http://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/This is the Payroll HR Benefits BlogCopyright (c) 2013 Tue, 21 May 2013 07:27:17 ESTTue, 21 May 2013 07:27:17 EST5As of April 30th, most private sector employers would have been required to post the Employee Rights notice in a conspicuous place. The poster informs employees of their right to organize and bargain collectively. The DC Circuit Court of Appeals has temporarily enjoined the NLRB's rule requiring the posting of employee rights under the National Labor Relations Act. Until legal issues have been resolved, the notice will have to wait. The NLRB still encourages employers to post the employee rights notice to provide genuine service to those who may not be aware of their rights under this law. Please feel free to visit this website to download a copy of the poster: http://www.nlrb....

]]> http://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/employee-rights-act-originally-schedule-for-april-2012-postponed.htmlhttp://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/employee-rights-act-originally-schedule-for-april-2012-postponed.htmlSun, 10 Jun 2012 12:00:00 ESTMany employers think that if they write a disclaimer and have the employees sign it, they can get out of paying employees for all kinds of wages. Employers say things like: My new hires sign an agreement that says that they are aware that they will not be paid time and a half for overtime.My employees have to sign a disclaimer that states they won't be paid for mandatory training. Many employers engage in the following practices not realizing how much it would cost them if they were reported to the Department of Labor: Employees are forced to clock out because of a "no overtime" policy, but expected to continue working until the job is finished....

]]> http://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/are-you-unknowingly-violation-wage-and-hour-law.htmlhttp://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/are-you-unknowingly-violation-wage-and-hour-law.htmlThu, 07 Jun 2012 12:00:00 ESTAccording to the 2012 Milliman Medical Index, medical insurance premiums now cost the typical American family just over $20,000 a year. In our neck of the woods, Miami is recorded as having the highest cost of care reaching $24,965 a year. Even though this year represents the lowest cost increase in 10 years, these dollar levels has never been seen before. Among the most expensive contributing factors are; outpatient costs, hospital inpatient care, physician costs and emergency room care. Each year that goes by means larger co-pays, deductibles and overall out-of-pocket costs for families as employers attempt to find some way to mitigate the ever rising cost of care....

]]> http://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/average-family-medical-insurance-cost-over-20000-annually.htmlhttp://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/average-family-medical-insurance-cost-over-20000-annually.htmlWed, 06 Jun 2012 12:00:00 ESTOn May 2, 2012, Maryland became the first state to prohibit employers from asking their employees for social media passwords or accessing the social media accounts of prospective and current employees. Is it any wonder that this would lead to the introduction of a federal bill that prohibits the practice of asking employees for their social media passwords? The bill is called Social Networking Online Protection Act (SNOPA), introduced on April 27, 2012. It would bar employers from disciplining individuals who refuse to volunteer such information. Stay tuned for developing information on the social media front....

]]> http://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/social-networking-online-protection-act-introduced.htmlhttp://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/social-networking-online-protection-act-introduced.htmlTue, 05 Jun 2012 12:00:00 ESTEvery year we have the privilege to be a  participant in the Central Florida surveyors vendors’ night. We do retirement planning for a few of the surveying firms in the Orlando area so we like to support them.  I was walking around the convention marveling at all the gadgets (typically I have no idea what I’m looking at). I was watching a demo and they were showing some new equipment that allowed surveyors to drive by in a truck and get all the potential data. This allowed the surveying crew to do the job faster and in a safer manner since they weren’t exposed to the traffic while standing on the side of the road....

]]> http://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/if-i-sell-enough-of-these-i-will-give-you-a-call.htmlhttp://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/if-i-sell-enough-of-these-i-will-give-you-a-call.htmlFri, 11 May 2012 12:00:00 ESTThe NLRB's ruling on the employee rights poster was stopped with an emergency injunction.  The final ruling is pending.  Many businesses celebrated the injunction while many workers continue to not be informed.  The basic right we were given as American citizens in 1935 is the right to organize and bargain collectively.  As employers, we are mandated by the law to post the Federal Labor Law poster so that all employees are aware of their basic rights; minimum wage, what constitutes child labor, FMLA, OSHA, etc…  The NLRB only wanted this to be included on the wall next to the time clock so that employees would be informed....

