back to work enterprise business plan workbook

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Back to Work Enterprise Allowance

Introduction, how to apply, where to apply.

The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) scheme encourages people getting certain social welfare payments to become self-employed . If you take part in the BTWEA scheme you can keep a percentage of your social welfare payment for up to 2 years. BTWEA is a payment made by the Department of Social Protection (DSP) to people aged under 66.

There is also a separate Back to Work Scheme called the Short-Term Enterprise Allowance , which supports people on Jobseeker's Benefit to start their own business.

You can qualify for a Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) if you are:

(*with an underlying entitlement to Jobseeker's Allowance - see 'Jobseeker's Benefit and underlying entitlement to JA' below)

Getting one of the qualifying payments below continuously for at least 9 months

• Jobseeker's Transitional payment (JST)
• One-Parent Family Payment (OFP)
• Blind Pension
• Disability Allowance
• Carer's Allowance (full rate) - having stopped caring duties
• Deserted Wife's Benefit /Allowance
• Farm Assist - the new business cannot be in relation to the farm holding or the continuation of an existing business
• Invalidity Pension
• Incapacity Supplement
• Combination of OFP/JST/JA continuously for 9 months

*Jobseeker's Benefit and underlying entitlement to JA

If you are on Jobseeker's Benefit, you need to have an underlying entitlement to Jobseeker's Allowance in order to qualify for BTWEA. Having an underlying entitlement to Jobseeker's Allowance means that you would pass the means test and other criteria for Jobseeker's Allowance. Signing on for unemployment credits following your Jobseeker's Benefit does not count towards the qualifying period for BTWEA.

Other ways of qualifying for BTWEA

You may also be considered for the BTWEA if you are a qualified adult of a person who is already getting the BTWEA.

You may qualify if the person who is getting the BTWEA stops their self-employment before exhausting their entitlement due to certain circumstances. Valid circumstances would include a long-term illness or injury which prevents the original claimant from working, or the illness of an immediate family member which requires them to become a full-time carer. If you are the qualified adult of a BTWEA claimant who stops their self-employment to take up other employment, this is not a valid circumstance to qualify you for BTWEA.

If you qualify for BTWEA in this way, you may avail of the scheme for the time remaining on the original claim. This involves the original claimant transferring his or her entitlements to you as their spouse, civil partner or cohabitant. (In other words, you become self-employed and the original claimant becomes your qualified adult on the BTWEA). If the original claimant is entitled to credits, he or she can continue to claim them. However BTWEA cannot be paid at the same time as another social welfare payment so if the original claimant (now a qualified adult) decides to claim another payment you must stop claiming BTWEA.

If you have been recently released from prison, you may qualify for BTWEA. Time spent in prison can count towards the qualifying period for the BTWEA if you establish an entitlement to a relevant social welfare payment before becoming self-employed.

Qualifying periods for BTWEA

Periods of time spent on Community Employment, Rural Social Scheme, Gateway, Tús, BTEA and VTOS schemes and certain Education and Training Board (ETB) training courses are accepted as qualifying periods provided you were entitled to a qualifying payment before starting on the study or training.

Time spent on Supplementary Welfare Allowance, the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment or in direct provision for asylum seekers can count towards the qualifying period for BTWEA, as long as you establish an entitlement to one of the qualifying payments listed above before starting the BTWEA.

If you have previously participated in the BTWEA scheme and used up your entitlement, you can participate a second time after at least 5 years.

Where you have a break from an eligible payment due to Maternity or Paternity Benefit, you can also qualify as long as you were on an eligible payment before and after the Benefit and for the required time periods above.

Find out more about the qualifying periods for Back to Work Enterprise Allowance .

Help with starting a business

In addition to income support (your weekly payment), you can also get financial support with the costs of setting up your business. These supports are provided under a scheme called the Enterprise Support Grant (ESG) .

