Kiosks Can Provide Self-Service HR
When you think of a kiosk, you may think of a shopping mall stand, bank ATM, newsstand or stamp vending machine. But how often do you think of a kiosk on a factory floor that allows the overnight shift to access their work records, or a kiosk in a retail establishment that accepts and categorizes…
Does Spyware Evidence Hold Up in Court?
We all know that spyware programs can surreptitiously monitor the activities of computer users, but not everyone is aware that using spyware may be a violation of your state’s anti-wiretapping laws. If you collect information this way and hope to use it to prove a case in court, you may find yourself without admissible evidence….
Improving 401(k) Performance: A Timely Refresher Course
In a classic study of 401(k) participant behavior by the National Bureau of Economic Research, employees’ tendency to “follow the path of least resistance” was well documented. For example, if new employees aren’t automatically enrolled in a 401(k) plan when they join the company, many don’t bother. But when automatically enrolled — surprise! — they…
Benefits Education Boosts Employee Loyalty
These days, workers are drowning in information. A generation ago, workers had a narrower range of benefits, but also had to wade through much less information to make decisions. Perhaps they had a retirement plan, a health plan, and a dental and vision plan – and not much else as part of an employment package….
Do Not Panic If You Receive a Benefit Audit Notice
Receiving a notice that the IRS is auditing an employee benefit plan is news that no employer wants to receive. If your company does get such a notice, knowing what to expect and preparing for the audit itself are the best ways to help the process go as smoothly as possible. In one IRS newsletter,…
Can Your Research Credits Offset Your Payroll Tax Bill?
Does your small business engage in qualified research activities? If so, you may be eligible for a research tax credit that can now be used to offset your federal payroll tax bill. This relatively new privilege allows research credits to benefit small businesses that may not generate enough taxable income to use the credits to…
Prepare for the Unexpected
Think of it as a prenuptial agreement for a family business — a mechanism to reduce hard feelings and provide for an equitable distribution of assets. Officially, it’s called a shareholders’ agreement and it lays out the ground rules of a family business in terms of governance, succession, the transfer of assets, liquidity and other…
No One Factor Determines Contractor Status
Hiring someone as an independent contractor can have many advantages for employers. Among them are that independent contractors: Can be hired on a per-project basis and let go when the project is complete, May be more experienced workers who want to maintain a degree of independence and don’t require the supervision that is necessary with…
Consider Taxes before Converting Your Home to a Rental Property
Have you ever thought about becoming a landlord? This option may be tempting if your local real estate market is surging and rental rates are strong, especially if you’re already planning to relocate or downsize to a smaller home. Ideally, you’ll be able to shelter most or all of the rental income with tax deductions…
Negotiate Maximum Profit on Cost-Based Contracts
Are you negotiating maximum profit on your cost-based U.S. government contracts? When your contract amounts and prices are established based on estimated or actual costs, you are required to submit a proposal that includes a delineation of your proposed costs and profit. Federal agencies perform a cost analysis to determine the reasonableness of each element…