FFCRA for Small Business Owners

The FFCRA was expanded under the new stimulus package after originally ending in 2020. If you’re a small business owner, you may benefit from these credits.  Here’s what you need to know about the FFCRA updates:  Paid leave for COVID reasons has been extended through March 31, 2021.  The FFCRA paid leave is now optional. You can still receive tax credits on your 941 for any of those wages paid through the first quarter. This is a continuation of the same bank of hours. That means that employees have a total of 80 hours to use. For example, if...

The presence of unemployment-related fraud claims has grown in the wake of the COVID pandemic and include both fraudulent claims and imposter claims. But by being aware of the types of frauds, your organization can help minimize the results.  Unemployment-related scams can happen to a current or former employee—regardless of an employee’s role at an organization. While scams were also present pre-coronavirus, current unemployment scams primarily fall under the following categories: Fraudulent unemployment benefit claims These are false claims filed using the personal information...

We’ve recently covered the benefits of a PEO in general, but what about the benefits of a PEO specifically during the COVID-19 pandemic? The benefits of a PEO during COVID: Maintain business as close to “usual” as possible. A PEO doesn’t get disrupted when other parts of your business do. A PEO solution can continue to handle payroll processing, benefits and leave administration, employee relations help, and more.  Compliance during regulatory changes. We’ve seen plenty of new legislation and requirements of businesses since the beginning of the pandemic and anti...

According to Gallup, about half of the workforce receives manager feedback only a few times per year or even less than that. The problem? Our workforce wants more feedback more often. Follow these tips for performance management in order to take your relationship with your employees to the next level.  55% of workers believe annual reviews don’t improve their performance. - 2019 Workhuman Analytics & Research study Give feedback in real time rather than waiting for periodic reviews. Many employees find the words “feedback” or “review” scary and can automatically assume...

Your employee handbook can be an important document to protect your business from risk and exposure. It is a great place to spotlight your business and establish a set of do's and don'ts for a successful year. As we take on the uncertainty of 2021, now is the time to update your employee handbook. What to include in your employee handbook: Employment law policies at the federal, state, and local level A company overview Employment policies including job classifications, employment eligibility, termination procedures, and more Anti-discriminati...

As we move into the new year it is important to know about some of the new laws for 2021. The below new laws are organized by state and include the name, main topic, summary, and effective date. Want an easier way to save these new laws? Click below to download a PDF including the same information.  Certipay_EmploymentLaws2021_v1 (1).pdf Please note the content in this update is as of Dec 17th 2020.  California Law: AB 323 Main topic: Contingent Workforce – Independent Contractors Summary: Extends for one year (until January 1, 2022) the exception from the...

Prepare to start off 2021 on the right foot. Browse this 2021 HR checklist and reach out to us if you have any questions about how to be compliant in 2021.  Payroll and taxes Calculate your employee retention credit if you took advantage of an Employer Retention Credit  Complete your PPP loan forgiveness application, if you received the PPP loan Review tax credit provisions under FFCRA and CARES Prepare FICA and FUTA forms Prepare EOY tax filings for W2’s and 1099’s Check IRS guidance on payroll tax holiday if you...

As you prepare to see the end of one of the craziest years we’ve ever experienced, it’s important to ensure your business is set up to be compliant and successful in 2021. Take some time to read through the items below, implement anything that’s not already done, and reach out to us if you could use some extra help.  General HR Checklist:  Confirm new year payroll schedule Set up performance management plans Remind employees to update contact information Review and renew vendor contracts Create 2021 training schedule...

Transitioning payroll providers can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be tough. And if you’ve waited until the end of the year to start reviewing your payroll and consider making changes, you’re not alone! Plenty of businesses make the transition around this time, and when you transition to CertiPay, you can rest assured that it will be a seamless transition.  In order for you to know exactly what to expect, here’s a timeline of our transitioning and onboarding process:  Welcome call It all starts with the welcome call. This is where you’ll get an introduction to our p...

Unhappy with your current payroll provider? Now is a great time to make a switch, but you’re likely wondering how to set yourself and your company up in the best way possible. The first thing to do is to answer a few questions for yourself: What payroll services do you want to have? What do you dislike about your current provider?  What concerns do you have when it comes to making a transition?  Steps to take when switching payroll companies:  Consider timing.  As mentioned above, the end of the year is a great time to swit...