Workers’ Compensation insurance is essential in the trades, but many contractors misunderstand it. This post debunks 7 common myths to help business owners, HR teams, and safety officers protect their employees and staff.
If payroll records are lost before an insurance audit, employers should notify auditors, attempt to reconstruct data, and ensure compliance. Learn how to avoid penalties and protect payroll records for future audits.
When it comes to applying for workers’ compensation insurance, having a formal hiring and training procedure is not just a box to tick; it’s a strategic approach that can enhance your eligibility for preferred rates and additional discounts. A well-structured new employee orientation process not only streamlines your hiring and training but also sets a solid foundation for your team’s future success. Here’s how you can utilize a comprehensive New Employee Orientation Checklist to ensure you can confidently answer “Yes” when asked about formal hiring and training procedures during the insurance application process.
Discover six game-changing tips for business travelers, from TSA Pre-Check to smart transportation choices. Make your flying experience smoother, safer, and more efficient with these expert insights.
Upcoming tax changes will significantly impact small businesses by 2025. Prepare for increased individual tax rates, reduced deductions, and altered credits. Proactive planning with your accountant is crucial for financial stability.
Working from Home vs. Office: Who Gets More Done?
Telecommuting, or working from home, is becoming a popular trend in the workforce. In fact, it’s estimated that nearly 40% of full-time employees will be remote workers in the next 10 years.
In the last 13 years, the number of employees working from home at least half of the week increased by 115% (3.9 million employees in 2018, compared to 1.8 million in 2005).
So, should you let your employees work remotely? It depends.
Read More »Pros and Cons of Working from Home
Before you sign a contract with a third-party logistics provider or even with a new cleaning service, you probably ask for some case studies, read reviews online, or at least check their BBB rating. Even when choosing a lunch spot for that important meeting with your soon-to-be big account, you would tap Yelp to see how many stars it has and read a review or two. Same approach is needed to reference check before hiring anew employee.
Any time you hire a new employee, you gain an opportunity and a risk. They could end up being your best team member, making a huge difference at your company… or they could be a bad hire that costs you time, money, and morale. Before you take the leap and extend an offer, asking the right reference check questions can help you make an educated decision. Follow this formula:
[process_steps type=”horizontal” size=”small” number=”5″] [process_step title=”get context” icon=”address-book”] [/process_step] [process_step title=”verify facts” icon=”drivers-license”] [/process_step] [process_step title=”give context” icon=”newspaper-o”] [/process_step] [process_step title=”uncover red flags” icon=”flag” icon_color=”#ff003f”] [/process_step] [process_step title=”assess fit” icon=”universal-access”] [/process_step] [/process_steps]
Let’s say you’re about to hire Jane, but you’re wise and decide to call her references before extending an offer. After exchanging greetings with the reference and explaining why you’re calling, start with the following introductory questions to gain valuable context:
These questions should help you determine how heavily to weigh each reference’s answers in your hiring decision. Once you understand the person’s relationship to Jane, you can decide whether it makes sense to ask them to verify these important facts: dates of employment, job title(s), responsibilities, why Jane left (if applicable), and if Jane is eligible for rehire at that employer.
The aim here is to ensure that Jane has been truthful, but don’t just stop there. Head to the next section to uncover whether her references’ perceptions of Jane line up with her own ideas about her performance, strengths, and weaknesses.
[icon style=”lightbulb” color=”yellow”]Pro Tip: [/icon] Depending on the circumstances, and the reference’s relationship to your candidate, they may not have all the answers you need. If none of your candidate’s references can verify facts such as tenure and job responsibilities, you can usually call past employers’ main lines or HR departments to do so.
You can make a more informed hiring decision by asking the five types of reference check questions below. Insights from people who have worked with Jane can help you decide whether to hire her, better understand how to manage her, and plan for her first months on the job. Listen not only for red flags, but also for valuable nuggets on how to play to her strengths and plan for her weaknesses.
Before you jump in, give the person some context about what you’re looking for by asking them the following question. This will set them up to answer the rest of your questions with a full understanding of what you need:
Read More »How to Conduct Reference Check Before Hiring New Employee
Hiring, firing, delegating, supervising – these are challenges faced by every business owner as a business expands. People are a company’s most important asset. But managing and motivating people are not easy. The good news is that there are a few great cloud-based technologies that are helping to make this less difficult. I’ve seen a few of these in action at our clients’ businesses and have recommendations. Ever heard of these?
For human resources management, try BambooHR. It’s a low-cost, full-featured platform that provides everything a controller or human resources manager would need to hire, manage, and terminate employees, no matter how small or large your organization. BambooHR pulls everything together—such as job and salary history, onboarding, vacation and sick day management, evaluations, benefits, training, termination processes, and other documentation—into one centralized location.Read More »6 Great HR Apps for Small Business That You’ve Never Heard Of…
If you have been injured at work, you need to be aware of the deadlines that apply to workers compensation claims in your state. In most states, there are two types of workers compensation deadlines. The first is a deadline to report your injury or illness to your employer, and the second is a deadline for filing a claim for benefits. If you miss either of these deadlines, you could lose your benefits eligibility. Use the chart below to learn about the deadlines in your state. State Report the Accident to Your Employer in Writing* File a Workers’ Compensation Claim**… Read More »Workers Compensation Deadlines – All 50 States
Slip-and-fall accidents can hurt customers, cause big headaches for you and even land you in court.
Customer slip-and-fall incidents account for about 10 percent of small business claims at an average price tag of $20,000, according to claims data from The Hartford. If the customer files a lawsuit, which happens about 35 percent of the time in general liability claims, that amount can easily increase to $75,000 or more.
Fortunately for small business owners, there is a way to financially protect your business. Business insurance covers the cost of slip-and-fall accidents that happen to customers, guests and others—such as a delivery driver—who stop by your business. The insurance will even cover you if you get sued. What general business insurance does not pay for, however, are employee slip-and-fall accidents. Employee injuries must be covered by workers’ compensation insurance.Read More »Prevent Slip-and-Fall Accidents from Tripping Up Your Business