Another Obamacare Website Delay, Affecting Small Businesses |  |
- Another Obamacare Website Delay, Affecting Small Businesses
- 9 Entrepreneurs Weigh In: Do Company Titles Matter in Your Business?
- Thanksgiving Turkey Shortage May Be Good for Small Growers
- Holiday Tech Gadgets Gift Ideas
- When the Pros Secure Your Network You Keep Away the Cons
| Another Obamacare Website Delay, Affecting Small Businesses Posted: 27 Nov 2013 03:10 PM PST On the eve of Thanksgiving, the Department of Health and Human Services announced another delay in the Affordable Care Act. This time the delay impacts small businesses with fewer than 50 full-time equivalent employees, and their ability to apply online for coverage using the SHOP exchange marketplace. SHOP stands for “Small Business Health Options.” Small businesses with fewer than 50 employees are not required to secure insurance for their employees. Larger businesses do have a mandate, although that previously has been delayed one year. But the whole goal of Obamacare was to make better insurance coverage more affordable for everyone. Small businesses that want to take advantage of tax credits were supposed to be able to opt to use the SHOP exchanges to enroll in affordable coverage for their employees. What this delay means is that small businesses won’t be able to use the Federal website to apply for/enroll in coverage through the SHOP exchange for their employees, if they do choose to offer coverage to their employees — and many do. They will instead have to apply in writing, in person or through an insurance broker or agent. Jason Millman, writing on Politico notes:
Thomas Howell Jr. writing on the Washington Times adds:
The announcement was made in a confusingly-titled blog post on the Department of Health and Human Services blog, called “A Direct New Path to SHOP Marketplace Coverage.” It states:
While making it sound like it has become easier for small businesses to shop for health insurance coverage, in fact, your options are more limited. Why? Because you won’t be able to use the website to the extent anticipated. Still, you can use brokers and file written applications. Two well established groups representing small businesses, responded quickly. The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) had this reaction, through its manager of legislative affairs, Kevin Kuhlman:
And the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) said this via Katie Vlietstra, Director of Government Affairs:
So what should you do? If you might want to qualify for the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit, talk to a qualified insurance broker. Don’t expect to go online and enroll your employees — at least not until a year from now, in November 2014. If you don’t care about the tax credit or are happy with your current group plan, then the SHOP exchanges and website are irrelevant anyway. Meanwhile, as of late Wednesday, hours after the announcement, the Healthcare.gov website still says you can apply online for the small business SHOP exchange (screenshot above). Get more information at the HHS blog post. The post Another Obamacare Website Delay, Affecting Small Businesses appeared first on Small Business Trends.      |
| 9 Entrepreneurs Weigh In: Do Company Titles Matter in Your Business? Posted: 27 Nov 2013 11:00 AM PST When running a small business or startup, people are your most valuable asset. More importantly, you want to be your most professional to the outside world without sacrificing productivity internally. With that in mind, do company titles for employees end up helping or hurting your team in the end? Are they something only big corporations need to worry about, or do titles help motivate key staff members? In order to find out, we asked a panel of successful entrepreneurs from the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) what they thought about the following question:
Here's what YEC community members had to say: 1. Think Flexibility; Show Hierarchy“We aren’t a large company yet, but we believe titles are important to our staff because they use them when we recruit other staff members. It lets them know their position and influence in the company. Given that responsibilities change, we try not to give titles that are too specific. When you think of names, think flexibility, but show hierarchy so employees can feel growth within the company.” ~ Derek Capo, Next Step China 2. Don’t Limit Flexibility With Titles“Too much emphasis on job titles creates the idea that employees only do their job descriptions, and their importance to the company is derived from that. Don’t silo your employees by placing too much emphasis on titles. Instead, motivate by giving them complete ownership over projects that stretch them and grow their skill set — something much more valuable than a job title.” ~ Matt Ehrlichman, Porch 3. Standardize Titles at 20 or More Employees“Titles in terms of defining levels of the organization are mostly useless early on. People are constantly shifting roles as the organization evolves. Function is somewhat important, and levels are less important. At about 20 people, you need to standardize levels and expectations within the organization and use titles and promotions to motivate staff.” ~ Trevor Sumner, LocalVox 4. Promote Leadership Qualities“We just recently formed a leadership team that any employee has the potential to move into if they can demonstrate greater responsibilities beyond their official roles — particularly the ability to develop our business and bring in more revenue. The prospect of being on the leadership team motivates our employees to think and work above and beyond rigid roles.” ~ David Ehrenberg, Early Growth Financial Services 5. Use Them for External Reasons“We only have titles for external use. We have a very horizontal structure where everyone respects one another, so there’s not a great need for titles internally. Our leaders are direct supports in their departments to the people they manage. However, it’s more important to give senior titles to those who interact with people outside of the company.” ~ John Hall, Influence & Co. 6. Signal Value to Clients“We use titles primarily to show our clients who they should reach out to for support. It also communicates credibility to some in our industry who have notions that a “virtual assistant” isn’t a valuable team member. By creating our “client concierge” position, we demonstrate commitment to caring for the client’s every need, and that’s a meaning “VA” doesn’t convey.” ~ Kelly Azevedo, She’s Got Systems 7. Don’t Bring Titles into Meetings“For the first year, my business card read, “Director of Player Personnel.” Advisers eventually told me to put “CEO” on my card, so others would know who they’re working with. Titles are important for others to see. They’re important for your team to feel valued. Just make sure that they’re never brought up in meetings. Good ideas, not a hierarchy, always win at a startup.” ~ Aaron Schwartz, Modify Watches 8. Don’t Limit Value Creation“Because Poshly is a high-growth startup, team members do all they can to contribute to its success, regardless of titles. Many roles expand to other facets of the business. For example, sales team members often work on editorial content, or engineers help craft B2B marketing materials. We all work together to create one cohesive unit, so even though there are titles, they don’t limit our work.” ~ Doreen Bloch, Poshly Inc. 9. Use Them, But Don’t Take Them Too Seriously“We use them, but they are less important than I thought they would be. People don’t really care about the titles in ad agencies (unless you’re an assistant account executive, then everyone knows you just started).” ~ Yuriy Boykiv, Gravity Media CEO Photo via Shutterstock The post 9 Entrepreneurs Weigh In: Do Company Titles Matter in Your Business? appeared first on Small Business Trends.     |
| Thanksgiving Turkey Shortage May Be Good for Small Growers Posted: 27 Nov 2013 08:00 AM PST The nation’s biggest turkey producer is worried about smaller birds and that could be a big break for smaller turkey growers. Okay, here’s what happened. Apparently, Butterball, which produces almost one out of every four Turkeys consumed on Thanksgiving, produced smaller birds this year. There was a problem on some of the company’s farms getting turkeys to put on the pounds in time for the holidays, it seems. As a result, fresh birds for Thanksgiving are a lot smaller with fewer of the big 16 pound and larger turkeys to go around. In fact, Butterball has shipped about half as many of its large fresh turkeys as usual. Although large frozen birds are still available. A Big Opportunity for Smaller GrowersButterball is responsible for about 1.3 billion pounds of turkey per year in the U.S. representing about 16 percent of the market. While other big turkey producers like Jennie-O and Cargill take up a lot of what remains, any dip in production by is good news for smaller growers. That’s especially true during a period of peak demand like the Thanksgiving season. Mary Pitman of Mary’s Turkeys, a small grower raising organic free-range birds in Fresno, Cal., told Fox News recently:
Meanwhile, other small farms say they have already seen the results of the shortage in increased demand for their own birds. Armand Bechard of Bechard Family Farms in Conway, Mo., told the website of local TV station KY3 his farm had sold out of turkeys two weeks before Thanksgiving. That’s despite raising twice as many this year. When a big supplier can’t meet demand, it can be a great chance for small businesses offering similar or comparable products or services. The key is to be ready to take that opportunity when it comes. Free Range Turkeys Photo via Shutterstock The post Thanksgiving Turkey Shortage May Be Good for Small Growers appeared first on Small Business Trends.     |
| Holiday Tech Gadgets Gift Ideas Posted: 27 Nov 2013 05:00 AM PST As we gear up for the holidays, we ultimately start thinking of what to get people. Whether you are traveling for the holidays, are one of those people who have a hard time making a holiday gift list or you’re doing some holiday shopping for the businessperson who seems to have it all, there are many new gadgets available. The following is a list of tech gadgets gift ideas I recommend for you or any other businessperson on the go. Tech Gadgets Gift Ideas for YouGlobaTrac: Trakdot Luggage Tracker This palm-sized device fits into your luggage and has worldwide location reporting through your cell phone. You can connect multiple cell phones to one device or track multiple devices from one cell phone. It will send you an SMS text message or email upon arrival with the location of your luggage and help you find it when you are within 160 feet of it at the baggage claim. You can also track your luggage location history online at the Trakdot website with your PC. The cost is $59.95 with an $8.99 activation fee and $12.99 annual fee.
