Betty Business

Dear Betty,

I am a business owner with five great employees. This year I cannot afford to increase their salaries and offer our yearly two thousand dollar bonus. We did not have any increase in revenue; however my expenses have increased. I want to keep my current team strong and motivated. What is your suggestion?

Dear Salary-Worried Employer:

These are troublesome times and those of us employed are grateful. Just as a business owner’s expenses are increasing, employee’s expenses are increasing as well. Let’s think outside the box! What motivates your employees? Money is not always top on the list.  Yes, it ranks in the top 3, but everyone is motivated in different ways. For example, Bonnie would like to work a four day work week.  Beatrice would enjoy working a flexible schedule, spending more time with her kids and alleviating some daycare expenses. Bob would rather get one lump sum bonus, pay off a credit card and reduce his debt ratio. Bill might want an addition to the benefits package. These are just a few solutions to your situation. The first and most important step is to meet with your employees, explain the situation and allow them to offer their own solutions. You may be pleasantly surprised!

Sincerely,

Dear Betty,

Fridays are dress down days at my company. Jeans are ok, but I feel people abuse this privilege. We see customers and I still want to maintain a professional image and work environment. What is the best way to address this before it is out of control?

Dear Dress-Down Friday Catastrophe:

This is the perfect time of year to reiterate your dress policy. Spring is here and people tend to dress more casually. Send a companywide email explicitly explaining the dress policy. I once had to stand in 90 degree heat in an ice cream truck because someone did not follow the dress code guidelines. Management never stated how they wanted us to dress. I survived, but I ate entirely too many Klondike bars!  What I learned, the hot way, is that employees set the tone and it is important to be perceived as a professional company… After all, image is key, especially in sales. It is possible to dress both casually and professionally at the same time.

Sincerely,