Workforce

Choosing the right location for your company headquarters is one of the most critical decisions you’ll make as a small-business owner. It can boost operational efficiency, attract top talent and position your company for long-term growth. 

However, with so many factors to weigh — ranging from the surrounding community to the building itself — it’s essential to approach this decision strategically. To help you navigate this process, here are seven key considerations to keep in mind when selecting your company headquarters.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in all matters. This means businesses must adequately upgrade their facilities and communications technology while prioritizing accessibility and assistive technologies. If your company employs 15 or more people, it must comply with the ADA requirements.

Complying with the ADA is a good start to improving accessibility in your workplace. However, other considerations can take things a step further and make your enterprise one that welcomes people of all abilities and backgrounds with open arms. Here are some features you should consider.

What happens when one or more of your employees fail to live up to your expectations? Low performance can impact the entire company, especially if top workers feel they aren’t receiving the recognition they deserve for their contributions. The process of building team members up in the hopes they’ll catch up to others is a balancing act between encouraging them while not discouraging those putting forth real effort. 

Cybersecurity is a top concern for many small businesses, especially since internet-based operations are central to many of them. As cyberattacks grow more frequent and severe, some decision-makers weigh whether to outsource their IT security needs. That approach has both positive and potentially negative aspects to weigh.

Pro: Additional Cybersecurity Expertise

Many IT teams working for small businesses struggle to safeguard their employers from emerging threats. That issue can arise for various reasons, including the fact that theymay have fewer overall resources, resulting in cybersecurity professionals becoming overworked and potentially distracted.

The evolution of remote work has necessitated a transformation in recruitment strategies, particularly in conducting virtual interviews and onboarding remote employees. For businesses and professionals, mastering these processes is crucial to attracting and retaining top talent in a competitive landscape. 

Optimizing Virtual Interviews

Conducting virtual interviews requires more than just a reliable internet connection. To effectively assess candidates in a remote setting, companies must do the following.

Feedback is critical for professional development. However, constructive criticism can be a tough pill to swallow for some employees. Although your intentions are good and will enable growth, you may be met with resistance, defensiveness and dismissal. Unfortunately, when an employee pushes back against feedback, it can impact the company's success and tarnish team morale.

It’s up to you as a manager to explore why some workers demonstrate resistance to feedback. A high level of emotional intelligence (EQ) is necessary to reach them effectively and develop solutions. 

Biometrics are an increasingly common part of everyday IT functions. Facial or fingerprint scans offer a streamlined, reliable way to secure access to sensitive systems or bolster multi-factor authentication (MFA) practices, but they’re not without their controversies.

As cybercrime and digital privacy concerns have risen, the use of biometrics in the workplace can face scrutiny. Employers and IT managers should consider the potential drawbacks and create a formal plan to address them before implementing any biometric security measure.

Creating accessible and inclusive workplaces is essential for modern businesses aiming to thrive in a competitive industry. Prioritizing this aspect ensures employees of all abilities can fully participate, contributing their unique skills and perspectives. This commitment fosters innovation by encouraging diverse approaches to problem-solving.

Inclusive workplaces boost team satisfaction by creating environments where everyone feels valued and supported. Embracing usability can position organizations as forward-thinking, ethical and ready to meet the needs of a dynamic workforce.

The gig economy has grown exponentially in recent years, revolutionizing how companies approach staffing and workforce management. Characterized by freelance and short-term contracts, this dynamic workforce model offers flexibility, cost-efficiency and access to specialized skills.

Understanding how to harness the gig economy can give businesses a competitive edge. Here are 10 strategies for effectively integrating gig workers into their operations.

The holiday season can be a complicated time for people. Many emerge from this period and realize they pushed themselves too hard. How can you as a leader stay mindful of that reality and provide the best support for your workforce?

Learn What People Need 

Although you can probably take an educated guess about some of the season’s biggest stressors, they don’t impact everyone with equal intensity. Someone facing the first holiday season after losing a close family member will probably have felt different pressures and challenges than one with money troubles as the primary concern.