tried, tested and true formula to deliver the results that you demand. Our consultants are effective, reliable and responsive; they work with you, not just for you.

If you are looking to increase employee productivity, engagement and motivation, our Workforce program is the ideal solution for you. This program can help you to reduce costs, increase revenue and improve the overall work process. Our Customer Loyalty Programs will enable you to attract, retain and expand a solid client following. This will generate greater revenues, encourage repeat business and increase referrals. Our consultants look forward to guiding your organization on its path to growth and success.

For more information on Strategic Incentives’ unique motivational programs, call 888-686-8116 or visit our web site at http://StrategicIncentives.com

About Strategic Incentives: Strategic Incentives is a leading nationwide provider of employee motivation programs. The company works with HR managers to implement sales incentive programs and safety incentives to retain employees, and loyalty programs to build customer relationships. Visit the website at http://www.strategicincentives.com to download a complimentary PDF of “35 Ways to Use Incentive Programs.” “Like” the Facebook page to receive regular updates on sales incentives and promotional ideas. Call 888-686-8116 for more information on creating an in-depth performance improvement plan.

#safety incentives sales incentives employee motivation promotional ideas performance improvement plan employee incentives workforce solution

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humanresource2lyn · 8 years

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Employee Motivation: Why Most Motivation Programs Never Work

Improved employee performance drive success and profitability. Which is why companies spend millions on motivation programs that are designed to solidify morale and boost employee engagement. However, most motivation programs fail, thus wasting those millions of dollars spent by companies.

The promise of improved performance

The primary goal of motivational programs is to change the behavior of each employee by encouraging or enticing them to act a certain way to achieve a collective goal. Motivation in the workplace usually comes in the form of tangible or intangible incentives. The idea is that the more enticing the incentive is, the better the employee should behave or perform.

Why most motivational programs fail

There are a number of reasons why motivational programs fail. The operative word is “program.” As such, they are only effective as long as they continue. But what happens then when the program is terminated? Can the company expect the employee to continue to exhibit enhanced and motivated behavior?

On the surface, the promise of a gleaming reward is enticing and may motivate some employees to work harder and achieve more. But surprisingly, studies have shown that rewards are not the most important thing to employees. Some are motivated to do their best because of an unseen commitment that the employee holds dear. And the reward may be enticing to some, but undesirable to others.

If the motivation program is not structured correctly, it can lead to cheating. Employees may be encouraged to deceive or cut corners just to achieve the coveted reward. And because it fosters cheating, teamwork tends to be destroyed.

Poorly designed motivation programs discourage autonomy, innovation, risk-taking, and creativity, traits that most experts agree as necessary for improving productivity and profitability. Think of Google and the time they give their employees to create something innovative. Programs may encourage employees to work harder, but not smarter.

Worst of all, poorly designed motivation programs ironically decrease motivation. They tend to reward only the top performers, leaving the underperforming employees feeling more demotivated for failing to win the race.

The hope brought by Strategic Incentives

But all hope is not lost. There is a better and more strategic way of improving employee performance. There are motivation programs out there that not only make your employees work harder, but that also make them work smarter.

Strategic Incentives introduces a revolutionary way of incentivizing employees with unique programs that fit your company and your employees. We provide customized programs to serve your company’s unique motivational needs.

Strategic Incentives offers incentive consulting services that help you look into and analyze how your past and present incentive programs are working out for you and your employees. We use proprietary quantitative incentive models that help us design the most effective incentive program based on your team’s profile. We will also work closely with you to come up with and implement short-term and long-term incentive programs that foster stronger teamwork and create a smarter workforce.

For more information on Strategic Incentives’ unique motivational programs, call 888-686-8116 or visit our web site at http://StrategicIncentives.com

About Strategic Incentives: Strategic Incentives is a leading nationwide provider of employee motivation programs. The company works with HR managers to implement sales incentive programs and safety incentives to retain employees, and loyalty programs to build customer relationships. Visit the website at http://StrategicIncentives.com to download a complimentary PDF of “35 Ways to Use Incentive Programs.” “Like” the Facebook page to receive regular updates on sales incentives and promotional ideas. Call 888-686-8116 for more information on creating an in-depth performance improvement plan.

