milanabfoster

Thought for the day . . .

Wed, 04 Sep 2019 14:27:57 GMT

Thought for the day . . .

Wed, 21 Aug 2019 16:00:20 GMT

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mbfoster@peobrokersgroup.com (Angie Adams) — Wed, 24 Jul 2019 15:15:57 GMT

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mbfoster@peobrokersgroup.com (Angie Adams) — Wed, 26 Jun 2019 14:32:44 GMT

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mbfoster@peobrokersgroup.com (Angie Adams) — Thu, 30 May 2019 18:29:04 GMT

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mbfoster@peobrokersgroup.com (Angie Adams) — Wed, 15 May 2019 18:56:36 GMT

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mbfoster@peobrokersgroup.com (Angie Adams) — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 15:58:59 GMT

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mbfoster@peobrokersgroup.com (Angie Adams) — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 14:54:53 GMT

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Wed, 27 Mar 2019 19:02:42 GMT

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mbfoster@peobrokersgroup.com (Angie Adams) — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 18:11:28 GMT

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Mon, 11 Feb 2019 16:49:04 GMT

Thought For the Day . . .

mbfoster@peobrokersgroup.com (Angie Adams) — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 16:04:05 GMT

#WisdomWednesday

Thought for the day . . .

mbfoster@peobrokersgroup.com (Angie Adams) — Fri, 19 Oct 2018 15:13:06 GMT

Thought for the day . . .

mbfoster@peobrokersgroup.com (Angie Adams) — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 19:54:56 GMT

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mbfoster@peobrokersgroup.com (Angie Adams) — Thu, 23 Aug 2018 20:27:34 GMT

Reluctant To Change? Why?

mbfoster@peobrokersgroup.com (Angie Adams) — Thu, 25 May 2017 15:29:08 GMT

So many business owners are reluctant to embrace the concept of a Professional Employer Organization (PEO). Why is that?

Could it be their lack of education as it relates to what value-added services PEOs actually offer?

Could it be that those of us that market PEO services have failed to properly explain the value-added services of a PEO?

OR could it be that we have now educated them on the value-added services of a PEO, but we have failed to properly illustrate and explain the bottom line impact to them and their firm?

Perception, what's in it for me and my firm, bottom line? Is this the often unanswered question in the prospect's mind?

Remember, a confused buyer most often does not buy anything. Just sayin’.........

Steven W. Brown

VP of Sales & Marketing

www.peobrokersgroup.com

Suspect an Employee of Stealing?

mbfoster@peobrokersgroup.com (Angie Adams) — Wed, 02 Nov 2016 20:25:26 GMT

Some of the obvious acts of stealing are stolen Petty Cash or cash payments from customers by the employee trusted to handle them. This happens in many firms, and in some cases, will go unnoticed until an audit of client payments or Petty Cash is done.

Of course, in retail there is always the theft of merchandise as well as cash. But what other ways do employees steal and how should you handle it?

Employees may cheat on time. If you don’t have a time clock or computer sign in system, then you may have issues with employees fudging their time. Even though this is not an uncommon practice, it is still theft. Other ways, include offsite clocking in (unless you have a GPS or someone who can witness arrival times), other employees clocking in for someone, or “forgetting” to clock in and verbally telling someone their hours.

They may use or steal business property, like office supplies, using office credit accounts to purchase personal items, or using business credit cards for personal business.

Preventing cash theft should be easy. A detailed cash log with dual signatures or initials for receipt both for Petty Cash or cash payments from clients is a good way to prevent cash theft. Preventing use of office supplies or even office credit accounts may prove challenging and require strict audit procedures.

If you suspect an employee of stealing, there are steps you should take to protect your firm and yourself:

Do not accuse the employee without proof
Be sure to keep accurate records of cash, inventory, etc. in the control of this employee
Note shortages immediately and discuss (without accusing) with the employee as to why this might have occurred
Develop a fail-safe cash management plan where two employees must be responsible for the receipt of and processing of cash payments or Petty Cash disbursements
Make sure that you have written reports from co-workers and managers regarding any suspected shortages
Never leave cash in the office unattended, be sure that it is carefully locked up by management personnel at the end of each work day with a full accounting attached
If you have proof that cash, business property, or inventory has been stolen, file a police report and let them investigate
Make sure you have a clear, written policy about other employees clocking in for anyone
Make sure that employees have a written policy regarding missed time clock punches. A counter-signed authorization for missed punches should be in use and repeated failure to comply should be reprimanded, including a written warning in their personnel file
Terminate the employee/s who have stolen from you, escort them to their desk to collect their belongings and out of the building. Change the locks, codes, internet access immediately.

While termination and police action may lead to retaliation by the employee/s, keeping a dishonest employee may only result in poor morale and the feeling of favoritism by others.

If you would like assistance with HR issues or just have questions, please contact PEO Brokers Group!

Angie Adams, President

PEO Brokers Group

www.peobrokersgroup.com

PEOs Are Your Ally, Not Your Adversary

mbfoster@peobrokersgroup.com (Angie Adams) — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 18:44:33 GMT

Some insurance agencies and/or agents still view PEOs as their adversary and not their ally. I would truly appreciate input as to why?