]]> http://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/who-s-looking-out-for-jobs-in-america-not-us.htmlhttp://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/who-s-looking-out-for-jobs-in-america-not-us.htmlWed, 02 May 2012 12:00:00 ESTIt’s a shame that the Generation Y workforce expects such high wages right out of college when the rest of the workforce pays their dues to achieve a certain salary level.  As long as the company is competitive with the current wage levels, it’s a shame that an employee would become so fixated on money and forget all the other benefits that are offered.  Some companies go out of their way to lead the market by paying a significant amount of the benefit premium, offering telecommuting and a match on their 401k when many companies today are struggling enough to discontinue these types of benefits....

]]> http://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/generation-y-workforce.htmlhttp://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/generation-y-workforce.htmlMon, 16 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST  Many employers classify certain positions under the "independent contractor" classification and then feel confident that they are not obligated to pay any employment taxes or adhere to the myriad of employment laws out there.  This classification does not save the employer from the legal obligation they have when there is actually a real employer-employee relationship under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the IRS.  There have been many cases in the recent past in which misclassified independent contractors were wrongfully terminated or not paid for overtime and the courts found the business relationship was in fact one of an employer-employee....

]]> http://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/are-your-employees-really-independent-contractors.htmlhttp://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/are-your-employees-really-independent-contractors.htmlWed, 21 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST These types of policies should not be so broad that they prohibit the kinds of activities that are protected by NLRA such as employees’ discussions of wages and working conditions.  You cannot count on a disclaimer to rescue you from a policy that is overall broad.  Always consult a professional regarding the creation of your social media policies.  2011 proved to be a highly active year for this type of litigation.  J....

]]> http://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/what-do-businesses-need-to-know-about-social-media-policies.htmlhttp://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/what-do-businesses-need-to-know-about-social-media-policies.htmlTue, 06 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST Employer contributions towards HRAs and HSAs have dropped 13%.  Cost-sharing has obviously gone up over the past few years.  401k contributions stopped for many companies or have lowered....

]]> http://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/what-solutions-do-employers-have-for-the-rising-cost-of-health-care.htmlhttp://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/what-solutions-do-employers-have-for-the-rising-cost-of-health-care.htmlSat, 25 Feb 2012 12:00:00 ESTAs a business owner, you are able terminate immediately, however you must do a few things first.  Once you receive the initial report that an employee is under the influence, you should have two members of management observe the behavior and confirm.  Both managers should then document the observations including all the details, i.e. smells, eyes, speech, emotions, etc..  If both agree, the employee should be sent home pending a drug test.  You should provide transportation to the drug testing facility and then transportation home.  If the test comes back positive, you have the option to terminate immediately....

]]> http://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/what-do-i-do-if-my-employee-seems-to-be-on-drugs.htmlhttp://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/what-do-i-do-if-my-employee-seems-to-be-on-drugs.htmlThu, 23 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST  Every now and then I drive to conferences to learn more about investing and hear from industry specialists. This past month I attended a conference in West Palm Beach on retirement planning. On my way down the Florida Turnpike, I noticed that my E-pass battery wasn’t working. Luckily, I had some change and some cash so I was able to pay the tolls as I drove. I noticed that since I had both cash and change in my car I was able to pick the toll lane that had the fewest cars in it. This helped save time because I had choices for how I wanted to pay the tolls. Having choices can help when it comes to how to take your distributions in retirement as well....

]]> http://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/choices.htmlhttp://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/choices.htmlMon, 09 Jan 2012 12:00:00 ESTPretty interesting technology - definitely prevents "buddy punching".   The Lathem 700 is a complete time clock, attendance and access control system using face recognition technology to instantly identify employees.The system includes powerful Lathem desktop software for editing, running reports and payroll exporting....

]]> http://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/face-recognition-time-clock.htmlhttp://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/face-recognition-time-clock.htmlSun, 08 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST8 suggestions on spending down your leftover FSA funds....

]]> http://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/flex-spending-information.htmlhttp://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/flex-spending-information.htmlWed, 28 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST Each year the IRS sets a limit on what is allowed to be contributed to a retirement plan throughout the year. Attached you will find a helpful guide to retirement plan limits. We thought it may be helpful to use it as a reference through 2012. Thanks and please let us know if you have any questions....