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humanresource2lyn · 9 years

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Looking For The Perfect Holiday Gift?

Consider Writing A Short Personal Script For Family And Friends

As the holidays grow closer, we here at The Story Solution would like to wish you a happy Thanksgiving, and a very merry holiday season. We really love this time of year, as it gives us a chance to spend time with those who mean the most to us, and break away from the hustle-and-bustle of day-to-day life.

But for writers, one of the downsides of the holidays is the sudden rush to get out there and buy gifts for all your closest friends and family. It can be difficult to find the perfect gift for everyone… and it can also be a real budget buster.

Instead of buying gifts this holiday season, consider writing a personalized short script they will truly cherish for a long time to come. If you’ve been working hard on writing a screenplay or you’re lately testing the professional waters as a screenplay writer, the holidays are the perfect time to take a break and catch your breath. Try writing a personalized scene of, oh, maybe four or five pages for your family and friends. You might even film it yourself on your cell phone with a couple friends as actors. This can become a gift to remember.

Here are some things to keep in mind if you take a shot at writing a short 4-5 page movie script for your inner circle as a holiday surprise.

Develop Your Idea

Poke around and find a fun idea. What exactly is it that you would like to say to your friends and family in a personalized scene? How do you want to convey a subtext that says “I love you”? Some of the options include:

A fictional script about your family’s traditional holiday meal (set at the North Pole? Or on a spaceship traveling to colonized a new planet?);

A reenactment or loving send-up of a scene from your favorite holiday movie;

Your own personal fictional story, say, like trying to explain love to a space alien and why you care so much about the people closest to you;

Put your friends in the middle of an action-adventure epic–in a roaring car chase while speaking the chit-chat dialogue they would at a holiday dinner table;

Write a version of your usual holiday gathering as a sweeping melodrama;

Or anything else you can think of!

The truth is that a short holiday script scene/movie is your chance to really show off your personal screenplay writing. You can create the strong scene or scenes that will keep people glued to your pages if you just have fun with it. Develop your idea for a first draft, then see where it takes you. And remember that you’re writing for an audience that already loves you!

Pick Your Characters

Who do you want to be in your scene? Keep in mind that the best screenplay writers focus on their mix of characters and how they will create dramatic conflict for each other. Use your family and friends as archetypes, but be kind!

Keep It Lighthearted

The holidays are a time for cheer and happiness. Tell/imply/hint to your readers that you love them. This is not the place to criticize ‘em, of course! And you might want to avoid making your scene or scenes something that would fit in a horror movie or slasher film better suited for Halloween. People want to see movies during the holidays that get them excited and happy, so consider writing screenplays that fit this magical season.

Find That Spark

If you are having some trouble coming up with the right idea, then you may want to go after a bit of kick-start help with your movie. Consider thumbing through some of the best screenwriting books on your shelf to find that catalyst spark for an idea. Keep learning, even in a small fun project like this one. You should always be picking up tips that can make you a better writer. The more screenwriting tips you find, the easier any writing task will become.

When you’ve nailed your mini-movie, proofread it ‘till it’s perfect, then head down to the copy shop and run off the number you need. Have them spiral bound with appropriate plastic covers. Total cost: a few bucks. Impact on the people you care about: priceless.

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving this year. Here’s to your success as a screenwriter!

The Story Solution from Eric Edson is aimed at helping screenwriters enhance their creative abilities. A creative writers block can be damaging to any writer. But with The Story Solution, you’ll be able to avoid writers block and get the most out of your writing. To learn more, follow us on Twitter @storysolution, and like us on Facebook for a chance to win a signed copy of ‘The Story Solution’ https://www.facebook.com/ScreenwritingBook

#writing a movie script writing a screenplay screenplay writing screenplay writer screenplay writers scriptwriting writing screenplays best s

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humanresource2lyn · 9 years

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Recognize the Signs of Depression and Anxiety during the Holiday Season

Dear Friends,

We’d like to take a moment to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and hope that you have a wonderful holiday season. It’s been another great year for mysantabarbaratherapy.com, and we are so grateful for the response that we’ve had as of late.