You can only get the ESG if you have been approved for the BTWEA. The business plan you submit as part of your application for the scheme must set out the rationale and requirement for financial support. The ESG can pay a total of €2,500 in any 24-month period. You must be able to make a matching contribution of at least 10% to access grant support. You need to provide documentary evidence of the costs (quotations from at least 2 suppliers or, if a single supplier, the reasons for choosing a single supplier).

Eligible items for grant support include:

Note that you do not have an automatic right to any of these amounts. The DSP's Case Officer will assess your application and eligibility.

Some items are not eligible for grant support under the ESG. These include:

• Building/premises rental costs
• Cost of travel (airline tickets, business trips, foreign travel, conferences)
• Insurance (except public liability)
• Personal clothing and uniforms (except protective clothing)
• Professional development programmes and membership fees arranged by professional and regulatory bodies
• Purchase of any type of vehicle
• Renovations to premises (not owned by the jobseeker)
• Stock-in-trade
• Training or education other than that specified
• Utility costs (electricity, water supply, communications such as telephone and broadband), connection or supply and local authority rates

More information is available about becoming self-employed .

Employment grants

Employment grants from a Local Enterprise Office (LEO) or a Local Development Company do not affect your entitlement to the BTWEA.

Extra benefits

You can keep your extra (or secondary) benefits for as long as you are getting the BTWEA. Extra benefits include:

• Fuel Allowance
• Medical card
• Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance

However, if you are getting Rent Supplement, you can only keep it if you are deemed eligible for the Rental Accommodation Scheme . Your Rent Supplement may be affected if your earnings go up while you are on the BTWEA scheme. You should check with the DSP's representative to see how your Rent Supplement may be affected by your participation in the BTWEA scheme.

When you are getting the BTWEA

The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance is paid directly into your bank or building society account each week. The allowance cannot be paid into a mortgage account.

You do not have to pay tax, PRSI or Universal Social Charge on the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance but you may have to pay tax, PRSI and Universal Social Charge on any income you get from self-employment.

You must contact the DSP immediately if your self-employment ends or you take up employment.

If you qualify for the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance you can keep the following portion of your social welfare payment, including increases for a qualified adult and qualified children, for a maximum of 2 years:

• 100% for the 1st year
• 75% for the 2nd year

Change of circumstances

If your circumstances change, your rate of payment for a qualified adult or additional qualified children may be increased or decreased, depending on your situation. However, if your BTWEA claim is based on a previous entitlement to One-Parent Family Payment or Carer's Allowance, you cannot claim an increase for a qualified adult as this would not have been payable on your underlying entitlement.

If your qualified adult finds employment, this does not affect your BTWEA. However, if your qualified adult claims another social welfare payment in their own right, your BTWEA payment will be reduced accordingly.

To apply for the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance, complete application form BTW 2 .

You should return form BTW 2 to the Case Officer in your Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office.

The Case Officer will look at your business proposal and may discuss certain aspects of it with you. You may then be referred to your Local Development Company. You must not take up self-employment until you have received written approval from the DSP.

If you are accepted on to the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance, you must register as self-employed with the Revenue Commissioners .

Reviewing a decision

The BTWEA is an administrative scheme. This means that you cannot appeal a decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. However, you can ask the DSP to review your application if you feel that you have been wrongly refused the allowance.

You can apply to the Case Officer in your Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office .

Related documents

• Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) The Back to Education Allowance scheme helps people who are unemployed, are getting a One-Parent Family Payment or have a disability, to attend approved second-or third-level education courses. 1933.7529
• Back to Work Family Dividend The Back to Work Family Dividend is a weekly payment to help people with children move from social welfare into work. 1903.8181
• Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA) is paid each year to families on certain social welfare payments and other benefits. It helps with the cost of going to school. 1851.1643

If you have a question about this topic you can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0818 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm).

You can also contact your local Citizens Information Centre .

BTWEA & STEA Application Process & Eligibility

Back To Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA)

Review eligibility and then contact your case officer in bishop square intreo or cork st intreo for a suitability of assessment referral to our enterprise team.

