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Navigate is a global and local New England Professional Employer Organization headquartered near Boston, Massachusetts in Burlington, MA. As the leading HR and PEO resources for businesses, for industries ranging from professional services to manufacturing and nonprofit organizations, we understand the necessity and cost savings associated with outsourcing HR for startups and established organizations alike. Please explore the full contents of our strategic human resources information below or visit our HR news and resources directly.
Navigating A Post-Pandemic Return To Work
As we see restrictions starting to lift, we’re seeing companies start to send their employees back to work in the office as long as it’s safe to do so and a proper risk management plan is in place.
Providing Help for Caregivers Within the Workplace
An estimated 1 in 6 working Americans today support their parents or another member of the elderly community. Read how to invest in employees that are in an unpaid caregiving function at home that you might not even be aware of.
How to Avoid Workplace Discrimination
Although many laws have been passed throughout the decades, discrimination is still a problem in the workplace. Discrimination makes the office a tense and unpleasant place to work, and often unfairly removes the opportunity for society’s least represented groups....
Growing Non-Dues Revenue by Partnering with a PEO
Businesses today have a lot on their plate. Between trying to outwit their competition and innovate in unique and distinctive ways throughout the year, businesses today are smart to partner up with a Professional Employer Organization, or PEO.
A Year in Review: Top Articles for HR and Business Leaders to Help You Pivot in 2021 and Beyond
During a year of uncertainty, Navigate PEO aimed to publish content that kept business leaders informed about market opportunities, workplace investments, and ways to navigate COVID-19 limitations in your organization.
Human Resource Information System Fact Sheet
A Human Resource Information System, or HRIS, is a program or a set of programs that helps companies with recruitment, performance reviews, employee training, HR management and reporting.
Changes to OSHA Under COVID-19 and the Biden Administration
As a new administration takes office, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage on. Despite the encouraging development of vaccines and their dispersal to frontline workers and the elderly, continuing efforts are being made to control the spread of the virus.
2021 Update on What the Payroll Protection Program’s Second Draw Means for Executives
When the first Payroll Protection Program went into effect through the CARES Act in March of 2020, small business owners around the country were provided with financial support to help them survive the turbulent waves created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The assistance...
The Compass Newsletter (Jan 2021): Flexible Jobs, Paid Caregiver Leave, OSHA Compliance, & PPP’s Second Draw
HR can seem like such a hassle, but investing in well-rounded HR policies is investing in your company. A component HR department takes entry-level workers to supervisors, streamlines the onboarding process, and provides a safe place for employees to work out their...
Why companies should invest in benefits for employees in ‘caregiving’ functions
For anyone who has had to look after a sick or elderly relative, family member, or friend, you know that it can be draining and many employers are not flexible. Read about why organziations need to invest in benefits for employees in caregiving functions.
Why you should invest in your existing staff: keeping current employees happy is key to a successful future
Think about the worst job you ever had. What made it so bad? Did you work long hours? Did you work under the thumb of a micromanager? Did your job offer no benefits? Now, consider the best job you've ever had. What made it good? Did you feel valued? Autonomous? Were...
The pandemic-induced workplace digital transformation in 2020: how are workplaces changing?
Covid-19 has hit many businesses hard. Yelp.com's Local Economic Impact Report announced that more than 97,966 businesses in the US permanently shut down due to the pandemic - and that was from reports in September of this year. Businesses may have experienced even...
Should you hire a full-time HR manager or outsource your HR functions?
According to People Management, the majority of HR teams are staffed with an average of ten employees with some companies having fifty or more! Of course, for a small business, you might not need ten people in our HR team but you might not realize the workload...
Can Navigate PEO save you money on your employee healthcare benefits?
Benefits keep employees happy. Choosing a PEO can offer competitive rates on employee benefits from health insurance to 401k plans.
Forging Ahead in the “New Normal”
In these times, we are all called upon to lead when our feelings may be more negative than positive.
How to Get an Employee Retention Tax Credit in 2020
We are living in a time like nothing we have ever seen before. It seems that the entire world has been put on hold while scientists, doctors, and governments try to discover the answer to COVID-19. While everyone waits, most businesses have either been shut down or...
An Update from us on COVID-19
The coronavirus pandemic has affected our global community in unimaginable ways. Many effects are yet to be revealed.