Even though the holidays are said to be filled with “good cheer”, this isn’t the case for many. Putting on a celebratory air for those suffering from anxiety and/or depression is difficult and the added pressure of the holidays can exacerbate one’s symptoms.

If you suffer from anxiety or depression, it can be isolating to see others celebrating and enjoying themselves. During the holiday season it is important to take a moment and remember what you are grateful for. Even if you don’t feel like participating and engaging, muster the resolve to try, because not doing so will only increase your distress.

If you need a bit of extra help during this holiday season, you may want to consider therapy for anxiety or depression from a Santa Barbara psychologist. If therapy for depression or anxiety is something that you’ve never entertained, it may be overwhelming to even contemplate entering treatment. However, if you experience any of the signs and symptoms of depression and anxiety listed below, get help so that you can make the most out of your holiday season.

Increased or Decreased Appetite

A common symptom of both depression and anxiety is change in appetite. Of course, it is normal during the holidays to indulge more than usual, but if you find that you are consistently overeating or have no appetite at all, then this may be a sign of depression or anxiety. One of the objectives of depression counseling with a Santa Barbara therapist is to help people return to a place where they are eating in a more mindful, healthy manner.

Lack of Desire to Go To Social Holiday Functions

Though holiday parties can be a lot of work to get ready for, most people enjoy partaking in the festivities. It’s a chance to see co-workers outside of work, catch up with family, and to socialize with some of your closest friends. People with anxiety or depression may experience a lack of passion, motivation, and desire to attend any events. Or the desire and motivation might be present, but the person’s anxiety is so overwhelming and paralyzing that it prevents them from showing up.

Depression and anxiety can wreak havoc on your personal and professional life. If you believe that your mental health has compromised your functioning, counselingforanxiety may be helpful.

Look For Signs in Others

In addition to looking at yourself during this holiday season, recognize warning signs in others. It can be difficult to ascertain how someone is feeling just by observing them, so be sure to ask questions if you suspect someone close to you is suffering. You might just turn someone’s holiday season around and this Thanksgiving, they’ll be thankful that you took notice!

Q & A Hot Sheet

Q: Can’t I fight depression and anxiety on my own?

A: You can deal with depression and anxiety on your own, however, if your symptoms persist, it may be time to seek out a psychologist for depression or anxiety. Working with a psychologist will allow you to access the underlying, often unconscious issues that may be feeding your depression or anxiety.

Q: Are there side effects for antidepressants and other medications for anxiety and depression?

A: As with any medication, there are some side effects associated with antidepressants and anxiolytics. This is why it’s best if you have a psychologist for anxiety, as they can work closely with the doctor who prescribed your medication.

Q: Is anxiety and depression hereditary?

A: Studies have found that there is a genetic predisposition for mental illness, however having a family member with depression or anxiety doesn’t mean that you will inherit it. There are many factors that contribute to the development of the latter.

Local Events

If you are looking for activities and experiences this winter to help take your mind off things, consider these local Santa Barbara events.

Thanksgiving 4 Miler: Thanksgiving Day, November 27. Team up with family and friends and get your holidays off to a great start. Run Santa Barbara presents Santa Barbara’s flattest and fastest four-miler. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. in the Thunderbird Open Space, pocket park on Walnut. First three hundred on-line registrations get a free event shirt. Race begins at 9:00 a.m. on Hollister near the Magnolia Shopping Center. Prizes and gifts available. You’ll work up an appetite for Thanksgiving dinner.

Thanksgiving Day Pumpkin Smash: Thanksgiving Day, November 27. Have a smashing good time at the Santa Barbara Zoo’s annual Thanksgiving Day Pumpkin Smash from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Elephants, gorillas, and other animals will get tasty pumpkins to play with and eat on Thanksgiving Day. Cost is free with Zoo admission.

Blush Restaurant + Lounge: Thanksgiving Day, November 27. Let Blush do all the cooking for Thanksgiving this year. They will be open Thanksgiving Day from noon until 10:00 p.m. Chef Brandon Worrell and his staff will create an amazing combination of California cuisine and traditional favorites for your holiday dining pleasure.

