New and Newsworthy
Can Employees ‘Snoop’ in Their Files?
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 the employee take the file from your offices? You need answers to these [...]
Absorbing a Business? Realize Payroll Tax Savings
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 another employer during the year -- and it continues to employ some of [...]
What If an Employee Is Injured Too Often?
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 filing Workers' Comp claims is a violation of public policy. Courts have established [...]
Using Artificial Intelligence in the Business World
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 in the creation of innovative new products and services. In fact, a recent [...]
Can Your Company Revise its Payday Schedule?
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. So when employers change the regular payday, there is bound to be some [...]
Minimum Wage Increases Are Being Considered Across the Country
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 have increased their minimum wage rates above the federal minimum wage. According to [...]
