Blog

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.

More...

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.

More...

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. 

More...

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.

More...

In the 12 years that I’ve been working for GMS, I’ve met with thousands of business owners in hundreds of industries. While every company has their unique problems and issues, some issues tend to be universal.  In the 26 years that GMS has been in business, we have found that most business owners… 

• Think they’re paying too much in worker’s compensation premiums and not getting enough in return for it.
• Want to offer their employees great health insurance, but don’t want to pay the ridiculous premiums being charged.
• Don’t fight their unemployment claims because “it’s just not worth it and they’re going to get it anyway.”
• Hate the stupid bureaucratic paperwork they have to go through, keeping them from more important tasks.
• Have trouble finding good employees.
• Have a hard time keeping them when they do find them because they’re losing them to other companies with better wages and benefits.

Did I miss anything?

More...

Managing the operations of a small business is costly and requires time away from more valuable projects. That’s why many small and mid-size businesses outsource human resources, payroll, employee benefits, and risk management services. A PEO (Professional Employer Organization) can help take these responsibilities off the plate of business owners, so they can focus on the growth and success of their business.

We’ve put together a guide to understand what PEO services entail and how to choose the right PEO for your business.

More...

A recent article written by the Wall Street Journal  outlines some startling financial data in regard to our domestic health insurers and their cryptic billing process established by CMS (Center for Medicare/Medicaid Services). Although GMS typically focuses on the private insurance markets—as they are the most relevant for businesses—examining the continued failures of CMS may provide some insight as to why our domestic healthcare system operates so poorly and why prices for both public and private health insurance markets are sky-rocketing.  

More...

Payroll forms can put a lot of pressure on business owners. When you’re in charge of a small business, it’s up to you to make sure that these forms are not only completed accurately, but on time as well. If you’re not careful, the penalties can range from $50 per faulty form all the way up to hundreds of thousands of dollars for notable violations.

One of the biggest struggles of managing payroll forms is simply knowing which forms apply to your business and what they do. We’ve compiled a list of payroll forms that you’ll likely need to know for your small business and how they work.

More...

In the past, business owners in Michigan had the option of whether they wanted to offer paid sick leave for their employees. However, Michigan adopted the Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA) Sept. 5, 2018, making it the 11th state to have a mandatory paid sick leave law in effect. Within a few months, the state’s legislature amended the bill, adopting the Paid Medical Leave Act (PMLA) as a modified version of the initial act that will go into effect starting March of 2019. 

With all the changes in Michigan’s paid sick leave laws, it’s time for business owners in the state to take stock of exactly what the PMLA requires of them, if they should reevaluate their paid leave policies, and what they need to do to be compliant with the new law.

More...

Winter isn’t coming—it’s here. The falling snow and frigid air are good reminders to prepare your workplace for the winter months ahead. From power outages to workplace injuries, winter weather can have some chilling effects on your business operations. Read on to understand why workplace safety is important and the winter workplace safety measures your organization should take this season.

More...