Human Resources

From the HR Support Center: Can we prohibit personal phone use during work hours?

Employees are spending a lot of time on their phones (scrolling social media, browsing the internet, listening to music or podcasts). Can we prohibit personal phone use during work hours? Yes, you can limit or prohibit use of personal devices during work hours. Employees can be...

24 June, 2021

4 Ways to Boost Your 401(k) Participation Rate

Although many employees take advantage of their employer's 401(k) plan offerings, some do not. In a 2017 report, Pew Research cited the following reasons for lack of participation: more pressing financial needs, problems with eligibility, or saving for children's tuition or the down payment on...

22 June, 2021

Is Tuition Reimbursement Worth It for Employers?

We live in a fast-paced society where people are forever on the go. There's hardly ample time for work-life balance, let alone continuing education. Yet studies show that employees want opportunities for learning and development. According to a Gallup survey, 87 percent of millennials say professional...

21 June, 2021

Can Employers Require Employees to Show Their Social Security Card?

There are two instances in which an employee may present you with their Social Security card: for payroll purposes and for I-9 purposes. But, while you can ask that employees show you their Social Security card for payroll purposes, you cannot tell them to use...

18 June, 2021

What Is Pay-As-You-Go Workers’ Compensation?

Most employers must carry workers' compensation insurance. Employers can typically purchase the insurance policy through either the state or a private insurance company. Under a traditional policy, premiums are based on your estimated payroll for the upcoming policy year. This anticipated premium can be paid as...

17 June, 2021

To Give or Not to Give Unlimited Vacation

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 77 percent of private-sector employees received paid vacation time according to 2018 stats. Employers provide paid vacation or PTO as a way of encouraging employee productivity and remaining competitive in the job market. Typically, employees accrue vacation/PTO, up to...

15 June, 2021

Is Your Benefits Program Ready for Generation Z?

Currently under the age of 25, Gen Z workers typically represent recent college graduates or those juggling college and a job. Generational profiles indicate that millennials and Gen Z-ers share many similar characteristics; however, there are some key differences between them. For example, Gen Z-ers are...

11 June, 2021

Do Employees Have Rights to Their Personnel Files?

An employee's personnel file contains important work-related information specific to him or her. This may include: Job description. Job application. Resume. Employment offer. W-4 form. Employee benefits forms. Emergency contacts. Employment contract. Performance reviews. Complaints from clients or co-workers. Attendance records. Disciplinary actions. Termination records. Employees...

09 June, 2021

How Can You Untangle Special Wage Payments?

The Internal Revenue Service defines special wage payment (SWP) as "an amount paid by an employer to an employee (or former employee) for services performed in a prior year." SWPs include: Back pay. Severance pay. Accumulated vacation or sick pay. Bonuses. Sales commissions. Deferred compensation. Payments...

08 June, 2021

Different Kinds of Bonuses — And Their Effect on Overtime

Bonuses are a form of variable pay that are used to inspire employee loyalty or reward performance, and it's essential to know about the different kinds. Discretionary bonuses A bonus is discretionary if it's given solely at the employer's discretion and does not cause an expectation of...

07 June, 2021