Jennifer Soper

The best time and attendance software is designed to help employers efficiently monitor the working time of employees. It can track actual hours worked, overtime, absences, and leave balances while keeping you in compliance with labor laws. Many time and attendance systems for small businesses also offer online scheduling, team messaging, and GPS tracking solutions,…

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…

Employers use human resources (HR) metrics to measure how their human capital-related costs contribute to overall business performance. These can also be used to establish a baseline for your business to track productivity, revenue, training, and more. As your numbers increase (or decrease) around this baseline, you can determine steps to take, as necessary, to…

Paying independent contractors is simpler and often cheaper than paying employees because employers don’t have to withhold or pay taxes. Although year-end reports are required to show amounts paid, employment and labor laws that cover employees—like minimum wage—don’t apply. We walk through the five steps on how to pay independent contractors below. Step 1: Determine…

Workplace safety is the process of protecting your employees from work-related illness and injury, and is monitored by the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Typically overseen by safety officers, this is also a priority that HR teams and business owners must prioritize to ensure legal compliance and a healthy working environment…

Employee cost includes direct and indirect expenses, thus encompassing the total cost of compensating an employee, including salary, benefits, taxes, and any other related costs. Understanding it is pivotal for small business owners, as it directly affects budgeting, financial planning, and profitability. There are two computations available to get this value: a simplified equation using…

Promoting top-performing employees is not just about recognizing their hard work and dedication, but also about fueling their growth and development. As your team members continue to learn and excel in their current roles, you can identify opportunities for them to take on more responsibility. By promoting them, you are not only rewarding their efforts…

Expanding operations overseas can be a complex process, especially when dealing with international payroll and taxes. For instance, you’ll need to decide if your business is establishing an in-country presence where your employees will be working and what types of overseas employees you’ll be handling. These determine what payroll laws apply (both in the US…

By understanding employee training statistics and how they relate to your company, you set yourself up to grow and properly train your employees. This leads to better engagement, higher productivity, and overall employee retention. Additionally, you can use employee training trends to evaluate employees who are ready to advance into a leadership role. Below are…

When it comes to attracting top talent, you should provide competitive salary and benefits, such as paid time off, health insurance, and 401(k). However, some small businesses go beyond the average by implementing an employee perks program that offers unique incentives, such as financial perks, health and wellness benefits, team-building, employee development allowances, company culture…

Employee wellness programs are designed to support the overall health and welfare of employees within a company. They often include a variety of activities and resources aimed at promoting physical, mental, financial, social, and holistic wellness. From fitness challenges and nutrition counseling to stress management workshops and mental health support, employee wellness programs offer a…