Posted by Buzz on December 16, 2008
My business started out in my home and didn’t require any employees to keep it running. However, over the years my profits have grown and I am not able to keep it running by myself. I now have a staff assisting me with customer contact and inventory.
Although I welcomed the help, it has been difficult to hand over the control of my business to employees I didn’t know very well, and it has required a great deal of trust. My initial concern was how the introduction of these employees affected my business so I hired a professional company to conduct a customer service survey. The feedback I received indicated that my employees weren’t very enthusiastic about my products which clearly affect the customer’s interpretation of my business. Therefore, I decided to have an employee satisfaction survey done as well. To my surprise, the employee surveys revealed that my employees were not happy in their job functions. Apparently, I have spent a lot of time on consumer relations but very little on employee relations.
I am so grateful I was able to gain this information from these surveys because I know that if my employees are not happy it will ultimately affect my business. Also, I want to be the kind of employer people enjoy working for.
Technorati Tags: customer service survey, employee satisfaction survey, employee surveys, employer
Posted by Spaycial on December 15, 2008
You have probably heard that replacing your windows can save you a lot of money on heating and cooling bills, not to mention block a lot of the outside noise that comes into your house. However, there are lots of different types of replacement windows, so you should have a good idea of what you want before you start looking.
For most people, the number one concern — for obvious reasons — is how energy efficient a window is. Double-paned glass windows are better at insulating your house and preventing heat loss than single-paned windows.
You should also pay close attention to what the window frame is made of, as you can lose heat through the frame as well as through the glass. For instance, although many homes have windows with aluminum frames, in truth metal is a conductor and permits a sizeable heat loss. Wood is better, but can expand and shrink with changes in the weather, so many experts consider composite window frames to be the only truly energy efficient choice.
Another feature that you should consider is UV protection. Many modern window replacements offer coatings that block a majority of UV rays. This is important because UV rays can fade upholstery and damage furniture.
Besides these practical concerns, you should also pay close attention to the sizes and styles of windows a company offers. You will probably want to stick with the same styles you already have in the house; and of course, the size is non-negotiable unless you are doing a complete remodel. Some window companies only offer certain kinds of windows — such as double hung windows — in a few standard sizes, so if your windows aren’t those sizes you will need to look for a company that does custom windows.
Finally, you will want to make sure that whatever company you go with, you also get professional window installation. A shoddy installation can make perfectly good windows less effective or even spoil your satisfaction with them.
Technorati Tags: double hung windows, replacement windows, UV rays, window installation