Kensington Tough Case “BlackBelt” What to say? This tough case for iPad is what you need if you worry about dropping your iPad on a hard surface. I have tested a lot of cases and this one was built to take some punishment, inadvertent, of course. It is a bit heavy, but took the bounces and hard jolts I gave it. Comes in pretty colors, too. Bracketron: Twist & Charge USB Charger If you are tired of trying to decide which device you want to charge first, this offers an option to charge two devices via one electrical outlet. They created a flat plug, in essence, that nestles flat behind anything else you want to plug in. This surge-protected USB outlet rotates 270 degrees for convenient charging. Price: $17.95. It’s pretty cool.
Griffin: SkyView Travel Seatback Mount for Mobile Devices Whether you are traveling by airplane, bus or train, you can use this device to mount your Smartphone, media player or compact ereader tablet on the tray table of the seat in front of you. It fits over the seatback latch and grips it to provide a secure stable mount or acts as a freestanding device stand on tray tables. This gadget can allow adults to have one more hands-free data sources open or keep children entertained. It's $29.99.
The Travelpak is a sleek, powerful external battery with an integrated AC adapter that is compatible with most USB-based devices. It is also an integrated AC adapter that allows users to charge two USB-based devices concurrently while the battery is plugged into an outlet. The USB ports are compatible with most tablets (2.1A) and smartphones (1A). The price is $44.95 to $49.95. I included these guys in a previous battery roundup.
Safe Skies offers a wide variety of cable locks, luggage straps, combination locks and padlocks to protect your luggage. Their locks give travelers peace of mind while traveling and come in a variety of designs, colors and styles to meet every need. These all come with a guarantee that they will not be clipped at the airport. If your lock is clipped, it will be replaced by Safe Skies free of charge. They range in price from $8.95 to $20.95.
Seidio: Innotraveler Universal Car Mount This car mount allows you to position your Smartphone or similar device in an easy access position on your windshield. The locking suction cup and reusable adhesive pads provide a secure mount and won't leave sticky residue behind. It offers an adjustable arm and doesn't take up a lot of space on the window. Price: $34.95.
Kinivo: BTH240 Wireless Bluetooth Headphones You can directly stream music and more from your mobile device using these Bluetooth headphones. These are not earbuds, but actual over your head stereo headphones with a lightweight, foldable design. Honestly, this is one of the first headphone sets I have found to be truly comfortable. In fact, I had to give up my pair to my wife who fell in love with them. The built-in microphone cancels noise and will automatically pause music when you receive an incoming call. Their price is $49.99.
This is an app for your iOS that will transform your mobile device into a sleep system. It is designed to provide restful and restorative sleep for travelers to counter jet lag and fatigue. Using both calming sounds and patented Dreamwave Technology, it activates your brain's "deep sleep" response and delta waves so you can get the rest you need. The initial app is free (for a limited time) and comes with three calming sounds preloaded into it. You can purchase additional sound packages for $0.99.
Griffin Technology: iTrip Auto Griffin's iTrip was designed to turn the audio from your Apple device into a FM signal and transmit it through your car radio. The iTrip Auto uses this technology and acts as a charger and an inline remote that allows you to play/pause or go forward/backward. It uses SmartSound technology to maintain the highest quality of sound by adjusting signal levels. The one-button setup finds the best open frequency for you with SmartScan but also allows you to tune traditionally. The cost is $59.99.
The PocketPlug solves two problems with one device. It is a sleek, durable, lightweight case for your iPhone and it is a portable charging solution with a retractable plug. It also includes an integrated USB port to provide for any additional charging needs. It automatically enhances the audio of your device by redirection of sound from the speaker to the front. The price of this two-in-one device is $59.95 – $69.95.
Satechi: USB Portable Humidifier You can convert an ordinary bottle of water into a humidifier, mister or aroma diffuser to create a relaxing, soothing environment with this device. It attaches to the top of most water bottles or glasses and adds moisture to the air, providing relief for coughs, colds, itchy dry skin, chapped lips and other maladies caused by dry air. Filters should be changed every 3 months depending on how frequently it is used. The humidifier is $29.99, and filter replacements are $4.99.
