I Love This Time of Year

I love this time of year. I am a fan of the leaves turning, the heat fading, and the grass slowing its growth. But the thing I love most about the Fall is college football. I do have a team I pull for, but if I tell you who it is, half of you will…

A New Presidential Administration; Same Challenges on Independent Contractors.

One of the first actions by the Department of Labor (DOL) under President Trump’s administration was to withdraw the prior administration’s interpretation that “most workers are employees” and not independent contractors. For more information, see Independent Contractors—Another BUT Welcome Change, at The Law, The Floor, and You (June 12, 2017)   Many thought this was…

Winning Championships

“Remember, of all the elements that compromise a human being, the most important, the most essential, the one that will transcend, overcome and vanquish obstacles is – SPIRIT!” – Buddy Ebsen (1908-2003) Uncle Jed, truer words have never been spoken! Think of how refreshing it is when we are the customer and we encounter a…

Do You Know if There Has Been an Increase in Minimum Wage in your State or Locality?

Three states and at least fifteen localities have increased their minimum wage effective July 1. 2018. Listed below are the minimum wage levels for these states and localities. This list is compiled from available information with some conflicting information. In addition, there may be other localities that have raised its minimum wage that was not…

Big Plans…Small Accomplishments

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” –  Thomas Edison Do you ever notice how many people seem to have big plans, yet have very small accomplishments? You know the type. They are the ones who can always tell you what’s wrong, but are doing very little constructive…

Speedbumps

At the end of your career and life, you will not be defined so much by your failures or achievements, but by the opportunities to fail that you were determined to turn into successes. Those who know me will not be surprised to find that I believe we are all endowed with an innate desire…

Creating Multiple Positive First Impressions

Many successful flooring retailers spend a great deal of time mastering the art of making a great first impression when first greeting a customer in their showrooms. Clearly this is critical, but it’s important to remember that this is not the only opportunity to control first impressions. Let’s examine the opportunities to make positive impressions…

Department of Labor Wants You to Audit Your Payroll Records and Avoid Penalties

The Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) launched a new pilot program to facilitate resolution overtime and minimum wage violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and without litigation. Referred to as the Payroll Audit Independent Determination (PAID) program, it is a six-month pilot initiative that allows employers to conduct self-audits of…

Remember, Your Managers Must Manage—If Not, They Get Paid Overtime

A year and a half ago, the industry was a buzz over revisions to the federal wage and hour regulations that require managers be paid overtime if they made less than $47,476 a year, more than doubling the prior $23,660 wage requirement. See Do You Pay Your Managers Overtime? You May Need to Under New…

The Power of Influence

Of all of the traits that leaders possess, I find the least understood and cultivated is the power of their influence. As a leader, it is imperative that you be aware of how your voice resonates, your actions motivate, and your dreams instigate change that challenges others to break from the status quo and stretch…

It Has to Fit Perfectly!

Having spent the majority of my adult life engaged in retailing, I have observed that many store owners and managers have given a great deal of thought as to what results they want to see their respective businesses achieve. They can tell you what products they wish to sell. They know how much margin they…