BTWEA applicants in receipt of one of the above payments must be:  

• 9 months (234 days) continuously in receipt of JA or JB or
• 12 months (312 days) in receipt of JA or JB immediately prior to their BTWEA application with a maximum of 30 days break in the Live Register/worked days

(*Casuals MUST cease their casual employment before commencing on BTWEA – this should be evidenced by a P45.)

Enterprise Officers will discuss with applicants their business idea and establish if it is a new business and the levels of Displacement & Market Saturation the creation of this business will have on pre-existing businesses.

What does Back to Work Enterprise Allowance provide? 

The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance scheme offers effective support for unemployed individuals interested in self-employment as a route to (re-) entering the labour market and also plays a useful role in supporting the development of new enterprises.

Support services 

Those interested in BTWEA are referred from Intreo Centres to the Enterprise Officer in their Local Development Company who assists them in analysing their options, exploring the viability of their business idea and preparing a business plan to outline their new enterprise. Upon completion of the BTWEA application and the business plan the DSP Case Officer/Advisor will review the new enterprise proposal and make a recommendation to the deciding officer in the Intreo Centre. Once accepted onto the scheme these new enterprises can then avail of the supports from the DSP Case Officer/Advisor and mentoring from their Local Development Company over the two years of the scheme.

The package of supports available to participants under the BTWEA consists of: 

• A weekly payment equivalent to the full value of the main social welfare payment in the first year, tapering to three-quarters of the value in the second year of operation of the enterprise
• Removal of the requirement to satisfy the condition of genuinely seeking work and being available for work to receive the weekly allowance
• Potential retention of secondary benefits; including medical card where the entitlement existed prior to BTWEA
• Access to support and advice by the DEASP Case Officer
• Access to support, advice and mentoring by an Enterprise Officer in a Local Development Company (LDC) through the SICAP programme
• Access to the DEASP funded Enterprise Support Grant (on approval by a DEASP Case Officer)

Short-Term Enterprise Allowance (STEA)

The Short-Term Enterprise Allowance (STEA) supports you if you have lost your job and want to start your own business. 

The Short-Term Enterprise Allowance is paid instead of your Jobseeker’s Benefit for a maximum of 9 months. It ends when your entitlement to Jobseeker’s Benefit ends (that is, at either 9 or 6 months). 

To qualify for the Short-Term Enterprise Allowance you must be getting, or have an entitlement to,  Jobseeker’s Benefit.

The client must obtain written recommendation from LDC and the department’s Case Officer in advance of commencing self- employment. 

Seasonal, temporary or part-time self-employment does not qualify for the STEA. You must contact the department immediately if your self-employment ends or you take up employment. 

If you are unemployed when your entitlement to STEA ends you will not immediately re-qualify for Jobseeker’s Benefit. However, you can apply for  Jobseeker’s Allowance  which is a means-tested payment.

Eligibility 

To be eligible, applicants must satisfy the following conditions: 

• be awarded Jobseeker’s Benefit
• have made application for STEA before engaging in self-employment
• be in a position to start up a viable business as a self-employed person
• obtain written recommendation from their local Partnership Company and DEASP Case Officer, in advance of engaging in self-employment that is full-time in nature

Rates Structure 

The STEA replaces the participant’s Jobseeker’s Benefit. On transfer to STEA, a qualifying person is paid at the appropriate JB rate until entitlement to JB expires. These are set rates that do not vary, except where a qualified adult makes a claim for DEASP payment in his/her own right

Extra Benefits 

Participants in the STEA scheme may retain any secondary benefits that they received with JB such as a Medical Card, Back to School Clothing & Footwear allowance, Diet Supplement, Rent Supplement or Mortgage Interest Supplement under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme, subject to certain conditions.

Step By Step Guide To The Application Process

Contact a Case Officer in  INTREO  to ask if you are eligible for  BTWEA or STEA.

INTREO  Case Officer refers you to Dublin South City Partnership for a pre-enterprise support appointment.  INTREO  sends referral letter and Assessment of Suitability form to  DSCP Enterprise Team.

DSCP Enterprise Team registers you as an enterprise client, shares all of the relevant forms with you and explains the process.

