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When Donald Trump ran for the Presidency in 2016, a major plank of his platform was the repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act. In fact, pretty much every Republican in 2016 ran on that promise.

In the summer of 2017, several Republican Senators and every Democrat Senator torpedoed that promise by not agreeing to a plan. Since then, this administration has made several attempts to sink the ACA where they could.

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As an employer, you have a responsibility to handle every step of your business’ payroll. One of the more notable steps is handling the tax deductions that are withheld from every employee’s gross wages. To help, we’ve put together some pointers on how you can calculate the various deductions found on each paycheck.

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The Department of Labor announced a proposal in early March to change the salary-level threshold for white-collar exemptions. This move comes more than two years after a federal judge blocked another attempt to update the threshold for overtime eligibility, although the details of the proposal differ from the 2016 proposal.

The current salary-level threshold for white-collar exemptions is $23,600 annually, which equates to $455 per week. The DoL’s new proposal seeks to increase the threshold to $35,308 annually ($679 per week) – nearly halfway to the DoL’s 2016 target threshold of $47,476 ($913 per week).

While the new proposal is notably lower than the blocked attempt, it still marks a nearly 50 percent increase from the current wage threshold. As a result, the DoL “estimates that 1.1 million currently exempt employees who earn at least $455 per week but less than the proposed standard salary level of $679 per week would, without some intervening action by their employers, become eligible for overtime.” That’s a notable change that can have a direct impact on your employee’s compensation.

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Human resources are one of the most important components of any small business. However, the responsibilities often fall to the owner or an executive, as many small businesses don’t have the capacity for a designated HR department or full-time employee. Often, managing these HR functions in-house creates many challenges. 

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Who doesn’t love payday? For many employees, payday makes them feel better than Christmas. As a small business owner, you have the freedom to decide how to handle payroll at your organization. Talk about a huge responsibility. It’s important to get it right, as payroll done wrong can cost a small business owner time and money. 

There are a few different methods for distributing employee pay, but savvy business owners find that electronic payroll methods like direct deposit and payroll cards streamline the process and keep employees satisfied. We explored the different types of payment methods to help you determine the best payroll solution for your business.

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The last election cycle may have added to the number of states with legalized marijuana, but is your business ready for it? Michigan became the 10th state to legalize recreational marijuana this past midterm election, ushering in the creation of the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act (MRTMA). As more states adopt these measures, it’s a good time to consider how legal marijuana affects your business and what you can do to protect yourself.

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What do you do when a worker gets injured on the job? It’s important to make sure your employees are protected in the case of a job-related injury, while also making sure that your business is protected. 

Every company is susceptible to workplace injuries. In 2017, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported about 2.8 million nonfatal workplace injuries, ranging from slips, trips, and falls to muscle strains.

As an employer, finding ways to contain costs in all areas of your business are crucial, but there is a fine line between saving money and ensuring the health and recovery of your employees in these situations. One way to set yourself up for the best possible result of a workers’ compensation claim is to utilize a nurse case manager.

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As a small business owner, you’re in control of your business. However, things that you can’t control can impact your business as well. 

Certain laws and executive orders can potentially require you to change certain processes and policies to protect your company. It’s important to keep an eye out for any news that can lead you to review current practices and make changes, such as when Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order to increase protections that prohibit anti-LGBTQ discrimination in January of 2019. Whether your business is in Michigan or not, it’s a good time to consider how orders like these can impact your day-to-day operations.

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Running a business comes with more responsibility than most people realize. The administrative requirements to stay compliant while growing a successful business can overwhelm most. Some business owners will hire office managers, an HR generalist, interns, etc., but some completely put off the HR needs of their company. This can cause major issues down the line with compliance issues, payroll dilemmas, job description disputes, and the list goes on.

The Professional Employer Organization (PEO) industry exists to help business owners outsource their back-office functions to focus on the real reason they developed their company, which is to generate revenue. 

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Changes in healthcare are prompting many small business owners to rethink the role of employee benefits like health insurance at their companies. A Guardian Life Insurance study found that providing employees with affordable benefits will be a top concern for small businesses in 2019, yet a majority struggle to provide the healthcare they need. Healthcare costs can greatly impact the profitability of a small business, so benefits strategies must reflect a company’s needs, goals, and values. Below, we explored some of the top health insurance trends that will impact small businesses and how you can adapt in the ever-changing benefits landscape.

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