U.S. Shorts Small Businesses $3 Billion in Federal Contracts

The federal government has again failed to meet its goals for small business federal contracts.  Last year, Washington fell short by an estimated $3 billion in prime contracts short of the goals set for awarding federal contracts to small businesses.

The Small Business Administration reported that just 22.25 percent of the estimated $400 billion spent by the federal government in 2012 was directed at small businesses across the country. SBA revealed this data in its 2012 federal spending scorecard which Read More

The post U.S. Shorts Small Businesses $3 Billion in Federal Contracts appeared first on Small Business Trends.

U.S. Shorts Small Businesses $3 Billion in Federal Contracts

The federal government has again failed to meet its goals for small business federal contracts.  Last year, Washington fell short by an estimated $3 billion in prime contracts short of the goals set for awarding federal contracts to small businesses.

The Small Business Administration reported that just 22.25 percent of the estimated $400 billion spent by the federal government in 2012 was directed at small businesses across the country. SBA revealed this data in its 2012 federal spending scorecard which Read More

The post U.S. Shorts Small Businesses $3 Billion in Federal Contracts appeared first on Small Business Trends.

Small Business News: Week in Review for July 7

In case you missed key stories, we review some of the most important small business news for the past week. We start with a controversial announcement delaying a critical part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Then we’ll look at some interesting statistics about how small businesses start and operate their businesses â€" and other fascinating developments this week.

The Small Business Trends editorial team keeps track of important news for the small business community and most of all, we put it in perspective.

Policy

Small businesses may not be affected by Obamacare employer mandate delay. Will this affect your business? If you have fewer than 50 full-time employees, probably not.  But no matter what, the individual mandate provision is unchanged and employees still have to get coverage.

More concerns about immigration reform. Again it depends what kind of business you operate. But if your company uses a significant amount of foreign labor, there’s a provision in the proposed immigration reform bill you should learn more about.

New York state is still bad for business, say some. It doesn’t matter how many ads the state runs about how great it is to do business there. Check out some reasons that small businesses continue to have trouble with the Empire State.  Small businesses should be asking for real change, and not settle for costly PR campaigns.

U.S. once again falls short of Federal small business contracting goal.  The goal of awarding 23% of federal contracts to small businesses came up short once again - although it was close, according to SBA figures.

Entrepreneurship

Sixty-nine percent of entrepreneurs launch businesses from home. And that’s not all. A study says 59% of businesses stay home-based even years after they are established. Small Business Trends CEO Anita Campbell reports on the data and its meaning.

Declining profits are behind entrepreneurship drop. Is the U.S. losing its entrepreneurial edge? Scott Shane, Professor of Entrepreneurial Studies at Case Western Reserve University, points out some disturbing numbers â€" and reasons behind the trend.

Fewer small business owners are planning vacations this year. Let’s face it. At some point everyone needs a break. And that can be especially true for small business owners who wear so many hats and often feel they can’t get away. But don’t be one of these statistics - take time off and come back refreshed!

Microsoft

Microsoft Ventures targets promising technology startups. The software giant is looking to help these startups with free tools, mentoring and money. Learn more t determine whether your startup could benefit.

Microsoft will shut down TechNet subscriptions. The end of an era has come. There was a time when TechNet subscriptions offering tons of Microsoft software for review was considered the best value in the industry. But it seems that times have changed.

Tech

Pebble Smartwatch - check messages in meetings without pulling out your phone. You can now stay in touch with your business even without your smartphone in your hand. That’s because a new smartwatch can let you know what’s happening even without a look at your phone.

Android and Samsung become important combo in the smartphone market. Move over iPhone and iOS. A new smartphone and a new operating system are both gaining ground in the market. No, they aren’t by the same company. But their growth shows they could be a formidable duo.

What is Siri, and what can it do for you? The voice on your iPhone can make your life and business easier. And while it sounds futuristic, it has limitations and competitors.

A Google employee explains how to use Google Hangouts to collaborate. Iska Hain is a member of Google’s Unified Communications Team. In this interview with Brent Leary as part of our weekly Small Business Trends interview series, she discusses the communications options available to your business through Google Hangouts.

