FLORIDA SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER AT IRSC
I brake
for auto
insurance.
I’m here to help life go right ™
by being there to help protect
you, with coverage from the
#1 car insurer in the country.
CALL ME TODAY.
INTEGRITY
CONSCIENTIOUS
TCBusiness.com 35
8. Take a look at your HR processes, including
employee training and benefits.
Do you have a company handbook?
Is it up to date? What company policies,
systems and processes does your small
business have in place to properly manage
your people? Companies will not be able
to grow if the CEO is running everything.
Next, examine your benefits package.
This is important even if you don’t plan to
hire. With unemployment so low, retaining
your valuable employees is critical. Small
businesses may think they can’t compete
against larger companies offering fat
salaries and benefit packages, but think
creatively about what you can offer that
may be more valuable for the candidate
than some of the more traditional benefits.
A flexible schedule and the ability to work
at home sometimes is very appealing to
some employees. Millennials don’t always
care as much about the traditional benefits
because of the stage of life they are in, but
they do care about development opportunities.
A tuition reimbursement program
and/or company training can go far.
Here is one piece of good news on the
benefits front: Congress recently passed
the SECURE Act, legislation that among
other things seeks to expand retirement
plan coverage by making it easier for small
businesses to join together to offer 401(k)
plans and share administrative costs.
About a third of private-sector employees
work for companies that don’t now offer a
way to save for their retirement.
9. Get personal.
Your business is only as strong as its
leaders. In 2020, resolve to improve
your own knowledge (should a course
or conference be on your calendar?), up
your leadership game (survey your team
— anonymously, if you can — about your
management blind spots and make that
lunch appointment with your mentor) and
create more work/life balance (and who
doesn’t need that?).
10. Don’t wait for a disaster to have a plan.
Don’t wait for the imminent threat of a
hurricane to dust off your emergency plan.
The Florida SBDC at IRSC helps business
owners to develop a comprehensive business
continuity plan.
Conduct your own risk assessment by
updating your employee contact information,
identifying any special skills your
team members possess that might help in
an emergency and evaluating your insurance
coverage.
10. Give back.
As a small business, there are many
ways you can give back to your community
and they don’t all involve donating
financially. Some companies encourage
their employees to spend one day or
afternoon per month or quarter — on
company time — volunteering for a local
registered nonprofit or charity of their
choosing. Today’s millennial generation
in particular considers social responsibility
a cool personal benefit, too. Some
small businesses do volunteer projects
together, such as participating in a beach
cleanup or rehabbing a home for Habitat
for Humanity, which can also double as
team building. Your business could donate
your product or service to a nonprofit, or
sponsor an event or a youth sports team.
Your contribution to your local area will be
appreciated, and you may even gain some
new customers as a result.
Happy New Year! v
Bill Knight Insurance Agcy Inc
Bill Knight Jr., Agent
2301 Sunrise Blvd
Fort Pierce, FL 34982
Bus: 772-461-7900
State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
State Farm Indemnity Company
Bloomington, IL
Texas County Mutual
1601580 Dallas, TX
www.rkdavis.com
/TCBusiness.com
/www.billknightinsurance.com
/www.rkdavis.com
/www.rkdavis.com