The numbers paint a bleak picture: Almost half of all Americans would struggle to pay for an unexpected $250 expense, according to the October 2020 Marketplace-Edison Research Poll. Nearly one in four Americans has no emergency savings, and another 26% have less than three months of savings, per a December 2020 report by the Life Insurance Marketing and Research Association … [Read more...]

Regardless of whether your first payroll involves a few employees or many, the goal is to execute payroll in an accurate and compliant manner. Here are some steps to help you manage your first payroll. Get an EIN and perform the necessary state registrations. Obtain an Employer Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Service. If required, register with the state department of revenue … [Read more...]

1. Know who you want, then pursue them quickly. Ultimately, it comes down to this: What does the role require? And who is best suited for it? Even if the open position is identical or similar to others in your company, remember that no two people are exactly alike — even if they share similar backgrounds, values, traits, qualifications and job duties. Therefore, you'll need to determine … [Read more...]

Tom Brady won the Super Bowl — again. What are you going to do? If seeing Brady make an end zone run at the age of 43 guilted you into renewing your gym membership, you know that motivation to better oneself can come from many places. Maybe we can do a bit of motivation as employers. On the heels of one of the most difficult years in a generation, setting and keeping wellness goals might be … [Read more...]

Along with being required by law, pay equity promotes an environment in which employees believe they are being fairly rewarded for their work. Pay equity is also crucial during recruiting, especially when employers are vying for talent in a tight labor market. By conducting pay-equity reviews, you can determine whether your compensation practices are lawful, fair and competitive. The first … [Read more...]

Time theft reportedly costs U.S. employers over $400 billion yearly in lost productivity. Further, in a survey by Software Advice, 43% of hourly workers admitted "to exaggerating the amount of time they work during their shifts." To prevent time theft, employers are utilizing biometric time clocks. According to the Software Advice survey, biometric time clocks seem to be the best way to prevent … [Read more...]

Orientation formally introduces the new hire to the company — including its mission, culture, values, vision, policies, procedures and fringe benefits. Training equips the new hire with the knowledge he or she needs to perform the job satisfactorily. Should the new hire be paid for time spent at either event? Generally, yes. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), employers must pay new … [Read more...]

Technology enables employers to distribute benefits information rapidly to employees. From apps to online portals, and from emails to text messages, employees can access benefits data with just the click of a button. Along with transmitting materials electronically, digital solutions help employees better manage their benefits. Employees can, for example, apply for paid time off, enroll in … [Read more...]

The pandemic foisted changes on society that reset the context for your company, its employees and professionals, but just because the crisis is over doesn't mean you shouldn't incorporate the changes you made into your future strategy. In responding to COVID-19, you publicly and unambiguously elevated employees' health and well-being to a high priority. Even after lockdowns are lifted, that … [Read more...]

An employee who resigns with two weeks' notice may think they are doing you a favor. But in fact, it can be a payroll headache, especially if you listen to some of the misinformation you may have heard about two-week notices. For example, you may have heard a rumor that you don't need to pay employees for their last two weeks of work. That's not true; as an employer, you must pay your employees … [Read more...]