Finding Hidden Opportunities for Small Business Owners During a Pandemic
The outbreak of a pandemic has brought about radical changes for business owners around the world.
Resources for Navigate Partners
For information on resources available to you during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, see this round-up of resources for the New England area.
What is the CARES Act and its Paycheck Protection Program?
For U.S. businesses: The Small Business Administration has just released new details on the Paycheck Protection Program. Funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
What a PEO is and the Benefits it can Provide for Growing Organizations
Discover what a Professional Employer Organization is and the benefits, like compliance and savings on benefits, that a PEO like Navigate can provide for your growing small business in the New England area.
Key Elements of Job Offer Letters
Although companies typically experience a recruiting slowdown in the summer, that does not mean that employers should slack on ensuring that they know what elements make up a good, compliant offer letter. In fact, employers should take advantage of slower hiring...
How to Support LGBTQ Employees in the Workplace All Year Long
Pride Month is in June. Every June, events including festivals and parades are held around the country to celebrate the progress the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer) community has made, while also recognizing the distance still needed to achieve...
Paid Caregiver Leave: A Worthwhile Benefit
Did you know that an estimated 24 million family caregivers—about 60 percent of family caregivers of adults—are also working at a paying job? In generations past, there would often be a nonworking family member that was able to take care of older and/or sick...
Hiring Summer Interns: Worth the Risk?
As summer approaches, many college students find themselves looking for summer internships as a way to gain valuable experience in the workplace and beyond the classroom environment. Summer internships have always been a staple for many in the college experience, and...
Unlimited PTO: Is It Right For Your Workplace?
As summer approaches, we are entering the busiest time of year for people looking to go on vacation and take time off of work. This season often leads employers to consider their time off policies, and whether or not a change to the time off policy could be made that...
How HR Departments and PEOs Can Work Together
Running a business is no easy task. Business owners today face many challenges, including managing costs, increasing profits, and remaining compliant with constantly changing local, state, and federal regulations. Human resources departments, in particular, face a...
How to Ensure Compliance with a Non-discretionary Bonus
There is not a single employer that does not have to contend with compliance issues in the workplace. One area that is especially tricky is the payment of bonuses. The Fair Labor Standards Act is the main law that regulates the payment of wages to employees, and there...
Insurance Brokers and PEOs: A Worthwhile Partnership
One of the biggest challenges insurance brokers face today is protecting their book of business- that is, retaining clients and keeping them happy. While brokers are always looking to add new clients, protecting the book of business is the number one priority for many...
Debunking Fears Around March Madness in the Workplace
For many people, entering the month of March means one thing: March Madness. March Madness is the annual NCAA college basketball tournament that takes place every March, and it drums up a lot of excitement each year. In fact, it is estimated that more than 60 million...
Employee Gift Matching Programs: Things to Consider
In our previous blog post, we discussed the benefits employers can enjoy from offering an employee volunteering program, including increased team morale and improved brand perception and corporate visibility. Offering an employee volunteering program, however, is just...
Employee Volunteering: A Good Business Investment
Every business owner wants their business to do well- to continually increase profits and success. But today, more and more business owners are recognizing the importance of doing good. Consumers are placing increased value on companies that make an effort to give...
What You Need To Know About Financial Wellness Programs
A recent survey from Country Financial found that 67% of Americans say that they are worried about their financial future. Thus, as an employer, it is guaranteed that at least some of your employees are stressed about money. Though money woes may seem like more of a...
Offering Benefits to a Multigenerational Workforce
In our last blog post, we described five benefits trends to look out for in 2019. One of these trends is the increased customization of benefits offerings, due to today’s workforce spanning several generations. The average workforce today could span as many as five...
5 Benefits Trends to Look Out For in 2019
In our last blog post, we highlighted 5 HR trends to look out for in 2019. As the overall workplace environment is shifting, so are employee benefits. Employee benefit offerings are becoming more important than ever, with 80% of workers reporting that they would keep...
5 HR Trends to Look Out For in 2019
2018 has come to a close, and now employers are looking to the future and creating or adjusting workforce management strategies for the year ahead. Here are some HR trends and changes that experts predict will play a role in workforce management and human resources in...
Top Myths About HR Portals
With or without technology, managing people is no easy task. Over the past decade or so, however, technology has infiltrated the workplace and greatly changed how certain tasks and processes are carried out. The department of human resources is no exception. The...
