October is National Security Month and for small businesses, this is an area that can easily be overlooked. Small businesses can be particularly vulnerable to security breaches because hackers think that small businesses may not have the safeguards in place; however, it can happen to any business.  Consider the following security measures;

• Keep all confidential and personal information in locked drawers at the end of the day.
• Only gather information that you need regarding clients, customers and employees and ensure records containing the private information are securely destroyed promptly after the applicable retention period expires.
• Don’t ignore updates from your virus protection software; ensure all employees upload all system security patches as soon as they become available.

For more information, go to:  https://niccs.us-cert.gov/national-cybersecurity-awareness-month-2019

​Social Media is a powerful tool and for someone looking to change jobs, on-line sites are frequently the first place a candidate may find out about your business. To keep up with your business’s reputation, you should;

• Monitor sites such as GlassDoor and Indeed to see what is posted about your business.
• If a negative review is posted, don’t reply in a defensive manner.  Determine if the review posted provides good feedback on changes you may need to make.
• Replies to positive and negative reviews should be thoughtful and concise.  Don’t provide a “canned” reply but address the review in a positive manner.

While you don’t need to respond to every review, by adding responses candidates and employees will see you as an involved, transparent business of choice.

 Businesses should consider adding a “bullying” policy to their Employee Handbooks.  The main types of bullying include;

• Verbal bullying is saying or writing mean things such as teasing, name-calling, inappropriate sexual comments, taunting and threats.
• Social bullying, sometimes referred to as relational bullying, involves hurting someone’s reputation or relationships by leaving someone out on purpose, spreading rumors about someone and embarrassing someone in public.
• Physical bullying involves hurting a person’s body or possessions.

Consider communicating your policy in order to provide a welcoming and safe workplace.

​Halloween has turned into a popular event with many businesses hosting costume contests and parties. While employees want to have fun, guidelines need to be set for a positive environment. Costumes and party decorations should always be non-controversial and in good taste. Costumes depicting celebrities or political figures, relating to religion, targeting a specific race or social group, or are sexually provocative should not be worn in the workplace. Sending out guidelines prior to the event and making it clear that participation in parties and costumes is voluntary will ensure the Halloween celebration is not offensive and unprofessional.