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Author: Lindsay Sommers

Social Media Guide for Business

Published by Lindsay Sommers

If you own a business, you probably have multiple social media profiles. If you don’t, you may want to consider hopping on the social media train! As of 2020, approximately 50% of the population uses social media, which means you’ll reach a lot of potential customers. Social media is a great way to interact with customers, inexpensively promote your services, and educate others about the merits of your business. Utilizing a social media platform like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram is especially important right now. With the coronavirus limiting face-to-face interactions and the loss of in-person marketing options, many business owners are turning to social media to keep customers engaged and informed.

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What is Per Diem?

Published by Lindsay Sommers
Happy businessman with suitcase sit on top of airplane. Business travel and transportation concept.

If you’ve ever been involved with any business travel, you may have heard of the term “per diem”. It’s a type of reimbursement that employers give employees when they’re traveling for work purposes. Since per diem payments are a simple way to compensate employees for traveling, most employers hop on board.

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Is Your Website ADA Compliant?

Published by Lindsay Sommers
A person sitting at a desk and she is using her laptop.

If you own a business, it’s likely that you have a website in order to promote your products or services. Creating and maintaining your online presence is essential for moving your business forward, but there are some important considerations when creating a website. One of the essential things you must take into account when managing your website is whether it’s compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

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Should You Adjust Your Paid Time Off (PTO) Policy During COVID-19?

Published by Lindsay Sommers
Writing note showingPaid Time Off. Business photo showcasing Receiving payments for not moments where you are not working Two Megaphone with Sound icon on Color Outlined Rectangular Shape

If your employees are back to work, you’ve probably established new policies to comply with social distancing guidelines. You’ve most likely worked out new policies regarding how to handle documents, time tracking, customer service, and more. You have gotten this far, but have you considered taking a look at your current time off policy?

Most people can’t travel like they used to, which means that many employees aren’t using their PTO as they normally would. What are you going to do with those hours? Allow them to rollover their hours to the next year? Are you going to implement a use-it-or-lose-it policy? There’s a lot to consider now that the coronavirus has changed the way people work. What are you planning on doing with your PTO policy?

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6 Best Time Tracking Systems for Payroll & Billing

Published by Lindsay Sommers
Paper spiral wall calendar and clocks. Calendar and alarm clocks. Schedule, appointment, organizer, timesheet, time management, important date. Vector illustration in flat style

Time tracking is a vital aspect of any organization. Proper time tracking can give managers insight as to what projects occur, who’s on the clock, and how many hours an employee works through a payroll or billing cycle. Ultimately, time tracking is the lifeline of any functioning organization, and you want to make sure that you get it right. Take a look at the list below of our 6 top-rated time tracking systems so you can start improving your productivity, proficiency, and profits:

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What to Do When You Overpay Employees

Published by Lindsay Sommers
Frustrated business owner looking at his computer

It’s easy to mistype data when you’re manually entering time records into a payroll system by hand. If you’ve made payroll mistakes in the past, you’re not alone. Studies by the American Payroll Association show us that approximately 40% of business owners make payroll mistakes annually. This results in an average of $845 in IRS penalties every year. In order to avoid this, many business owners have invested in online time tracking services that calculate records automatically. This type of software transfers your employees’ time records to payroll and accounting software platforms with ease, avoiding the need to enter time manually. If you’re manually entering data every pay cycle and you’ve made a payroll mistake, you might wonder how to handle it and, more importantly, when you need to handle it. We can help.

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Business Math: How to Calculate a Pay Cut by Percentage

Published by Lindsay Sommers
A woman adding up money

Pay cuts aren’t ideal; however, they’re sometimes the only option when an employer faces difficult economic periods. As the coronavirus takes its toll on the economy, many employers have had to make the unfortunate decision to cut many employee’s wages. Some small business owners were lucky enough to obtain Payment Protection Program (PPP) loans. This money allowed business owners to pay their employees and get back on their feet; however, the money given was often not enough to pay all employees their original wages. If you received news that your pay decreased and you need to know what your new salary or hourly wage is, read this article.

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Business Math: Calculating Your Average Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)

Published by Lindsay Sommers

A full-time equivalent (FTE) calculation is normally used as a way to analyze an industry or to measure an employee headcount for projects, profits, or revenues. It’s also incredibly useful for business owners to stay compliant with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or other laws. Nowadays, many business owners must calculate their FTEs in order to receive Payment Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness. Business owners must prove that they maintained the same number of FTEs during the 24-week period to receive full loan forgiveness.

No matter the case, if you need to learn how to calculate FTEs, we’ve got you covered.

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7 Ways to Transition Back to Work

Published by Lindsay Sommers
Two people at work.

As different states begin exploring reopening plans, business owners must start thinking about the logistics of the “new normal.” There will undoubtedly be stipulations depending on where you live, and how severely the COVID-19 pandemic affected your area. Nevertheless, this is a great opportunity to come back with a re-energized focus on your business.

With a renewed motivation, you’ll put your best foot forward as a business owner. Whether you are reopening after a few months off, learning how to start a business or implementing new health and safety standards, or balancing the expectations of customers with the emotional well-being of your employees, there are plenty of considerations before the much anticipated “open” sign flips from “closed.”

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Can You Require Employees to Use PTO?

Published by Lindsay Sommers
Word writing text Paid Time Off. Business concept for vacation with full payment take vacation Resting Healing written by Man plain background holding Marker Pencils next to it.

Paid time off (PTO) is a fantastic benefit that employers provide for their employees. In fact, recent studies show that 65% of business owners provide PTO benefits for their employees. Employees with time off benefits have higher morale and better work-life balances, which increases employee retention. So, it’s no wonder why employers choose to give their employees time off throughout the year.

Many employees enjoy the freedoms they get with time off benefits, but there are times when employers must manage time off consumption. For instance, it’s especially common for employers to restrict PTO during busy seasons or require employees to use their time off during slow periods. Although this might cause the employee inconveniences, an employer has the authority to dictate how and when PTO is used.

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Federal and State Meal Break Law Compliance

Published by Lindsay Sommers

Breaks have always been a bit tricky for business owners to tackle. With so many rules in place, it’s hard to decipher what to do to stay compliant with federal and state law. As of May 2020, twenty-one states and two U.S. territories have meal break requirements in place. Generally, employees must take their breaks by a certain time within their workdays and the breaks are paid. Whether you’re curious as to what your state’s rules are, or if you’re thinking about implementing a break policy at your workplace, this article will help you understand federal and state meal break requirements. 

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