DSCP  Enterprise Team registers you for their  “Start Your Own Business Course”   (mandatory for all applications)  and  Revenue File & Return workshops.

DSCP  Enterprise Team reviews all forms and additional support requirement and decides if forms are ready for submission to  INTREO  or if further support is required.

DSCP Enterprise Team refers for mentoring and provide additional enterprise workshops.

Enterprise Client (You) submits all forms printed and signed to  DSCP  Enterprise Manager for final submission.   DSCP  Enterprise Manager reviews, signs, stamps and submits to  INTREO  for approval.

Enterprise client receives update and approval/refusal from  INTREO.

Enterprise Client submits Enterprise Support Grant quotes to  INTREO  for approval and continues to receive post-enterprise mentoring and training supports from  DSCP  Enterprise Team.

Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) / Short Term Enterprise Allowance Application Process (STEA)

Back to work enterprise allowance, back to work enterprise allowance forms.

TR1 or TR2 and/or Proof registered as self-employed with ROS Back to work Business Plan Workbook 12 month cash flow projections Copies of all relevant qualifications, licences, permits, registration Accreditation, including CRO registration TAX Clearance Certificate ETC/TCAN

STEA Forms For Application Process

Short term enterprise allowance.

Short Term Enterprise Allowance Application Form TR1 or TR2 and/or proof registered with ROS Back to work Business Plan Workbook 12 month cash flow projections Copies of all relevant qualifications, licences, permits, registration Accreditation, including CRO registration TAX Clearance Certificate ETC/TCAN

Preparing Your BTWEA / STEA Forms

Ensure everything is in order.

Read all of the forms downloaded or emailed to you. Complete the BTWEA/STEA Application Form & Business Plan Workbook first. Remember to fill in what you have invested yourself and what you would require the Enterprise Support Grant for. Then complete the Cash Flow Projections, ensure it corresponds with the Business Plan Workbook. DO NOT include BTWEA/STEA Payment. Discuss with DSCP Enterprise and undertake all training to support with documents, Start Your Own Business, Revenue, Accountant Online Q&A. Discuss all Permits/Regulations with DSCP Enterprise and clarify what is required for registration, CRO, ROS, and TCAN and timeline.

Complete, Sign, Review Checklist & Submit To DSCP

12 week process to apply no timeline on approvals.

When all documents are complete and every item on the checklist has been submitted to DSCP Enterprise for Review, You will then be asked to print, sign and send the full submission to DSCP Enterprise so they can sign, stamp and recommend to INTREO for final approval.

BTWEA/STEA GUIDELINES

Click to view the Operational Guidelines: Back to Work Enterprise Allowance

Click to view the Operational Guidelines: Short Term Enterprise Allowance

(BTWEA) Back to Work Enterprise Allowance Application Forms and related documents

(stea) short term enterprise allowance application forms and related documents.

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Newswire » Local News , Useful Info » A Simple Guide To The Back To Work: Enterprise Allowance

A Simple Guide To The Back To Work: Enterprise Allowance

by Eoghan Brunkard on Nov 29th, 2013 - 7143 Views - 2 Comments

The Back to Work: Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) is a special welfare payment that allows the recipient to earn any amount on a self employed venture while drawing their dole over a set period of time.

You can qualify for BTWEA Scheme if you are…

1. Setting up as self-employed in a business that has been approved in advance in writing by a Jobs Facilitator or Local Development Company (FRG in this instance).

2. Getting one of the qualifying payments listed below for at least 12 months:

• Jobseeker’s Allowance • Jobseeker’s Benefit (with an underlying entitlement to Jobseeker’s Allowance, you do not have to be 12 months in receipt) • One-Parent Family Payment • Blind Pension • Disability Allowance • Carer’s Allowance (having stopped caring duties) • Farm Assist • Invalidity Pension • Incapacity Supplement • Pre-Retirement Allowance • Widow’s/Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Non-Contributory) Pension • Deserted Wife’s Benefit or Allowance • Prisoner’s Wife’s Allowance

• Illness Benefit for 3 or more years

There are other criteria that enable people to apply that are too long to list here but can be viewed at welfare.ie

There are two types of allowance.