BOYD and remote work trends are here to stay. A more mobile workforce is bringing changes to many businesses, reports Rieva Lesonsky.  Here are some things you should know.

Is anyone paying attention to really small advertisers using AdWords?  Small Business Trends community member, Robert Brady, surfaces this important question.  He includes a concrete suggestion for Google to get in touch with this group.

Startups

Will this approach benefit local car dealerships? An ambitious new startup aims at improving customer experience when car shopping. However, in the process, the company also hopes to convert more shoppers into customers for local dealerships.

Mark Cuban calls people who take out small business loans, morons. Spoken like a true billionaire  who’s lost touch with what it is like not to have money….  Read why Rohit Arora, CEO and Co-founder of Biz2Credit, objects to Cuban’s assessment.

Social Media

Google Plus has new badges. Well, it’s about time. Users of other social networks already know the value of these tools to build community for your website and personal brand for you. Here’s a look at the new badges and how they work.

No more automatic follow backs on Twitter. The microblogging platform is changing things around again. Twitter now officially says apps that allow users to automatically follow back other accounts that followed them first, are no longer permitted.  Some applaud the move; other complain that Twitter is out of touch with how businesses use the platform.

Book Reviews

Starting businesses on a shoestring. Pierre Debois reviews the book The Pocket Small Business Owner’s Guide to Starting Your Business On a Shoestring by Carol Tice. Debois says it’s for any business owner who’s ever had to struggle with a limited budget. That’s everybody from time to time!

Finerman’s rules for women business owners. Karen Finerman, CEO of Metropolitan Capital Advisors, and a mother of twins, gives advice to women in business. Her book is called Finerman’s Rules: Secrets I’d Only Tell My Daughters About Business and Life. Ivana Taylor tells us more.

Design

21 Business Designs on Dribbble. The invitation-only design community is a show-and-tell for designers to display small screenshots of their work. They include some innovative designs for business. Here Small Business Trends CEO Anita Campbell shares a slide show of some of the intriguing designs. If you are a freelancer or small design firm looking to show the world what you’re capable of, and object to entering design contests, give Dribbble a look.  (And don’t forget to spell the URL with 3 Bs!)

Shutterstock: News

Small Business News: Week in Review for July 7

In case you missed key stories, we review some of the most important small business news for the past week. We start with a controversial announcement delaying a critical part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Then we’ll look at some interesting statistics about how small businesses start and operate their businesses â€" and other fascinating developments this week.

The Small Business Trends editorial team keeps track of important news for the small business community and most of all, we put it in perspective.

Policy

Small businesses may not be affected by Obamacare employer mandate delay. Will this affect your business? If you have fewer than 50 full-time employees, probably not.  But no matter what, the individual mandate provision is unchanged and employees still have to get coverage.

More concerns about immigration reform. Again it depends what kind of business you operate. But if your company uses a significant amount of foreign labor, there’s a provision in the proposed immigration reform bill you should learn more about.

New York state is still bad for business, say some. It doesn’t matter how many ads the state runs about how great it is to do business there. Check out some reasons that small businesses continue to have trouble with the Empire State.  Small businesses should be asking for real change, and not settle for costly PR campaigns.

U.S. once again falls short of Federal small business contracting goal.  The goal of awarding 23% of federal contracts to small businesses came up short once again - although it was close, according to SBA figures.

Entrepreneurship

Sixty-nine percent of entrepreneurs launch businesses from home. And that’s not all. A study says 59% of businesses stay home-based even years after they are established. Small Business Trends CEO Anita Campbell reports on the data and its meaning.

Declining profits are behind entrepreneurship drop. Is the U.S. losing its entrepreneurial edge? Scott Shane, Professor of Entrepreneurial Studies at Case Western Reserve University, points out some disturbing numbers â€" and reasons behind the trend.

Fewer small business owners are planning vacations this year. Let’s face it. At some point everyone needs a break. And that can be especially true for small business owners who wear so many hats and often feel they can’t get away. But don’t be one of these statistics - take time off and come back refreshed!

