We’ve all had the conversation. “Got a minute.” One of your valued teammates sits you down to tell you they are leaving. “It’s not you, it’s me.” Ugh. All that knowledge, experience, time, and energy walking out the door. Employee turnover can kill a small business. It costs a lot of money, puts tremendous strain […]
Your business is more than just your livelihood. You give so much of yourself to it, but ultimately, the success of your business depends not just on you, but also on your employees. Finding good people is a challenge, and so once you have them, you want them to stay. More importantly, you want them […]
Every small business leader wants to get the most out of new team members as fast as possible and then keep them as long as possible. If that is the case, then why do so many companies not have a formalized employee onboarding process? Researchers have found that the new hire onboarding process is a […]
Finding top talent in today’s competitive market is a challenge. Unemployment rates are very low, and people have their choice of where they want to take their talents. After a long and arduous recruitment, the last thing you want to do is turn that person over six months later. You must make your company attractive […]
If you misclassify your employees, not only will you owe back wages, you will also have to pay back taxes and penalties on each quarter the employee was misclassified. You could owe even more if it was proven that you intentionally misclassified the employee. Not sure what the difference is between exempt and non-exempt? […]
The Bozo Explosion. It’s what Steve Jobs described when he discussed hiring “real” managers during Apple’s explosive growth phase. Jobs said that when you hire a “B” player, they will hire another “B” or “C” because they are too insecure to hire “A” players. Next thing you know, you have a company filled with “B’s” […]
Retaining top talent at a small business can be a very challenging feat. Every day on LinkedIn, your “A” players are being hounded by recruiters offering the exciting opportunities that only working for large companies can provide. If you do no take this seriously, you can lose these valuable employees. Candidates state that one of […]
Have you ever had a job you didn’t like? I have and it sucks. What you don’t realize, is that it can impact other people when you don’t like your job. It made my spouse crazy because she wanted me to be happy, my friends were tired of listening to me bitch, and I was […]
In a shocking 11th-hour victory for small businesses everywhere, a federal judge in Texas granted a preliminary injunction against the FLSA overtime rule on Tuesday. The December 1, 2016 implementation date of the Final Rule is postponed and employers need not adjust salaries upward in order to continue to claim exempt status. The injunction is nationwide […]
This election season has given us generous helpings of drama, and the general election itself is only two months away. With the final stretch before the candidates—and us—you’ll no doubt overhear political small talk in the office. Maybe even a heated argument or two! While a respectful debate over lunch or a brief remark […]
Leading millennials in the workforce seems to be a bit of a dark art for some Boomers. In order to be great at leading millennials, first you have to understand millennials. Finish this sentence: Millennials are tech______. Savvy?…. wrong… that is a common myth. Millennials are not tech savvy, they are tech dependent. […]
There is only one common piece of advice I have received from nearly every mentor, friend, and peer when starting our company: Keep overhead low. Cash is king. It can be easy and tempting to spend money on every subscription and service out there because you need it. Your monthly overhead can start to ring […]
You spend so much time trying to find that right person. You phone screen, you interview, you interview again, you background check, you call the references, and you finally make the offer. The stars align and she accepts! You have the right woman for the job. She shows up the first day and reality sets […]
Your two most valuable resources as a small business owner are time and money. If you are wasting either of these valuable assets, you are doing yourself (and your team) a disservice. To save both, you may consider top hr outsourcing solutions. Whether you are a dentist, engineer, tech startup, or cat bed maker, you […]
Have you stopped doing performance reviews or does your program need a facelift? Let’s face it, performance reviews can be painful, awkward conversations. Plus, it can be hard to measure if the review really has an impact on overall productivity. To add to the challenge, at the end of the conversation, your team member probably […]
As many of you know President Obama proposed an increase to the exempt employee salary threshold this week. This should come as no surprise since the proposed changes have been in the making for a while.
All around the country, thousands upon thousands of interns are receiving valuable training, being groomed for a full-time job after college, or losing hope in America as they watch how big corporations operate. That’s right, it’s that time of year again: Intern season!