Art To Zoo Exhibit: November 26th – Take your family to the Art To Zoo exhibit at the Santa Barbara Museum Of Art. This is something your entire family can enjoy and is both entertaining and educational!

ZeeBlu Thanksgiving 5K & Family Fun Run - Thursday, November 27, 2014 09:00 AM – The inaugural event last year had a turnout of 300 runners and this year is expected to bring over 500 participants.

Dr. Adina McGarr-Knabke earned her psychology degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2000 and her Masters in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University in 2003. After receiving her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Phillips Graduate Institute, Dr. McGarr-Knabke has been dedicated to helping patients find solutions to their emotional questions. Known as The Santa Barbara Therapist, Dr. Adina McGarr-Knabke is a licensed clinical psychologist. She provides treatment for eating disorders, anxiety disorders, addiction, depression and self-injurious behaviors, as well as counseling for stress from her office located at 1187 Coast Village Rd., Suite 10P in Santa Barbara. Visit the website and Facebook page or call (818) 518-6775 for more information.

#therapy for anxiety therapy for depression depression counseling counseling for anxiety psychologist for depression psychologist for anxiety

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humanresource2lyn · 9 years

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Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and a Child's Education

Imagine a family being stranded in a desert due to a war situation. What do you think will primarily be on their minds? Finding food and water and making an appropriate shelter, the basic survival needs, will be their main preoccupation as well as protecting themselves from hostile forces. Keeping this in mind, let us look at Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

Abraham Maslow, was a great proponent of adding a human touch to the study of psychology. He also based most of his theories on motivation and education based on the study of healthy individuals who achieved world-wide admiration for their humanity and genius like Albert Einstein and Eleanor Roosevelt. Maslow's hierarchy of needs identified the various needs that a human being in a society needs to help him/her achieve his/her fullest potential. His theory needs to be carefully studied by all educators, social workers as well as human resource personnel and is of great significance. His theory is expressed in terms of a hierarchy; however, it can be studied in a parallel manner as all the needs can be equally important to lead a healthy quality of life for a human being.

The following is a short summary of Maslow's hierarchy of needs keeping in mind the education of a child:

1. Physiological needs: The most basic need of every human being is to have adequate amounts of food and water to help their mind and body to function at optimum levels. A hungry or dehydrated child will not be able to concentrate or participate in school activities as well as he/she could with adequate levels of the required energy requirements. States like Tamil Nadu in India have midday-meal programs for poor school children which meets this basic requirement and to raise literacy levels. Physiological needs also include clean air and adequate rest/sleep.

2. Safety needs: Human beings need to feel safe and free from tension and anxiety. In a war scenario or in a crime-infested locality, safety needs are not met. A child in a war zone or exposed to crime of any kind will be disturbed and unable to properly concentrate on learning. Modern educational institutions go to great lengths to create a safe and conducive place for learning. A strong and responsible police presence as well as an effective justice system ensures that people feel safe and can lead a carefree life.

3. Need for love and affection: Interpersonal relationships including family, friends and peer group relationship which is filled with love, respect and caring and enable a student to learn and engage in activities with a deep sense of joy and involvement. Learning in schools needs to happen in an atmosphere of love and respect rather than fear which can be detrimental to a vulnerable and sensitive child.

4. Esteem needs: Another very important need that shapes a human being and ensures that a child is on his/her way to reach her fullest potential is the esteem need. Every child needs to feel loved and more importantly valued for their uniqueness. Esteem needs get enhanced with encouragement and motivation. Appreciation of the child, for her/his unique contributions in any endeavour go a long way in meeting esteem needs.

5. Self-actualization: Self-actualization is a need that can only be met when all the other needs are met. It is the attainment of a human being's fullest potential at a particular point in time. Self-actualized individuals transcend their own being and think in terms of the whole of humanity. They engage in activities that will benefit humanity at large and are concerned with the betterment of society and maintenance of well-being, peace and justice in a creative and innovative manner. They are highly balanced individuals with a deep sense of integrity and are not swayed by manipulative forces. The primary aim of education needs to be to nurture children to grow into self-actualized individuals.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7484617

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humanresource2lyn · 9 years

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Running The Company Of Yesterday In Today's Climate!

