Using LinkedIn Tip #1

LinkedIn professional networking site is a very powerful tool which can be used for many purposes.  LinkedIn has FREE versions you can sign up for if you are not familiar, as well as paid versions.  You can do quite a bit with just the FREE version and will be my focus.

With Tip #1, I have liked you to a YouTube video which talks about how to use LinkedIn for Prospecting New Clients as well as Recruiting for Candidates (my favorite).

Classifying your Employees Correctly Can Save You Many Headaches

It is important to know and understand, which employees fall under the EXEMPT status and therefore do not get paid overtime, and those who are NON-EXEMPT. Very specific criteria must be met to qualify for EXEMPT and every year there continues to be lawsuits in regards to incorrect classifications.  This can cost the company quite a bit of money in back pay and penalties if not done properly.

WHO IS EXEMPT, WHO IS NOT?

FREE CHECKLIST TO HELP YOU OUT is available on my HR Forms Tab

FREE Training Avenues for Your Small Biz

FREE training idea #1

Being a small business owner sometimes means you have little or no budget for training. Offering training for your staff should be an ongoing process, whenever possible,  and one that will help with retaining employees as well as keeping them up to speed where it counts.

Below are some great options for FREE tutorials in the area of MS Office Programs (up to 2013 version), Technology, and even Mobile apps.  These are self-paced tutorials with easy to understand steps, screen shots and able to test your knowledge with their Skills Challenge.

GCFLEARNFREE

The above website, no also offers online courses for FREE if you register with them.  No coast and they currently have courses for Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access.  Your employees can earn Continuing Education Units and a Certificate of Completion.

ONLINE COURSE ACCESS

More training ideas coming soon....

January 2015 - Increase in Minimum Wage Takes Effect

Washington State's Minimum Wage is set to increase 15 Cents beginning January 1, 2015.  The new minimum wage will now be $9.47.  Good reminder to update your payroll and be sure you have the new wages in place for any current minimum wage workers or those you may be bringing on board.

2014 STATE WAGE
$9.32

2015 STATE WAGE
$9.47

Setting Up a Payroll System For Your Business

if you are a new business owner and still trying to get things up and running, one of the main functions you need to set up will be payroll.  Having a payroll system in place is necessary if you plan on hiring and building up your staff. In the article below, you will find some things that will need to be considered to set up your own payroll system.  You may also want to consider outsourcing that function to make your life easier as your staff expands.

10 Steps to Setting up Payroll

Offering Retirement Plans for your Employees

Being a small business owner does not mean you cannot offer such benefits as a retirement plan for your employees.  There are several options that can be affordable and you will need to choose the type that make sense for you and your own situation.

Option 1 is the traditional 401K plan
Option 2 will be what is called a SEP (Simplified Employee Pension Plan)
Option 3 Simple IRA

For more information you can read this great article by FORBES.

TOP 3 RETIREMENT PLANS SMALL BIZ

Just Because You Are Small, Does Not Mean You Can't Have the Best

This is a great article that offers some ideas and tips for the very small business owner to offer some perks to attract and retain great employees and talent.

ENTREPRENEUR - BIG BENEFITS FOR TOP TALENT

Cloud Based HR Software

Being a small business does not mean you need to go without the luxuries of the "bigger guys".  There are cloud-based SaaS (Software as a Service) products available that will most likely fit your budget.  If you have little or no budget for this type of software, there is also a product called OrangeHRM and they have an "Open Source" version with tons of goodies and FREE to use.

ORANGE HRM


Other cloud based products can be viewed on this website

SOFTWARE ADVICE 


Having the right tools to manage your HR functions will surely make your life easier and imagine all the time and money (time = money) you can save in the process and focus on the more important things.

Being Cautious of Potential Wage and Hour Errors

This article is good information and some areas to keep a close eye on so you don't create future problems later or a hit to your pocketbook.

COMMOM SMALL EMPLOYER WAGE AND HOUR ERRORS 

LinkedIn a Must for Any Small Business or Professional

If you are not already using LinkedIn to showcase your company and yourself as a professional, then I would highly recommend it.  LinkedIn is a valuable resource where you can quickly mention job openings (free advertisement if you just use "share an update" and post on your page), talk about products and services you offer, benefits you offer, find passive candidates for your professional openings, network with other professionals in your field or potential business partners and so much more.  View article below for more information.

10 TIPS ON USING LINKEDIN TO RECRUIT

Rising of Minimum Wage Standards

Interesting article about higher minimum wage standards across the nation and expectations that more bills will be passed from state to state   In our state of Washington, they recently passed a bill where the minimum wage in Seattle will gradually grow to $15 per hour beginning next April.


FUTURE OF MINIMUM WAGE

Building Trust in Your Business

Read the following article provided by the link below with great tips for those trying to build their business.  To build credibility, you need to have trust and respect from those internally, as well as all external clients and vendors as well.

5 WAYS TO BUILD TRUST

For the larger small businesses (100+) PAY OR PLAY is Here in 2015

Can you Meet the new ACA Guidelines if you have 100 or more

Full Time employees?  Full Time by ACA standards is any employee working more than 30 hours on a regular basis.

If you are a small business who has 100 or more Full Time employees, you will need to be prepared to meet the new ACA standards beginning in January 2015.  If you have 50-99 Full Time employees, you have until 2016.

What you must do?

• Be sure you are covering essential health benefits
• Comply with cost-sharing limits so that it is affordable and not exceed 9.6% of an employees annual family income
• Comply with waiting-period restrictions
• Pre-existing conditions have no bearing and employees cannot be excluded from being offered affordable health care
• Cover dependents to age 26

ACA FACT SHEET