Business Payroll and HR Blog
Legal Marijuana and the Workplace
Colorado, Washington, Alaska, Oregon, and Washington, D.C. have all legalized the recreational use of marijuana in recent years, and the trend may be continuing in the years to come. If you are an employer in one of those states, or in a state where marijuana could be...
I-9 Verification for Remote Employees
Have you hired some new employees who live and will work out of state? I-9 verification for remote employees can be a challenge. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requires that all documents required for the I-9 must be viewed in their original...
FMLA and ADA Obligations and Opportunities
When an employee has a medical condition and needs some leave time or other job adjustments, they are often protected by two separate and distinct federal labor laws: the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The purpose of...
New York State Minimum Wage Changes for 2016
The end of 2015 is only two months away, so it's time to start thinking about impactful changes coming next year. The one that may affect your business the most is regarding the minimum wage, because there is not just one change coming, but three New York State...
Dogs in the Workplace Policy
Several articles have been written in recent years about the benefits of employees bringing their dogs to the office. While it can boost employee morale and increase production, it obviously opens up other issues that need to be addressed in order to maintain a safe,...
Affordable Care Act Changes for 2016
There are several Affordable Care Act changes for 2016 for large employers (100+ full time equivalent employees) and mid-sized employers (50-99 full time equivalent employees). Here are the major ones to be aware of: Employer Mandate Reporting Begins (Section 6056...
Employees Discussing Salaries: Can You Legally Prevent it?
Generally speaking, employers may not like the idea of their employees discussing salaries with one another. It could lead to some employees feeling they aren't being paid fairly, or cause resentment if they feel other employees are being overcompensated. Therefore an...
Social Security Wage Base for 2016
Yesterday the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced that the Social Security wage base for 2016 will remain the same as 2015 - $118,500. Two other items remain unchanged from this year: all covered wages are still subject to the 1.45% Medicare tax, and wages...