Helpful Articles
CARES Act: Employer Tax Deferral
As we continue to wade through the COVID-19 regulations we want to update you on the deferral of employment tax deposits and payments portion of the CARES Act.
The CARES Act
The CARES Act was signed by President Trump on Friday, March 27, 2020. It is important to understand the provisions of this Act as well as the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) before making decisions related to payroll costs and staffing.
Families First Coronovirus Response Act
Many of you have been anxiously awaiting the final version H.R.6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. On Wednesday (March 18) the U.S. Senate passed the bill and the President signed it. The legislation will extend assistance to individuals affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. The bill will become effective on April 2, 2020.
HR Checklist for 2020
The end of the year is a great time to audit and organize your organization before launching into the new year. One thing to audit going into 2020 is the exempt status of your employees. The change to the FLSA exempt status salary threshold will be effective on January 1, 2020. FLSA status is just one of the things included in our End of Year Checklist.
New White-collar Overtime Rule
This week the US Department of Labor (DOL) released the new Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) rule for the white-collar overtime exemption.
Week In Review
Need a little weekend reading? Each Friday we will be posting a round up of posts from the week. September 1 - September 6, 2019
Employee Benefits FAQs
Some people enroll in employee benefit plans but never ask questions at their time of enrollment. Whether it’s your first time to enroll with benefits, or you’re already a pro, here is a list of FAQs that may help you somewhere down the line.
Benefits 101
Enrolling in your employee benefits plans may be one of the most important things you do for yourself and family as a new employee. Consider these questions during your benefits enrollment process and you’ll stay ahead of the game.
It’s Not Your Grandmother’s Self-funding
Health care premiums continue to rise, and employers are looking for innovative ways to curb costs. Self-funding of health insurance is common among large companies – those with at least a couple hundred employees. Yet, few smaller companies have had the opportunity to self-fund health care for their employees.
Benefits Glossary
The benefits world can be a confusing place. The best way to plot a successful benefits route is to understand the benefits terminology being used.
Managing your Flexible Spending Accounts
Flexible Spending Accounts are an easy way to set aside money from your paycheck to help you pay for qualifying medical or dependent daycare expenses, while saving you money on payroll taxes. But Flexible Spending Accounts can seem scary if you don’t understand the rules.
Employee Tips and Tricks for Open Enrollment
Open Enrollment is that once-per-year opportunity to tweak your employee benefits plans to fit your needs for the upcoming benefit year.
New White-collar Overtime Rule
This week the US Department of Labor (DOL) released the new Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) rule for the white-collar overtime exemption.
Overtime Rule May be on the Horizon
In its proposed overtime rule, the DOL projected the final rule would take effect by January 2020. If that’s the case, we might see the final rule by September or October.
EEO-1 Component 2 Reporting
Employers subject to filing EEO-1 should now prepare for the new Component 2 reporting requirement. As reported in our March 17, 2019 article we were waiting for further direction by the court which has now been decided.
Navigating HR Perils
Navigating your way through the employment maze is challenging. Marilyn Conyer, President/COO of Spirit HR, spoke at the Moore Norman Technology Center Grow Your Business Summit about some of the HR perils that require an employer’s attention.
Overtime Rules Surface Again
After waiting years for the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) to address the overtime rules, the agency has spoken. On March 7, 2019, the USDOL released its proposed rule.
EEO-1 Positioned to Gather Pay Data
In a late-night decision on March 4, a federal judge reinstated a version of the EEO-1 report that requires covered employers to report pay information in addition to the historically required race, ethnicity and sex data.
5 Simple Tips to Stay Cyber Secure at Work
Cybercriminals are not known to discriminate; they target vulnerable computers regardless of whether they are a home user, small business or connected to a large corporation. These criminals often rely on human error to gain access to computer systems. Something as simple as a failure to install software patches or clicking on a link in an email can have devastating results.
5 Reasons to Outsource
There are many reasons why a company would outsource certain business functions. Outsourcing is a great way to improve your competitive advantage while controlling costs.
Are you a Boss or a Leader?
Good leadership within companies is a key element to increasing employee engagement. And, employee engagement is a key element in retaining talent.
Employee Development Plans Make Good Sense
Creating an employee development plan makes good business sense. It keeps employees engaged and helps the company meet its business goals.
Journey Mapping
A customer journey map is merely an illustration or diagram of all the places (touchpoints) your customers come into contact with your company, online or off. It provides a visual way to track the customer experience.
The Challenges of Being a Multi-state Employer
Growth is a good thing. But if your business has expanded to where you have employees in more than one state, you’re probably discovering the challenges of being a multi-state employer.
What is a Pay Card?