Believe it or not, I do not believe that “outsourcing” payroll is a good fit for all companies. As a matter of fact, there are times when I have advised prospects against it even though they really wanted to pursue it. However, there are several instances in the lifecycle of a company when the executive […]
If you have ever asked this question, you are not alone. This question comes up frequently with small to mid-sized businesses. Many employers are concerned and ask: “Won’t a job description just make it harder for me to add other duties to an employee?” The short answer to that is, no. “Other duties as assigned” […]
Too often, new employees show up to an environment that will not slow down for a moment to make sure that they are properly set up for success. As a matter of fact, some places wear this as a badge of honor: “If you can’t keep up with the mayhem, this might not be the […]
There have been a number of headlines lately about the DOL Wage and Hour Division (WHD) hiring auditors in droves to enforce the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) exempt status classification. In a post last month the DOL WHD announced that they recovered over $270M in 2014 owed to more than 270,000 workers. That is […]
There are a lot of options out there when choosing a payroll service for growing your dental practice. Making the wrong decision can not only leave you with more compliance issues than you started with, but make for a difficult transition when you need to change again.
Have you ever heard of another dental practice making a compliance mistake that you regularly make and started to panic a little? This seems to be when our phone rings; after someone is penalized or after they finally realize some of the errors they are making.
One of the biggest challenges small business owners face is attracting top talent. You will not be able to compete in today’s crowded markets which are highly commoditized without having the best talent on your team.
As a consultant to small businesses, I have talked to a lot of business owners recently that stopped giving performance reviews over the last couple of years. Some stopped when they could no longer afford to give raises, others have just been inconsistent. Small business owners need to understand the importance of reviews and make […]
Here is a list of ten critical HR resources for small businesses you should have available to help you maintain compliance and be a great employer. These documents are the building blocks of a great relationship between your organization and your employees.
Cross your t’s, Dot your i’s, and Complete your I-9’s! An I-9 audit can be an intimidating event. If you have not focused on proper I-9 completion and maintenance it can also be a costly one. Here are some great tips and guidance on how to complete and maintain compliance with your I-9’s.
Old school organizations and HR professionals stand by the annual review and merit increase associated with the process. This system is antiquated and does not satisfy the performance expectations we have for employees today nor their desire for instant access to information.
Why should your company consider implementing a Safety Program? First and foremost, a safe work environment for all employees is paramount for obvious reasons. Beyond the common sense reason however, a safe work environment can contribute to a company’s bottom line.
I was at a SHRM meeting recently and the topic of USERRA was covered by a great group of individuals from the ESGR. While this was a great review and helped to solidify some knowledge most of us already had, one topic came up that was not crystal clear: Promoting military employees while they are on […]
9 Employee Recognition Ideas for Small Businesses
/0 Comments/in HR Tips /by Rachel WilliamsWe’ve all had the conversation. “Got a minute.” One of your valued teammates sits you down to tell you they are leaving. “It’s not you, it’s me.” Ugh. All that knowledge, experience, time, and energy walking out the door. Employee turnover can kill a small business. It costs a lot of money, puts tremendous strain […]
Twelve Team Building Activities for Small Business
/0 Comments/in HR Tips /by Rachel WilliamsYour business is more than just your livelihood. You give so much of yourself to it, but ultimately, the success of your business depends not just on you, but also on your employees. Finding good people is a challenge, and so once you have them, you want them to stay. More importantly, you want them […]
Why Employee Onboarding is the Key to Small Business Success
/0 Comments/in HR Tips /by Matt VaadiEvery small business leader wants to get the most out of new team members as fast as possible and then keep them as long as possible. If that is the case, then why do so many companies not have a formalized employee onboarding process? Researchers have found that the new hire onboarding process is a […]
3 Employee Retention Strategies That Work
/0 Comments/in HR Tips /by Rachel WilliamsFinding top talent in today’s competitive market is a challenge. Unemployment rates are very low, and people have their choice of where they want to take their talents. After a long and arduous recruitment, the last thing you want to do is turn that person over six months later. You must make your company attractive […]
Are Dental Hygienists Exempt?
