When is it appropriate to use a performance improvement plan as opposed to a disciplinary action notice or a record of employee conversation? Performance improvement plans (PIPs) are best suited for performance issues, such as an employee not hitting their required sales goals or failing to...
We are about to hire our 15th employee. I heard that some federal regulations go into effect then. What do I need to know about these? Once you have 15 employees, the federal laws below would apply to you. Here is a brief summary of what...
How do I keep an employee at-will but require them to give notice before leaving? Unfortunately, an employer may not simultaneously utilize the at-will employment provisions and require that an employee provide notice ahead of separation. Instead, we recommend requesting that employees provide notice as a...
No, we don’t recommend reducing hours as a disciplinary measure. Discipline is most effective when it directly addresses the performance or behavioral issue the employee is having. The aim is to improve performance or correct behavior. Reducing hours, however, doesn’t accomplish either of those objectives or...
On September 24, 2019, and December 12, 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor announced a final rule to make 1.3 million American workers newly eligible for overtime pay and an updated definition of overtime. This is the first time in more than 50 years that...
Can we send employees home early because there isn’t any work to do? Yes, you can send employees home early due to a lack of work. Just keep in mind that exempt employees would need to be paid their entire salary for the day. Non-exempt employees...
If your company has a lot of employees who don't have bank accounts or who work on the road or in remote locations, a payroll card system could save your business money in processing costs while making it easier for employees to access their wages. Direct...
On Dec. 5, the IRS released a new version of the well-known W-4 form. The 2020 Form W-4, has been retitled Employee's Withholding Certificate. The changes are designed to make accurate income-tax withholding easier for employees starting next year. So why all the change to the...
Employee breaks obviously take time away from work, but some employers have found effective scheduling of breaks can actually improve production. Fifty-four percent of employers responding to an Employers of America survey provide morning and afternoon break times of 10 to 15 minutes. One employer said...
Most business owners automate processes to save money and become more efficient. Some organizations with advanced tech in other departments are in the Dark Ages when it comes to Human Resources. If you want to improve efficiency at your company, start with HR. Here are our...