In today's working climate, employees are faced with a work environment that has little to do with what it was like 40 or 50 years ago. Back then, the working conditions could be hard; even hostile. However despite the lack of modern facilities and all the amazing technology, offices and comfort available these days, employees remained faithful to the companies they worked for until they retired.

Most importantly, they showed pride in what they were doing and spending 40 years working for the same boss was the norm back then. Why is the workforce unhappy these days? And, why won't most employees think long-term when it comes to working for a company?

Have The Principles Changed?

Yes, they have. For a few decades, it's no secret that companies and management teams have put productivity, results and profits above anything else, including the well-being of the employees. To put it bluntly, human resource departments are much more after "skill sets" rather than individuals bringing with them all sorts of interpersonal skills, personality, creativity and much more.

80% of active workers are now jumping from one job to the next in the hope of finding a place where they can receive appreciation, fair treatment and recognition when deserved of course. Employees are unfortunately turning into tireless working bees spending more and more hours at work, and receiving little to no gratification whatsoever. More tellingly, most of them are looking for more than a pay check at the end of the month; they crave self-development, aspirations, gratitude and a sense of well-being.

Now, is this possible?

Nothing is impossible and certainly not in the work place. The key to making a company successful both on the inside and the outside is by making sure that the level of personal and professional satisfaction of an employee is continually improved and reviewed. If you ask satisfied workers what makes a difference in the workplace, most of them will explain that a mutual feeling of trust and appreciation is a top priority. Sadly, most companies hardly ever consider this to be one of the most important management principles.

Let's not forget that an employee is also an individual with a personality of his own, feelings and many other much more worthwhile qualities than those listed on a job description. These are qualities that are often priceless but again, they are far too often ignored by the management. Of course, formatting a newly hired individual to conform to the company's standards seems much more appealing to those in charge of the "personal and professional development" but clearly, this is a mistake. This system doesn't work.

Treating employees the way customers are treated is what could make the difference!

Have you ever thought that if company managers treated their employees the way they treat their customers, the general atmosphere and well-being of all employees and management alike could be turned around? This is probably the most powerful tool for managing a team these days. The workplace is a "home from home" for most people and enjoying coming to work will not only set a much better working environment for all but both the productivity and value would increase naturally.

Confidence and trust in the workplace is paramount for continued development and success. There are rules to follow of course when you join a company but rules can't dictate and manage people. Rules and regulations are there to protect both the company and the employees but are all of them necessary?

Stringent Rules Can Break an Employee's True Potential...

A recent survey confirmed that most employees felt somewhat crushed by the number of useless and petty rules imposed by their superiors. An employee, who feels stuck, scrutinized and constantly worrying about breaking one of the "golden rules" of the company will never be able to deliver his or her true potential. Trust must come from above and confidence will ensue.

There are countless of interpersonal and development tools that companies could use to start changing the way they treat their employees. Having people coming to work with a smile on their face is what management teams should be looking for. This new approach would be beneficial for the company on all levels.

Tracy Smith / CEO Consolidated Reliance, Inc Turlock, California

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7480962

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humanresource2lyn · 9 years

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Happy Thanksgiving from Strategic Incentives!

On Thanksgiving we take a moment to tell family members how much they mean to us, and do the same with our business partners as well. Without employees who work hard and safely all year, and customers who buy products, businesses would not be able to grow and compete.

At Strategic Incentives we think Thanksgiving is the perfect time to say “thanks” to all of those who have helped your business success. Whether you are looking for sales incentives, safety incentives, or employee recognition programs for a job well done, our team of workforce solutions experts can help. If you are looking for promotional ideas or loyalty programs for customers, we offer a wide variety of options. For companies that are already looking ahead to next year, be sure to talk to us about a performance improvement plan that will help keep employees and your company on track.

Contact Strategic Incentives today at 888-686-8116, and let us create and facilitate an effective employee motivation program for your business. We’ll help take your company to improved levels in sales, marketing, quality, loyalty, change management, and customer satisfaction.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Strategic Incentives Family to Yours

Do Incentive Programs Really Motivate Employees?

