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New expanded tests for determining who is CA independent contractor

Expanded tests for CA independent contractors On September 18, California Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 5 into law. The law expands the use of the “ABC test” to determine if workers in California are employees or independent contractors. Read more: https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/faq_independentcontractor.htm   Under the ABC test, a worker is presumed to be an employee unless the […]

Makeup time in CA not overtime if certain conditions are met

Makeup time in CA not overtime if certain conditions are met. Makeup time is one of the rare occurrences under California law that employees have flexibility to adjust their work schedule to accommodate for important life events that come up from time to time. Makeup time allows employees to take time off and then make it […]

Retirement Plan required for CA Employers

Retirement Plan required for CA Employers Any employer with at least five employees that doesn’t already offer a workplace retirement savings vehicle will be required to either begin offering one via the private market or provide their employees access to CalSavers. Size of business Deadline 100< employees June 30, 2020 50< employees June 30, 2021 […]

DOL SIMPLE IRA Plans for small business publication

DOL (Department of Labor) SIMPLE IRA Plans for small business publication: Most of the information is the same as the IRS, however we noticed this more stringent salary deferral deposit requirement: For plans with fewer than 100 participants employers can deposit salary eduction contributions with the plan no later than the 7th business day after […]

SIMPLE IRA Plan

A SIMPLE IRA plan (Savings Incentive Match PLan for Employees) allows employees and employers to contribute to traditional IRAs set up for employees. It is ideally suited as a start-up retirement savings plan for small employers not currently sponsoring a retirement plan. Choose a SIMPLE IRA Plan Learn the basics of a SIMPLE IRA plan […]

Business Gifts Considerations

Giving is a sign of gratitude and appreciation. It’s a common saying that “giving is better than receiving”. The giver has the benefit of feeling good about blessing someone else, and the recipient has both the benefit of feeling good that giver cares, and also that of the actual gift. Additionally, the recipient may be more […]

Revised 2018 HSA contribution limit for individuals with family HDHP coverage

After the 2017 Publication 969 was released, the 2018 inflation-adjusted amounts for HSAs were published in Revenue Procedure 2018-18, and subsequently in Revenue Procedure 2018-27. If you viewed or downloaded the publication, please note the following for the first “Tip” on page 5. Revenue Procedure 2018-18 (dated March 5, 2018) lowered the HSA contribution limit […]

Why significantly increasing minimum wage will hurt employees and businesses

Short answer: Micky D’s can only charge so much for a burger and people still be able to afford to buy it. More detailed answer: Since small business margins are very tight, an increase in costs cannot be absorbed without prices being increased. A jump to $15/hr from the federal minimum wage of $7.25 is […]

State-by-State Rules on Payroll Debit Cards, aka Paycards

There has been much talk and a lot of reports on the use of paycards. Every day, more workers insist on using paycards to receive their wages. I’m often asked if paycards are legal to use in various states. The simple answer is… read more http://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/news/12410881/state-by-state-rules-on-payroll-debit-cards-aka-paycards

Gig Economy Business Model Dealt a Blow in California Ruling – Independent Contractor v. Employee

In a ruling with potentially sweeping consequences for the so-called gig economy, the California Supreme Court on Monday made it much more difficult for companies to classify workers as independent contractors rather than employees. Read more… https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/30/business/economy/gig-economy-ruling.html?emc=edit_dk_20180501&nl=dealbook&nlid=3078819520180501&te=1

IRS lowers HSA Family contribution limit by $50 to $6,850 for 2018.

IRS lowers HSA (Health Savings Account) Family contribution limit by $50 to $6,850 for 2018. Self-only limit did not change, and remains at $3,450. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-irbs/irb18-10.pdf

Non-taxable de minimus fringe benefits

In general, a de minimis benefit is one for which, considering its value and the frequency with which it is provided, is so small as to make accounting for it unreasonable or impractical. De minimis benefits are excluded under Internal Revenue Code section 132(a)(4) and include items which are not specifically excluded under other sections […]

Are bonuses a form of employee recognition or compensation?