Microsoft

Microsoft Ventures targets promising technology startups. The software giant is looking to help these startups with free tools, mentoring and money. Learn more t determine whether your startup could benefit.

Microsoft will shut down TechNet subscriptions. The end of an era has come. There was a time when TechNet subscriptions offering tons of Microsoft software for review was considered the best value in the industry. But it seems that times have changed.

Tech

Pebble Smartwatch - check messages in meetings without pulling out your phone. You can now stay in touch with your business even without your smartphone in your hand. That’s because a new smartwatch can let you know what’s happening even without a look at your phone.

Android and Samsung become important combo in the smartphone market. Move over iPhone and iOS. A new smartphone and a new operating system are both gaining ground in the market. No, they aren’t by the same company. But their growth shows they could be a formidable duo.

What is Siri, and what can it do for you? The voice on your iPhone can make your life and business easier. And while it sounds futuristic, it has limitations and competitors.

A Google employee explains how to use Google Hangouts to collaborate. Iska Hain is a member of Google’s Unified Communications Team. In this interview with Brent Leary as part of our weekly Small Business Trends interview series, she discusses the communications options available to your business through Google Hangouts.

BOYD and remote work trends are here to stay. A more mobile workforce is bringing changes to many businesses, reports Rieva Lesonsky.  Here are some things you should know.

Is anyone paying attention to really small advertisers using AdWords?  Small Business Trends community member, Robert Brady, surfaces this important question.  He includes a concrete suggestion for Google to get in touch with this group.

Startups

Will this approach benefit local car dealerships? An ambitious new startup aims at improving customer experience when car shopping. However, in the process, the company also hopes to convert more shoppers into customers for local dealerships.

Mark Cuban calls people who take out small business loans, morons. Spoken like a true billionaire  who’s lost touch with what it is like not to have money….  Read why Rohit Arora, CEO and Co-founder of Biz2Credit, objects to Cuban’s assessment.

Social Media

Google Plus has new badges. Well, it’s about time. Users of other social networks already know the value of these tools to build community for your website and personal brand for you. Here’s a look at the new badges and how they work.

No more automatic follow backs on Twitter. The microblogging platform is changing things around again. Twitter now officially says apps that allow users to automatically follow back other accounts that followed them first, are no longer permitted.  Some applaud the move; other complain that Twitter is out of touch with how businesses use the platform.

Book Reviews

Starting businesses on a shoestring. Pierre Debois reviews the book The Pocket Small Business Owner’s Guide to Starting Your Business On a Shoestring by Carol Tice. Debois says it’s for any business owner who’s ever had to struggle with a limited budget. That’s everybody from time to time!

Finerman’s rules for women business owners. Karen Finerman, CEO of Metropolitan Capital Advisors, and a mother of twins, gives advice to women in business. Her book is called Finerman’s Rules: Secrets I’d Only Tell My Daughters About Business and Life. Ivana Taylor tells us more.

Design

21 Business Designs on Dribbble. The invitation-only design community is a show-and-tell for designers to display small screenshots of their work. They include some innovative designs for business. Here Small Business Trends CEO Anita Campbell shares a slide show of some of the intriguing designs. If you are a freelancer or small design firm looking to show the world what you’re capable of, and object to entering design contests, give Dribbble a look.  (And don’t forget to spell the URL with 3 Bs!)

Shutterstock: News

Ten Approaches That May Shape the Future of eCommerce

As we know, change is the only constant factor. So the answer to, “What is eCommerce” is always changing. However, experts predict a very promising future for eCommerce in the years to come. In the foreseeable future, eCommerce will be considered the major tool of sale. As e-shopping is becoming more and more widespread, so the sales volume of online stores becomes much higher when compared to brick-and-mortar stores.

But what promotes eCommerce changes?

It is the efficient and profitable relationship it builds with the consumer and their favorite brands. Undoubtedly, consumer behavior is an important factor in the current eCommerce boom. However, popular eCommerce brands have realized that consumer behavior is not the only ingredient in the online retail formula. Retailers will have to seek to improve eCommerce capabilities by aligning several strategies.

