Big Ideas for Small Business | The Supreme Court Decision - What to Do | Unpleasant Workplace Occurrences

Vol. 11 No. 8

August 2012

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."

~ Sir Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965), British Prime Minister and Historian

What to Do about the Supreme Court Decision on Obamacare: Act or Wait?

The historic decision on the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (usually referred to as Obamacare or the Affordable Care Act) means that a number of key provisions are scheduled to take effect in 2013 and 2014.

The question for your business is whether to start implementing them now or wait until after the election to see if the winds of change may alter the fate of Obamacare.

Assuming that you want to plan now, here are the changes to know about for your business, as well as for your personal taxes.

Changes for 2013
If you are starting to get ready for next year, you may need to make changes to your business benefits plans, your payroll policies (if you don't use an outside payroll company), and your personal tax planning. .

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Unpleasant Workplace Occurrences --
and How to Prevent Them

Despite the best efforts to screen employees when hiring them, things come up in the workplace that can cause injury to staff, disrupt business, and result in serious legal and financial problems for your company. Here are some of the potential problems, and what you can do about them now.

Anxiety
Stress is common, and some amount of stress is to be expected in today's economy. But sometimes stress and anxiety can create problems for an employee and for the company.

Try to prevent widespread anxiety among staff members by finding out whether the anxiety is business-related. If so, you can address the problems and concerns triggering the condition. For example, anxiety may be caused from rumors about the company's financial condition or potential layoffs; you can quell these rumors by improving communication with staff.

Take a test to find out whether your company is drowning in anxiety.

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Your Company's Culture -- Proverbs for Success

A proverb is a well-known short saying that expresses an obvious truth. There's a lot to be learned from the wisdom in proverbs. The following is a list of some old and new proverbs (and their sources if possible) that are relevant to creating the kind of company culture that leads to success. They speak for themselves:

"A bad beginning makes a bad ending." Euripides

"A business exists to create a customer." Peter Drucker

"A good name is better than riches." French proverb

"A promise neglected is an untruth told."

"Ask the experienced rather than the learned." Arabian proverb

"Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still." Chinese proverb

"Being in all trades means having no trade." Japanese proverb

"Drive thy business, let not that drive thee." Benjamin Franklin
(continued)

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Our Readers Ask

Q: I have an employee who I believe is using illegal drugs and it is affecting his job performance. I want to fire him, but am afraid I might be violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). What should I do?

A: You probably should consult with an employment law attorney to determine the appropriate action in your particular situation. As a general rule, you are not barred from terminating an employee who uses illegal drugs. However, you may have a problem if the person is currently in a supervised rehabilitation program, such as Narcotics Anonymous. You can learn more about the ADA from the EEOC.

Book Reviews

Every month, I receive a number of books from various publishers. Here are some of the interesting ones that came across my desk recently:

Stark & Hustle: Launch and Grow Your Small Business Now

Tory Johnson ~ Berkley ~ Paperback: $15.00

This book is written by the creator of two multi-million dollar businesses, and she provides the tools for those with a passion to start their own successful business. She explains how to write a one-page business plan and find the money to get started. She also discusses how to master sales and make social media profitable.

The Family Council Handbook

Christopher J. Eckrich and Stephen L. McClure ~ Palgrave Macmillan ~ Hardcover: $55.00

The book is a must-read for family-owned businesses. A family council is designed to educate and facilitate communication between family members as it relates to a family-owned business. The book provides guidance on a family council, such as how to structure it and what purpose it serves. The book also covers how to maintain it and help it evolve with your family and business.

Uplifting Service: The Proven Path to Delighting Your Customers, Colleagues, and Everyone Else You Meet

Ron Kaufman ~ Evolve Publishing ~ Paperback: $14.95

The book offers practical suggestions for transforming your business to gain a competitive edge by being uplifting. This means being appreciative, polite, upbeat, and informative in response to questions and concerns by customers, colleagues, and others. There are also free resources (slides, posters, videos) from UpliftingService.com.

The Small-Business Guide to Government Contracts

Steven J. Koprince ~ AMACOM ~ Hardcover: $29.95
With 23% of federal contracts designated for small businesses, learn how to get your share of this enormous pie. The book details in easy-to-understand language the rules and regulations you need to comply with in contracting. It also explains how to avoid terminating agreements, fines, and other problems.