Stretching Your Dollars

How to get the most from your minimum-wage employees

By Jacquelyn Lynn

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Entrepreneur magazine, March 1998

Getting top-notch performances out of minimum- wage workers is a challenge--but it is possible, says Robert K. McIntosh, author and publisher of Minimum Wage, Maximum Results. He offers these tips for managing your minimum-wage employees:

  • Understand what motivates each employee. McIntosh calls it the "hot button concept"--if you know what makes someone perform, you can provide the appropriate inspiration.
  • Determine your expectations and communicate them clearly. People can't do what you want them to if they don't know what that is. Be sure you know what you expect from your employees, then be sure you've made that clear.
  • Create a positive environment. Provide positive feedback and incentives to build an environment where employees want to excel.
  • Hire the right people. Take the time to thoroughly evaluate and screen new employees.
  • Invest in training. This gives your employees the skills they need to do their jobs properly.
  • Develop employee retention programs. Strive to keep the people you have; it's less expensive and more efficient than replacing them.
  • Reward performance. Use tangible (money and prizes) and intangible (praise and recognition) rewards to reinforce positive behavior.

Contact Sources

Robert K. McIntosh, 5527 Cathedral Oaks, Santa Barbara, CA 93111, rkm@hp2.ksimaging.com

Jacquelyn Lynn is a business writer in Winter Park, Florida.

Related Topics

Editor's Pick

Everyone Wants to Get Close to Their Favorite Artist. Here's the Technology Making It a Reality — But Better.
The Highest-Paid, Highest-Profile People in Every Field Know This Communication Strategy
After Early Rejection From Publishers, This Author Self-Published Her Book and Sold More Than 500,000 Copies. Here's How She Did It.
Having Trouble Speaking Up in Meetings? Try This Strategy.
He Names Brands for Amazon, Meta and Forever 21, and Says This Is the Big Blank Space in the Naming Game
Business News

These Are the Most and Least Affordable Places to Retire in The U.S.

The Northeast and West Coast are the least affordable, while areas in the Mountain State region tend to be ideal for retirees on a budget.

Management

5 Things I Learned as the CEO of a Fully Remote Company

As the CEO of a company that was an early adopter of a fully distributed workplace model, here are five important lessons I've learned from the experience.

Marketing

Want Your Self-Published Book in Bookstores? Here are 3 Major Tips On How to Make It Happen.

As a publisher for over eight years, here are some of my best tips for how to self-publish a book in a way that will increase your chances of seeing it in bookstores.

Starting a Business

A Founder Who Bootstrapped Her Jewelry Business with Just $1,000 Now Sees 7-Figure Revenue Because She Knew Something About Her Customers Nobody Else Did

Meg Strachan, founder and CEO of lab-grown jewelry company Dorsey, personally packed and shipped every order until she hit $1 million in sales.

Business News

I Live on a Cruise Ship for Half of the Year. Look Inside My 336-Square-Foot Cabin with Wraparound Balcony.

I live on a cruise ship with my husband, who works on it, for six months out of the year. Life at "home" can be tight. Here's what it's really like living on a cruise ship.