George's excuse for not showing up for the big meeting last month was even more lame than usual. But in the last few weeks, he's stopped even bothering to make excuses.

Meanwhile, customers are complaining because Jenny in sales isn't returning their calls fast enough. The company has already lost one account over it, and another account was saved only through your personal intervention.

To top it off, you overheard Pat complaining to the new hire in accounting about the company's outdated procedures.

When did the wheels fall off the bus?

If you don't take care of the basics when it comes to human resources management, the big picture can fall apart. Problems include:

• Sabotage - Employees who aren't interested in their work can hurt or cripple a company's operations. In a worst-case scenario, demoralized employees may actually complain to clients about their own company.
• Absenteeism - Staff arrive late for work, miss meetings and routinely take two hour "lunch breaks".
• Poisoned atmosphere - Jaded employees can quickly turn enthusiastic new hires into burn-outs.

When basic HR techniques are employed, the benefits are easy to see:

• Enthusiastic staff - Happy employees know they're doing something positive to add value to a company, not just filling space.
• Arriving at work with a sense of mission - Members of this generation's workforce show up at the office with energy and motivation when they know how their company is making a positive difference in the world.
• Camaraderie - Employees enjoy working with each other and have a positive relationship with the boss.

A company that creates these conditions can be miles ahead of the competition. Three basic HR techniques to achieve these goals include:

1. Be fair - Apply policies and procedures consistently for employees. Ensure pay, benefits, payroll procedures and the workplace environment are in line with industry standards.
2. Provide feedback and reward achievement - Recognize employees' achievements for a job well done. Provide constructive feedback about what they've done well and how they might improve their performance even more.

   Find out what motivates your employees and give them something they actually want in return for superior on-the-job performance. A nice dinner out or a paid day off may be all the incentive they need to keep firing on all cylinders.

3. Lead by example - The boss needs to set the tone. If you treat your employees with respect and a positive attitude, that kind of behavior will filter to the rest of the organization.

When you manage your business with tried and true basic HR techniques, you'll have happy employees. Happy employees are productive workers that will have a stake in helping your company succeed!

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