Smallbiz Brainiac

A big brother program resulting from a draconian policy. The program was authorized by the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 designed to drive away these illegal workers but employed illegal immigrants are net contributors and they help subsidize our largest social program…. Social Security. Here is how the federal government sells…

Cool employers offer health savings accounts! Health Savings Accounts were created in 2003 so that individuals covered by high-deductible health plans could receive tax-preferred treatment of money saved for medical expenses. These underutilized accounts have fantastic benefits to your employees. What is a Health Savings Account? A bank account that your employees own where they…

37% of Americans telecommute at least part of the time. An actual telecommuter claim: Mary worked from home selling window treatments, upholstery, bedding and pillows. She essentially worked out of her van and was required to keep current samples with her when going to appointments. She stored excess items in her garage, at her employer’s request. This was…

Are your employees covered for any injury while out of town on business? If you have employees that travel, even if occasionally, you need to understand what claims will be accepted and make sure your properly covered. A workers’ compensation claim must arise out of and occur “in the course (or scope) of employment” “Arise out of” typically…

Creating an engaged employee environment also requires that you focus on their well-being. About Kate Lister: Kate Lister has given me permission to read her fantastic report “What’s Good for People?”, on the podcast. Kate is president of Global Workplace Analytics and she’s an internationally recognized authority on emerging workplace strategies. Kate has co-authored three…

What can you do to enhance employee well-being? Wellness is only one component of your employees well-being. Workplace strategies that address employees’ physical, emotional, and social well-being can increase employee engagement. Kate Lister’s report: “What’s Good for People?”, written by Kate Lister, President of Global Workplace Analytics, broadens the discussion beyond employee engagement to encompass…

Legalization of medical marijuana is sweeping the nation. Twenty-three states plus DC and Guam, now have some form of medical marijuana legislation. States with medical marijuana laws: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon,…

Fire up your employees. Get them engaged and watch productivity rise. Created the environment where employee engagement practices can exist. Employe engagement is about creating an environment of inclusion and participation. It’s about your employee’s sense of belonging and value. Successful employee engagement improves retention and attracts top talent. It increases productivity and improves the quality of…

Are your employees fully engaged with your company? What is employee engagement? It’s about creating an environment of inclusion and participation. It’s about your employee’s sense of belonging and value. Successful employee engagement improves retention and attracts top talent. It increases productivity and improves quality. It makes your company stronger, more nimble and resilient. Imperfect…

Learn the steps to calculating ALE status under the ACA. The ACA requires applicable large employers (or ALEs) to offer health insurance that has certain “minimum essential benefits” (also referred to as minimum essential coverage) to at least 95% of their full-time employees. The insurance must provide “minimum value” and the premium must be “affordable”.…

As a small employer (definition applies) you do not have to comply with the ACA. However, you can still take advantage of the ACA to help your employees buy coverage.  The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the PPACA, the ACA, Obamacare – however you recognize it, whatever you call it. It has been 6…

Are you calculating your nonexempt employees work hours correctly? You are required to pay your nonexempt employees for all time worked. Seams easy enough, but there a nuances you need to know to be compliant. If your employee is required to be working, be available to work or is being permitted to work – at either your premises…

FLSA requires the payment of overtime to nonexempt employees. The FLSA requires you to pay overtime wages at the rate of one and one half times the regular rate of pay to nonexempt employees who work more than 40 hours in a week. In order to calculate the overtime due you have to know these…

Do you know which positions qualify as exempt from overtime? The Fair Labor Standards Act, or FLSA, is the body of law that establishes The minimum wage Overtime pay Recordkeeping Child labor standards Exempt and nonexempt refers to which employees you are required to pay overtime wages to. You have to pay overtime to a…

Delegation is vital to the success of your business. In episode 15 we talked about the first 5 pitfalls and today we’ll finish them off. 6. Not buying the right business insurance: Get an agent who specializes in your industry. Get an agent who is a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (“CPCU”). Only about 4% of…

Don’t let the day-to-day noise distract you from what’s important. Here are the first 5 of the 10 small business pitfalls you should avoid. 1. Screwing up on payroll taxes If you don’t have the time or the experience then outsource your payroll to a reputable payroll service provider. 2. Misclassifying workers as independent contractors…

What’s the latest trend in minimum wage? There are significant changes in the minimum wage at both the state and local level in 2016. Fast Facts Minimum wage was established 1938 as part of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Back then, the rate was 25 cents an hour. The last minimum wage increase occurred in 2007.…

Recruiting made easy! The hiring process is complicated. There are many steps along the way. Everything from defining the position to on-boarding the new hire, and when you are in a hurry, or desperate for help, you get sloppy. Don’t skip critical steps and settle for the wrong person. Purchase an applicant tracking system, or “ATS”. ATS system features Creating…

What are the best sources for finding your next great employee? Here are the best sources for finding new employees? Recruiting Sources Family Recruiters Temporary staffing firms Job boards & search engines Referrals Referrals from current employees is the most successful source. There are 40,000 employment websites including job boards and search engines, according to…

Do I Need Workers’ Compensation Insurance? You probably already know that as an employer you are required to purchase workers’ compensation insurance, or work comp for short. What is it? Mandatory insurance for employers. A type of property and casualty insurance. State regulated. It pays for all the medical treatment necessary to return your employee to…