Setting a 401(K) Plan for Your Staff - Business Owner’s Guide

[fa icon="calendar'] Apr 11, 2019 11:50:31 AM / by Michelle Nystrom posted in Managing Employees, Motivating Employees, Management

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How To Set Up A 401(K) Plan - A Beginner's Guide

If you're planning on hiring employees, you may want to set up a retirement plan as a part of their benefits package. Generally speaking, small businesses will go with a 401(k) plan, which allows employees to put a portion of their pre-tax income into a retirement account and which allows businesses to contribute to that account (businesses have different ways that they can contribute, including matching employee contributions up to a certain amount). However, setting up a 401(k) plan can be a bit of a challenge if you've never done it before. The following is a beginner's guide on how to set up a 401(k) plan for your business.

California New Hire Forms - Your Ultimate Checklist

[fa icon="calendar'] Apr 4, 2019 8:10:00 AM / by Michelle Nystrom posted in Managing Employees, Hiring the Best People

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California New Hire Forms - Your Ultimate Checklist To Keep You On Track

If you're running a business in California and planning to hire new employees, be aware that the hiring process is not as simple as you might think. California has incredibly strict rules and regulations regarding hiring practices, which means there are certain procedures and paperwork you’ll need to navigate. The entire hiring process can be a little overwhelming, so we have created a guide to help you to comply with the state's strict hiring requirements and documents.

Mandatory Overtime in California - What Is Legal?

[fa icon="calendar'] Mar 14, 2019 7:04:00 AM / by Michelle Nystrom posted in Managing Employees, Management

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Is Mandatory Overtime In California Legal?

There are strict overtime laws both on federal and state levels that were implemented for a number of reasons. First of all, overtime laws help reward employees for working more than their standard eight-hour days or 40-hour weeks. Secondly, they help prevent workers from being taken advantage of by their employers. Lastly, they help discourage employers from getting their employees to work too much overtime, encouraging them to hire more workers instead and reduce burnout of their staff. In addition to understanding the costs of overtime, you will also want to know whether mandatory overtime is legal in California as a business owner. The answer--for the most part--is yes. Although both federal and California state laws allow employers to require overtime from their employees, there is a human element you should consider as well.

Exempt vs Non-Exempt Employees - What Are the Main Differences?

[fa icon="calendar'] Feb 21, 2019 4:11:00 PM / by Michelle Nystrom posted in Laws & Regulations, Managing Employees, Payroll, Management

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The Difference Between Exempt Vs Non-Exempt Employees

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.

Demystifying California Overtime Laws: What Are the Rules?

[fa icon="calendar'] Jan 24, 2019 7:03:00 AM / by Michelle Nystrom posted in Maximizing Your Job, Managing Employees, Payroll, Management

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California Overtime Law Defined

Labor laws define overtime as work done in excess of the standard eight hour day or the standard 40 hour week. Employees are entitled to earn additional compensation on top of their hourly wage for the hours that they've worked past the standard work day or work week. However, every state has different overtime laws that include exemptions, exceptions, and penalties. Both employers and employees need to be familiar with the overtime laws in California so that they know what to expect in terms of payments--and so employers avoid making costly mistakes. This article presents a detailed guide into the overtime laws in the state of California.

11 Considerations and 401(k) Termination Rules to be Aware Of

[fa icon="calendar'] Jan 11, 2019 4:09:01 PM / by Michelle Nystrom posted in Laws & Regulations, Managing Employees, Payroll, Management

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11 Considerations and 401(k) Termination Rules to be Aware Of

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.

California Workers’ Compensation Premiums Explained - Breaking Down the Costs

[fa icon="calendar'] Nov 8, 2018 7:30:00 AM / by Michelle Nystrom posted in Laws & Regulations, Managing Employees, Management

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We Run Through How Your Premiums Are Calculated for Workers’ Compensation Coverage

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.

Employees and Social Media Use Outside of Work: Where is the Line Drawn?

[fa icon="calendar'] Oct 19, 2018 11:12:34 AM / by Michelle Nystrom posted in Managing Employees, Company Culture, Management

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Employees and Social Media Outside of Work: Drawing a Line in the Sand

Controlling social media use of company employees is nearly an impossible task as there will always be someone who goes against the grain. However, making sure that rules and regulations are clear; minor mishaps may be able to be prevented.

Is it a Good Idea to Use Social Media to Assist With Hiring Decisions?

[fa icon="calendar'] Sep 13, 2018 7:15:00 AM / by Michelle Nystrom posted in Managing Employees, Hiring the Best People, Management, Interviewing

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Using Social Media to Help Make Hiring Decisions-What’s the Risk?

With great risk comes great reward is how the saying goes, but does this great risk and reward apply to social media assistance in the subject of hiring new employees? It absolutely does. Social media is mainstream, it is in use every single day and thousands of people are utilizing it in multiple ways. Hiring candidates while utilizing social media has become an ongoing trend that has its pros and cons.

Social Media Background Checks, What Are You Actually Looking For?

[fa icon="calendar'] Sep 6, 2018 7:37:47 AM / by Michelle Nystrom posted in Managing Employees, Hiring the Best People, Management, Interviewing

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Social Media Background Checks and What to Look For

When onboarding a new hire, it can be tough to determine from just a standard background check who these candidates really are. Sure, it can shed light on their past, so an employer can see what they’ve previously been involved with. However, social media background checks can give you an updated idea of what candidates have recently been up to.