When you're running a business, you get to call the shots regarding your payroll practices, but only within limits. And by "within limits," we mean according to the laws in your state. For instance, you can pay employees on an hourly or salary basis according to federal law, but the prevailing state laws dictate the [...]
The news of another massive online data breach may make you feel powerless to safeguard your financial privacy. But you can take some concrete steps to protect yourself in the aftermath of the recent Capital One case, as well as other breaches. "If you needed yet another nudge to start keeping an eye on your [...]
An ex-employee's wrongful discharge action against an employer is more likely today. That's because laws and court decisions, protecting employees and expanding on employees' rights, have increased. So, what are the employer, manager and supervisor to do? Begin by understanding the concept of wrongful discharge. Wrongful, as in illegal and unfair. And discharge, as in [...]
Employers in the restaurant, hotel, casino and other service industries must comply with laws associated with tips, including the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Internal Revenue Code. To assist them, the IRS issued Fact Sheet 2017-8 that explains the differences between tips and service charges for tax purposes. Are the Payments Discretionary? The IRS [...]
Let's say tomorrow, one of your employees asks to see his or her personnel file. Do you know today whether you would answer "yes" or "no" to this request? Does the employee have a legal right to see the file? What information -- if any -- can you rightfully keep from him or her? Can [...]
Suppose that your growing business is taking over one of your competitors. If you keep some of the company's employees on the job, your business will be increasing its payroll tax liability. However, the good news is that payroll taxes paid by the former employer may reduce the amount owed for the year. Conversely if one employer acquires [...]
Q. I have a fairly good 48-year-old employee who has a chronic problem with Workers' Comp claims. This individual is constantly getting injured and missing a lot of work because of these injuries. I am afraid he is building up to a permanent disability claim. Can I legally terminate him? A. Dismissing an employee for [...]
With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), businesses across almost every sector find themselves entering uncharted territory. While still in its infancy, AI offers the potential to transform virtually every aspect of how companies operate. Brave New World AI is expected to increase revenue and profits, lower costs, drive improvements in customer service and assist [...]
Paydays are sacred in the workplace. Some employees who can't remember how many years they've been married or how long it's been since their last physical exam can tell you exactly how many days until the next paycheck arrives. Depending on their financial situations, other staff members may barely keep their bills paid between checks. [...]
The minimum wage remains a popular issue for legislators on a federal, state and local level. Recently, a bill was introduced in both the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate titled the "Raise the Minimum Wage Act of 2019." Since 2009, the federal minimum wage has remained $7.25 per hour. However, many states and localities [...]