The ‘quantity to quality’ tendency of eCommerce is gradually becoming more prominent in this growing age of globalization. The primary objective below is to reflect the growing eCommerce trend and its impact on the business.

Online Store Upgradation

Constant innovation and customization of your website will diversify your trade. The trend shows that eCommerce will drive consumers towards alternatives by offering several products and services with attractive schemes to attract online visitors. In addition, users will be more encouraged to leave feedback and suggestions once they are through with their shopping experience.

Re-Marketing

Businesses of any scale should highlight themselves in the market. In this context, eCommerce has the benefit of a new strategy popularly known re-marketing, to make the potential customer take continued interest in the products and services with repeated exposures.

A consumer who sees a commercial that is appealing that they have never seen before actually experiences re-marketing. If a potential customer visits an online shopping website and leaves without purchasing anything, those customers can be tracked on the Internet and the required ads and promotional information can then be shown on the Web pages the customer browses to draw them back.

Personalization

Personalized customer experiences are becoming more popular in their ability to assemble information about the customers. Therefore, they are expecting etailers to deliver one-of kind experiences every time. Research shows that personalization will drive the growth of eCommerce.

Cross-Channel Integration

Single channel experiences are replaced by multi-channel opportunities, thus enabling consumers to enjoy consistent brand experiences through the connection process of their choice.

For instance, using a mobile device during an in-store shopping experience. Online merchants should provide similar brand experiences across all touch points, regardless of whether or not the customer is purchasing the products through their smartphone app or on a store shelf or through company websites. This need for cross-channel integration has made retailers ensure that their logistic suppliers are proficient at delivering real-time inventory feeds without sacrificing a steady experience.

M-Commerce - the New Buzzword

With the increasing use of responsive Web design, eCommerce has realized the need for mobile integration. From the perspective of the user interface, online businesses will continue to adapt and make the utmost utilization of the different screens of the devices from where they are being accessed. However, there will not be one eCommerce site for a mobile device and another for a desktop. Instead there will be one website which will adapt itself to be viewed in an ideal manner on any screen size, be it a tablet, a 46 inch TV screen, a 24 inch monitor, a mobile device or any other device from which user’s access websites. The user experience will be the same across all these devices.

Scalability

Scalability and growth go hand-in-hand. Nowadays, retailers are focusing more on creating an eCommerce system that can seize a large section of market share. However, many have ignored the back end of the operation and their fulfillment systems are struggling to keep up. In order to accommodate future development and meet mass expectation, the majority of online retailers proactively assess their ability to quickly scale for higher order volume.

Interactive Product Display Will Replace Images

Customers become more apprehensive with numerous products and services at their disposal. Moreover, images are not always a convincing tool for customers to judge online products. However, product demonstration videos are becoming popular to address these needs. Social network integration has helped online merchants to share videos via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and many other sites. Social shopping imperatives are continuously evolving. This shopping trend influences retailers to leverage social shopping integration.

Shipping Differentiation

So far, eCommerce has viewed shipping as a cost of doing business. The importance of fulfillment networks and same-day delivery has been widely addressed. However, most brands have not efficiently invested in the post-transaction experience. This approach might change in the upcoming years. By paying more attention to fulfillment capabilities, brands differentiate themselves through accelerated shipping clubs, delivery programs and many other opportunities.

Adding a Human Element That Sells

Despite all the bells and whistles, most eCommerce websites are no less than electronic catalogs. Many may lack the human element - those elements that convince you to change your mind. Thus, if there are no surprises and no human touches, the retailer may struggle to maintain a good position in the market. Thus, this attitude is widely changing thanks to dynamic and innovative Web technologies.

Online Loyalty

It is estimated that the cost of acquiring a new customer is 21 times higher than retaining an existing one. To increase customer lifetime value and strengthen Web loyalty, retailers are focusing on packaging and delivery options, thereby making the shopping experience hassle-free to incentivize it to existing customers.

