Washington’s Employment Security Department (ESD) has finalized its second round of rulemaking regarding the State’s new Paid Family Leave Program. These rules provide additional information on employer reporting requirements, voluntary Paid Family Leave program requirements, deadlines, small business assistance, and other issues. The rules will take effect on December 3, 2018. Premium collection will begin... View Article
As business owners, we struggle with balancing what’s right for the customer and what’s right for the business. You’ve probably been approached with an upset customer reminding you that you should listen to your customer and suggesting that, if not stating outright, that “The customer is always right.” Can a business really get away with such an... View Article
Physical Abilities Tests (PAT) can be a useful tool for employers that seek ideal workers for physically demanding jobs. However, a biased test could cost your business millions in investigations, charges, and lawsuits. Just earlier this year, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed two cases of female discrimination that cost the respective companies $2.5... View Article
September has arrived and those with kids are getting back into the school routine. Your employee’s schedules and mindsets may have shifted to new schedules and priorities. For many, these shifts are subtle – maybe a day off or a slightly later start time – while for others the preparation for back to school creates... View Article
Those of us old enough to remember our very first Star Wars figure, were too young when they first arrived in stores to realize (or, care, really) what it took for them to become and remain a reality for the next 40 years, earning over $14 billion in revenue. Primarily due to George Lucas’ desire... View Article
A lot of emphasis is placed on the need for metrics in business – “What gets measured, gets done” or “What gets measured, gets managed.” When management starts tracking a behavior, the staff starts paying attention to it. That’s good, right? That’s the point! When the metrics aren’t clear or aren’t aligned with your business’... View Article
Planning for next year is daunting. Each year, we know it’s time to create that budget, think about what we’ll do differently, and make sure we’ve got the processes and people lined up to do what needs to be done. But planning doesn’t have to be all at once. Some things have a year-end deadline,... View Article
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas granted a temporary injunction blocking the DOL’s new overtime rule nationwide. What does this temporary injunction mean for employers? It means that, at least for now, employers are not required to comply with the new rule. However, if an employer has already put the rules... View Article
Yes, there are “favorite” things to do for end of year planning… here’s what’s on our list: Financial goals. First and foremost, your planning should evaluate your financial performance this year. If you had financial goals for your business, did you achieve them? If not, why not? Many business owners have sales goals that are... View Article
