[fa icon="calendar'] Jun 18, 2020 8:00:00 AM / by Michelle Nystrom posted in Laws & Regulations
You would think having a company dress code would be an easy matter, but that isn't always the case. With so much emphasis placed on equality in the workplace, you have to be careful that you do not discriminate. This discrimination could take the form of gender differences, cultural differences, or religious differences. Let's explore the matter of dress codes further.
[fa icon="calendar'] Mar 1, 2020 7:57:00 AM / by Michelle Nystrom posted in Laws & Regulations, Company Culture, Management
As a small business owner, it’s imperative that you protect your employees from workplace injuries or illness and minimize your insurance costs.
[fa icon="calendar'] Feb 24, 2020 11:29:00 PM / by Michelle Nystrom posted in Laws & Regulations
A survey by the U.S. Department of Labor reveals that most employees are seeking leave requests on the basis of the Family And Medical Leave Act, FMLA, (1993). Most of these employees (55 percent) cite ill health as their reason for seeking FMLA leave. This act aims to help employees balance their work and family lives by granting them at least 12 workweeks of unpaid leave in a calendar year for a number of reasons. As a business owner, you should understand the various ins and outs of the FMLA to avoid violating it.
[fa icon="calendar'] Feb 24, 2020 2:05:00 AM / by Michelle Nystrom posted in Laws & Regulations
As January rolls around each year, there is talk of minimum wage increases across the country. There are differences between federal and state minimum wage requirements. Recently, cities have started enacting minimum wage requirements as well. Knowing what applies to you as a business owner will help you make sure you are paying your employees correctly and help you stay out of trouble and keep your employees happy.
[fa icon="calendar'] Feb 21, 2019 4:11:00 PM / by Michelle Nystrom posted in Laws & Regulations, Managing Employees, Payroll, Management
Back in 1938, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) was passed to help protect workers from being taken advantage of. It was the FLSA that established the right to minimum wage and overtime pay. It also established the standard 40-hour workweek and put restrictions on employing minors. As a business owner, make sure that you remain in compliance with all the rules and regulations of the FLSA as well as California state labor laws. This can sometimes makes it challenging to classify your employees. Every company has to classify its employees as either exempt or nonexempt employees, and the accuracy of this classification will affect your ability to comply with other labor laws. In fact, misclassifying an employee can result in potentially costly penalties. Here we offer a brief overview of the differences between exempt and nonexempt employees to help clarify for employers how to classify their employees.
[fa icon="calendar'] Jan 11, 2019 4:09:01 PM / by Michelle Nystrom posted in Laws & Regulations, Managing Employees, Payroll, Management
If your business currently participates in a 401(k) plan for your employees, then you'll want to know what the rules and regulations are in the event that you ever decide to terminate the plan. There are a number of reasons why you might be considering the termination of your company's 401(k) plan: maybe you're closing down the business or merging with another company. Whatever the reason may be, the following are 11 things to consider if you plan to terminate your company's 401(k) plan.
[fa icon="calendar'] Nov 20, 2018 7:30:00 AM / by Michelle Nystrom posted in Laws & Regulations, Company Culture, Management
Anytime there is a task or workplace that involves some kind of an environmental risk to an employee, the employer is required to provide personal protective equipment. Not only does it protect the employee from direct harm, PPE also reduces the cost of accidents, workers’ comp premium increases, and employee down time due to preventable injuries.
[fa icon="calendar'] Nov 8, 2018 7:30:00 AM / by Michelle Nystrom posted in Laws & Regulations, Managing Employees, Management
In the state of California, employers of all kinds, big and small, are under a legal obligation to take care of their workers when they are injured in the course of doing their jobs. This legal mandate, generally known as workers’ compensation protection or coverage, comes in the form of an insurance policy every employer has to have in place and pay for if operating within California. The cost of this coverage for the employer is determined by a specific formula and cost factors that the employer is expected to accept but has no control over. This is an ongoing matter of concern for employers because the cost of the coverage is an unavoidable operating cost to do business in the state.
[fa icon="calendar'] Oct 4, 2018 8:10:00 AM / by Michelle Nystrom posted in Laws & Regulations, Company Culture, Management
Like most businesses in California, almost anyone who employs workers is required to also have workers’ compensation insurance in place to protect such employees from injuries and harm while working. This is well known as general business practice. However, what is not well understood are the codes used by the coverage industry to determine the cost and premium the business pays for the necessary coverage.
[fa icon="calendar'] Aug 23, 2018 7:30:00 AM / by Michelle Nystrom posted in Laws & Regulations, Company Culture, Management
People are familiar with tax audits from the IRS, their state tax agency and from state industrial relations when it comes to running a business with employees. However, the one area that tends to confuse new business owners and managers is the workers’ compensation audit.