With the right strategies and investments, online retailers can actually transform eCommerce into a greater market share and enhanced growth in sales.

Future Photo via Shutterstock

Ten Approaches That May Shape the Future of eCommerce

As we know, change is the only constant factor. So the answer to, “What is eCommerce” is always changing. However, experts predict a very promising future for eCommerce in the years to come. In the foreseeable future, eCommerce will be considered the major tool of sale. As e-shopping is becoming more and more widespread, so the sales volume of online stores becomes much higher when compared to brick-and-mortar stores.

But what promotes eCommerce changes?

It is the efficient and profitable relationship it builds with the consumer and their favorite brands. Undoubtedly, consumer behavior is an important factor in the current eCommerce boom. However, popular eCommerce brands have realized that consumer behavior is not the only ingredient in the online retail formula. Retailers will have to seek to improve eCommerce capabilities by aligning several strategies.

The ‘quantity to quality’ tendency of eCommerce is gradually becoming more prominent in this growing age of globalization. The primary objective below is to reflect the growing eCommerce trend and its impact on the business.

Online Store Upgradation

Constant innovation and customization of your website will diversify your trade. The trend shows that eCommerce will drive consumers towards alternatives by offering several products and services with attractive schemes to attract online visitors. In addition, users will be more encouraged to leave feedback and suggestions once they are through with their shopping experience.

Re-Marketing

Businesses of any scale should highlight themselves in the market. In this context, eCommerce has the benefit of a new strategy popularly known re-marketing, to make the potential customer take continued interest in the products and services with repeated exposures.

A consumer who sees a commercial that is appealing that they have never seen before actually experiences re-marketing. If a potential customer visits an online shopping website and leaves without purchasing anything, those customers can be tracked on the Internet and the required ads and promotional information can then be shown on the Web pages the customer browses to draw them back.

Personalization

Personalized customer experiences are becoming more popular in their ability to assemble information about the customers. Therefore, they are expecting etailers to deliver one-of kind experiences every time. Research shows that personalization will drive the growth of eCommerce.

Cross-Channel Integration

Single channel experiences are replaced by multi-channel opportunities, thus enabling consumers to enjoy consistent brand experiences through the connection process of their choice.

For instance, using a mobile device during an in-store shopping experience. Online merchants should provide similar brand experiences across all touch points, regardless of whether or not the customer is purchasing the products through their smartphone app or on a store shelf or through company websites. This need for cross-channel integration has made retailers ensure that their logistic suppliers are proficient at delivering real-time inventory feeds without sacrificing a steady experience.

M-Commerce - the New Buzzword

With the increasing use of responsive Web design, eCommerce has realized the need for mobile integration. From the perspective of the user interface, online businesses will continue to adapt and make the utmost utilization of the different screens of the devices from where they are being accessed. However, there will not be one eCommerce site for a mobile device and another for a desktop. Instead there will be one website which will adapt itself to be viewed in an ideal manner on any screen size, be it a tablet, a 46 inch TV screen, a 24 inch monitor, a mobile device or any other device from which user’s access websites. The user experience will be the same across all these devices.

Scalability

Scalability and growth go hand-in-hand. Nowadays, retailers are focusing more on creating an eCommerce system that can seize a large section of market share. However, many have ignored the back end of the operation and their fulfillment systems are struggling to keep up. In order to accommodate future development and meet mass expectation, the majority of online retailers proactively assess their ability to quickly scale for higher order volume.

Interactive Product Display Will Replace Images

Customers become more apprehensive with numerous products and services at their disposal. Moreover, images are not always a convincing tool for customers to judge online products. However, product demonstration videos are becoming popular to address these needs. Social network integration has helped online merchants to share videos via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and many other sites. Social shopping imperatives are continuously evolving. This shopping trend influences retailers to leverage social shopping integration.

Shipping Differentiation

So far, eCommerce has viewed shipping as a cost of doing business. The importance of fulfillment networks and same-day delivery has been widely addressed. However, most brands have not efficiently invested in the post-transaction experience. This approach might change in the upcoming years. By paying more attention to fulfillment capabilities, brands differentiate themselves through accelerated shipping clubs, delivery programs and many other opportunities.

