Employment verification can provide very valuable information about an applicant’s work history. They usually consist of contacting an employer about their former employee’s state date, end date and job title. If done strategically, though, you can glean even more valuable information! Try to schedule a video conversation to observe body language Listen for tone of voice and non-verbal cues; silence is very telling Start with the basic questions to build rapport Document all answers Don’t contact the applicant’s current employer without permission Who should perform the verification check ..read more

Question:  Can an employee returning from FMLA leave be placed in a different role? Answered by the HR Experts:  Generally not. Upon return from FMLA leave, employees must be restored to the same job or one nearly identical to it with equivalent pay, benefits, and other employment terms and conditions. To be truly equivalent, the job must involve the same or substantially similar duties and responsibilities and require substantially equivalent skill, effort, responsibility, and authority. Equivalent jobs would also have the same premium pay options and overtime opportunities. So, un ..read more

A recent Cengage Group survey reported that 41% of respondents would prefer to get a certificate that would instantly qualify them for an in-demand job rather than obtain a college degree. These people are excellent candidates for “new-collar worker” positions. What is a new-collar worker? According to Indeed, new-collar jobs are associated with industries where employees develop their technical and soft skills, often in technology industries, through nontraditional education paths. In other words, applicants are considered for open positions even though they do not have a B.A., B.S., or gradu ..read more

Just as you allocate assets to a combination of stocks, bonds, cash, and other investments, you may want to consider allocating retirement assets among tax-deferred, tax-free, and taxable accounts for a potentially greater retirement income. FIRST TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TAX DEFERRAL Like many Americans, you probably have most of your retirement savings in a traditional 401(k) or similar tax-deferred retirement plan. The benefits of tax-deferred plans have been proven time and time again. You save federal and possibly state income tax while contributing, and your contributions grow tax-deferred unt ..read more

Question: Do managers need to be classified as exempt? Answer: No, it’s fine to classify managers as nonexempt. You are under no obligation to classify any employee as exempt, even if they meet the criteria under the Fair Labor Standards Act. You could have an entire workforce of nonexempt employees, right up to the CEO. The important thing is to follow all wage and hour laws applicable to nonexempt employees, including paying them for overtime. There are advantages to classifying employees as exempt if they meet all the criteria, though. It’s administratively easier for you as the employer ..read more

Conflict is inevitable but, if left unresolved, can be a hindrance to productivity, safety, or could even escalate into harassment. Your organization’s culture is crucial to effective conflict management. Here are four simple rules that can apply to all parties involved: BE NICE. Not only in words but in posture, tone of voice, and facial expressions. It’s easy to say one thing but have body language convey another. BE HONEST. Don’t shrink away from the conflict or simply scratch the surface. Bring everything to the table so the root of the problem can be dealt with. BE QUIET. Listening i ..read more

On Monday, May 27th, we will celebrate Memorial Day in honor of all the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice while defending our country. As we prepare to remember our fallen heroes, Payroll Partners would like to remind you that since Memorial Day is also a banking holiday, you may need some additional payroll preparations. Both Payroll Partners and the Federal Reserve will be closed on Monday, May 27th. Ask your Payroll Specialist about the due date changes for payroll.  As always, our team is here to help with any questions you have about your payroll or check dates ..read more

Do you run a small business? Have you hired bookkeepers to manage your accounting and payroll processes? The payroll process might seem like something you can manage manually. However, calculating wages, reporting taxes and paying attention to other payroll deductions are very time-consuming responsibilities. That’s why integrating payroll with the accounting department can simplify the entire payroll process for your business. How can you eliminate challenges to payroll processing? Let’s take a closer look at the ways you can make payroll easier for you and your business. Pay attention to up ..read more

Parents paying for school-age children’s day camp this summer may be eligible for the federal child and dependent care tax credit (CDCC). Note that it’s available only for the expense of day camp, not overnight camp. But there is more to it. WHO QUALIFIES? The CDCC generally helps parents or caregivers cover the cost of qualified care expenses for a child under age 13 or a spouse or other dependent (a parent, for example) who is mentally or physically unable to care for themselves and will have lived with you more than half of 2024. HOW MUCH? You may deduct only a percentage (20% to 35%) of ..read more

Question: Are there questions or topics we should avoid during the hiring process? How can we be sure we don’t accidentally get into one of those topics? Answered by the HR Experts: You should avoid asking questions that could be viewed as discriminatory or that infringe on a candidate’s privacy. Essentially, you want to avoid any questions that are not directly related to the candidate’s ability to perform the job. These would include questions about race, national origin, citizenship status, religious affiliation, disabilities, pregnancy (or desire to become pregnant in the future), sexual ..read more