I get it---when an agency has not aligned itself with a credible, professional PEO broker and they lose business to a PEO, they get angry. But whose fault is it really? PEOs have consistently gained market share over the years and for just reasons. PEOs do not sell workers' compensation insurance, but rather an entire "package of value-added services" that most businesses, large and small, are in desperate need of in today's ever-changing, complex business world. This "package" just so happens to include workers' compensation insurance as one component.

The value-added services also include, but are not limited to, regulatory compliance (federal & state), unemployment management, a vast array of benefits and/or administration of the client's existing benefits, loss control & safety, payroll administration, tax pay & file (both federal & state 940s & 941s), W-2s at the end of the year, Human Resource Consultations (the broadest category of them all), Labor Law & Employment Law Consultations, etc.

The PEO service model is a vast and complex model that few really understand completely. As a result, many miss the real thrust of the value-added services. PEOs contractually assume most of a businesses’ "non-productive", non-revenue-generating" employer-mandated tasks. This transition frees up the employer's time, energy, and available money, and allows the business owner & their management team more time and money to grow. At the same time, they are able to concentrate on what they got into business to do in the first place, which was NOT dealing with a growing slew of government regulations (both federal & state) as they relate to having employees. These tasks all have a negative impact on a company’s bottom line!

We, like all reputable brokers we know, welcome your questions. We are here to help agencies, agents, and prospective clients make "informed" decisions as to whether or not a PEO service model is right for them.

Let us hear from you----we value your input!

Steve W. Brown, Vice President of Sales & Marketing

PEO Brokers Group

www.peobrokersgroup.com

Why Are Salespeople Essential?

mbfoster@peobrokersgroup.com (Angie Adams) — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 15:51:20 GMT

It’s official, we have a blog and we know how to use it!

Throughout my professional life, I have been in charge of, associated with, or familiar with salespeople. My favorite saying about salespeople is: “You wouldn’t have a job if it weren’t for the salespeople”. I’ve said it over and over to every rank and file in business, and yet, I still hear people complain about or maligning salespeople as the “dreaded evil” in business or “they make too much money for what they do”. This isn’t just the HR sales community, the car sales community, or the big box store, but anywhere that you have sales, you will have a certain amount of resentment.

I heard, “Not fair. Sales has too much freedom, and they don’t have to work as many hours.” Wow. That one always got me. Most inside personnel have no idea how long a salesperson’s day really is. How many have to stop on their way home? How many get calls on their cell after hours? How many weekends did the salesperson follow-up on that installation or that client sign up?

My favorite: “They make more money than I do, and I do all the work.” Really?? How many contacts did you bring into the business? How many units of whatever is sold did you actually sell? And how many times did you have to accept a “commission” instead of your hourly or annual salary, knowing that if you didn’t make the next sale, that commission check might not be there?

Here’s your reality check. For every item or service sold in this country, there is a salesperson or salesforce behind it. If you so much as buy a stick of gum, somewhere, someplace there is at least one salesperson that made it possible for you to get that piece of gum.

Now it’s true that salespeople don’t do the manufacturing. They don’t, in fact, build the buildings, provide the cash to do it, or even hire the folks that make it happen, but somewhere down the line, before the building was started and the people were hired, someone did a “sales” job to make it happen.

I am often surprised by the attitudes of those in sales support, accounting, or management who are resentful of the price they pay or commissions assigned to salespeople/forces. There is sometimes such a disconnect between what sales does to bring clients to the table and the staff of the vendor that when it comes time to be paid, there is almost resentment that sales is “asking” for their money. The people who actually end up with the task of making the payments happen or even the ones who we negotiated with in the beginning become unhinged when it comes time to actually pay the price of the negotiation.

While some understand the process, we find that the disconnect comes after the contracts are signed, after the months of negotiation are over and the client has safely become a part of the day-to-day business that the time for paying up becomes “Wow, that’s a lot” or the word “greedy” becomes batted around a lot, or just getting the commission paid on time, every time, becomes a challenge.

So, why ARE salespeople essential?

They make the initial contact and set up the process
They spend hours, if not days or months, negotiating for the client to sign up with your business
They use their expertise and experience to persuade clients that yours is the best possible solution
They, in many cases, spend months going back and forth, working for many hours, that frankly they don’t get reimbursed for or make money on UNTIL everything is signed, sealed and delivered, because most of the time, their payment comes months after the actual first contact
They will work with the client to make sure they are happy with your company
They will maintain contact for as long as necessary or plausible ensuring that things are running smoothly
They will report back to you when and if there are issues or just to let you know that the client is satisfied

So, why is it that salespeople are still the butt of bad jokes, must remind their vendors that commissions are due, and, in general, seem to have so little respect from the vendors who depend on their hard work?

Perhaps it is misconception? Perhaps it is “Okay that’s sold…let’s get on to the next one?” I’ve yet to come up with an answer.

What I would like to see is more respect not only for what we do as a firm and what our salespeople do, but also a reaffirmation in the entire country that without sales, we don’t have a capitalistic system. Sales are an essential, vital part of the entire fabric that makes this economy work. To all the salespeople out there-----I give you a big hand! I am not a salesperson, but I respect everything you do!

Angie Adams, President

PEO Brokers Group

www.peobrokersgroup.com