It is in every employer’s best interest to keep an open mind about where the right talent for an open position may lie. Of course, in some industries, minds could not be more open because skilled labor shortages are driving organizations to look everywhere for...
Some employers reimburse new hires for moving expenses when they relocate. Others reimburse existing employees whose jobs are moved to other locations. Maybe you do both. Now that there is no tax deduction for moving expenses incurred by individuals, and no more tax-free treatment for...
It is probably safe to say that most employers have created some form of an employee handbook; however, just because your organization has one, that doesn’t mean it is functional. An outdated or poorly written handbook could harm your organization by misleading employees or sending mixed...
It is not uncommon for employers in some industries and localities to occasionally rehire a previously terminated employee. Should such a situation occur, you may wonder how to properly handle the waiting period typically imposed on new hires preceding their eligibility for health care benefits....
In the simplest of worlds, an employee effectively performs a set of tasks on an agreed-upon schedule and you pay him or her a fair wage. End of story. But, in the real world, employers need to craft a compensation philosophy: a formal statement outlining...
Every employer knows that failing to comply with federal laws is costly, but it is getting even more so. The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 directs federal agencies to adjust civil penalties for inflation each year. As a result, the...
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 generally disallowed all deductions for business entertainment, amusement, and recreation. However, the TCJA did not specifically turn thumbs up or down on the deductibility of business meal expenses. Example: Jim Morgan, who owns a roof cleaning business,...
Many, if not most, employers today use some form of an ‘at-will’ employment contract when hiring. The arrangement is theoretically simple: the employer can terminate the employee at any time, for any cause — with or without notice. But is that what at-will employment really...
When an employer decides to sponsor a retirement plan for employees, it takes on great responsibility. Anyone who exercises discretionary authority over any vital facet of plan operations likely will be considered a plan fiduciary. In turn, these individuals face a significant risk of liability...
When you read the word ‘mentor,’ you might envision an older individual patiently and eloquently passing along decades’ worth of knowledge to a wide-eyed young student. Indeed, this is a kind of mentoring relationship that still exists and can prove beneficial to many organizations. However, there...