Keeping Your Employees Happy and Stress Free at Work

Majority of businesses are reducing their staff and placing more work on less employees. This causes employees to be stressed out, unhappy and even employee sick days to rise.  The question business owners must ask them selves, “Am I saving any money by reducing my employee head count?” Fast Up Front staff writers talk about the top three things companies must focus on.

Make sure employees’ jobs are doable. Do not over load them with work. Combining multiple jobs into one and still offering a lower compensation will not keep employees happy. The staff writers of Fast Up Front say it very well, “ Where it isn’t, then the cutback is no longer profitable, since much money will be lost due to a subsequent decrease in productivity, motivation, quality of work and overall employee loyalty. It is better to see where hiring another worker, outsourcing, or bringing in temporary help can reduce responsibilities.

Another opportunity within an organization to keep employees stress free and healthy is to institute a wellness program. Most people think of having an on-site facility however the cost in obtaining a professional gym is expensive. Seminars, outdoor events, discount’s to a local gym will allow employees to reenergize themselves. Offering department potluck lunch and out of the office activities is another way to keep employees healthy.

Lastly, the most important is managers; vice presidents, CEO and owners need to show they care. Caring for their employees during work time as well as personal life goes along way.  This brings joy, positive attitude and happy workers.  As the staff writers of Fast Up Front mentions, “keeping the lines of communication open between you and your workers is the best thing you can do. The worst thing you can do is give over the attitude to your workers that they should just be happy that they have a job, while you turn a blind eye to their issues and concerns.”

Starting a business is a large undertaking, but one of the financial burdens includes keeping employees and not experiences a high turn over. As the economy struggles to move in the upward direction, the three items discussed will offer solutions to keep their employees happy at their job, as raises cannot always be given. 

http://www.fastupfront.com/blog/human-resources/stressed-out-depressed-employees-sick-employees-keeping-workers-healthy-happy/

Christian School Growth Opportunity

The Association of Christian Schools International is a fantastic website for networking and resource information. The website offers categories of programs, resources, conferences, workshops and much more. The Association of Christian Schools International also offers forums on the website especially in the social media section. This allows industry employers to network, ask questions, and receive feedback on social media vehicles as well as ways to which social media can accelerate the Christian Schools. Another section of this website is the Early Education Services which offers “Updates from the Fields”, new and exciting programs and ideas from each region of the United States. Throughout the entire association website there are networking links which lead the consumer to further information within the Christian community.

Signing up for the Southeast monthly newsletter will keep me abreast of the new and upcoming things that are happening. A great example in the July newsletter lets readers know there is now Federal Funding is now available for Professional Development. They also give further information about conventions where leaders can attend and network with other industry leaders. Another helpful piece to the association is webinars.  “Their goal is to enable educators to be effective and efficient in their education calling.” Looking into their certification section brought awareness to the option of going through the association as they offer certification for early childhood education leaders. This will allow my organization to be trusted more by families as they are confident in leaving their children with an accreditation school. This certification will allow my business to stand out above the rest and give a unique advantage.

Overall the association of Christian Schools International will also allow me to compare and see what other groups, organizations and leaders are doing across the country. Sharing ideas, collaborating with others can only help the industry succeed in a positive way for the children of the next generation. This is a website I will be adding to my RSS feeds and be joining as well as reading often as possible.

The Greater Atlanta Christian School has a fantastic website looking into the different levels students go through, from early childhood learning to elementary, junior and high school. The website has a large amount of information from clubs to activities to the presidents blog. Understanding the mission and networking with faculty from the Greater Atlanta Christian School will allow opportunities for Big Kid Care to partner for the students. Once students graduate from Big Care Kid program families would have a connection and understanding of where to send their children for elementary school. Networking and partnering with the Greater Atlanta Christian school will also all Big Kid Care to keep their curriculum in line with what is being taught at the school allowing for a smooth transition. Looking at the tuition also gives myself good bases for pricing on a yearly basis for Big Kid Care.

Pastor Rick Warren on “A Life of Purpose”

Listening to Pastor Rick Warren on “A Life of Purpose” speech really inspired me from a spiritual and emotional perspective. He references many areas of the Bible, one which speaks about what Moses is in his hand, a staff.  Identity of what he was, his career and in addition his income as well as his influence.  “What is in your hand?” Rick quotes, explaining as such music artists have a microphone in their hand, stating they have been granted the gift of singing and the microphone represents their career, their income and what influences them.   From God, these artists have been given the talent of singing and performing.

Rick mentions his “Purpose driven book” where God gets excited to see what one is doing with the talent they are given, about making the world a better place. It is not about you, or myself but what we as God’s children can do to make a better place for others. He also asks the question, what am I wired to do? What talents have I been given to be able to give back?

This speech to me is so inspiring in moving forward with my inspiration of opening a Christian Childcare center or a Christian Book Store.  As I move forward in my faith realize exactly what Rick references, what am I wired to do?  With my creative business understanding and love for children I feel as if I am wired to fulfill my purpose with Christian minded businesses. What I choose to do with my life shows my identity, influence and income. It is not about just going to work, watching tv and for me I had danced 6 days a week, its more than that as Rick explains.  I have been changed and his speech just reiterates my purpose in life.


http://www.ted.com/talks/rick_warren_on_a_life_of_purpose.html