Firstly there is the Back to Work: Enterprise Allowance, which entitles the recipient to one year of their present welfare payment and then another year at 75% of their payment. Generally, people who are eligible for this payment are over one year in unemployment and are in receipt of Job Seeker’s Allowance or another long term payment.

Secondly, there is the Short Term: Enterprise Allowance, this provides for 100% of the recipient’s current welfare payment for as long as their PRSI contributions have covered (generally under a year). Generally, people entitled to this category are recently unemployed and are currently living on Job Seeker’s Benefit.

The process is straightforward.

If you are living in the Dublin 8 area, and wish to start your own business (and answer the social welfare criteria listed above) simply drop down to social welfare office on Thomas Street (facing St Catherine’s Church), and enquire about applying for the Back to Work: Enterprise Allowance. Your eligibility will be tested by the facilitator who (if you are eligible) will issue you with a letter stating the form of allowance you can apply for and direct you to the local Community Enterprise Officer.

The Local Community Enterprise Officer is based in the Fountain Resource Group main office in the Presbytery beside St James’s Church. Their role is to assess the viability of the business idea, aid the applicant with their forms and act as the applicant’s guarantor that they have of registered for tax. The complete application should contain a filled in Back to Work: Enterprise Allowance application form, a copy of filled in tax registration form (the original will be sent in by the Enterprise Officer) and a business plan. The business plan does not need to be large and intricate as used for bank loans, as long as it covers the business premise, marketing strategy, business roles (who does what in the business), finances (start up costs, running costs, projections).

Once all the forms have been sent, the application process can take up to 5 weeks for the decision to be sent out to the recipient. Once approved, the applicant can apply for a small grant (the technical assistance grant) to help with capital expenditures, this grant is the value of €500 and any purchases must be agreed with the facilitator. It should be stressed no one is entitled to the grant only entitled to apply, the final decision rests with the facilitator who themselves have to answer to the Department of Social Protection’s criteria. Any applicant cannot also be in part time employment at the same time, the social welfare presumes that any applicant will commit themselves 100% to their business.

There are a number of incentives for people to start up on their own in business in the current climate, for instance, sole traders do not need to pay income tax for the next two years if they register this year.

For further information you can ring Eoghan Brunkard at 01 4532936.

IMAGE: Monopoly pieces spelling ‘start’ – image credit: Jake and Lindsey/Flickr

FRG Enterprise Services

Eoghan Brunkard is one of our two enterprise officers here at the Fountain Resource Group, the only official Department of Social Protection (DSP) enterprise officers for the South Inner City (the Larkin Centre covers the Northside). Since 1991, we have helped over 2,500 clients to start their own businesses via our enterprise services. Click here for more info>

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Prosperity chambers, d01 p5p5, +353 1 254 6161, call us now, mon-fri: 10 am to 5 pm, saturday and sunday closed, what you need to know about back to work enterprise allowance scheme.

• Home > Entrepreneurship > What You Need to Know About Back to Work Enterprise Allowance scheme

The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) is one of the programs of the national government implemented under the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. This scheme is intended to improve the long-term unemployment situation of most individuals so they may be able to improve themselves thru the self-employment opportunities offered by this program.

This program allows those who avail of this to retain a reduced portion of their social welfare payment. In addition to that, they may also enjoy other advantages such as secondary benefits- that is in some instances, for a period of over two years.

So…..

Basically, what this means is that you are able to start your business; while at the same time, you are still entitled to receive your social welfare benefits for up to a period of 2 years. As to the social welfare benefits, you can receive them 100% in the first year. In the succeeding year, you are entitled to receive 75% of the said benefits.

If you’re asking the rationale for this program, it simply is to support those who have been unemployed for a long period of time so they may get the opportunity to be self-sufficient again thru self-employment. In the big picture, it will also help the entire economy as well with the increase of the employment rate.