Adding a Human Element That Sells

Despite all the bells and whistles, most eCommerce websites are no less than electronic catalogs. Many may lack the human element - those elements that convince you to change your mind. Thus, if there are no surprises and no human touches, the retailer may struggle to maintain a good position in the market. Thus, this attitude is widely changing thanks to dynamic and innovative Web technologies.

Online Loyalty

It is estimated that the cost of acquiring a new customer is 21 times higher than retaining an existing one. To increase customer lifetime value and strengthen Web loyalty, retailers are focusing on packaging and delivery options, thereby making the shopping experience hassle-free to incentivize it to existing customers.

With the right strategies and investments, online retailers can actually transform eCommerce into a greater market share and enhanced growth in sales.

Future Photo via Shutterstock

How To Get Sued By Your Employees

Avoiding employment lawsuits should be a high priority for small companies.   They are distracting, expensive, unpredictable and unpleasant.  After being involved in hundreds of these cases as an employment lawyer in New York City, I created this list of the top 5 things a company can do to almost guarantee a lawsuit.

Below is a list of things you should never do as a company if you want to stay out of court.

1. Retaliate Against Employees Who Complain about Sexual Harassment

Retaliation cases are easy for employees to win and they produce high verdicts.  Sexual harassment and retaliation are a natural combination because jilted harassers often retaliate against employees who reject them.   The perfect storm arises when a subordinate employee complains about sexual harassment by a manager and winds up fired in the aftermath.

When this occurs, the company faces liability for both sexual harassment and retaliation.

But the worst part is that the company looks terrible and will need to write a large settlement check or face a potentially high verdict.  Companies can avoid this situation by protecting employees who make sexual harassment complaints against their superiors.  If the complaining employee is truly a bad apple, do not terminate them for at least a year after the storm passes and make sure the performance problems are legitimate and well documented.

2. Terminate Employees Who Inquire About Overtime Pay

Most wage and hour class actions are started by disgruntled employees who get fired.  The odds of litigation increase substantially if a company fires employees who inquire about overtime pay.  This will create the impression that that company is violating labor laws and induce wage and hour litigation.

Small companies need to take these inquiries seriously and treat employees fairly.   Firing employees who ask about overtime pay and other wage issues is a sure way to get sued.

3. Fire Employees Over Pregnancy Related Issues

Pregnancy and disability discrimination laws were recently expanded to protect employees from any kind of pregnancy related discrimination including pregnancy related medical problems and breast feeding.  Companies, however, continue to fire employees over these issues.  Pregnancy discrimination cases are on the rise and employees are winning in court.

Companies should let their employees take time off for any pregnancy related matter and allow them to breastfeed at work.   Firing an employee during this period is asking for a lawsuit.

4. Fire Disabled Employees Who Request Accommodations

Companies are required to work closely with disabled employees to help them do their jobs.  Employers are also prohibited from discriminating against disabled employees.  One sure way to get sued is to violate both of these requirements at the same time.

This happens when a company fires a disabled employee in response to a request for reasonable accommodations.  For example, we had a case a while ago involving a long term employee who was diagnosed with cancer.  The employee was able to beat the disease but needed a flexible schedule for a short time to recover from treatment.   When the employee asked for a flexible schedule, the company fired him.

The employee sued for discrimination (i.e. firing him because he had cancer) and denial of reasonable accommodations.  The company eventually settled after years of litigation.  If the company went to trial, it risked looking like an insensitive organization that fired people for getting sick and asking for help.

5. Pick Fights With Difficult Employees

Every company eventually hires a few problem employees.  The kind of employee that causes problems at every turn and engages in bizarre or unprofessional behavior.

The goal in terminating these employees is to get rid of them.  But sometimes companies make the mistake of disputing the employee’s application for unemployment benefits.  This can provoke a lawsuit as some employees see this as the final straw.