Ever since Maslow developed his hierarchy of needs, business managers have worried about how to retain and motivate employees. They often wonder whether employee incentives are effective. The truth is that inconsistent and poorly thought-out sales incentive programs, or other types of employee rewards programs, can damage morale. Fortunately, your company doesn’t have to worry about that with employee motivation programs from Strategic Incentives. We work with your company to develop a program that will provide many benefits such as:

Increased Loyalty: Employee turnover costs money in down time, recruiting, and training. Employers who show their appreciation for what their employees do are more likely to build bonds that will keep employees who perform quality work.

Improved Motivation: It can be difficult performing repetitious tasks or continuously meeting business goals. A rewards program can be used to keep employees on track towards meeting their goals.

Better Safety Record: Companies that use safety incentives are more likely to experience fewer compensation claims and sick days due to on-the-job accidents.

Higher Sales: Presenting a product or service to prospective customers can be demoralizing due to high levels of sales resistance. Sales incentives keep sales personnel focused on the goal, and provide the necessary inspiration to take their efforts to the next level.

Teamwork: Employees from different areas may find it hard to find common ground when working together on a project. If they are all committed to meeting the requirements of a performance improvement plan, they are more likely to learn how to overcome any differences and will move forward as a group.

Employee Engagement: Employees in companies without an incentive program may feel disengaged from management and corporate executives. They are unsure how their actions play a part in overall company success. Employee incentives bring these people into the fold, and help to convince them that their efforts are crucial to overall success.

In some companies, such as banks and grocery stores, the lowest paid employees have the highest amount of customer contact. Their interactions can keep or lose customers. Assembly line workers can impact the proper operation of the end product. Total workforce solutions from Strategic Incentives permeate throughout an organization from customer contact and manufacturing, through sales and marketing, right up to executive levels. Call us today at 888-686-8116, and let us create an employee motivation program that motivates everyone in your organization.

Workforce Solutions Q&A with Strategic Incentives

How can performance incentives help my business grow? Performance incentives are primarily used to impact three areas of your organization. Our workforce solutions reduce costs, increase revenue, and improve safety. Channel solutions can help your sales staff and/or suppliers increase sales and market share, introduce new products, or improve the product mix. Customer solutions are designed to reduce the cost of the sale and expand the customer base.

What is premiere recognition? These programs are designed to raise employee engagement, drive organizational performance, attract and retain top talent, promote employee success, and encourage peer-to-peer recognition. They are especially effective for promoting wellness programs which reward healthy lifestyles, which reduces healthcare costs and absenteeism, while simultaneously improving employee productivity levels.

Why should my business invest in promotional marketing? Promotional products get your company’s name out there in front of current and prospective business customers, fully supporting your marketing and sales strategies. At Strategic Incentives we evaluate your audience and marketing objectives, develop an effective theme and detailed plan of action, search our database to determine imprinted items that will best execute your plan, and oversee the success of your promotional plan from start to finish.

#safety incentives sales incentives employee motivation promotional ideas performance improvement plan employee incentives workforce solution

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humanresource2lyn · 12 years

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CNN: Get control of your employee records

Every business eventually outgrows Excel. If you're ready to get your HR files in order, here are some software options to consider.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Question: I have a small veterinary practice with 10 employees. What is a good program to use to make a database about my employees, with photos, contact info, salaries, information on their last raise, etc.?

-Deborah, Fremont, Calif.

Dear Deborah: Even small businesses can outgrow Excel spreadsheets to manage employee information. At a certain point, the paperwork for tracking payroll, benefits, and performance information becomes too unwieldy. Enter an HR management system.

Despite the fancy acronyms, HRMS (Human Resource Management Systems) and HRIS (Human Resources Information Systems) software packages aren't necessarily enterprise (read: "expensive") applications with a confusing array of features. An HR system organizes recruitment, payroll, performance evaluations and benefits administration into a centralized system, but these applications can be simplified for small-business needs.

