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Ways Businesses Are Making a Difference

In the following article, we highlight six of the most popular ways businesses are using to make their impact and be a meaningful contributor to the wider society. Going Green It’s important for businesses to go green, not just to save the planet, but also to appeal to customers who care about the environment. There are many steps that businesses are taking to reduce their carbon footprint, including encouraging their employees to practice “green commuting”, going paperless by storing their files in the cloud, reducing their electricity consumption by using more natural light, using renewable energy sources to power their buildings, organising green challenges, initiating recycling programs, buying their supplies from other green businesses, and involving environmental consultants when making decisions that could have significant impact on the environment. Supporting microbusinesses Big businesses support micro-businesses by providing them with funds, resources, and services. There are many online programs through which businesses can give money, services or other resources to microbusinesses.

There are many online programs through which businesses can give money, services or other resources to microbusinesses

Businesses are helping young people achieve their academic goals by providing them with scholarship opportunities

7 tips for a Successful Return to Work after Maternity Leave

Here are 7 practical tips for a successful return to work after maternity leave. Arrange for your child’s day-care When you go back to work, your mind will never be at ease if you are not absolutely sure that your baby is in safe hands. You can either get a family member to take care of the baby, hire a nanny, or enroll your baby in a childcare centre. If you are fortunate enough, you may work for a company that has daycare services, or the child's grandparents may be clamouring to take your bundle of joy off your hands. However, if those two are not an option, you have to vet childcare services near you and determine which childcare centre is the best fit for you and your childs needs. The earlier you can do this the better as some of them can have long waiting lists. You should try to learn everything you can about the childcare facility because you are entrusting the care of your infant to them.

If you feel as though you are being discriminated against because of your status as a new parent, you should know that there are labour laws that are meant to protect you and its worthwhile understanding what your rights are as an employee returning from parental leave

While many workplaces in Australia are very accommodating, every workplace differs, and if yours is not already set up with this kind of support they may need some time to get everything in place for you so you can have all the privacy, time and the resources that you will need. Get new outfits You want to look professional on your first day back, so you should upgrade your wardrobe to suit your post-pregnancy body

3 Essential Skills Top Business Managers Must Have

Management skills involve leadership competencies in a variety of areas. These skills will effectively influence the actions of others in your team and ultimately help you achieve your business goals.

It is normal for large organizations to have business management coaching programs that train and equip managers with the skills needed for operations. These organizations usually have the resources that can be used to develop employee competencies.

However, smaller organizations most times don't have these resources. They have to identify desired competencies and organize the right training options for managers and supervisors. 3 Essential Skills Top Business Managers Must Have

There are some key skills needed for effective business management. Some come naturally to managers, while others need to be learned and practiced. 1. Decision Making

The ability to assess and resolve issues is critical for effective business management. In a small business, information usually requires quick action. Making the right decision fast (without an erroneous judgment call) means evaluating information and sifting through what is important and what isn’t.

Top 6 ways to reduce staff sick days

Flexible hours or non traditional hours is another way that can help employees to balance their other commitments with their work commitments more easily, reducing the need for them to call in 'sick'. 3. Create a comfortable work environment Employees are more likely to call in sick if the work environment is a negative one. If your workers are under too much pressure, are overworked, or their efforts are not appreciated, they are likely to develop a negative attitude towards work, and they are much more likely to feign sickness in order to skip work. Ensure that your employees coexist harmoniously and that there is a strong sense of community in the office. Looking after the welfare of your employees mental and emotional wellbeing is good for business because happy employees are more productive. Providing practical support to workers returning after parental leave is one example. You should ensure that you effectively deal with all conflicts that may arise, in order to resolve them and to discourage future conflicts.

For most white-collar professionals, the health risks associated with sitting for prolonged periods of time is almost as dangerous as smoking

Wal-Mart Fact Checker

countries. Wal-Mart says: Our workforce is unique in it size and diversity -- from full-time career profesionals to students working their way through college, from senior citizens seeking a break from retirement to people with disabilities. The truth about diversity: A 2003 federal investigation into the employment of illegal immigrant to clean Wal-Marts around the country resulted in 250 arrests at 60 stores spread across 21 states -and caused the federal government to inform Wal-Mart that they face an investigation into whether Wawl-Mart executives knew their cleaning contractors were using illegal employees. Given these fact it Thank you for being open to the facts about Wal-Mart. You can learn more at a Web site we are launching today -- www.walmartfacts.com Sincerely Lee Scott President and CEO Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Click to download a PDF version of the fact sheet. Sources: 1. Kenneth Stone, Iowa State University, Impact of Wal-Mart Stores and other Mass Merchandisers in Iowa, 1983-1993, Economic Development Review, Spring 1995; 2.

Judge rules for illegal immigrant janitors, Associated Press, January 3, 2005 Illegal Immigrant Workers Sue Wal-Mart, Associated Press, November 9, 2003 Link The Wal-Mart Fact Checker is a project of PurpleOcean.org and is in no way affiliated with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Wal-Mart.com USA, LLC, or with any other Wal-Mart entity.

Why Looking After Employees Psychological Health is Good Business

In the bad old days of archaic twentieth century management practices, it was always assumed that a power over style of management was the most effective way to get maintain employee concentration and focus. Stress and pressure on employees was assumed to be necessary to drive productivity, to make workers perform faster, better and longer. But in the 21st century a growing body of organizational psychological research and literature has turned this style of thinking on it’s head. This new way of thinking has developed with the evolution of the modern enterprise and looks at the costs of high pressure environments on a modern business, where sophisticated production processes and a more highly skilled and trained workplace means workers cannot be simply viewed as disposable labour. This modern research suggests that valuing, nurturing and developing employees through workplace education and training, and creating a happier workplace culture where people feel safe and able to contribute to innovation and improvement, creates a responsive, knowledgeable and experienced workforce, which can provide greater tangible benefits to a company, including increased productivity and innovation as well as reduced operational expenditure.

Excessive sitting is Proven to be a Health Risk – So How can Progressive Workplaces minimise the risks?

Office work has, since its inception, been associated with sitting down to work. Using a computer, manning telephones and all the traditional tasks people do to conduct business – are usually done from a chair in front of a desk. But the latest research on workplace well-being suggests an inherent problem with this sedentary work life, in that the human body is designed to be in almost perpetual motion. This has major implications for OH&S. OH&S has traditionally focused on eliminating and mitigating the risk of injury in the workplace, for example, preventing accidents, safety procedures for using heavy machinery and so on, but with so much recent research highlighting the negative health impacts of prolonged sitting, and the huge number of white collar jobs that require workers to be seated for most of their working day, it’s important that progressive workplaces and those charged with looking after the best interests of workers consider ways to alleviate the health risks associated with excessive sitting.

You Don’t Have To Be Tired!

If you are finding yourself saying ‘I am sick and tired of.....’ a lot, have you noticed that you are getting sicker and tireder... that those symptoms aren’t disappearing the more you say it? That’s because when we say ‘I am sick and tired of.....’ that’s what we are creating. More of the same! Or maybe your favourite phrase is ‘I’m too tired to....’ Whatever it is, you can be sure that if you are talking about being tired, that’s what you are creating. Why am I writing about this? Because two clients have asked me in the last 24 hours: ‘How is it you don’t get tired when you work with lots of people?’ At the end of my three-day event, I was still like the energizer bunny! And I am an introvert, so technically this should not be possible, except that it is!! So, here are a few of my secrets...