Caroline's Corner

Hallelujah, spring is in the air.  On a warm day in Columbia, you can literally smell its arrival. I’m really looking forward to working in my yard this year.  I can hardly wait for my favorite spring flowers, the daffodils, to appear.  In truth -- they are the only ones the deer, rabbits and critters in my neighborhood leave alone long enough to bloom. 

For the latest on the “Ellie” front, she is adorable, teething like mad, and not liking "tummy" time at all.  Hopefully, her first words won’t be long off.  Perhaps, soon she will say, "Aunt Jane" - heaven knows we practice it enough.

As a business note, when you need help at your office so you can go garden, spend time with family, take a needed vacation, or just catch up -- stop by, or give us a call.  Right now, we’ve got some REALLY good people looking for part-time, as well as permanent work.

Happenings at Caroline & Company

Socks For Kids Results
On behalf of Rainbow House, a local shelter for abused and neglected children, all of us at Caroline & Company wanted to say a big, genuine, heartfelt thank you to all the fine businesses, schools and individuals that helped with our Socks For Kids holiday effort.   Without all of you, 3,435 pairs of wonderful new socks would not have been collected for the deserving children of Rainbow House.

Caroline Joins the Minors
We're excited to announce, this spring and summer, we will be providing the staffing when the Mavericks, Columbia's own minor-league baseball team, play their 49 home games.

New Addition
Nicole Lanham, a Columbia native and Rock Bridge High graduate, has recently joined Caroline & Company as our new receptionist.  She comes to us with a diverse, long-time background in customer service.  Nicole is a Business Administration graduate from Central Missouri State in Warrensburg, MO.  We know you are going to like her.

Advisory Board Chair
Our owner and executive, Caroline J. Maher, was recently named chair of Callaway Bank’s Columbia Advisory Board.  This is a board she has served on since 1999.

Weird Business Trivia

	The vocabulary of the average person consists of 5,000 to 6,000 words.
	The average person laughs about 15 times a day.
	The 1st US Minimum Wage Law was instituted in 1938. The minimum wage was 25 cents per hour.
	A single share of Coca-Cola stock purchased when the company went public in 1919 would have been worth $92,500 in 1997.
	The Brownie box camera, introduced by Eastman Kodak, sold for $1.00 in 1900. The camera's 6-exposure film sold for 15 cents.
	Summer-time-fun foods (ice tea, hot dogs and ice cream) were all invented at the St. Louis World’s in 1904.
	The first product to have a UPC bar code on its packaging was Wrigley's gum.

 

Whether you are interviewing for a possible promotion, or selecting a new employee from a group of quality Caroline & Company candidates - you should find the following hints and tips helpful.

Parting Ways
Pointers on how to terminate an employee

Letting go of an employee is never easy.  Here are some suggestions to make the termination process less traumatic for both the employee and the business.

Reflective Corner

 Dress-Up Thursday -- The Dress-Down Backlash
The growing trend to appear more professional

Tired of seeing your employees look like slobs? Does casual dress mean casual business?  In a Wall Street Journal survey of a 1,000 business that had adopted a casual dress policy, 44% said they had an increase in absenteeism and tardiness; and 30% noted an increase in flirtatious behavior. 

Are you considering adopting a more professional work environment on Thursdays?  May we recommend these informative articles on employee appearance and how it can alter office behaviors and productivity.

With summer and school vacations around the corner, it’s that time of year when we start asking ourselves, “What can we do for fun?”  Perhaps some of our suggestions for here in Missouri will be helpful. Suggestions for Missouri: Bicentennial Byways features three historic driving loops designed to encourage tourists to visit Missouri River communities.
The Missouri State Park Service provides helpful information on over 80 terrific state parks and historical sites. Columbia's Visitors Bureau suggested assorted hidden treasures within a 50-mile circle of Columbia.
At the annual Missouri State Fair are 400 acres of exhibits. Enjoy wholesome fun and entertainment during a big part of August in Sedalia, MO.
Pebble Publishing of Rocheport, MO offers an interactive town-by-town service guide, special events, and a nifty new map that makes navigating your way down the heart of the Katy Trail a snap.

Recommended Web Sites

When you need facts, turn to Refdesk.com. From its plain -- but crowded -- home page, you can gain quick access to online dictionaries, encyclopedias and a myriad of other reference sources: the day's leading news stories, popular search engines and more. Think of it as Yahoo! crossed with your local librarian.

ZeroMillion is an extensive resource for entrepreneurs and business people. Besides a lively discussion forum and interviews with successful entrepreneurs (famous and not so famous), it offers over 450 articles on the topics of business, marketing, web marketing, economics, personal development, ebusiness, entrepreneurship and young entrepreneurship.

Not sure if the products in your bathroom, garage and under your kitchen sink pose a health risk to you or your family members?  Based on chemical ingredients, the Household Products Database can assist you in researching over 4,000 consumer products.