News that BA staff have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action is bad news for the troubled airline and customers. And, with staff around the world seemingly more and more inclined to take strike action, what does this mean for businesses?

BA staff voted 80% in favour of industrial action, following on from their vote for strike action late last year. This would have led to stoppages over Christmas and was only averted when it was deemed illegal by the High Court.

Last month the UK operations of HP and Fujitsu were both hit by strikes and all small business owners will remember - with limited fondness - the postal strikes last year that so disrupted business for many small companies.

This type of action is not just a UK problem of course - 4,000 pilots at German airline Lufthansa recently began four days of strike action. The carrier has cancelled approximately 3,000 flights and has warned of delays domestically and internationally.

Unions representing French air traffic controllers have announced a four-day strike, beginning on Tuesday, which will result in hundreds of flights in and out of Paris' Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports being cancelled.

Industrial actions are issues that effect large companies more than small and medium-sized businesses. However, the main point is the same: without a happy and motivated workforce all firms will not operate to their potential.

Measures such as implementing flexible working hours, remote working and staff training initiatives can ensure that employees are happy and motivated, and thus perform at their optimum levels for their employer.

While the recent strike action may only be affecting small firms as customers, they would be wise to take heed of the business lessons that can be learned.