At our law firm, we talk to people frequently who say that they were angry about getting fired but willing to let it go - until the company challenged their request for unemployment benefits.  If your company routinely challenges unemployment claims, make an exception for these employees.   Don’t pick fights with difficult people and instead focus on your business.

These are examples of behavior that can embroil a small business in an employment litigation.  Often the driving force behind these cases is an employee’s desire to get revenge or strong feelings of being wronged.   They best way to avoid being sued is to treat employees well and listen to their complaints.

Another great way to avoid being sued is to provide certain departing employees with a severance payment in exchange for a release.

Courtroom Testimony Photo via Shutterstock

How To Get Sued By Your Employees

Avoiding employment lawsuits should be a high priority for small companies.   They are distracting, expensive, unpredictable and unpleasant.  After being involved in hundreds of these cases as an employment lawyer in New York City, I created this list of the top 5 things a company can do to almost guarantee a lawsuit.

Below is a list of things you should never do as a company if you want to stay out of court.

1. Retaliate Against Employees Who Complain about Sexual Harassment

Retaliation cases are easy for employees to win and they produce high verdicts.  Sexual harassment and retaliation are a natural combination because jilted harassers often retaliate against employees who reject them.   The perfect storm arises when a subordinate employee complains about sexual harassment by a manager and winds up fired in the aftermath.

When this occurs, the company faces liability for both sexual harassment and retaliation.

But the worst part is that the company looks terrible and will need to write a large settlement check or face a potentially high verdict.  Companies can avoid this situation by protecting employees who make sexual harassment complaints against their superiors.  If the complaining employee is truly a bad apple, do not terminate them for at least a year after the storm passes and make sure the performance problems are legitimate and well documented.

2. Terminate Employees Who Inquire About Overtime Pay

Most wage and hour class actions are started by disgruntled employees who get fired.  The odds of litigation increase substantially if a company fires employees who inquire about overtime pay.  This will create the impression that that company is violating labor laws and induce wage and hour litigation.

Small companies need to take these inquiries seriously and treat employees fairly.   Firing employees who ask about overtime pay and other wage issues is a sure way to get sued.

3. Fire Employees Over Pregnancy Related Issues

Pregnancy and disability discrimination laws were recently expanded to protect employees from any kind of pregnancy related discrimination including pregnancy related medical problems and breast feeding.  Companies, however, continue to fire employees over these issues.  Pregnancy discrimination cases are on the rise and employees are winning in court.

Companies should let their employees take time off for any pregnancy related matter and allow them to breastfeed at work.   Firing an employee during this period is asking for a lawsuit.

4. Fire Disabled Employees Who Request Accommodations

Companies are required to work closely with disabled employees to help them do their jobs.  Employers are also prohibited from discriminating against disabled employees.  One sure way to get sued is to violate both of these requirements at the same time.

This happens when a company fires a disabled employee in response to a request for reasonable accommodations.  For example, we had a case a while ago involving a long term employee who was diagnosed with cancer.  The employee was able to beat the disease but needed a flexible schedule for a short time to recover from treatment.   When the employee asked for a flexible schedule, the company fired him.

The employee sued for discrimination (i.e. firing him because he had cancer) and denial of reasonable accommodations.  The company eventually settled after years of litigation.  If the company went to trial, it risked looking like an insensitive organization that fired people for getting sick and asking for help.

5. Pick Fights With Difficult Employees

Every company eventually hires a few problem employees.  The kind of employee that causes problems at every turn and engages in bizarre or unprofessional behavior.

The goal in terminating these employees is to get rid of them.  But sometimes companies make the mistake of disputing the employee’s application for unemployment benefits.  This can provoke a lawsuit as some employees see this as the final straw.

At our law firm, we talk to people frequently who say that they were angry about getting fired but willing to let it go - until the company challenged their request for unemployment benefits.  If your company routinely challenges unemployment claims, make an exception for these employees.   Don’t pick fights with difficult people and instead focus on your business.

These are examples of behavior that can embroil a small business in an employment litigation.  Often the driving force behind these cases is an employee’s desire to get revenge or strong feelings of being wronged.   They best way to avoid being sued is to treat employees well and listen to their complaints.

