News

August 10, 2020

Presidential order defers employee social security taxes

Presidential order defers employee social security taxes On August 8 via executive order, President Trump has deferred the employee’s portion of Social Security taxes for many […]
August 10, 2020

Are exempt employees who work extra hours owed additional pay?

Question The next couple weeks are going to be busier than usual for us. Can I require my exempt employees to work weekends? If so, do […]
August 6, 2020

IRS Announces Indexed Adjustments for Affordability Determination 2021

Rev. Proc. 2020-36 (July 21, 2020) Available at https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rp-20-36.pdf The IRS has announced 2021 indexing adjustments for some crucial percentages under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The required […]
August 6, 2020

Responding to Anonymous Complaints: Dos and Don’ts

If you receive an anonymous complaint, it is important to remain calm and review the complaint objectively regardless of how egregious the accusations may seem. Although […]
August 5, 2020

Putting At-Will Employment at Risk

“At-will” employment refers to a common-law rule that the employment relationship may be terminated by the employer or the employee at any time, with or without […]
August 3, 2020

We’ve heard that some employees aren’t sanitizing their workstations and wearing masks when required. Do we need to investigate safety violations even if no one has made an official complaint?

Question: We’ve heard that some employees aren’t sanitizing their workstations and wearing masks when required. Do we need to investigate safety violations even if no one […]
July 30, 2020

When to Take a Chance on an Inexperienced Applicant

Every hiring manager receives applications from people who are clearly unqualified for the job. Sometimes, however, a candidate with no direct or seemingly-relevant experience applies for […]
July 27, 2020

Is it okay to wish our employees a happy birthday on our company social media page?

Question Is it okay to wish our employees a happy birthday on our company social media page? Answer There’s no law against it, but some employees […]
July 23, 2020

Three Tips for Business Leaders Who Are Considering Reopening Offices

How businesses navigate their employees and customers through this pandemic will shape their culture and brand for years to come. As business leaders consider reopening offices, […]
July 21, 2020

The Importance of Immediately Documenting Performance Problems

The importance of documenting performance problems as they occur cannot be overstated. Although this requires meeting with the employee and discussing the issue, which will almost […]
July 20, 2020

What do we do if an employee is diagnosed with COVID-19?

First, notify other employees of potential exposure, if any, in the workplace. You should tell them that someone was diagnosed with the illness, but you should […]
July 16, 2020

Why You Should Consider Progressive Discipline Before Termination

Terminating employment always comes with risk, even when it’s done for good cause. You can reduce this risk by using progressive discipline. As its name suggests, […]
November 21, 2017

U.S. Department of Labor Extends Guidance and Relief to Employee Benefit Plans Impacted by Hurricane Maria and October 2017 California Wildfires

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor announced employee benefit plan compliance guidance and relief for victims of Hurricane Maria and the October 2017 California […]
November 25, 2017

U.S. Department of Labor Announces 90-Day Delay of Applicability Date For Disability Claims Procedure Amendments

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a ninety (90) day delay – through April 1, 2018 – of the applicability date for ERISA […]
November 27, 2017

OSHA Extends Reporting Deadline to December 15, 2017

ThinkHR previously reported  (Are You Ready  to Electronically Report Injuries and Illnesses to OSHA) that December 1, 2017 was the deadline for certain employers to use […]
November 28, 2017

U.S. Department of Labor Extends Transition Period For Fiduciary Rule Exemptions

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced an 18-month extension from Jan. 1, 2018, to July 1, 2019, of the special Transition Period […]