October 26, 2018
Paying Overtime: Face the Facts
Overtime is perhaps the most misunderstood area of payroll statutes, simply because it’s not as straightforward as a rational person would assume. The requirements are, to any sane business owner, seemingly insane. Noncompliance can cost you. And just because you’re a cool, casual and flexible boss doesn’t mean you’re not at risk. Here are some …
October 9, 2018
Ways to Keep Employees From Jumping Ship in a Hot Job Market
The August unemployment rate was 3.9%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and job creation continues to thrive. There are more job openings than employers can find workers to fill them. So if your employees hadn’t previously been thinking of leaving their positions for another job, they might be now. Even if they are …
October 7, 2018
Best Practices for Background Checks
Hiring new personnel is a critically important job in any business or organization, and screening job candidates has become an increasingly significant step in the hiring process. As an employer, you should use employment background checks to your best advantage and take steps to avoid putting yourself at risk, particularly when it comes to an …
October 3, 2018
State and City Paid Sick Leave Laws for 2018
Ever since San Francisco led the charge in 2007, many states and cities have followed suit to mandate paid sick leave for employees working within those jurisdictions. The federal Fair Labor Standards Act does not require employers to provide paid time off benefits, but as states and cities pass their own laws and ordinances, keeping …
September 25, 2018
Why You Really Shouldn’t Pay “Under the Table”
Thinking of paying someone cash or wages off the books? Just don’t. For starters, you can’t take the tax deduction if you don’t have the expense properly documented. And, it’s illegal. These are good reasons for compliance, but many employers are still tempted to ignore the rules. Here are some common excuses for not putting …
Why You Really Shouldn’t Pay “Under the Table”
Thinking of paying someone cash or wages off the books? Just don’t. For starters, you can’t take the tax deduction if you don’t have the expense properly documented. And, it’s illegal. These are good reasons for compliance, but many employers are still tempted to ignore the rules. Here are some common excuses for not putting …
August 29, 2018
Why You Probably DO Have to File a State Sales and Use Tax Return
In our Outsourced Finance and Accounting group, we file a lot of what we call “non-income tax” forms. These are pitfalls for many small businesses, and lots of startups don’t even know that this kind of tax exists. It’s not easy to understand or know when these taxes are applicable, but you can’t ignore this …
August 10, 2018
Don’t Get ICEd!
As the United States tightens security at its borders, employers are feeling the pinch. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) doubled its number of worksite inspections from 2016 to 2017 and is on track to exceed that in 2018. For 2019, the Trump administration’s proposed budget calls for $570 million to hire 2,000 additional ICE …
August 9, 2018
CA Adopts ABC Test to Evaluate Independent Contractor Status
Effective April 30, following a state Supreme Court ruling, California became one of the newest states to adopt the “ABC test” for determining whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor. This test is considered the toughest analysis applied in determining whether a worker is properly classified as an independent contractor. The ABC …
August 7, 2018
Complying With Anti-Harassment Training Requirements in California
In the changing landscape in the wake of the #MeToo movement, employers need to be more diligent than ever when it comes to protecting their employees from harassment. One of the more proactive ways to be a compliant employer in California is to make sure to provide employees with anti-harassment training. California law and …