A pay card is a reloadable prepaid card offered by an employer to pay employees' net wages. Like direct deposit, once an employer deposits funds into the employee's account, the employee can then use the pay card to purchase items, withdraw cash and pay bills. Pay cards also eliminate the need for paper paychecks.
Payroll Terminology Made Easy
Payroll terminology can look like alphabet soup or a foreign language. And, terms used by the Department of Labor (DOL) or Internal Revenue Service (IRS) can cause even more confusion. Don’t despair, let us guide you on important terms you will encounter when either managing payroll or looking at a paycheck stub.
Employer Payroll Tax Responsibilities
Employers have a responsibility to accurately calculate, pay and remit payroll deductions from their employees’ pay. Employee satisfaction is key to ensuring your business runs smoothly. A key element to employee satisfaction includes paying wages correctly.
Exempt or Non-Exempt
Determining if an employee is exempt or non-exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is sometimes challenging. The FLSA requires that most employees in the United States be paid at least the federal minimum wage for all hours worked and overtime pay at time and one-half the regular rate of pay for all hours worked over 40 hours in a workweek.
Test Your I-9 Knowledge
Your level of I-9 knowledge can affect your compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) of 1986. This federal regulation forbids employers from knowingly hiring individuals who are not authorized to work in the United States. Take this short quiz to see how your Form I-9 knowledge stacks up.
Independent Contractor or Employee?
It is critical to correctly determine whether individuals providing services are employees or independent contractors. Failing to properly classify a worker can cause exposure to possible fines and penalties. Before you can determine how to treat payments you make for services, you must first know the business relationship that exists between you and the person performing the services.
Running a Business is Hard
Running a business is hard. Taking care of human resources without the necessary tools makes it even harder. You wouldn’t think of operating your core business without the right tools. You shouldn’t try to manage HR without the right tools either.
Who, What and How
The old adage says that the three most important things are location, location, location, but to us here at Spirit HR, it is who, what and how. Who we are, what we do, and how we help you.
5 Ways to Manage Overwhelm in Your Business
The electronic age was supposed to free up time through automation. Somehow technology has taken over and created an environment where we are now working longer to keep up with the speed at which things are coming at us. Smartphones keep us connected 24/7, email at our fingertips and non-stop social media are only a few of the things that consume our time. These suggestions will help you reduce your “overwhelm.”
NAPEO Confab
At the NAPEO Annual Conference in September, our COO Marilyn Conyer joined a round table discussion on the PEO Industry.
RUN, HIDE or FIGHT! Active Shooter Response Plans
Active shooter events usually begin suddenly with little warning creating a chaotic situation, therefore every company must determine its own action plan.
5 Simple Tips to Stay Cyber Secure at Work
Cybercriminals are not known to discriminate; they target vulnerable computers regardless of whether they are a home user, small business or connected to a large corporation. These criminals often rely on human error to gain access to computer systems. Something as simple as a failure to install software patches or clicking on a link in an email can have devastating results.
Top 3 Preventable Workplace Accidents
The backbone of a good safety program is prevention. As an employer, it’s important to assess potential hazards in your workplace and act to address them. It’s equally important for employees to take ownership of their own safety.
Protecting Workers from Heat Stress
For some of us, the heat is just an inconvenience, but for outdoor workers and those who work in hot environments, protecting them from heat stress is vital.
7 Steps for Developing a Disaster Response Plan
None of us want to imagine the consequences or aftermath of a disaster, but planning can mean the difference between managing the event in an organized and thought out manner or being consumed in complete chaos with no idea what to do next.
True or False: A safety program isn’t necessary in a white collar work environment.
Though most people think of dangerous blue collar jobs when they think of safety programs, even white collar employees are at risk for injuries at work.
Week In Review
Need a little weekend reading? Each Friday we will be posting a round up of posts from the week. May 18 - May 24, 2019
Week In Review
Need a little weekend reading? Each Friday we will be posting a round up of posts from the week. May 11 - May 17, 2019
Week In Review
Need a little weekend reading? Each Friday we will be posting a round up of posts from the week. April 27 - May 3, 2019
Week In Review
Need a little weekend reading? Each Friday we will be posting a round up of posts from the week. April 6-12 , 2019
Week In Review
Need a little weekend reading? Each Friday we will be posting a round up of posts from the week. March 24-April 5, 2019
Week In Review
Need a little weekend reading? Each Friday we will be posting a round up of posts from the week. March 23-29, 2019
7 Steps for Developing a Disaster Response Plan
None of us want to imagine the consequences or aftermath of a disaster, but planning can mean the difference between managing the event in an organized and thought out manner or being consumed in complete chaos with no idea what to do next.