/0 Comments/in Compliance, HR Tips /by Matt VaadiIf you misclassify your employees, not only will you owe back wages, you will also have to pay back taxes and penalties on each quarter the employee was misclassified. You could owe even more if it was proven that you intentionally misclassified the employee. Not sure what the difference is between exempt and non-exempt? […]
How to Fire Someone with Dignity
/0 Comments/in Compliance, HR Tips /by Matt VaadiThe Bozo Explosion. It’s what Steve Jobs described when he discussed hiring “real” managers during Apple’s explosive growth phase. Jobs said that when you hire a “B” player, they will hire another “B” or “C” because they are too insecure to hire “A” players. Next thing you know, you have a company filled with “B’s” […]
Retaining Top Talent with an Effective Employee Training Program
/0 Comments/in HR Tips /by Matt VaadiRetaining top talent at a small business can be a very challenging feat. Every day on LinkedIn, your “A” players are being hounded by recruiters offering the exciting opportunities that only working for large companies can provide. If you do no take this seriously, you can lose these valuable employees. Candidates state that one of […]
How to Create an Awesome Workplace
/0 Comments/in HR Tips /by Matt VaadiHave you ever had a job you didn’t like? I have and it sucks. What you don’t realize, is that it can impact other people when you don’t like your job. It made my spouse crazy because she wanted me to be happy, my friends were tired of listening to me bitch, and I was […]
BREAKING: New FLSA Overtime Regulations Postponed
/in HR Tips /by Matt VaadiIn a shocking 11th-hour victory for small businesses everywhere, a federal judge in Texas granted a preliminary injunction against the FLSA overtime rule on Tuesday. The December 1, 2016 implementation date of the Final Rule is postponed and employers need not adjust salaries upward in order to continue to claim exempt status. The injunction is nationwide […]
Political Discussions in the Workplace
/0 Comments/in HR Tips /by Matt VaadiThis election season has given us generous helpings of drama, and the general election itself is only two months away. With the final stretch before the candidates—and us—you’ll no doubt overhear political small talk in the office. Maybe even a heated argument or two! While a respectful debate over lunch or a brief remark […]
Why Leading Millennials in the Workforce is so Important
/0 Comments/in HR Tips /by Matt VaadiLeading millennials in the workforce seems to be a bit of a dark art for some Boomers. In order to be great at leading millennials, first you have to understand millennials. Finish this sentence: Millennials are tech______. Savvy?…. wrong… that is a common myth. Millennials are not tech savvy, they are tech dependent. […]
Five Free Tools to Help You Grow Your Small Business
/0 Comments/in HR Tips /by Matt VaadiThere is only one common piece of advice I have received from nearly every mentor, friend, and peer when starting our company: Keep overhead low. Cash is king. It can be easy and tempting to spend money on every subscription and service out there because you need it. Your monthly overhead can start to ring […]
New Hire Scavenger Hunt: A Fun Way to Engage New Hires
/7 Comments/in HR Tips /by Matt VaadiYou spend so much time trying to find that right person. You phone screen, you interview, you interview again, you background check, you call the references, and you finally make the offer. The stars align and she accepts! You have the right woman for the job. She shows up the first day and reality sets […]
Your two most valuable resources as a small business owner are time and money. If you are wasting either of these valuable assets, you are doing yourself (and your team) a disservice. To save both, you may consider top hr outsourcing solutions. Whether you are a dentist, engineer, tech startup, or cat bed maker, you […]
Free Coffee for Small Business
/0 Comments/in HR Tips /by Matt VaadiHow to Create (or Update) Your Performance Review Process
/0 Comments/in HR Tips /by Matt VaadiHave you stopped doing performance reviews or does your program need a facelift? Let’s face it, performance reviews can be painful, awkward conversations. Plus, it can be hard to measure if the review really has an impact on overall productivity. To add to the challenge, at the end of the conversation, your team member probably […]
How to Prepare for an Increase to Exempt Salary Requirements
/0 Comments/in HR Tips /by Matt VaadiAs many of you know President Obama proposed an increase to the exempt employee salary threshold this week. This should come as no surprise since the proposed changes have been in the making for a while.
To Pay or Not to Pay: The Intern Dilemma
/0 Comments/in HR Tips /by Matt VaadiAll around the country, thousands upon thousands of interns are receiving valuable training, being groomed for a full-time job after college, or losing hope in America as they watch how big corporations operate. That’s right, it’s that time of year again: Intern season!