How to avail of the BTWEA program?

In order to avail of this program, it is important that your proposed business must be approved in advance by the DEASP Case Officer and the LDC or the Local Development Company.

The following will be able to receive social welfare based on the following schemes for a period of 234 days or a total of 9 months

• Jobseeker’s Benefit
• Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Jobseeker’s Transitional payment (JST)
• One-Parent Family Payment (OFP)
• Blind Pension
• Disability Allowance
• Carer’s Allowance (full rate) – having stopped caring duties
• Deserted Wife’s Benefit/Allowance
• Farm Assist – the new business cannot be in relation to the farm holding or the continuation of an existing business
• Invalidity Pension
• Incapacity Supplement
• Widow’s/Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Non-Contributory) Pension
• Qualifying from Illness Benefit: 3 out of last 5 years in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment
• Combination of OFP/JST/JA continuously for 9 months
• Qualified Adult of someone getting BTWEA already
• Qualified Candidates

What are the requisites to avail of the BTWEA program:

Once you have been approved of the BTWEA program, it is important to know that it is only the time where you can avail yourself of the ESG or the Enterprise Support Grant.

After which, it is vital that you also submit your back to work enterprise allowance business plan. this business plan must be included together with your application for this scheme.  The reason for financial support for your business must also be included therein.

The ESG can pay a total of €2,500 in any 24-month period. You must be able to make a matching contribution of at least 10% to access grant support. You need to provide documentary evidence of the costs (quotations from at least 2 suppliers or, if a single supplier, the reasons for choosing a single supplier).

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• Step 5: Let’s talk about money
• Step 6: What could possibly go wrong?
• Step 7: Action plan
• Step 8: Say it in 1000 words or less
• Step 9: Supporting documents
• Step 10: Final checklist and business plan outline

The PDF file download is offered at $15 and a printed, bound copy is $29.99 with free shipping.

$15.00 - $29.99

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The Business Plan Workbook: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating and Developing a Successful Business Kindle Edition

Lay down the foundations of a successful business venture through a thoroughly researched and competitive business plan. Based on tried and tested business methodology used at the leading business school, Cranfield School of Management, this 10th edition of The Business Plan Workbook guides you through all the necessary steps to constructing a winning business plan. This is a practical run-through of 26 key areas of development of strategic planning. It will allow you to think of these areas in isolation through the use of assignments that ensure you have stress-tested your business proposition. This guide covers how to - Come up with a winning business idea - Complete market and competitive research - Set up a winning marketing strategy - Forecast watertight financials and projections - Define realistic operations and staffing - Deliver an unforgettable pitch to potential backers and investors This new and fully updated edition includes 67 business case studies that show you how successful entrepreneurs have dealt with strategic planning in the past. The content has been streamlined to focus on the most critical parts of business planning, ensuring you spend time where it matters and stay competitive. With new information resources and financial planning consideration, this is an invaluable guide for entrepreneurs, business executives and students.

• Print length 318 pages
• Language English
• Sticky notes On Kindle Scribe
• Publisher Kogan Page
• Publication date February 3, 2021
• File size 4151 KB
• Page Flip Enabled
• Word Wise Enabled
• Enhanced typesetting Enabled
• See all details

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Editorial Reviews

About the author.

Following a career in business where he held senior staff and line positions, including that of managing director of a substantial manufacturing enterprise with multi -plant and multi-country operations he was Head of the Enterprise Group at Cranfield School of Management, a leading European Business School, for ten years. He has been a visiting professor in universities in the US, Europe and East Asia. For five years he was a non-executive director of a high tech venture capital fund, has sat on Government task forces and is now strategic advisor to a number of business owners. As well as his own books he currently writes freelance, ghost writing and 'Anglicising' books for American authors and lectures extensively on business topics.

Product details

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08PQ2M17V
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kogan Page; 10th edition (February 3, 2021)
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 3, 2021
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• File size ‏ : ‎ 4151 KB
• Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
• Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
• Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 318 pages
• #1,647 in Startups
• #2,521 in Business Systems & Planning
• #6,808 in Systems & Planning

About the author

Colin barrow.