The Year End Bonus: Things to Consider
As we approach the end of the year, many employers are preoccupied with planning holiday parties and managing employees’ requests for time off. The holidays are an exciting busy time, but one thing that employers should not forget to think about is the year end bonus....
Onboarding: Going Beyond Orientation
So far in this series of blog posts, we have discussed the benefits of employee onboarding, and have given tips on how to maximize the effectiveness of the onboarding process at various touchpoints, including before the first day, and the first day itself. While all...
Onboarding: First Day Best Practices
In our previous blog post, we discussed the importance of preboarding- engaging with the new hire during the time after they accept the job offer and before their first day of work. Many people overlook this time period as part of the overeall onboarding process, but...
Election Day and the Workplace
As Election Day approaches on November 6th, many employers may find themselves facing the question of whether or not they are required to give employees time off to vote, and how exactly to address the topic of voting, which can bring up some contentious beliefs and...
Halloween In the Office: Avoid a Legal Scare
As we move through fall and approach the holiday season, we are entering a time when holiday celebrations in the workplace become commonplace. Fall offers plenty of opportunities for seasonal cheer and festivities, with Halloween being an especially fun time. But...
Onboarding: The Importance of Preboarding
In our previous blog post, we discussed the importance of employee onboarding, and some of the benefits it can bring to a business. In addition, we debunked some common myths surrounding onboarding, including the belief that onboarding only happens during the new...
Onboarding: Benefits and Myths
For a growing business, the attraction of top quality talent becomes an increasingly key component of steering the business towards success. Today, more and more companies are realizing that proactively investing time and money into building an effective recruiting...
Employee Handbooks: Key Elements
Employee handbooks are important and beneficial for companies of all sizes, but the process of developing an employee handbook can be challenging. The employee handbook must be tailored to the company while also remaining legally compliant, clear, concise, and...
Recruiting: The Importance of Talent Pipelining
Throughout this series, we have discussed various areas that employers need to address if they wish to improve their recruiting efforts, including the importance of employer branding and the importance of an improved candidate experience. With both of these tactics,...
Recruiting: Improving the Candidate Experience
In our previous blog post, we discussed how one of the biggest challenges that employers need to tackle today to improve their recruiting process is the challenge of developing a strong employer brand. Investing in the development of a strong employer brand results in...
Recruiting: The Importance of Employer Branding
In our previous blog post, we discussed the importance of having an effective recruiting process, and how the benefits of doing so can spill over to all aspects of the business. Despite the importance of recruiting, the average employer faces a myriad of recruiting...
Recruiting: The Impact of Quality Candidates
Most small and medium-sized business owners are constantly wrestling with the challenge of effectively keeping costs down while focusing on steering the business towards growth and success. There are many ways that employers can do this, from streamlining expenses to...
Employee Handbooks: Making Updates
In this series, we have discussed why employee handbooks are important. We have also discussed some compliance issues that can arise in the development and distribution of employee handbooks, including whether or not employee handbooks are considered to be contracts,...
Employee Handbooks: Non-compete and Non-disclosure Agreements
In a recent blog post, we talked about some compliance concerns that arise when developing an employee handbook. Specifically, we discussed the importance of making a disclaimer that the employee handbook is not a contract, and that employees are employed at-will,...
Employee Handbooks: Are They Considered Contracts?
In this series, we have discussed why employee handbooks are important. By now you know that a well-drafted, legally compliant, and up-to-date handbook can have many benefits for both the employees and the employer. But is an employee handbook the same thing as an...
Job Descriptions: Working Conditions and Physical Demands
The purpose of a job description is to clearly state exactly what a person in that role does. Furthermore, it should convey as much as possible about the actual experience of working in the role. Thus, a crucial element of ADA compliant job descriptions is a section...
Employee Handbooks: Why Are They Important?
While having an employee handbook may seem like something that only larger corporations need to worry about, the reality is that employee handbooks are important and beneficial for businesses of all sizes, even those with just a handful of employees. A well-drafted,...
Job Descriptions: Essential vs. Nonessential Functions
A crucial element to any job description is listing the essential and nonessential functions of the job. Put simply, an essential job function is one that the person holding the job must be able to perform, whereas non-essential job functions are those that do not...
