Categories
COVID-19

6 Tips for a Safe Return to the Office

At some point, you will be opening the office doors and bringing employees back to work. Here are some ideas that will address health and safety concerns: • Hold virtual meetings, even when employees are in the office• Modify office spaces to reduce personal contact – move desks apart, install barriers• Check employee temperatures at the start…Continue reading6 Tips for a Safe Return to the Office

Categories
HR Policies

Tips on Writing a Streamlined Employee Handbook

Every business with employees should have an employee handbook. But what policies should you include? There are literally dozens to consider (I’ve used up to 95!). I favor a streamlined approach – only include what is necessary, in language all employees understand. Here is what I consider the essential policies for any handbook: How We…Continue readingTips on Writing a Streamlined Employee Handbook

Categories
COVID-19

Paycheck Protection Plan Modified to Help Employers

A new law signed on June 5, 2020, modifies the  “PPP” program to make it easier for employers to use the loan and also have it forgiven (i.e. not have to repay it). You now have 24 weeks to spend your funds, up from eight weeks . You need to spend 60% of the loan…Continue readingPaycheck Protection Plan Modified to Help Employers

Categories
COVID-19

CARES Act Programs to Help Payroll Expense

Under the CARES Act, two new temporary programs have been established to help cover the cost of payroll, rent, utilities and mortgages. Paycheck Protection Program https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/paycheck-protection-program Companies with <500 employees can apply (if a food business, 500 per location).  If spent on the following the loan would be forgiven: employees mortgage rent utilities The PPP…Continue readingCARES Act Programs to Help Payroll Expense

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COVID-19

COVID-19 Paid Leave Poster Now Available

The Department of Labor has just released its Employee Rights poster.  Please communicate this to employees, and post the notice where you would other employee notices.   CLICK TO DOWNLOAD The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act) requires certain employers to provide their employees with paid sick leave and expanded family and medical…Continue readingCOVID-19 Paid Leave Poster Now Available

Categories
COVID-19

12 COVID-19 Actions to Take Now

Many of my clients have asked me about the appropriate actions to take regarding their employees. Best Working Options Flexible worksites (if applicable) Flexible work hours (i.e. staggered shifts) to increase the physical distance among employees Work from home Identify essential business functions, essential jobs or roles required to maintain operations.  Make a plan for how…Continue reading12 COVID-19 Actions to Take Now

Categories
Compliance

7 Things You Need to Know About NY Paid Family Leave

Effective January 1, 2018, all companies with employees who work in New York State are covered under the Paid Family Leave (PFL) program.   PFL is designed to provide a substantial new benefit for employees.  At the same time, there are many legal compliance and administrative details to the new program.    Here are the 7…Continue reading7 Things You Need to Know About NY Paid Family Leave

Categories
Compliance

OT Rules and the Salaried Employee

The Department of Labor regulations regarding millions of salaried employees who are currently “exempt” from the overtime pay rule of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) are as follows: Criteria to Be Considered Exempt From Overtime To qualify for exemption from the FLSA’s overtime requirements, an employee must be paid a minimum salary level (in 2020,…Continue readingOT Rules and the Salaried Employee