In our blog we focus on practical info and tips to help you manage your business better
Sep 17th, 2026United KingdomSmall construction firms can support mental health through better daily communication, early recognition of warning signs and clear routes to help. These practical steps do not require a large HR function or unnecessary administration.
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A practical framework for documenting hazard assessments, safe work procedures, training, inspections, incident reporting and supervisor accountability before an injury occurs.
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Illinois employers with 26 or more employees will need to pay eligible employees for their existing job-protected jury duty leave beginning January 1, 2027. Here is what to review in scheduling, payroll, time records, and internal procedures before the change takes effect.
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Reviewing outstanding holiday balances early gives German employers time to inform employees and help them take leave before the end of the holiday year. Clear communication and reliable records can also reduce the risk of leave carrying over because the employer did not meet its information duties.
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A generally binding collective agreement can apply even when an employer is not part of an employers’ association. This practical checklist explains how to check the relevant sector and territory, verify wage rules, and keep payroll and time records aligned.
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Australia’s updated minimum wages apply from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026. Here is a practical checklist for reviewing award classifications, casual loading, penalty rates, and payroll systems before processing affected hours.
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A Victorian prosecution involving a worker’s death shows why elevated work platform safety cannot be treated as the responsibility of one business alone. This practical checklist covers risk assessments, training, supervision, maintenance, and coordination between contractors and equipment suppliers.
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The renewed CCNL for small and medium-sized metalworking and plant-installation businesses requires a careful payroll review. Use this checklist to organise pay tables, contracts, working-time records, and payroll processes without relying on assumptions about terms that still need to be confirmed.
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A recent INL clarification concerns the correct application of the rules on postpartum work prohibition measures in Italy. Small-business managers can use a careful review process to confirm leave status, current restrictions, supporting documents, and shift records before assigning hourly work.
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The UK Government has updated the timetable for implementing the Employment Rights Act 2025. Here is a practical checklist for small employers preparing for the October 2026 changes.
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Public contracts worth £5 million or more will place greater weight on community benefits, including local employment, skills and training. Contractors can prepare by turning those commitments into a delivery plan with clear records and evidence.
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The golden thread is not only a principal contractor responsibility. Subcontractors on higher-risk building projects should build accurate, location-specific evidence into their daily site workflow, from worker assignments and installation records to inspections, changes, and handover documents.
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A final rule from the U.S. Department of Labor rescinds the regulations implementing Executive Order 11246, effective October 26, 2026. Federal contractors and subcontractors should review their contract clauses, equal employment policies, records, and reporting workflows before the change takes effect.
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A recent Tax Court of Canada decision considered whether an office assistant was an employee or an independent contractor. Here is a practical framework Canadian small businesses can use when reviewing worker classification and CPP/EI risks.
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Ontario’s Regulation 283/26 introduces mandatory provincial standards for the design and construction of certain municipal road projects. Use this practical checklist to review specifications, contracts, schedules, and project records against the applicable OPSS requirements.
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In most industries, scheduling is needed to keep things in order and this is especially true when it comes to construction. Without a proper plan, even the simplest of projects can fail (and no project manager wants failure on their resumé). Luckily, there’s a well-established system in place that many successful project managers are using to ensure that their construction projects run smoothly.
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While we all communicate, many of us don’t do it effectively. I say effectively because technically speaking, a business would be obsolete without the art of communication, but it is the quality of communication used within the workplace that distinguishes a good business from a great one.
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We’ve all been that new guy in a company, trying to figure out the right way to do things without stepping on any toes, and yet, it seemed as if everyone we spoke with had their own idea of the best way to get things done. In that context, many errors were made and much rework was produced.
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In this article, we’re going to review liens in general and the Mechanic’s Lien in detail. We’ll show you the steps to take to initiate a lien and foreclose on a property, how to have a lien removed, and most importantly, we’ll give some recommendations on how to avoid a lien in the first place. Finally, we’ll provide a list of lien filing regulations state by state.
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The construction bidding process can be time-consuming and expensive but if done correctly, it can help stimulate any business not only by increasing profits but by strengthening its professional network of construction managers and other general contractors. In short, done well, the bidding process will ultimately lead to new future growth, one way or the other.
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Back in the ‘good old days’, you could rely on a handshake deal and be reasonably confident the job would get done right. If there were bumps in the road, you knew they’d get taken care of amicably. Indeed, in some tight communities, contractors still work on a handshake basis, but that’s quickly changing.
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If you’re like most owners in this business, you’re juggling a million things at once and the last thing you want to worry about is your employees taking time off. But it’s important both for your people and your bottom line. If you don’t already have a paid time off (PTO) policy in place, now’s the time to build one.
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What Are Cost Codes? Put simply, cost codes are numeric codes that represent the different inputs (costs) that go into a project. Whether that be equipment, materials, labor, or some other element. Cost codes are useful because they allow you to track and analyze costs on a more granular level both during and after a project: For billing purposes, to demystify 'where the money went' and to identify areas for improving profitability.
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Balance sheets are one of the most important aspects of construction accounting, so it is naturally best practice to make sure they are current and accurate. However, some small business owners or operators may not necessarily understand what a balance sheet is, let alone how to keep and maintain one.
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Change orders are often required during an ongoing contracting project. This post will help you understand why they are required, how to implement them correctly, and some common gotchas to look out for along the way.
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I think we’d all agree that managing project finances is one of the biggest headaches of the job. From task value estimation and cost allocation, to invoicing and handling change requests, dealing with the money side of the business is no walk in the park. And if you’re running several projects consecutively, it’s very easy to lose track of billings and wind up in a serious cash-flow mess.
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You may have heard about a variety of Time And Location Tracking Apps available to use on employee smartphones. One common feature of these applications is often an ability to track employee locations while they are on the clock.
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Quickly see the best free business applications that small businesses can start using today to improve everything from their bottom line to employee productivity.
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When you are just starting in business, you need to keep your overheads as low as possible. One way you can help is by taking advantage of the multitude of attendance management applications with free plans. During our journey of building SINC, we have come across a bunch of different offerings and have put together some of our favourites and scored them based on the factors we consider most important for a new company just starting up.
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For small businesses, obtaining success is a long-term, uphill battle and comes with many different challenges. However, there is one business factor that plays a large role in helping all other necessary aspects of small business success come together, and that is **employee engagement**.
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According to data released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employees stay on average 4.6 years at one place of employment. This relatively short stay can pose a problem for many employers, especially small businesses.
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The United States alone is home to nearly 30 million small businesses that are looking to become the next best thing. With such competition, it's no wonder small business owners are always looking for new ways to increase production, drive growth, and ultimately succeed.
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If you’re a business owner or manager you’ll probably agree: Payroll Costs Can Make Or Break A Business Payroll is one of, if not the most, significant costs associated with running a business.
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Getting your payroll correct is a hugely important thing for you and your team. Having to correct payroll mistakes undermines the relationship you have with your team, takes up a lot of your time and looks unprofessional.
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