Returning Value Blog

It's not uncommon for employers to entrust company property to employees, such as:

• Office keys.
• Building entrance badges.
• Uniforms.
• Computers/laptops.
• Cellphones.
• Vehicles.
• Job-specific tools or equipment.

If the employee terminates and does not return the property, you may be tempted to hold back their final pay until they return the item.

However, withholding the employee's final paycheck is against the law.

We often hear our clients or other government contractors use "subcontractor" and "independent consultant" interchangeably; however, they are not synonymous. Sometimes we hear independent consultants being referred to as "1099s," which is a misnomer because 1099s will be issued to both unless the subcontractor is an S or C Corporation. An individual may be working for a company as an independent consultant but based on Department of Labor Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) guidelines; they may actually be determined to be an employee. It is vital to differentiate and classify the worker correctly, or there may be fines and penalties.

If your small business is planning for payroll next year, be aware that the "Social Security wage base" is increasing.

The pandemic has thrown businesses into a never-before-seen scenario that has upended how they operate. Many businesses that were thriving before the pandemic now find themselves having to make difficult decisions, including whether to furlough or lay off employees. This task is not as simple as cutting payroll. Other factors must be considered. For example, furloughed employees are treated differently than laid-off employees when it comes to employee benefits.

The pandemic has affected both employers and employees, and everyone is trying to figure out how to work under new situations and new rules. The Fair Labor Standards Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and the Families First Coronavirus Response Act are all governing workplace rights and responsibilities, and the new DOL guidance will help everyone understand them.

Imagine this scenario: A company’s controller is hospitalized, and she’s the only person inside the company who knows how its accounting and payroll software works. She also is the only person with check signing authority, besides the owner, who is in lockdown at his second home out of state. Meanwhile, payroll needs to be processed soon, and unpaid bills are piling up.

Even though your employees are working from home, they still need good, open communication channels between you and them. As a manager, keep the flow of information transparent and available for everyone to see.

When you read the word “mentor,” you might envision an older individual patiently and eloquently passing along decades’ worth of knowledge to a wide-eyed young student. Indeed, this is a kind of mentoring relationship that still exists and can prove beneficial to many organizations.

It’s no surprise that 360-degree performance evaluations have grown in popularity. We live and work in an age of data — the more, the better, to avoid inaccurate assessments based on biases or small sample sizes.

When an employer decides to sponsor a retirement plan for employees, it takes on great responsibility. Anyone who exercises discretionary authority over any vital facet of plan operations likely will be considered a plan fiduciary. In turn, these individuals face a significant risk of liability if anything goes seriously wrong with the plan.