Helpful Articles
Will Your Payroll System be Ready for Form W-4 Overhaul?
The IRS recently released a draft of its new Form W-4. While the new form is not expected to be made available until 2020 employers should be aware of how the new format will affect payroll systems.
401(k) FAQs
Let’s face it. Relying on Social Security to be there by the time we retire is not a safe bet. Investing in a 401(k) plan to help support you in your retirement may be the best way for you to meet your retirement goals.
Week In Review
Need a little weekend reading? Each Friday we will be posting a round up of posts from the week. May 25 - May 31, 2019
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.
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
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.
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.
Employer Tips and Tricks for Open Enrollment
Open Enrollment is that once-per-year opportunity for your employees to tweak benefits plans for the upcoming benefit year. But first, you will have negotiated plan renewals and laid out an open enrollment communication plan.
The KonMari Method in the Workplace
Can the main principles of the KonMari Method be used at work? How can you tidy up your policies and procedures? We take Marie’s six main principles and apply them to Human Resources.
HR Concerns for 2019
Each year has it’s own unique HR challenges. Workplace violence, the changing marijuana laws, data security, leave laws and workforce planning are among the top concerns for 2019.
When to Count Uncommon Leave as FMLA
Employers subject to The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) may unknowingly violate its provisions. Determining when to count certain leave against FMLA requires an understanding of the regulation.
Time Off to Vote
In anticipation of Election Day 2018 (November 6), employers should review their policies and practices to ensure workers are provided time off to vote as required by applicable law and all other obligations of the business are met.
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.
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.
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.
If I’m a Business Owner, Can I Be an Employee?
As a business owner, you wear many hats. As the owner, can you also wear an employee hat? That depends on your company’s legal structure.
National Payroll Week
Founded in 1996 by the American Payroll Association (APA), National Payroll Week (NPW) celebrates the partnership between America’s employees, the payroll professionals who pay them, and government programs and that our payroll system funds
Electronic Timekeeping Management
Small to large companies have seen the benefit of automating common payroll and HR functions like onboarding and benefits enrollment. However, one of the most important workforce-related functions – timekeeping management – is still done manually by many businesses.
Youth Labor Standards
As the end of summer approaches and school begins, it is important to review the youth labor standards. Youths that worked during the summer and you want to continue to employ may have hours restrictions. The guidelines below will help walk you through the basics.
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.
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. 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
Week In Review
Need a little weekend reading? Each Friday we will be posting a round up of posts from the week. March 9-15, 2019
Week In Review
Need a little weekend reading? Each Friday we will be posting a round up of posts from the week. March 2-8, 2019
Week In Review
Need a little weekend reading? Each Friday we will be posting a round up of posts from the week. February 16-22, 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.