THE TIMESHEETS.COM JOURNAL

7 Ways to Transition Back to 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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How and Why You Should Increase Employee Engagement

Contributed by: Luke Smith

On weekday mornings when the alarm rings, sometimes the idea of getting up and going to work is overwhelming. Seeing people at the office, attending meetings with supervisors, or wading through emails can seem daunting. It often feels as though you’re just counting down the hours until you can leave. When you lose interest and engagement, your job becomes just a paycheck. Most employees recognize that this isn’t good, and they know that something desperately needs to change.

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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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Business Math: How and When to Calculate PTO Payouts

Published by Lindsay Sommers

A paid time off (PTO) payout is compensation for earned time off that an employer must pay employees when they leave their jobs. Although the FLSA doesn’t require business owners to give their employees time off, some employers who give time off benefits to their employees must pay out their employees when they leave the company under law. Why is that? Some states require employers to handle an employee’s accrued vacation hours in a certain way. According to state law, former employers must give their employees the cash value of their accrued time off balances upon leaving.

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Can PPP Loans Affect Unemployment Insurance Benefits?

Published by Lindsay Sommers

unemployment insurance support in scrabble letters

The PPP loan is a valuable resource for many business owners, especially for employers who have employees with unemployment insurance. With the new loan, employers will have the ability to pay their employees as they would normally and can avoid paying unemployment taxes. This all sounds great, but PPP loans are confusing to employees, and many wonder whether their employer’s PPP loan will alter their unemployment insurance statuses. Do PPP loans affect employees’ unemployment benefits? Let’s find out.

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How to Manage Isolation and Loneliness When Working From Home

Published by Lindsay Sommers

A man standing in front of the window. He's lonely and isolated. — Photo by Sasha Freemind on Unsplash

Working remotely is a trend that has grown tremendously over the past ten years. In fact, as of 2020, about 4.7 million people in the United States work from a home office and find remote work normal. Recently, countless more have joined the remote workforce as a response to the coronavirus. With lockdown orders in place, many people who’ve never worked virtually before are transitioning to an online setting.

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5 Work-From-Home Habits You Should Follow as a Remote Employee

Published by Lindsay Sommers

An employee working from home and working remotely

You may have recently joined over 8 million Americans as a part of the remote workforce. Like many others, you may have a little trouble getting into the swing of things and finding your rhythm, especially when it comes to organization and discipline. Although you may be new to the remote workforce and it may seem overwhelming, you’ll find that you can actually improve your productivity. Here are some tips for getting the most out of your workday:

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B2B Marketing When Conventions and Trade Shows Aren’t an Option

Contributed by: Luke Smith

Trade shows are the second-largest source of B2B revenue. Exhibitors have access to thousands of buyers, all in one place. No other form of marketing provides such a concentration of targeted customers solely there to purchase or learn more about a specific product or industry. But the current COVID-19 pandemic has halted the trade show circuit in its tracks, leaving many businesses scrambling to find marketing and sales alternatives.

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5 Ways to Improve Employee Development at Your Company

Contributed by: Kristin Savage

Every company wants to ensure that they make carefully considered investments. Employees, for instance, are one of the most valuable investments a business can make. Employers spend copious amounts of time and resources ensuring that their employees are properly trained and that they are provided with adequate benefits. Employers hope that this ensures long-term employee retention and that it will fortify the company’s overall future.

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Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA): Employee Guide

Published by Lindsay Sommers

Many businesses are facing economic hardships now that the coronavirus has considerably slowed consumer spending. Without an influx of income, many business owners made tough decisions to cut employee hours and pay throughout the past few weeks. As a result of this change, anxious employees try to figure out how to balance their new financial situations. In response to coronavirus’ economic effect on businesses, the federal government took action to provide relief.

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Technology Is Transforming Employee Experience—And Here’s How

When attempting to compete for and retain the best talent available, employee experience is the name of the game. In fact, 83% of HR leadership rate employee experience (EX) as “important” or “very important” to their overall business success. EX keeps employees engaged in their day-to-day work and satisfied with their current positions.

Improving employee experience is a widely-accepted aspect of business. It’s a great practice, yet an astonishingly low number of organizations actively put work into their EX programs. A majority (60%) of employees in the US have a channel for giving feedback. However, on their employee experience, only 30% report that their employer actually uses insights from their responses to enact a positive change.

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