Before investing in a system, each business has to decide between two paths: a hosted solution or an in-house one. Hosted software frees you from investing in hardware and from regular maintenance and upgrade work. It means getting up and running faster, makes it easier to get new features and upgrades, and requires less downtime to fix problems.

On the other hand, some business owners prefer to keep systems in-house. They'd rather maintain direct control of the applications they're using and the kind of data being stored.

Here's a quick primer on some of the available software packages that may work for you. We've started off with the most basic programs and worked up to the more advanced offerings.

Ajiva's SimpleHR: One of the least-expensive products around, SimpleHR stores salary history, benefits, performance reviews, training schedules, vacation dates and incident reports, in addition to basic personnel information. Priced at $199, SimpleHR can integrate withIntuit's (INTU) popular QuickBooks accounting software. A Windows product, it runs on a single PC. A multi-user version, for two to five computers, is also available for $395. The single-user version is limited to storing data for 50 employees or fewer.

SimpleHR allows documents such as letters (offer, welcome, termination), evaluations, and surveys to be attached to employee records. The software also creates benefit forms defining each employee's benefit plan, eligibility dates, premiums, and beneficiaries. The "safety" module is a unique feature, allowing employers to enter work-related incidents and accidents for each employee. It can also track workers' compensation claims.

The information is all accessible through a graphical dashboard, and can be exported to a variety of applications, such as Microsoft's Visio, and imported from other applications, such as Excel.

People-Trak HR: People-Trak HR starts off very affordably and becomes more expensive as you add additional staff and functionality. For a one-time fee of $20 per user, the software offers databases for tracking salaries, work hours, benefits and performance reviews, among other features. It even includes a module for tracking COBRA information for former employees.

For an additional $20 per employee, People-Trak has a Web add-on with self-service functionality. A more advanced version of the software, "Strategic HR," includes advanced workflow features and costs $40 per employee.

OrangeHRM: Every software list needs at least one open-source application. First released in 2005, OrangeHRM is a flexible HR package that is available both as a hosted service and as an in-house solution. The software takes a modular approach typically seen in more expensive, enterprise packages: HR functions are broken out into pieces, allowing your business to pick and choose which features it needs.

An administrative module serves as OrangeHRM's backbone, and additional components store employee information (photos too!), vacation schedules, benefits and salary details. A reporting module lets managers mine the data for analytics, and a self-service module helps employees update their own data.

OrangeHRM is free and runs on Windows and Linux. If installing and maintaining your own open-source software sounds intimidating, you can buy a professional support contract - OrangeHRM offers a one-month "starter kit" for $60. OrangeHRM is also available as an online subscription service, with rates starting at $45 per month for up to 10 employees.

EmpXtrack Starter Edition: EmpXtrack's Starter Edition, priced from $600, offers an employee database, payroll software, and a self-service module that allows employees to edit and view their information. Pricing varies by the number of users and the edition purchased.

A Web-based tool, EmpXtrack Starter Edition stores employee information such as job histories, organization charts, salary information, benefits and leave data. Advanced configurations, starting at $1,050, include expense reporting and timesheet functionality.

Microsoft: For businesses that rely heavily on Microsoft (MSFT, Fortune 500) technologies, a look at Microsoft Dynamics might be in order. Microsoft's Dynamics NAV (formerly Navision) and GP (formerly Great Plains) are full-featured, robust "enterprise resource planning" (ERP) packages with deep HR management functionality. For a small firm, deploying Dynamics would be like swatting flies with a bulldozer, but if your company is poised for aggressive growth, planning ahead and investing in ERP solution like Dynamics could be the way to go.

With NAV, HR departments can maintain comprehensive employee records, track leave and absences and inventory equipment assigned to workers. GP can be used to manage personnel information, benefit programs, and payroll. It can also integrate with third-party payroll service providers such as ADP.

If you'd like more options, software information Web site Capterra has a nice comparison wizardthat can help identify which products will fit your needs. The wizard asks for information on your intended number of users, your platform (what operation system you run - Windows, Linux or Mac), your desired features and the size of your business. Based on that data, it generates a list of options that you can use as a starting point in the quest for the perfect HRMS for your business.

First Published: March 26, 2009: 10:13 AM ET

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