Marketed as your "on-the-go SmartCloth," this travel-sized tech cloth is engineered to clean glasses, camera lenses, smartphones, laptop screens and other sensitive devices. Made from 100% microfiber, each cloth has both a plush side to clean and silky side to polish your gadgets. It folds into a neat pocket-like package with an elastic band that attaches easily to any key chain, purse, or backpack. Each one is $9.99.
id America Spark In-Ear Headphones If an in-ear headphone can be ergonomic, these are it. These earbuds start at $48.00. Precision acoustics, hip and snug design. Love ‘em.
If you need something a little more light-hearted, perhaps even as a joke, then check out three of these four items from blogger Shaan Haider, including the PC Prankster. What will you get that business owner, executive or tech gadget enthusiast who has everything this holiday season? Wish List Photo via Shutterstock The post Holiday Tech Gadgets Gift Ideas appeared first on Small Business Trends.     |
| When the Pros Secure Your Network You Keep Away the Cons Posted: 27 Nov 2013 02:30 AM PST Sponsored Post "Yin and Yang" is used to describe how seemingly opposite or contrary forces — such as light and dark, hot and cold, fire and water, positive and negative — are interconnected. In the world of internet technology the Yin and the Yang, like it or not, are the IT professional and the hacker. Wherever technology exists there will be a professional trying to protect your valuable data — and the potential of a hacker trying to get to it. There have been unprecedented number of attacks on business networks in recent years, and it just continues to grow. Small business networks and websites are a common target, as they are perceived as being soft targets. The reasons hackers try to infiltrate computer systems is also much more widely varied than you may think. While some are certainly thieves trying to steal money or data, or may even demand blackmail to go away. Others are hacking websites looking for a “host” to plant viruses, links, or to use as a tool for a planned malware attack. Recently 20,000 legitimate sites were infected with one type of malware. Then there are the hackers who do it for the sport … a test of skill against large supposedly secure systems. And then there are the hacktivists who have a political agenda in mind and attack those whose message is counter to their beliefs. Whatever the reasons, you may be a pawn in this game they play. Ignoring your network security is akin to ignoring your health. Sure, maybe nothing will happen … but when it does, it may already be too late. So What Should a Responsible Business Do?Unless you happen to be an IT or security professional, you should hire one. Sure, those nice out-of-the-box routers you buy at the big box store don’t seem hard to set up if you just follow the basic instructions. But those basic instructions don’t do much of anything other than allow you access to your Internet and other computers. Most have very little to no security configuration on them to begin with. A professional can assess your access needs and apply a configuration to your router that will only allow access to application specific or process specific software’s, thus limiting access to your information from the outside world. Then there is the consideration of viruses. As a former IT business owner myself, I can’t tell you the number of times I felt empathy for a client who waited to long to have their slow computers checked out. Too often a person will overlook the changes on a computer and dismiss them because they either feel they “don’t have the time to deal with it” or “computers just get slow over time." Let me tell you something. Computers don’t just get slow over time … what makes them “slow” is change. Change can be created by software upgrades which may require more resources than your computer can now handle, but another major cause is that your computer has been infected and ignored. That slow computer is probably slow because all of its resources are now being used to send your data back to a hacker — or to share a nasty virus with everyone you know. You need to have good solid, updated anti-virus and anti-spyware software on your computers as the first line of defense. However, you need an IT pro because the one thing no software can stop is user interaction. That is, if you install a program, thus overriding the software, you WILL get a virus, and your software is not to blame. At this point you need the talent of an IT professional to determine the damage and the best course of action to save your data and restore your work environment. Often times a virus installed by the computer owner cannot be removed by anti-virus software. It would be futile to try describe every insecurity here, because there are so many ways a system or network can be compromised today. And the methods change all the time. That's why you need a skilled pro with sufficient knowledge and access to tools and methods, on your side. Just so you understand the issues. Hackers want in, IT pros want to defend… you want to defend, you need help. How Do You Choose the Right Help to Secure Your Network?There are many firms out there, both locally and nationally that can provide these types of services. Look for solid references from other clients. A 24/7 response time may be crucial for some business, with remote access so that they can connect to your network or computer for the fastest turn-around time. Also having on-site support is a benefit, as there are times a remote call just won’t get it done. For example, an issue with computer hardware. Choose a provider who understand the entire gamut of technology. One provider that can support PCs, Macs tablets, smartphones, printers, networks, servers, etc. can be hard to find… but very important in today’s multi-platform world. For the sake of simplicity and cost, look to your business technology services company first. Clearly they have staff that understand the tech and keeping things under one bundle has its advantages. Security Photo via Shutterstock The post When the Pros Secure Your Network You Keep Away the Cons appeared first on Small Business Trends.     |
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