Another great way to avoid being sued is to provide certain departing employees with a severance payment in exchange for a release.

Courtroom Testimony Photo via Shutterstock

Read Link Out To Build Your Business Relationships

Nobody believes me when I tell them that I am shy.  If you were to engage with me over email or talk to me over the phone, you’d think I was this social butterfly.  Nothing could be further from the truth.

Big crowds make me uncomfortable.  Just the thought of walking up to a cluster of people talking to each other and “interrupting” them makes my heart pound loud enough that I think the whole room can hear it.  And yet, my best and highest return on marketing effort comes from the relationships that I’ve created and built online.

Link Out Helps You Build an Entourage - Not Just a Network

It’s my secret shyness that had me eagerly rip into the pages of my review copy of Link Out: How to Turn Your Network into a Chain of Lasting Connections by Leslie Grossman. Because when it comes down to the nitty gritty, I’ve realized that reaching out to someone I don’t know on social media is a lot like walking up to someone I don’t know at a networking event.

I’m looking for better, stronger strategies of engaging with people in a friendly and authentic way that isn’t off-putting. And from the looks of it, Link Out is a great resource for that.

The first thing I noticed about the book was an important distinction that takes your network connections to the next level.  Instead of building a network, Grossman urges the reader to build an entourage.  The main difference between a network and an entourage is the depth and quality of the relationships.

Here is a table that I pulled from Grossman’s blog that I clearly describes the difference:

Here’s how Grossman explains it :

Having an entourage puts each of us on the receiving end. An entourage offers us advice, new connections, recommendations and referrals for clients and customers, too. As I’ve shared previously throughout this book, the link out process works only when you consider it a two-way street.

A Step-by-Step Process in Ten Chapters

A lot of business owners have social media accounts.  Their struggle starts the moment they are forced to actually USE their accounts.  What do you write?  How do you connect with people you don’t know and how do you leverage those connections?

Grossman has put together a process that is very focused on helping you achieve your business goals.  This is a big plus for this book because it doesn’t leave you hanging and wondering what to do next.  Just follow the process.

There are ten chapters in the book and each chapter takes you through the process of building this entourage of contacts and connections.

The first chapter introduces you to the concept of the entourage.  The second chapter is where the rubber hits the road.  Grossman takes you through the process of developing a social media marketing plan of sorts that includes a vision statement, personal vision quiz, success stories, marketing plan and give to get philosophy.

In chapters three through five, you are well into the process of recruiting your entourage; who to talk to, what to say, etiquette tips and many more specific strategies that will get you on your way.

The last chapters are all about putting the foundation that you’ve put together to work in building your business.

What I really liked about this book is its laser focus on business building.  If you’re one of these people that has been randomly winging your social media, you are really going to enjoy what Linked Out has to offer.

Link Out is for Small Business Owners at All Levels

If you’re a newbie and have created social media accounts, but have been reluctant to post much or connect out, you will certainly benefit from this book.  It’s a gentle and easy way to pull together your personal and business goals and use social media tools to achieve them.

On the other hand, if you’re experienced at social media but have hit a plateau in reaching out to new connections that can grow your business, you just might discover some hidden low hanging fruit inside of Grossman’s process.

Oh, and one more thing, Grossman doesn’t just give out linking advice for social media, there are great business communication etiquette tips in there that are old school such as:

Say thank you three times, smile, keep your entourage in the loop on connections they’ve introduced you too.

Grossman is the Relationship Expert for Today’s Small Business

Leslie Grossman is a leadership and business/career development expert and Chief Connections Officer of Cojourneo. She is the creator and Co-Founder of Women’s Leadership Exchange and founder of her own integrated marketing agency. She isn’t just a social media expert. Leslie Grossman is a business relationship expert.  What sets her and her book, Link Out, apart from others is the focus on building profitable and focused business relationships.

Link Out is more than a book about building your referral network.  It’s a book about how to relate in todays online connected marketplace and use those connections to build your business.

If you’ve been looking for practical ways to jump start your online referrals, Link Out is the book for you.