Jennifer Soper

Hiring an intern is a great way to tap into talented individuals who haven’t yet or have just graduated from college. The first step in this process is determining your needs and what your internship program will look like. You can then find interns by contacting your college career center or searching on job boards…

Paycor is a human capital management (HCM) platform that works well for companies that want all their HR tools and payroll in one system. It provides tax and compliance support, onboarding, time tracking, performance reviews, and access to HR pros who can offer expert advice in handling employee issues. Its plans are tiered for growing…

Tipped minimum wage is the lowest amount that businesses, like restaurants and resorts, can pay their tipped employees. Currently, the federal tipped minimum wage is $2.13 per hour, but each state has its own regulation. The tipped minimum wages paid by the employer plus the tips received need to equal at least the full minimum…

A maternity leave policy covers employee eligibility and maternity leave duration, along with benefits and other details associated with your policy. Under the federal Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA), employers with 50 or more employees must provide unpaid maternity leave. Some states, however, require paid maternity leave, and some businesses choose to offer paid…

Mentorship programs in the workplace are strategic frameworks designed to facilitate knowledge sharing, skill development, and professional growth among employees. These programs pair less experienced staff, often referred to as mentees, with more seasoned professionals, known as mentors, within an organization. The objective is straightforward: to cultivate a supportive learning environment that accelerates individual and…

An employee attendance tracker is a way to track employee attendance, tardiness, absenteeism, and time off—a major part of managing employees. A good employee attendance tracker allows you to quickly identify repeat attendance-related offenses and act swiftly to discipline and coach your staff to correct such behavior. You can track employee attendance in two ways:…

Federal break laws for workers are fairly sparse, not requiring employers to provide any breaks at all. If a company does offer employees breaks, federal break laws only require breaks of up to 20 minutes to be paid, and no payment is required for meal breaks of over 30 minutes. However, many states have requirements…

Employee engagement describes the level at which an employee is connected to their work and the organization. Having high engagement with employees results in reduced turnover, improved productivity and work performance, and increased overall profitability. To keep employees engaged, small businesses can implement strategies like regular feedback sessions, recognizing and rewarding contributions, and fostering a…

Paycom offers payroll and HR support primarily aimed at midsize and larger businesses, although many small businesses enjoy its services. However, if it isn’t right for your business—because of expense, company size, or simply not having the right match of tools—many excellent Paycom competitors provide comparable functionality, pricing, and standout features. The eight best Paycom…

Payroll fraud occurs when a worker cheats the system to get a higher paycheck. Small businesses are more likely to be at risk than larger ones because they place a higher level of trust in their employees and often have fewer safeguards in place. This can result in tax payments not being made or employees…

Fringe benefits are company-paid incentives you offer employees above and beyond their regular salary. They can include traditional employee benefits (such as health insurance and retirement benefits) as long as the employer is contributing to the costs, thereby saving the employee money. Fringe benefits also include less traditional benefits like moving expenses, adoption assistance, or…

ADP, Paychex, and Gusto are all popular payroll software, but for different reasons. ADP and Paychex are established providers that offer comprehensive HR and payroll services for businesses of all sizes, while Gusto is a newer provider (established just over 10 years ago) that gives small businesses an affordable full-service payroll option with features that…