Job Descriptions: Setting A Salary Range
One thing that any employer looking to fill a position must consider is the salary range for that role. From an employer’s perspective, a salary range establishes a potential range of compensation for a specific role. It usually includes a minimum and a maximum pay...
As Summer Approaches, Here’s What You Should Know About Vacation Policy
Every small business owner today faces the challenge of attracting and retaining quality talent, and one of the key factors in doing so is having an attractive array of employee benefit offerings. One key component of employee benefits that is often overlooked is the...
To Improve Safety in the Workplace, Improve Communication
Did you know that for every $1 a company invests in workplace safety, there is a resulting $4 return on investment? (Source) Many employers know that they need to be paying attention to safety in the workplace, but are not effectively doing so. Developing a culture of...
Ensuring Compliance with Independent Contractors
Over the past several years, hiring activity has been on an upward trend for small businesses. At the same time, the types of jobs being generated by small businesses are shifting, as the general economy evolves and changes. Most notably, the “gig economy” is on the...
Factors to Consider When Determining Pay Period
Payroll is an essential function of every business. That being said, there are varying ways that employers can actually distribute pay to employees, and one critical decision that employers need to make when setting up payroll is which of the different types...
What the Super Bowl Means for Employers
On Sunday, February 4th, the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles will face off in the 52nd Super Bowl. This year, over 100 million Americans are expected to tune in to the big game. While the Super Bowl is an annual source of excitement for sports fans...
Time’s Up: Resources for Employers
If you watched the 75th Annual Golden Globes on Sunday, January 7th, you most likely noticed that many of the celebrities wore black and were talking about a movement called “Time’s Up”. Time’s Up is an initiative launched by several hundred females in the...
Inclement Weather: What Employers Need to Know
We are in the midst of the winter months, which for many employers means increased concern surrounding inclement weather and how it impacts the workplace. Employers walk a tough tightrope between ensuring that employees are safe and making certain that the business...
7 Workforce & HR Trends to Look Out For in 2018
Now that 2017 has come to a close, employers are looking to the future and creating or adjusting workforce management strategies for the year ahead. Here are some trends and changes that experts predict will play a role in workforce management and human resources in...
How Employers Can Prepare for Disasters Like Harvey and Irma
Over the past few weeks, many people across the country and beyond have been tuning in to witness the devastation that has been brought upon Houston, Texas and its residents amidst the destructive Hurricane Harvey, and then in Florida and the Caribbean by Hurricane...
How Great Bosses Engage Employees
Employer-employee relationships set the tone for an entire workplace. Toxic office relationships can hinder a company's growth by limiting productivity and lowering employee retention, while good relationships foster a productive work environment. But just how...
Workplace Risk Mitigation: What’s Your Strategy?
In hiring your first employee, you assumed potential risks and liabilities. These risks include lawsuits, employment-related disputes and compliance issues — just to name a few. Resolving these issues requires money and time, taking your focus away from growing your...
The Push For Phased Retirement
Traditionally, the Social Security’s full benefit retirement age has been 65 years old, but that number is slowly increasing. Currently, the full benefit age is 66 for people born between 1943-1954, and will gradually rise to 67 for those born in 1960 and later. That...
The Race for Talent: Employee Benefits
Is your company winning the race for talent? Unfortunately, many are not, according to a recent Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) survey. In it, more than two-thirds of employers reported “challenging recruiting conditions in the current talent market”—and...
Pay Equity Compliance 101
The topic of a wage gap between genders is hotter than ever, and wage laws are becoming an issue of concern for employers on both the state and national level. In September, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released a final version of the Employer...
Infographic: Small Businesses Keep New England Running
New England small businesses are proving to have a critical impact on our economy, as shown in the infographic below. Connecticut alone has 720,404 employees employed by small businesses. 97.8% of Massachusetts’ employers are small businesses and Rhode Island has an...
5 HR Mistakes Small Businesses Make
As a small business owner, you wear a lot of hats. Sales, operations, accounting, and human resources all fall on your shoulders and, undoubtedly, your main focus day in and day out is executing well for your clients and running a profitable operation. This means that...
Will the Massachusetts Minimum Wage Increase Affect Your Small Business?
The recent sweep across the nation to increase minimum wage has been affecting both large and small businesses. The increase, which began in January of 2015 for the state Massachusetts, is now at an all-time high of $9.00 an hour for minimum wage workers. But the wage...
