The 2018 IRS Form W-4 Has Been Released. Now What Should Employers Do?
On February 28th, the IRS released the much-anticipated Form W-4 for 2018. The updated form incorporates changes based upon the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act legislation passed in December 2017 with a number of provisions that went into effect January 1, 2018, including an overhaul of the withholding tax… Read More
5 Tips to Help Protect Your Workplace Against the Flu and Other Nasty Germs
With this year appearing to be one of the worst and deadliest flu seasons in more recent years, many employers are taking greater steps this year to try to protect themselves and their workers from an outbreak. Here are a few suggestions on ways you can help prevent the spread… Read More
How Safe is Your Workplace? It’s Time to Tell OSHA.
Most private employers with 10 or more employees who do not fall within a low risk industry (click here for a list of industries partially exempt from recordkeeping) are required to maintain records of any and all work-related illnesses or injuries using OSHA Form 301: Injury and… Read More
IRS Issues Notice 1036: Early Release Copies of the 2018 Percentage Method Tables of Income Tax Withholding
On Thursday, January 11th, the IRS released Notice 1036, titled “Early Release Copies of the 2018 Percentage Method Tables for Income Tax Withholding” which contains the updated 2018 Withholding Tax Tables. Employers are advised to utilize the new withholding tax tables to properly calculate payroll taxes when processing employee payrolls… Read More
Inclement Weather Policy: Make Sure You Don’t Get Snowed!
After the East Coast faced down the “bomb cyclone”and polar vortex and with more storms on the horizon throughout the US, many employers are fielding questions from managers and employees about whether or not their company has an inclement weather policy and when they will be closed for business. If… Read More
2018 Upcoming Legislative Changes Affecting Payroll Tax Calculation
As is often the case when we turn the page to a new calendar year, new laws and regulations take effect that dictate how payroll taxes (also known as withholding taxes) are calculated. Below are some of the upcoming changes that will become effective in the new year: Federal Legislative… Read More
Time to Shift Away from Employee Scheduling Nightmares
One of the greatest points of contention for employers and employees alike in industries with multi-shift workdays like retail, hospitality, healthcare and manufacturing is the weekly work schedule. It requires a fine act of balancing staff skills and availability with sales, production and/or service peaks and lulls to ensure sufficient… Read More
ACA Penalty Notices Are Giving Employers Indigestion This Holiday Season
Many employers are starting to receive penalty notices from the IRS based on their failure to comply with the Employer Mandate portion of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2015. While the future of the ACA is not certain, the law is still in effect. For those who did not… Read More
We’re All Cracked Pots: Managing Employees’ Weaknesses
Many years ago, I had a great manager named Kim who at one of our team meetings shared with all of her employees a great story about a cracked water pot. There are a number of variations of this fable, but here is the version she shared as I best… Read More
When Disaster Strikes: Municipal Planning and Time Tracking for FEMA Disaster Reimbursement
After seeing the devastating effects of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria as well as the catastrophic California wildfires, many municipalities are taking a proactive approach in either reviewing and updating their own disaster-preparedness and emergency-management plans or starting from scratch to put them in place. Whether facing hurricanes, nor’easters, tornadoes,… Read More