Jennifer Soper

An employment probation period, referred to as a probationary or employment training period, is a time frame used to determine if the new hire is the right fit for the position and the company is right for the employee. A typical time frame for a probation period is around 30/60/90 days. Once you’ve determined your…

With a large number of companies moving away from in-office work and hiring workers from all over the world, they must rely on a remote interview process to assess and hire candidates. Technology has advanced to the extent that conducting a virtual interview feels almost as personal as face-to-face connections; however, employers still need to…

An unlimited paid time off (PTO) policy allows employees to take as much time off as they need or want in a given year, without a limit. There is still generally a structured PTO request/approval process but just no hard cap on the number of days allowed. Knowing how to create an unlimited paid time…

TriNet is a full-service human resources (HR) software that offers professional employment organization (PEO) services, payroll, and outsourced HR solutions to small and medium-sized businesses. Its services, which include payroll processing, tax compliance, benefits administration, applicant tracking, risk mitigation, and access to a cloud-based platform with self-service and mobile tools, enable employers to focus on…

A leave management system (LMS) automates the leave requesting, granting, and scheduling process—taking a lot of the busywork off the hands of your HR employee or manager. The best employee leave management system allows you to set time-off policies and holidays and automatically notifies managers of requests and employees of approvals or denials. It also…

CareerBuilder is a job marketplace and recruitment platform that lets you post jobs, view resumes, track and screen applicants, and manage candidates. Its platform, which has a monthly fee starting at $349, uses artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technology to help you post jobs and find qualified candidates faster. It’s optimal for businesses wanting…

Predictive scheduling is the process of giving employees ample notice of their work schedule so they can plan around working hours. These laws ensure that workers are not scheduled hours before a shift. Early on, predictive scheduling laws only applied to workers in certain industries, like restaurants and retail. But as time has gone on…

A clocking in and out policy sets guidelines for accurately recording employee work hours, ensuring legal compliance, and properly monitoring employee performance and safety. Your clocking in and out policy template should identify eligible employees, explain timekeeping practices, indicate timesheet approvals, mention enforcement and disciplinary actions, and include an acknowledgment section. Download our free time…

Federal labor laws and related state labor laws affect all businesses with employees—even more so for companies with at least 50 workers. They govern workforce practices and areas such as overtime, minimum wage, on-call pay, employee breaks, sick leave, hiring minors, and employment discrimination. Labor laws provide workers with protections and contain enforcement and reporting…

A pre-employment assessment is a tool that companies use to determine a candidate’s ability to perform the core duties of the role they’re hiring for. Many organizations have shifted to this hiring approach, moving away from or in addition to degree requirements. Besides looking into both hard and soft skills, these assessment tests allow you…

Gusto is an excellent choice for small businesses as it offers reasonably priced plans―starting at $49 per month + $6 per person per month―and has a wide range of payroll and basic human resources (HR) functions. However, it may not fit every company’s needs and budget. A top competitor’s product may be the best option…

Insperity is a comprehensive professional employer organization (PEO) service with HR, payroll, benefits, training, and employee education packages, plus much more. It does not quote prices until a full HR team evaluates your business; however, during our Insperity review, we found it has high customer satisfaction and a lot to offer businesses needing to outsource…