Are bonuses a form of employee recognition or compensation? Bonuses given to every employee can actually work against productivity and engagement. In these environments, employees come to expect bonuses whether they work hard or not. Read more… https://www.tinypulse.com/blog/are-bonuses-really-employee-recognition-or-compensation

MA court rules for woman fired for medical marijuana use

A Massachusetts’ top court on Monday ruled that a woman who had been fired for testing positive for marijuana that she had been legally prescribed under state law could sue her former employer for handicap discrimination. Read more…https://www.reuters.com/article/us-massachusetts-marijuana-idUSKBN1A21WX

6 pitfalls of SMART Goal-setting

SMART is a mnemonic acronym, giving criteria to guide in the setting of objectives (goals). It commonly represents: Specific Measurable Achievable  (originally assignable ie who will do it) Relevant (originally realistic) Time-bound The primary benefits of utilizing SMART criteria is that goals are easier to understand and it’s clear when they are done. When you […]

Google Hire coming soon…

It looks like Google is preparing to go head to head with services like Greenhouse, Jobvite, and others. The online search giant will launch Google Hire, a service that allows companies to post job listings as well as accept and manage applications. Read more… http://www.androidauthority.com/google-job-new-service-764466/

Conduct your next interview as if it were the first

Your small business has achieved the revenue level where you can and must hire your next employee. Candidates are coming this afternoon for the interview. Are you ready to make one of the most important decisions of the year? Click the link to read the rest of the article by John Rossheim http://hiring.monster.com/hr/hr-best-practices/small-business/conducting-an-interview/your-next-hire.aspx?WT.mc_n=olm_emp_disp_f&k_clickid=22623d3c-270a-ec29-da75-000044f76317&k_trackingid=69857221

Blind auditions could give employers a better hiring sense

This is a very interesting 4 minute audio story (or read the transcript) of entrepreneur Petar Vujosevic who saw a big problem with the way the hiring system works and set out to improve it. Vujosevic says, “There is definitely room to improve how we view talent, how we screen talent, how we engage with talent and […]

FAQs about Affordable Care Act Implementation (Part XXII)

FAQs about Affordable Care Act Implementation (Part XXII) Source: http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq-aca22.html Set out below are additional Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding implementation of the Affordable Care Act. These FAQs have been prepared jointly by the Departments of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Treasury (collectively, the Departments). Like previously issued FAQs (available at http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/healthreform/ […]

Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Minimum Wage Poster

http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/posters/flsa.htm

Minimum Wage Laws in the States

http://www.dol.gov/whd/minwage/america.htm

Obamacare – Extra Time to Small and Large Businesses

Treasury and IRS Issue Final Employer Mandate Rules for Obamacare, Giving Extra Time to Small and Large Businesses: http://www.accountingtoday.com/news/Treasury-IRS-Issue-Final-Employer-Mandate-Rules-Obamacare-69572-1.html?utm_campaign=tax%20pro%20today-feb%2012%202014&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&taxpro=1

Affordable Care Act 101: Key Requirements for Small Businesses

This article written by Intuit (the makers of QuickBooks) is very practical resource to get quick and an-depth answers to what the Affordable Care Act is and how it may affect you and your business. http://payroll.intuit.com/support/kb/2001632.html

What Small Businesses Need to Do for Obamacare Before Oct. 1, 2013

Source: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-09-03/what-small-businesses-need-to-do-for-obamacare-before-oct-dot-1 Karen E. Klein September 03, 2013 The health insurance marketplaces created by the Affordable Care Act will open on Oct. 1. Most small employers—those with 50 or fewer full-time employees—are not required to offer health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Even businesses with more than 50 full-time employees have gotten a one-year reprieve from penalties if […]

Affordable Care Act: More Restaurants Replace Full-Timers, Concerned About Insurance Costs

In response to the Affordable Care Act, more restaurants replace full-timers with part-timers because the Affordable Care Act requires employers with 50 or more full-time equivalent workers to offer affordable insurance to employees working 30 or more hours a week or face fines. Despite the Obama administration recent announcement that a one-year reprieve to 2015 on […]