• Process improvements: reduced duplication of effort, less time spent correcting mistakes, faster access to information, etc.
• Cost savings: lower staff turnover, lower recruitment costs; reduction in bad debts; reduced customer support calls; reduced help desk calls; reduced need for supervision; reduced downtime; increased staff productivity; fewer machine breakdowns; lower maintenance costs, etc.
• Improved profitability: increased sales; more referrals due to better customer service; new product ideas; improved customer satisfaction and retention, etc.
• Performance improvement: in quality, quantity, speed, safety, problem solving, etc.
• Behavioural improvements: in attitude, ethics, motivation, leadership, communication, reduced staff conflict, etc.
• Increased staff satisfaction: Well trained staff tend to be happier, stay longer, and are more loyal.

Furthermore, research undertaken to uncover the financial impact to an organisation of investing in staff training shows a clear and quantifiable link between an above average investment in staff training and superior bottom line performance:

• Based on the training investments of 575 companies during a 3-year period, researchers found that firms investing the most in training and development (measured by total investment per employee and percentage of total gross payroll) yielded a 36.9% total shareholder return compared with the 25.5% weighted return for the S&P 500 index for the same period. [1]
• Firms that invest $1,500 per employee in training (per year) compared with those that spend $125 experience an average of 24% higher gross profit margins and 218% higher revenue per employee. [2]
• Just a 2% increase in productivity has been shown to net a 100% return
  The Power of Networking
  In today’s competitive job market, candidates must have a multi-prong search strategy. It is not enough to simply post a resume online, or answer ads in the newspaper. One tactic that is grossly under utilized is networking. With the proliferation of online communication, today’s job seeker has failed to grasp the importance of the personal connection. We sometimes joke about deals made on the golf course, or sales closed over dinner but believe it or not, even in today’s techno environment, this still holds true. A large percentage of jobs are never publicized. They are filled through an internal network. Sometimes jobs are even created based on the strength of a personal contact. So, what can you do to take advantage of this job search tactic?•Keep your resume updated. Even if you
  educed need for supervision; reduced downtime; increased staff productivity; fewer machine breakdowns; lower maintenance costs, etc.
• Improved profitability: increased sales; more referrals due to better customer service; new product ideas; improved customer satisfaction and retention, etc.
• Performance improvement: in quality, quantity, speed, safety, problem solving, etc.
• Behavioural improvements: in attitude, ethics, motivation, leadership, communication, reduced staff conflict, etc.
• Increased staff satisfaction: Well trained staff tend to be happier, stay longer, and are more loyal.

Furthermore, research undertaken to uncover the financial impact to an organisation of investing in staff training shows a clear and quantifiable link between an above average investment in staff training and superior bottom line performance:

• Based on the training investments of 575 companies during a 3-year period, researchers found that firms investing the most in training and development (measured by total investment per employee and percentage of total gross payroll) yielded a 36.9% total shareholder return compared with the 25.5% weighted return for the S&P 500 index for the same period. [1]
• Firms that invest $1,500 per employee in training (per year) compared with those that spend $125 experience an average of 24% higher gross profit margins and 218% higher revenue per employee. [2]
• Just a 2% increase in productivity has been shown to net a 100% return
  10 Ways to Protect Your Online Persona
  Resume? Check. References? Check. A positive online persona? What?!If you haven't thought about the role your Web activity and e-mail personality play in your hiring potential, it's time to give it some consideration. Because in our current tech-savvy culture, employers can learn all they need to know about you before you even get an interview. Here are some tips on successfully managing your online persona, and boosting your hiring potential.Regulating Your Recreational Web Activity: 1. Don't use your real name. Whether you're blogging, sharing photos, or posting on message boards, it's important to use shorter names or nicknames. Your potential boss does not need to stumble onto your online gripes about your current job or photos of your l
  .
• Behavioural improvements: in attitude, ethics, motivation, leadership, communication, reduced staff conflict, etc.
• Increased staff satisfaction: Well trained staff tend to be happier, stay longer, and are more loyal.

