Many employers sponsor 401(k) plans to help employees save for retirement, but sometimes those employees need access to plan funds well before they retire. In such cases, if the plan allows it, participants can make a hardship withdrawal. If your organization sponsors a 401(k) with this...
There are few more self-destructive acts for an employer than to waste its employees’ time. You not only squander productivity but also hurt morale. Among the most common culprits of wasted time are bad meetings. A sloppily managed one can leave employees grumbling and frustrated...
Most health and welfare plans offered by employers are subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Generally, ERISA envisions that employee benefit plans will have both a plan document and a summary plan description (SPD). However, in some cases, a single...
Once an employer identifies a prospect for an open position and sets up an interview, another great challenge arises: how do you effectively use the interview to determine whether this person is right for your organization? One way is behavioral interviewing — a technique in which...
Although the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) was passed months ago, many employers are still grappling with its impact. One area that is easy to overlook is executive compensation. If your organization offers stock options or substantial salaries to execs and other employees, it...
During the summer, it may be true that “the living is easy,” as the old song goes. The midyear season, though, is often not so easy at small businesses because many employees are taking vacations. Total work hours often shrink and so may company productivity. Spreading...
An employer may occasionally receive a National Medical Support Notice (NMSN). If this ever happens to your organization, here is what you should know. What is it? A NMSN is a medical child support order used by a state child support enforcement agency to obtain employer-provided group...
It is easy to get frustrated when an employee is failing to produce the volume or quality of work you are looking for. A business owner or department manager may even give in to the temptation to play the blame game, pointing a finger at...
Workplace safety is more than just the law; it makes good business sense. A safe workplace enables well-trained, motivated employees to stay on the job and be productive. In turn, this helps their employer operate more cost-effectively. Of course, in the day-to-day grind of getting their...
In many ways, the days of employers offering only ‘traditional’ employee benefits are history. Now, novel perks such as on-site gyms, free snacks, and pet insurance are commonplace. However, it is often the more traditional benefits that provide the most value to employees in the...