Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Biz bits: Small-biz owners not as optimistic

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published May 28, 2006

Small-business owners are showing less optimism than a year ago, according to a survey, and higher energy costs are contributing to their dampening spirits. Sixty-eight percent of small-business owners see growth opportunities over the next six months, down from 85 percent one year ago. More than eight of 10 plan to emphasize customer service to encourage growth, while more than half intend to cut business expenses. To curb rising energy costs, 42 percent have cut down their energy use, while 29 percent of business owners have passed higher costs on to customers. Despite the challenges of rising energy prices, seven of 10 small-business owners would still recommend going into business to a friend or family member. The survey was conducted by OPEN from American Express, which surveyed 618 small-business owners and managers of companies with fewer than 100 employees during April.

Your office MVP: the administrative assistant

This office member knows how to fix the copy machine, handle disgruntled customers and arrange a 50-person conference call. A recent survey shows that the myriad abilities of an administrative assistant don't go unnoticed by the rest of the office. More than three of four office workers think the administrative assistant's role is essential, very important or important to the office. But the administrative assistant's main responsibility varies widely by office. More than 75 percent of respondents thought that keeping the office environment functioning well is an administrative assistant's main responsibility, while six of 10 thought facilitating communication flow among different levels is the top priority. Other important tasks included managing client calls smoothly, putting together meetings and events, and keeping schedules and travel arrangements. Some administrative assistants have tougher assignments than others. Three of 10 respondents said President Bush's administrative assistant had the most difficult year in 2005, while 23 percent thought the assistant to former FEMA director Mike Brown had the roughest year. The survey was conducted by Swingline, which surveyed 2,302 adults nationwide online in March.

CIOs dangle carrots to keep employees happy

To retain the best information and technology professionals, many chief information officers are offering various incentives to keep their employees happy, according to a survey. More than six of 10 provide training or professional development opportunities, while nearly half the respondents offer flexible work schedules including telecommuting options. Forty-one percent of CIOs are paying their best IT professionals more and 31 percent are giving bonuses. Fewer than one quarter of respondents have taken no steps to retain IT talent. The survey was conducted by Robert Half Technology. More than 1,400 CIOs from a random sample of U.S. companies were surveyed. "As the number of job opportunities for IT professionals increase, many CIOs are making retention a priority," said Robert Half's executive director, Katherine Spencer Lee. "Firms realize that technology workers value ongoing educational opportunities to enable them to keep their skills current."

[Last modified May 28, 2006, 07:10:34]