The Leading Edge - Fall 2007 - (Page 12)

BrIeFs bits pieces gOVERnMEnT OPEnS OPPORTUnITIES FOR SMALL BUSInESSES New regulations requiring “small businesses” with federal contracts to recertify their size likely will mean more opportunities for small businesses interested in working with the U.S. government. “The Small Business Administration is making tremendous progress improving federal contracting opportunities for small businesses,” agency administrator Steven Preston says. Small business contracts originally were awarded for up to 20 years even if the business’ size changed during that time, according to the Small Business Administration. By mandating recertification, the government seeks to identify companies that no longer meet the “small business” definition. Although these businesses will not lose their contracts, the federal government can no longer count them as “small” contracts. Thus, federal agencies will need to increase their efforts to contract with new businesses to meet their small business contracting goals of 23 percent as set by Congress. For more information, visit www.sba.gov. SUSPICIOn OF ABUSE, COnFUSIOn SURROUnd FMLA ABSEnCES Misunderstandings about the Family and Medical Leave Act often results in illegitimate leave, according to a recent report by the Society for Human Resource Management. Nearly 40 percent of human resource professionals expressed confusion over how to implement FMLA. Respondents reported more requests to take FMLA leave in the last five years as compared to 10 years ago, particularly for episodic conditions such as ongoing injuries, illnesses and non-life-threatening conditions. Many HR professionals noted in the study that they were suspicious of abuse based on the timing of FMLA leave requests around weekends, holidays and pleasant weather. Among the other SHRM study key findings: • Of the leave taken, 59 percent was for medical reasons, 38 percent for family-related reasons, and 38 percent for an employee’s episodic condition. • Nine of 10 organizations assigned other employees to temporarily handle duties of the employee on FMLA leave. • A majority of respondents said FMLA can have a negative impact on employee absences, employee productivity and business productivity. • Fifty-five percent of surveyed organizations now offer sick time as part of a paid timeoff plan that includes vacation and personal days. Thirty-seven percent offer sick time as a separate benefit. For more information about the study, visit www.shrm.org. LESSOnS FROM A COndIMEnT “You want ketchup?” They throw the packets into your food bag and away you go. But those little packets have created a buzz in the complex consumer marketing mix. While the marketing budget for Heinz® is big, the ketchup maker did not go with the best ad agencies in the country for its next commercial. And its “Top This TV Challenge” promotion can help businesses with marketing budgets of all sizes be inspired. Last April, Heinz went to the American public to create its commercials. It invited fans of the condiment to upload 30-second spots to a specially created site, TopThisTV. com by early August. In addition to free media, Heinz used its own product to promote the contest, printing such phrases as “Starving for the Spotlight?” and “Want a Taste of Showbiz?” on more than 200 million packets and 57 million bottles. People wrote, cast and shot and uploaded more than 4,000 commercials by the deadline—and even more spent hours watching them, according to Heinz. The top 15 commercials as determined by Heinz judges were posted on the site for popular vote. The winning one will receive $57,000 and air on national TV this fall. The buzz created generated so much interest that Heinz already has announced “Top This Take Two” to be launched in October. 1 VOLUME 8 n ISSUE 1 n FALL 2007 http://www.sba.gov http://www.shrm.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of The Leading Edge - Fall 2007

Contents More than Money Riding E-Cycles Can Mean Green for Your Business Business Across State Lines - The Tax Implications Holiday Recognition? Bits & Pieces In a Nutshell: Q&A The Leading Edge Alliance

The Leading Edge - Fall 2007

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