The Massachusetts State Treasurer’s Office is Giving Employees Paid Parental Leave
Deborah Goldberg, Massachusetts’ state Treasurer, has announced that 175 office employees will now be eligible to receive up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave. This new policy, which was adopted on June 3, 2015, and effective immediately, applies to both men and...
Why New Supreme Court Ruling Opens Door for Pregnant Women
In 2008, Samantha Elauf, a Muslim woman, sued the retailer Abercrombie & Fitch for discrimination after the store refused to hire her because her hijab clashed with the store’s dress code. On June 1, the Supreme Court sided in an 8-1 decision with Elauf. According...
7 Critical Payroll Tips Your Small Business Should Know
Handling payroll can be a challenging aspect of running your small business, and the tax law surrounding payroll makes it even more complex. Fox Business recently released a created list of 7 Payroll Tips for Small Business Owners. The article highlights how to keep...
Motivational Theory: When Employee Perks Don’t Work, Try Rewards and Recognition
One of the most effective ways to entice top-level talent to your organization is with unique and enviable employee perks. But does offering your employees guaranteed benefits to give them the incentive to work harder or remain a part of your company? The motivational...
Uber Facing Huge Fines in New England; 3 Takeaways for Small Businesses
Uber’s growth is disrupting markets across the country. The Newsroom reports that, “At its current rate, the Uber platform is generating 20,000 new driver jobs every month.” As Uber grows, its business practices have drawn attention and are under scrutiny. In states...
Changes in New Hampshire’s Workers’ Compensation Laws
New Hampshire has approved a new workers’ compensation law that includes payment declarations for medical procedures. “For the first time, a New Hampshire legislative committee has tied workers’ compensation costs to a medical fee schedule determined by...
Why Remote Work Thrives in Some Companies and Fails in Others
The number of companies offering remote work is on the rise. A recent article by the Harvard Business Review states that the number of Americans working remotely increased 80% between 2005 and 2012. It is critical to the success of your business that employees...
Department of Labor (DOL) Regulations Every Business Owner Needs to Know
The United States Department of Labor (DOL) was established in 1913 with the mission to "to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for...
New Resource: Business Owner’s Guide to HR & Compliance in New England
We recently released a comprehensive guide for New England business owners on the responsibilities and challenges faced when managing human resources and regulatory compliance. According to our President, Tom DiSilva, “We’ve found that too many hard-working business...
Should Your Employees Get Overtime? Exempt vs Nonexempt
Payroll laws confuse businesses and employees alike when it comes to overtime requirements. Understanding employee classifications (exempt vs non exempt) can help businesses grasp whether their employees are entitled to (or exempt from) overtime pay and under what...
Use Performance Reviews to Kickstart Business Success
As a business owner you know the success of your business is largely dependent on setting and achieving your corporate goals, and you know you can’t do it alone. Employee performance is inextricably intertwined with reaching your company’s goals, which is why...
Why Changes In Connecticut’s Overtime Wage Law Means Double Trouble For Violators
The Passage of Senate Bill No. 914 Effective October 1, 2015, Connecticut businesses will be required to remunerate their employees to the tune of twice the amount of any unpaid overtime wages. This is because the state recently signed into law Senate Bill No. 914, an...
How to Offer Big Benefits at Your New England Small Business
No one ever said running a company was easy. New England small-business owners embrace the challenge, taking on the difficult work of staying afloat in a crowded sea of larger competitors. Just because a business is small doesn’t mean it can’t enjoy some of the...
The Benefit of Income Protection Benefits for New England Small Business
New England small businesses house much of the region’s workforce. They make up its vast majority of companies, but they’re often stuck with fewer options -- and higher costs -- than larger organizations offering disability insurance to their employees. In a...
What is Ban the Box and Why Small Businesses Should Know About It
Recently, many U.S. states and cities have enacted bills to “Ban the Box” and prevent employers from requiring job applicants to disclose their criminal backgrounds. Such laws offer applicants with criminal histories an opportunity they’ve long been looking for: to...
Why Wellness Programs Are on The Rise & How to Start One
How far does your company’s wellness program go? Does it offer health insurance? How about dental? Vision? Now, what about voluntary biometric screenings or on-site fitness centers? Are smoking cessation programs and outdoor stress-reduction sessions company...
