While a drop in overall unemployment is great news for the economy, it also means that employee talent is a little scarcer than usual, putting your company at risk of losing its best employees over a discrepancy in salary or personality. While raises in salary are always a great incentive for employees to keep putting forth their best effort, showing your employees that you value their work and helping them engage with your company can be even more effective at helping you keep the right people on your team.

Training Investment

One way to show your employees that you see their potential is by providing training opportunities that will allow them to gain skills that will benefit not only your company, but their personal interests as well. If you have office staff that show an interest in learning new, marketable skills, the notary application Florida offers is worth looking into. Specialized training opportunities within your industry are also a good way to add value to your team while showing them you value their time.

Clear Path to Promotion

One mistake many employers make when dealing with employees is assuming that a decent salary is all that’s needed to maintain contentment. Not only do occasional raises in salary help employees feel appreciated, but they also give the impression that an employee is moving up in the company and in life. Another way to achieve this is by providing your employees with a clear path to promotion. By meeting with valued employees and getting their input on where they’d like to eventually end up in your company, not only can you can gain great insight into what would motivate them to continue with your company, but you will also be showing them that you see them as an active part of your team in the future.

When it comes to the relationship you have with your employees, a foundation of trust and shared values is key. Showing your employees a little appreciation now may mean the difference in the future between keeping your top talent and watching it walk out the door.…

Every homeowner should know basic fire safety tips, such as installing and maintaining smoke detectors or having a reliable escape plan. There are also things you can do to prevent a fire from happening in the first place. Here are some precautionary measures to help you lower the likelihood of a house fire.

Don’t Crowd Heat Sources

Candles can be great for mood lighting, and a space heater can keep you warm, but they can also be fire hazards if you don’t give them the space they need. Avoid placing candles on shaky or uneven surfaces, and never put them close to something that can easily catch fire from an errant spark. Keep a three-foot radius around your space heater at all times so that it doesn’t ignite anything around it.

Clean Dryer Vents Regularly

You know your lint screen should be cleaned after every load you remove from your dryer. Did you also know, however, that yearly dryer vent cleaning Sarasota can help prevent lint fires? Make this procedure a part of your annual maintenance schedule, supplementing it with repeat cleanings if you notice your dryer turning off before the dry time has ended or taking longer to dry than usual.

Turn Off Appliances After Use

If you have ever turned around after driving away from your home so that you can make sure you turned off your oven, you know how important it is to make sure appliances are off when they are not in use. This is especially true of equipment that has an exposed heating element or becomes hotter with prolonged use. Making sure everything is off before you leave the house or go to bed can safeguard your home against fire.

It is important to know what to do in the event of a fire. It is equally important, however, to know how to keep a fire from occurring.…

As a business owner, it is important to carry an insurance policy that addresses the exposures and risks of your operations. However, the premiums for this coverage can be taxing on a new business. It isn’t wise to go without liability insurance, so there is another option if commercial insurance policies are too expensive for your budget.

Providing Coverage for Niche Areas

There are times commercial insurance coverage isn’t readily available for a specific industry or business venture. Captive insurance is a solution to this problem, as a group of captives band together to form the insurance security. Because of the identity of the group of insureds, there will be a reasonable expectation of stability and loss. Because of the personal investment of capital into the captive program, adjustments are made as necessary to continue protecting the investment whenever areas of risk and exposure fluctuate.

Risk Management Assistance

Commercial insurance companies work to expose threats and liabilities through risk assessments, and a captive insurance program does the same for its insured. It is through the influence of captive members on other agencies within the group that cost consciousness and efficiency in services, loss prevention, and claims handling occurs. All of these ultimately create cost-saving processes.

Pricing Consistency

The commercial insurance market establishes costs for coverage according to general industry classifications and trends. This broad scope of assessment does not take into account the variance among various companies and insureds. For this reason, the prices can fluctuate. With captive insurance programs, costs are established by the insured represented within the captive, and they are specific to the nature of their companies.

If your company needs financial protection for potential risks and exposures, you can choose between a captive insurance program or commercial coverage option. Look at the strengths and weaknesses of each option in light of your operations and budget concerns.…

Today’s economy and technologically driven society affords people the opportunity to earn a living without obtaining a typical four-year college degree. Teachers and parents should impress upon students the varied career paths available. Students can attend a vocational training center or become an apprentice to learn a skill that provides good wages. Three such career opportunities are HVAC technician, gas station service technician and surgical technician.

HVAC Technician

An HVAC technician installs heating and cooling equipment and keeps it running efficiently. Skilled HVAC technicians are generally in high demand. Commercial enterprises often need to cuts costs and are regularly turning to improvements in HVAC to reduce heating, cooling and refrigeration expenses. Becoming an HVAC technician often takes fewer than two years. Courses are available in both public and private post-secondary vocational schools.

Gas Station Service Technician

A gas station service technician maintains the equipment at gas stations, airports and anywhere else fuel is pumped. Hoses, nozzles, pumps and other parts of fuel pumping stations need regular maintenance and repair. Motorists depend on gas stations to dispense fuel safely, and stations must comply with regulatory standards. Gas station service technicians are needed now and will continue to be needed as long as people and goods are transported.

Surgical Technician

A surgical technician prepares operating rooms and assists doctors. Duties include arranging equipment and tools, ensuring the room is sterile, handing tools to the surgeon and related tasks. Surgical technicians help ensure surgeries are safe. Learning the career takes intense study, but it can often be completed in two years or less. Surgical technicians earn high wages and help people every day. Community colleges run by state governments, private post-secondary schools and nonprofit schools offer this curriculum. Students should look for schools that are accredited and licensed.

Whether a person is pursuing a first career path or hoping to make a career switch, opportunities abound. Learning a skill does not necessarily mean earning a bachelor’s degree. If you are looking for a good job but not four years of sitting in a classroom, do some research to discover the perfect skilled labor position for you.…