The 7-minute rule is a guideline created by the Fair Labor Standards Act for employers to round employee time correctly for payroll. Time-rounding is actually fairly popular. According to recent studies, about 55% of employers round employee timesheets up and down for payroll purposes. People have reported that it makes their process a little easier because they can see an overview estimation of employee hours. It also prevents early clock-ins and simplifies their invoicing practices. Despite these benefits, there are also some drawbacks.
Remember punching a timecard when you got to work? If so, you probably also remember forgetting to do it or even the horror of losing that precious card altogether. Incredibly, some of us still have those antiquated systems in our workplace. Recent studies say that a whopping 38% of US employers still use them, but paper timesheets are outdated for a reason. They’re often submitted late. Time padding and buddy punching habits abound. Miscalculations at payroll time are common when relying on this practice. In fact, the IRS reports that U.S. companies pay billions in penalties each year due to payroll mistakes. Therefore, in order to save costs associated with payroll it’s time to enter the wonderful world of cloud-based/online time tracking software.
If you’re using paper timesheets or punch cards, it’s not difficult to make the switch to online time tracking. It’s also a lot less expensive than you might think. In fact, it could save you money by virtually eliminating the types of issues we mentioned above. We’ll show you how easy it is to find a solution for your needs and how to successfully introduce the changes to your team. Now come inside and take a seat in that comfy chair over there. We’ll walk you through it.
Employees are no strangers when it comes to using their personal vehicles for work purposes. Some employees travel to and from multiple job sites, some use their car to complete work tasks, while other employees simply have to drive to work from their residence. Prior to 2018, employees who used their personal vehicles for business purposes were allowed to claim these expenses as deductions on their taxes. However, since the creation of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA), most employees were no longer permitted to claim itemized deductions for personal vehicle expenses. This caused confusion among employees who use their vehicles for business, and many wondered whether they are still allowed to claim these types of deductions. So let’s find out!
The workforce has changed tremendously since the start of the pandemic in 2020. According to studies, approximately 41.8% of the American workforce worked remotely during the start of the pandemic, but that has since fallen to about 22%. Still, millions of people still work from their home offices, kitchens, or living rooms. Since this transition, many employers have tried to keep positive company culture alive. To achieve this, employers started asking employees to turn on their cameras during meetings. However, this raised employees’ concerns about privacy. Some argue that they must share their homes and personal lives with others when the camera is on. They say that this is not only an issue of privacy but that this requirement should be illegal. Well, is it?
Most non-exempt employees in the US earn overtime pay (at 1.5x their regular rate of pay) after 40 hours in a workweek. So, it’s easy to think that if that employee works 46 hours, 6 of those hours would count towards overtime pay. But what happens when some of those hours are vacation or sick hours? Will that affect the employee’s overtime calculations? Yes.
When you carefully create a work schedule based on people’s availability, it’s frustrating when employees don’t show up for their shifts. It’s even more frustrating when employees don’t notify anyone about their absence because this leaves you understaffed and stressed out. Here’s how to handle a no-call/no-show employee, legally:
Although millions of people have recently joined the remote workforce, many employees still travel to work daily. Some workers travel more than others, though. Many employees, such as home care providers and construction workers, must travel for work. They often commute from work site to work site throughout their shifts. Employees who travel for work purposes may be eligible to earn travel time and mileage reimbursements.
Do you have to pay your employees both travel time and mileage reimbursements?
Good employees are the champions of your business. Their uniqueness and skills bring special qualities that help your company prosper. It can therefore be difficult to lose these types of high-quality individuals when they move on to other career opportunities. It’s challenging to see them go, but it’s even more challenging to replace these employees. No matter how much time you have to prepare for their departure, it’s often still difficult to find someone to fill their shoes. Replacing employees is also costly in many ways: it will take time, it will take funding, and it will take a lot of effort.
When the pandemic first hit our shores at the beginning of 2020, about 44% of the United States workforce started working from home. It quickly developed into a popular trend that made people feel safe and protected during unknown times. Now that the COVID-19 vaccine is here, people feel more secure about living life among others again. This also means that companies are preparing to have their workforce return to their old offices outside of the home.
In the workplace, you’re bound to meet people with ideas and values that diverge from your own. Many employers work hard to create diverse teams, as it enhances creativity, improves decision-making, increases profitability, and amplifies engagement. There’s no question that a diverse staff improves company culture, increases retention, and promotes growth; however, diversity can come with serious downsides when employees clash with a coworker’s personal values and beliefs.
Time tracking is incredibly important when you have employees, contractors, or even if you simply want to track your own productivity. No matter how many people you employ, having a solid time tracking system ensures that your workers are paid properly and accurately. It also gives you insight into your productivity on projects and your progress towards accomplishing company goals. Tracking time accurately also means you can bill clients properly, which avoids embarrassing and costly mistakes. Improving transparency and accuracy is key to staying compliant with labor laws while protecting you against pesky fees from the Department of Labor.