Furthermore, research undertaken to uncover the financial impact to an organisation of investing in staff training shows a clear and quantifiable link between an above average investment in staff training and superior bottom line performance:

• Based on the training investments of 575 companies during a 3-year period, researchers found that firms investing the most in training and development (measured by total investment per employee and percentage of total gross payroll) yielded a 36.9% total shareholder return compared with the 25.5% weighted return for the S&P 500 index for the same period. [1]
• Firms that invest $1,500 per employee in training (per year) compared with those that spend $125 experience an average of 24% higher gross profit margins and 218% higher revenue per employee. [2]
• Just a 2% increase in productivity has been shown to net a 100% return
  Restaurant Equipment Tips: Are Energy Costs Eating Up your Restautant's Profits?
  We at Jean's Restaurant Supply want you to succeed with your business venture and rising energy costs are on the forefront of everyone's minds. Inefficient, or inefficient use of, food preparation equipment is the second-largest energy drain on your restaurant's profits. So here at Jean's Restaurant Supply, we have compiled some energy-saving tips for your commercial ovens. In doing so, we hope that with the implementation of some of these energy-saving tips, your energy bill leaves you with some profits still on your plate.Energy-Saving Tips for Commercial Ovens Eeny Meeny Miney Mo. Choosing the most efficient commercial oven requires only some investigation and vigilance on your part. Educate yourself on the "ins and outs" of oven desig
  clear and quantifiable link between an above average investment in staff training and superior bottom line performance:
  • Based on the training investments of 575 companies during a 3-year period, researchers found that firms investing the most in training and development (measured by total investment per employee and percentage of total gross payroll) yielded a 36.9% total shareholder return compared with the 25.5% weighted return for the S&P 500 index for the same period. [1]
  • Firms that invest $1,500 per employee in training (per year) compared with those that spend $125 experience an average of 24% higher gross profit margins and 218% higher revenue per employee. [2]
  • Just a 2% increase in productivity has been shown to net a 100% return
    Time Is Of The Essence In Business
    You must have heard the expression that time is money. Well in business. You can multiply it tenfold. There are so many things to be done in business that the little things often get done instead of the important things such as marketing and selling. Time is so important because the longer you are away from what you should be doing, the longer you are not making money. You often hear an employer saying that every day you are costing me x amount of money. This is so very true and even more so when you are self employed and working for yourself.Think of all the bills that are going to come in the door no matter what you do. To offset this, you must use your time productively to start earning good money. This is why the top people always put selling and marketing first on the agenda and get to
    shareholder return compared with the 25.5% weighted return for the S&P 500 index for the same period. [1]
  • Firms that invest $1,500 per employee in training (per year) compared with those that spend $125 experience an average of 24% higher gross profit margins and 218% higher revenue per employee. [2]
  • Just a 2% increase in productivity has been shown to net a 100% return on investment in training. [3]
  • A Louis Harris and Associates poll reports that among employees with "poor" training opportunities, 41% planned to leave within a year, whereas of those who considered their company's training opportunities to be "excellent", only 12% planned to leave within the same period.

  So, if we accept the findings above that support the case for investing in a formal staff training program, how does one go about identifying staff training requirements and putting a suitable program in place?

  Enter The Staff Skills Audit:

  If a company's strategic plan involves doubling the workforce size within 3 years and opening two completely new divisions during that period, then you would hope that the company's HR Management team have a good handle on what skills the company currently has, and what new skills it needs to obtain in order for the company to meet its business objectives. As such, a staff skills audit (uncovering current situation) and training needs analysis (guiding future direction) is a vital first step in obtaining company-wide quantitative data on what skills an organisation's workforce currently has, and (based on the company's business objectives) where the skills gaps lie.

  Whilst conducting face-to-face meetings with a select few staff members to discuss training requirements, or ensuring training needs are raised with staff at their annual performance reviews can both be a worthwhile exercise, neither approach will