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Business Payroll and HR Blog
401(k) Plans for Small Businesses
A retirement plan shows that you are invested in the futures of your employees and gives employees the opportunity to plan ahead and care for their financial futures. The 401(k) is a type of retirement account, aptly named after its section description in the IRS tax...
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...
Asking Applicants About Disabilities
Q: We received an application from someone who has worked for our grocery store in the past. A few of our current employees tell me that this applicant has been in and out of the hospital lately due to severe back pain. Is this something we can ask him about during...
Telecommuting Program Best Practices
If you decide to offer a telecommuting program to your employees, we recommend you create a policy and follow it consistently. Additionally, any employee who telecommutes should sign an agreement stating that they have read and understood the policy and acknowledge...