Educated at Sandhurst and Cranfield, Colin Barrow is the author of more than 30 books in the fields of entrepreneurship, business management and international property development. His books have been published by the BBC, The Economist, John Wiley, The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Times and Kogan Page. He has authored or co-authored ten books in the Dummies series and been translated into a score of languages including Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Russian, Georgian, Romanian, Polish and Bahasa Indonesia. Two of his books formed the core of Microsoft's Business Plan Writer, a project on which he was a consultant advisor.

Following a career in business where he held senior staff and line positions, including that of managing director of a manufacturing enterprise with multi -plant and multi-country operations he was Head of the Enterprise Group at Cranfield School of Management, a leading International Business School, for ten years. He has been a visiting professor in universities in the US, Europe and the Far East, and is currently an Academic Governor of Richmond, The American International University in London and a Visiting Fellow of Cranfield School of Management.

For five years he was a non-executive director of a high tech venture capital fund, has sat on Government task forces and is now strategic advisor to a number of business owners.

As well as his own books he currently writes freelance, ghost writing and 'Anglicising' books for American authors and he lectures extensively on business topics. You can hear Colin's podcast on team building at http://www.morethanbusiness.com/Knowledge-Centre/Podcasts/Business-Networks

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Watch CBS News

Some companies plan to increase return-to-office requirements, despite risk of losing talent

By Khristopher J. Brooks

Edited By Anne Marie Lee

Updated on: May 29, 2024 / 6:38 PM EDT / CBS News

A quarter of U.S. companies will require its workers to show up at the office more often next year, even though doing so may cause some productive staff members to leave.

That's according to new  findings  from ResumeBuilder.com which surveyed 756 employers at companies with return-to-office policies in place since 2021. RTO mandates have been one of the most divisive issues in corporate America since the nation emerged from the pandemic, with companies and employees often  clashing over policies.

Among companies planning to require an increased number of days in office, 86% cited productivity as the top reason for doing so. That was followed by a desire to improve company culture (71%), employee well-being (57%) and retention (55%). 

However, the findings of at least one study on RTO mandates seems to contradict those motives. Research from the Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh, found that RTO mandates have no impact on companies' financial performance. It also found that RTO policies can cause a "significant decline"  in employee satisfaction . That may explain why 80% of companies in Resume Builder's survey said they have lost talent as a result of their RTO policy. 

"Unfortunately, I think many business leaders make assumptions about things like productivity, culture, and employee well-being,"  Julia Toothacre, resume and career strategist at Resume Builder, said the report. "Productivity is a result of clear expectations and good management. Culture is driven by people, not physical spaces, and employee well-being is more about how people are managed, their stress levels, and the amount of flexibility they have."

The survey also found that 45% of companies will not push employees to come into the office more often next year, choosing to leave their current RTO policy as is. Another 21% said employees will be allowed to come in less frequently in 2025.

Still, an overwhelming 93% of business leaders believe employees should be physically present in the office and therefore support RTO mandates. Most employers currently require that employees work in office a certain number of days, with 38% enforcing a minimum of three days per week. Amazon, Apple, and Starbucks are among the companies now requiring workers to come in three days a week.

As work-life balance becomes a higher priority for employees, however, Toothacre says companies can expect more walkouts as a result of RTO mandates.

"People may have moved and aren't willing to move again to keep their position," she said. "It's also possible that there are familial responsibilities that require a flexible schedule or the need to be at home. Some people also like working from home or remotely and don't want to return to an office environment."

ResumeBuilder.com drew its results from a May survey of business owners, human resource managers, supervisors, CEOs, senior managers and other top decision-makers at companies. The respondents were all over age 25, made over $75,000 a year and had an education higher than a high school diploma. 

Khristopher J. Brooks is a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch. He previously worked as a reporter for the Omaha World-Herald, Newsday and the Florida Times-Union. His reporting primarily focuses on the U.S. housing market, the business of sports and bankruptcy.

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