Stay Legal & Update Your Employee Handbook


getting ahead

2015 is winding down and your year-end to-do list is getting longer and longer and longer.  It can be easy to overlook your employee handbook in the midst of all of the other craziness going on.  But it’s important that you take a few minutes and read and review it to make sure you aren’t leaving yourself open to legal issues that could cause bigger headaches in the new year.

So let’s take a quick look at what you need to do to update your employee handbook for 2016 and the changes that are coming.
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Are You Breaking The Law by Paying Salary-Exempt?


legal responsibility

A lot of employers choose to pay employees on a salaried basis.  It’s easier on you to estimate your payroll costs from month to month, and your employees love the stability it gives them too.  So it seems like it’s a win-win on both sides… right?

However, I usually see problems when employers pay their team on a non-exempt salary basis.  Typically they offer this arrangement because they think that they won’t have to worry as much about tracking hours, and that’s where the legal issues begin. ……… Read More >>

1099 vs W2 – lllegally Using Contract Workers


Some employers swear by using contractors in their company.  I’ve met several companies that have almost their entire workforce built up around using “1099 employees” to deliver services to their customers.  They having a staff, without the administrative overhead and legal obligations having a staff inherently brings.

The problem lies in the fact that 1099 employees don’t exist!  I’m sure you’re wondering what I mean by that, so let me explain. ……… Read More >>

How marriage equality act affects your policies


paperwork

Any time there is a major change to a state or federal law that expands or restricts rights awarded to any group of people, you need to take a few minutes and review your company policies.

On June 26, 2015, one of the biggest changes we’ve seen in a while went into effect when the United States Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriages nationwide.  Regardless of your personal beliefs, it’s important to make sure that you, as an employer, know how the marriage equality act affects your employment policies and benefits so you can continue operating legally.

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Why You Can’t Have An Intern For Free


When it comes to hiring, or working as, an intern, there are a LOT of misconceptions floating around.

Most employers are confused about what their responsibilities are to their interns, and interns are confused as to what their rights are with the employer.

It can be very easy to violate federal laws when hiring unpaid interns.  So let’s look at what the requirements are and how you can stay legal. ……… Read More >>

Will Your Biz Face Penalties in 2016’s Obamacare?


harassment quick reference

The Affordable Care Act (or Obama-care) Employer Mandate goes into effect for all businesses in 2016 that employ 50 or more full-time-equivalent (FTE) workers.  For some businesses, this means higher fees.  For others, it means that you have a higher number of employees that you have to insure.  So let’s take a look at what 2016 has in store for your mandated Health Care coverage for your employees. ……… Read More >>