Productivity Hacks from a 3-Year-Old
/0 Comments/in HR Tips /by Matt VaadiHow was your day, Daddy? A seemingly innocuous question from my three-year-old daughter.
5 Times When it Makes Sense to Outsource Your Payroll
/0 Comments/in HR Tips /by Matt VaadiBelieve it or not, I do not believe that “outsourcing” payroll is a good fit for all companies. As a matter of fact, there are times when I have advised prospects against it even though they really wanted to pursue it. However, there are several instances in the lifecycle of a company when the executive […]
Do You Need Job Descriptions?
/0 Comments/in HR Tips /by Matt VaadiIf you have ever asked this question, you are not alone. This question comes up frequently with small to mid-sized businesses. Many employers are concerned and ask: “Won’t a job description just make it harder for me to add other duties to an employee?” The short answer to that is, no. “Other duties as assigned” […]
How to Make Your Employees 48% More Engaged
/0 Comments/in HR Tips /by Matt VaadiToo often, new employees show up to an environment that will not slow down for a moment to make sure that they are properly set up for success. As a matter of fact, some places wear this as a badge of honor: “If you can’t keep up with the mayhem, this might not be the […]
Exempt vs. Non-Exempt: Employee Misclassifications can be Costly
/0 Comments/in HR Tips /by Matt VaadiThere have been a number of headlines lately about the DOL Wage and Hour Division (WHD) hiring auditors in droves to enforce the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) exempt status classification. In a post last month the DOL WHD announced that they recovered over $270M in 2014 owed to more than 270,000 workers. That is […]
5 Questions Dentists Need to Ask Payroll Service Providers
/0 Comments/in HR Tips /by Matt VaadiThere are a lot of options out there when choosing a payroll service for growing your dental practice. Making the wrong decision can not only leave you with more compliance issues than you started with, but make for a difficult transition when you need to change again.
3 Compliance Mistakes That Are Hurting Your Dental Practice
/0 Comments/in HR Tips /by Matt VaadiHave you ever heard of another dental practice making a compliance mistake that you regularly make and started to panic a little? This seems to be when our phone rings; after someone is penalized or after they finally realize some of the errors they are making.
4 Steps to Attracting Top Talent like a Content Marketer
/0 Comments/in HR Tips /by Matt VaadiOne of the biggest challenges small business owners face is attracting top talent. You will not be able to compete in today’s crowded markets which are highly commoditized without having the best talent on your team.
Bringing Performance Reviews Back to Life
/in HR Tips /by Matt VaadiAs a consultant to small businesses, I have talked to a lot of business owners recently that stopped giving performance reviews over the last couple of years. Some stopped when they could no longer afford to give raises, others have just been inconsistent. Small business owners need to understand the importance of reviews and make […]
Ten Critical HR Assets Every Business Needs
/in HR Tips /by Matt VaadiHere is a list of ten critical HR resources for small businesses you should have available to help you maintain compliance and be a great employer. These documents are the building blocks of a great relationship between your organization and your employees.
Form I-9 Completion and Maintenance
/in HR Tips /by Matt VaadiCross your t’s, Dot your i’s, and Complete your I-9’s! An I-9 audit can be an intimidating event. If you have not focused on proper I-9 completion and maintenance it can also be a costly one. Here are some great tips and guidance on how to complete and maintain compliance with your I-9’s.
How to Give Employee Feedback
/in HR Tips /by Matt VaadiOld school organizations and HR professionals stand by the annual review and merit increase associated with the process. This system is antiquated and does not satisfy the performance expectations we have for employees today nor their desire for instant access to information.
Safety First: Your Organization’s Safety Needs
/in HR Tips /by Matt VaadiWhy should your company consider implementing a Safety Program? First and foremost, a safe work environment for all employees is paramount for obvious reasons. Beyond the common sense reason however, a safe work environment can contribute to a company’s bottom line.
Promoting Military Employees While on Leave
/in HR Tips /by Matt VaadiI was at a SHRM meeting recently and the topic of USERRA was covered by a great group of individuals from the ESGR. While this was a great review and helped to solidify some knowledge most of us already had, one topic came up that was not crystal clear: Promoting military employees while they are on […]