All posts by angela stoner

A Seven Point Checklist for HR compliance

Is Your Organization Playing by the Rules? Avoid fines and optimize your team’s productivity by following the legally established norms of employer/employee relations. Here is a step-by-step guide to doing just that: 1. Get Registered with both the IRS and your state/local revenue agencies to enable payments of your payroll taxes. Which brings us to our next point… 2. Withhold taxes accurately. After all, under-withholding could leave you in...

The 3 Most Common HR Mistakes

And How to Avoid Committing Them Yourself Leading a professional team in a way that is conducive to productivity and legally compliant can be more challenging than it sounds. Here are three frequent pitfalls that you should keep in mind: #1: Not Documenting Performance of Existing Employees. Even in a small company where you know every employee personally, conducting formal performance reviews on a consistent basis is very important....

Do You Need to Reevaluate Your Onboarding Process?

Watch for these signs that your onboarding process needs a makeover. A good onboarding process is crucial for turning your candidates into productive workers. Many companies use outdated materials and rush through the process to get new employees right to work. However, carefully planned and thorough onboarding can actually add value to a company by enabling new employees to start out with ample experience before hitting the work floor...

Setting Social Boundaries with Employees

How personal is too personal? Humans are social individuals and many of us enjoy interacting with other people – both on a business and personal level. We spend an average of about 40 percent of our time at work so the chances of your personal life diving into your business social life are high. But having personal conversations in a formal office environment is something you should be careful...

To Pay an Intern or Not to Pay?

That is the question many employers face. Interns are great options for small businesses that need extra help but do not have the funding to bring a full-time employee on staff. Should you pay your interns or not? Thanks to the Department of Labor (DOL), that question is now answered for you. Recently, the DOL announced tips that reverse their previous test to determine whether an intern or student...

How to Prepare When Switching Payroll Providers


Before you switch, keep these things in mind to prepare. There may come a time when you feel the need to switch payroll providers. Perhaps your current provider is missing the mark or maybe their company is dissolving. Regardless of why you switch, be sure you are completely prepared to make the transition as seamless as possible. Things to Consider When Switching Payroll providers range in price. Before diving...

Do You Know About the Social Security Wage Base?

Determine if you are withholding as much as you should be and when to stop. Social Security tax is a tax that applies to both employees and employers. As an employer, you are required to withhold a certain percentage of each employee’s paycheck and to make a matching contribution. Social Security tax does not change each year (with a few exceptions). However, the case is not the same as...

4 Reasons You Should Not Handle Payroll Alone

A risk not worth taking. Payroll is a vital part of your business but handling it all by yourself could cost you more than you may expect. Here are some of the biggest reasons you should not process payroll solo. Payroll Rules in Different States If you have multiple locations across state lines, you may find yourself facing an in-house nightmare when it comes to payroll rules and trying...

Worker Classification: Consider All Aspects of Your Work Relationship

How to avoid the headaches associated with misclassifying your workers. The Department of Labor makes a big deal out of businesses who misclassify their workers, whether purposefully or accidentally. The IRS stands ready to penalize and fine those who do so. The act of misclassification can also result in a violation of workers’ compensation laws and a liability for unemployment taxes, along with many other issues. To help you...

5 Ways to Simplify Your Small Business Payroll

Eliminate payroll headaches with these tips. Small business owners sometimes struggle with their employees’ payroll. Getting payroll figures worked out and delivering paychecks each pay period is important for your business. Payroll processing is often complex and time consuming for small businesses. To make it less difficult to manage, we have created a few steps to simplify the process. 1. Simplify your policy. Take time to look over your...