]]> http://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/irs-limits-on-contributions.htmlhttp://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/irs-limits-on-contributions.htmlMon, 19 Dec 2011 12:00:00 ESTGreat article on how to motivate employees.  Too many business owners/managers just don't get it. How much does it cost to compliment someone??   http://www.inc.com/ilya-pozin/9-things-that-motivate-employees-more-than-money....

]]> http://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/things-that-motivate-employees-more-than-money.htmlhttp://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/things-that-motivate-employees-more-than-money.htmlTue, 13 Dec 2011 12:00:00 ESTI had heard that offering extra benefits, not just medical insurance, can actually save money and increase morale....

]]> http://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/how-can-offering-long-and-short-term-disability-coverages-save-me-money.htmlhttp://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/how-can-offering-long-and-short-term-disability-coverages-save-me-money.htmlMon, 12 Dec 2011 12:00:00 ESTThis is the second company I have worked for in Florida where I participated in the 401K plan where no one is there to help / advise etc.....

]]> http://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/little-to-no-information-about-our-company-plan.htmlhttp://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/little-to-no-information-about-our-company-plan.htmlMon, 12 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/how-can-time-clocks-help-my-business.htmlhttp://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/how-can-time-clocks-help-my-business.htmlFri, 09 Dec 2011 12:00:00 ESTOne of the best advantages of the PEO is that they offer a full benefits package for smaller companies with 10 employees or more.  So a company with 20 employees may be able to offer 7 - 10 different medical plans along with dental, vision, LTD, STD and other options.  Usually this is at below market pricing....

]]> http://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/benefits-packages-for-smaller-companies.htmlhttp://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/benefits-packages-for-smaller-companies.htmlWed, 07 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/minimum-wage-what-are-the-new-rates.htmlhttp://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/minimum-wage-what-are-the-new-rates.htmlWed, 07 Dec 2011 12:00:00 ESTOne of the advantages of a PEO is that a company with 15 employees can have the same benefits package as a company with 100 employees. In many cases the PEO will offer 10+ major medical plans to a group of 15 employees....

]]> http://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/multiple-choices-for-small-business.htmlhttp://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/multiple-choices-for-small-business.htmlSun, 04 Dec 2011 12:00:00 ESTMy company is based in the Orlando area. We have been with various Florida based PEO's for the last 8 years.  Both PEO's have used one "bundled" price for all their services. That's convenient but it makes it difficult to know what my true costs are....

]]> http://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/peo-total-costs-florida.htmlhttp://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/peo-total-costs-florida.htmlTue, 15 Nov 2011 12:00:00 ESTWatson - Wyatt - Employees who are most satisfied with their defined benefit plan are more than three times more likely than other employees to plan on remaining with their employer until retirement.  This is a pretty impressive figure.  With the right vesting schedule, employer match, 401K looks like it can be a real tool to help retain and attract the right people....

]]> http://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/retirement-plans.htmlhttp://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/retirement-plans.htmlSat, 12 Nov 2011 12:00:00 ESTWhat are the costs of a "Bad Hire"? How much does a company spend in training, recruiting, opportunity cost of not hiring the right person from the start?  Companies spend hundreds of thousands annually due to poor recruiting.  It's not just the cost of hiring the wrong person - it's also the cost of giving up a spot for the right person.  I have seen poor business manager's not only hire wrong but keep the person at a huge cost to the company.  You can tell within a few weeks and maybe sooner that someone is not a match for the job.  Cutting the cord faster is always better than putting up with a marginal employee.  Attitudes spread like cancer....

]]> http://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/cost-of-a-bad-hire.htmlhttp://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/cost-of-a-bad-hire.htmlSun, 06 Nov 2011 12:00:00 ESTDo the most profitable companies have great HR?  If I asked your key employees to describe your HR Policies/Strategies, how many would be able to? While these questions go hand in hand, it still seems there are so many companies that still consider HR an overhead burden vs. a profit center.  I think that's old school thinking. In 'hard times' attracting and retaining the best is/will be the key to building a successful company.  Solid HR practices including reward & recognition programs,  a great benefits package, proper hiring procedures and compensation comparisons are all important tools to grow companies....

]]> http://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/human-resource-questionsissues.htmlhttp://www.payrollhrbenefits.com/blog/posts/human-resource-questionsissues.htmlTue, 25 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST