Labor laws are in place to protect workers and ensure a safe working environment. While it seems simple enough to stay on the right side of compliance, labor laws are far more complex than most realize.
To avoid fines, penalties, and a hit to your organization's reputation, HR leaders must go the extra mile to ensure that all policies comply with state and federal labor laws. Common Compliance Issues Believe it or not, companies inadvertently break labor laws all the time. In most cases, it's not intentional. However, regardless of intent, it opens these organizations up for penalties and potential lawsuits. Most compliance issues involve issues like benefits and medical leave. Things like retirement plans and health insurance can get complicated quickly as a business grows. The same goes for union laws and fair labor standards. Sometimes, issues can arise immediately after hiring a new employee. Immigration acts, anti-discriminatory laws, and more can muddy up the works. Non-compliance can occur at any stage of the hiring process. HR management should play a part in avoiding all employee-related issues. How to Stay Compliant Keeping up with all the labor laws isn't easy. Luckily, there are some ways to make your HR department's life a little easier. Invest in Education and Training Ongoing education is critical when it comes to compliance. The entire team doesn't need to have lawyer-level knowledge of every labor law to exist. But, they should understand the core concepts. Legal and regulatory requirements change all the time, so ongoing training is a must. Use HR Software Labor law compliance software can be a real lifesaver. The software essentially automates the entire onboarding and benefits administration process. Tech stacks will alert you to potential problems and make sure that no stone goes uncovered. Some programs can also take care of everyday matters like time and attendance tracking. If a potential compliance issue arises, you'll know! Perform Regular Audits Don't hesitate to schedule routine compliance audits. It doesn't take much for things to get out of hand, opening up a can of worms as far as legal issues go. With an audit, you can find liabilities and address them as soon as possible. Be Proactive About Labor Law Compliance If there's anything you don't want to skirt, it's labor laws. Take steps to avoid legal liability. Navigating these complex issues will become a breeze with the labor law compliance software, ongoing education, and audits. Read a similar article about ADP alternatives here at this page.
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Over the past 18 months, South African businesses have accelerated their adoption of digital technologies. While they have shown remarkable grit and adaptability in reinventing their businesses for an era of lockdown and social distancing, some gaps are becoming apparent in the change programs they have implemented read more
The dream for any company is to develop a productive and efficient team. Having employees work together like a well-oiled machine can lead to some impressive results.
Unfortunately, reaching that point is easier said than done. Everyone has a preferred approach to projects. People get stuck in their ways and fail to adjust to an ever-changing work landscape. So how can you improve employee productivity to keep your company moving forward? In this blog, we'll show you how. Keep the Lines of Communication Open There's no doubt about it: Businesses fail without effective communication. Make sure that there's always open communication throughout your company. Foster collaboration among team members and create a dialogue about your expectations. No one should be in the dark about what to do or how to succeed. Companies with healthy communication are far better at completing projects swiftly and efficiently. Take Advantage of Productivity Software There are all kinds of apps out there to boost productivity. Project management software can help multiple employees keep track of a project. Meanwhile, collaboration tools make remote work possible. With a single sign-on solution, it's possible to use all that and more. Don't be afraid to experiment and try multiple apps at once. Most businesses use more than one program to run efficiently. An excellent single sign-on solution lets your team members access apps from one location, eliminating the learning curves and frustration. Try Team-Building Exercises Your employees don't have to be best buds. But, mutual respect and camaraderie can make all the difference. People work better together when they feel comfortable with one another's capabilities. Team-building exercises can identify strengths and break down any communication barriers that are holding your team back. Cater to Individual Strengths and Weaknesses Our last tip is to get to know every member of your team. Your team members all have specific strengths and weaknesses. To maximize productivity, you need to tap into unique talents and expertise. If one team member excels in collaborative work and thinking outside of the box, the last thing you want them to do is to work alone in a cubicle. Catering to those strengths puts everyone's best foot forward and creates a much happier work environment. Taking steps to boost productivity and efficiency can help your company reach its full potential. Be proactive, listen to feedback, and keep those lines of communication open. With time, your team will become a productivity powerhouse! Read a similar blog about employee management here at this page. Running a small business can be one of the most rewarding experiences for entrepreneurs. With that being said, it’s also the furthest thing from easy. Managing a small business takes time, effort, and knowledge. But anyone can run into problems when running a small business, no matter how well things may be going. Here are some tips for managing your small business so that you can be ready for whatever comes your way.
Loans and Business Credit Loans and business credit are two facets of running a small business that go hand-in-hand. Many times, loans are necessary for a small business to grow and succeed. The key is being selective with the types of loans you choose to take out. You should never take out more than you anticipate you can easily repay. Also, extremely high-interest rates can add up. You also need to keep your business credit in mind. Making sure that you keep your business credit in good standing will allow you to continue to take out low-interest, easy-to-repay loans down the line. Paying Yourself Growing your business is important, but the employees should be fairly compensated too. That includes compensating yourself. Remember, you’re putting the work in too, so you should make sure you’re taking home a salary. There are no guarantees in business, and if things go south, you’ll at least have the money you’ve paid yourself along the way. Growth and ROI Make sure you’re investing in growth for your business and that your investment decisions make sense from an ROI perspective. On the same note, if your growth and ROI investments aren’t panning out, don’t be afraid to cut them out of your strategy. Unlike large businesses, small businesses can’t afford to continue to sink money into something that may work out eventually. If an employee isn’t working out, let them go. If an advertising strategy isn’t leading to sales, drop it. These types of decisions can be hard, but necessary. Use Payroll Software When you have a smaller payroll and HR department, it can be hard for them to stay on top of everything. Payroll software can be a huge help. Some of the bigger platforms, like Quickbooks, might not always be the right fit for a small business. Luckily, there are Quickbooks payroll competitors that can provide you with the software tools you need at an affordable price. Making sure taxes and payroll are done correctly is essential, since you don’t want to open yourself up to compliance fines and penalties. Trying a Quickbooks payroll competitor for your payroll software could be just what your HR department needs to run your books efficiently and effectively. Read a similar article about time and attendance here at this page. Not paying attention to unconscious bias impacts the diversity and inclusion of your organization and can also stifle progress and innovation within the business. Many organizations concerned with the issues biases can create are becoming more mindful of their recruiting process. They have found that unconscious bias can critically influence hiring decisions read more
Payroll tax employers need to be aware of SUTA, also known as the State Unemployment Tax Act. All payroll tax employers are required to pay this tax. Here is some more information on the State Unemployment Tax Act.
What is SUTA For? The State Unemployment Tax Act is a tax that goes straight to the state unemployment fund. The funds deposited are then used to provide financial support to displaced workers in the state while they search for new opportunities. Who Pays the State Unemployment Tax Act? It depends on the state. As mentioned, all payroll tax employers must pay into it. In some states, the tax is also taken out of employees' taxable income. What is the State Unemployment Tax Rate? This rate is also situational. Each state has their own rate and each state has their own taxable wage base. Employers are given an assessment that outlines their rate, so they know exactly what they’re required to pay into the fund. If an industry is known for high turnover rates, they may be subject to higher taxes under the State Unemployment Tax Act. These aren’t the only factors that can determine the rate of a business’s state unemployment tax. These factors include how many former employees of a business have filed unemployment, the age of a business, their standing and account status, and more. These rates are not necessarily static on a standard state-wide basis either, as states can opt to change the rate on an annual basis, based on unemployment rates and needs of the market. What Happens if You Don’t Pay SUTA or Aren’t Compliant Neglecting to pay SUTA or committing compliance errors can cause an employer to be subject to fines and penalties. Criminal penalties can also be filed in more severe breaches. Use SUTA Compliance Software If you want to avoid SUTA penalties and ensure you’re paying the proper rate without worrying, then SUTA compliance software is your solution. SUTA compliance software can automate your tax rate changes, help you manage unemployment claims, and much more. With SUTA compliance software, you’ll never have to worry about SUTA penalties and fines again. Read a similar article about benefits administration software here at this page. |
AuthorEmily Clarke writes about employee management, benefits and payroll service. Archives
December 2021
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