US Employment Outlook Survey Results And How to Address Talent Shortages
Today’s employment outlook in America is anything but clear. Unemployment is dropping, and the pace of gross domestic product (GDP) growth has averaged a steady 2 percent over the last five years. For employers, an increasingly technology-driven economy demands...
The Sharing Economy’s Shift Away from Contract Labor
Recently the sharing economy experienced its demise -- or revival, depending on whom you talk to. Spearheaded by companies like Uber and Airbnb that offer users an opportunity to turn a profit simply by tooling around town in their automobiles or letting out a free...
Take A Load Off: What Outsourced Human Resources Can Do For Your Business
Human resources is the backbone that connects a company from top to bottom, and outsourcing HR is becoming increasingly popular. Small wonder: The affordability, accessibility, compatibility and expertise of HR outsourcing companies -- and PEOs in particular -- makes...
How “Ban the Box” Affects Small Business in NYC
While New York City’s (NYC) Fair Chance Act may bring new challenges to the city’s business owners, it is hoped that the new law will have a positive economic effect by allowing much of the city’s talent pool to apply for positions where they might not previously have...
Why Pre-Employment Screening May Be the Best Investment You Make
How important is pre-employment screening to your business? People are the backbone of any company, its growth and success determined by the day-to-day work of individuals. When people who work well together focus on a common goal, they become a team. When they don’t,...
New England Businesses Lead U.S. in Offering Parental and Sick Leave
Netflix, an online video service, announced a new parental leave policy in 2015 that put a smile on the faces of some of its working moms and dads. The streaming giant’s new leave policy allows many of its working parents to take unlimited leave during the first year...
Non-Disclosure Agreements: Protect Your Business
As a New England business owner, you understand the importance of protecting your assets. Whether it’s a physical document, a crucial business process, or client information, your records and intellectual business property must be protected. Non-disclosure agreements...
What is Your Business’s Employee Management Score?
Have you ever wondered how your business's human resource and employee management policies stack up against best practices? We've used Qzzr to create a free assessment tool that will help you identify areas of strength and weakness so that you can fill in any gaps to...
Test Your Knowledge with the Massachusetts Business Regulations Quiz
Think you’re compliant with Massachusetts employment law? Take the Business Regulations Quiz to find out! This 21-question quiz will test your expertise in all areas of employment from workers compensation to sexual harassment. Simply click the "Start" button...
The Top 3 Reasons Employees Don’t Invest in 401k
Every 401k investor hopes to make a return. That doesn’t mean everyone has the same reasons for participating in a plan. Whereas employees on the higher end of the pay scale may be looking for ways to enhance their wealth, those toward the lower end are often making...
What does Trump’s First Executive Order on the ACA Mean for Employers?
Soon after being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States, Donald Trump issued his first executive order, in which he directed federal agencies overseeing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to “waive, defer, grant exemptions from, or delay" any part of the law...
Workforce Management Trends for 2017
Now that 2016 has come to a close, employers are looking to the future and creating or adjusting workforce management strategies for the year ahead. Here are some trends that experts predict will play a role in workforce management in 2017: 1. Human Resources...
Steps to Ensuring Immigration Compliance
Any business owner should know that there are several areas of the business in which taking an active approach, rather than a passive approach, can end up saving a lot of money in the long run. One employment process where proactivity especially pays off is...
How Employee Advocacy Improves Engagement
What Employers Need to Know About the New GOP Healthcare Bill
On Thursday, May 6, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the American Health Care Act (AHCA), by a vote of 217 to 213. The bill will now be sent to the Senate, where it faces revisions and amendments, and then another vote. The Republicans hold 52 of the 100 seats...
Employment Lawsuits
The Keys to Proper Retirement Plan Education
Retirement plans are an important benefit to help attract and retain employees. As an employer, offering a 401(k) shows you are concerned about your employees’ future and have established a vehicle to help them prepare for their financial security after their...
What the Gorsuch Confirmation Could Mean for Employers
On April 7th, the Senate confirmed Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch, by a 54-45 vote, as the 113th Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.On April 7th, the Senate confirmed Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch, by a 54-45 vote, as the 113th Justice of the U.S. Supreme...
Outsourcing Payroll- Just the First Step
A common piece of advice given by business consultants is: focus on what you do best and outsource all non-core functions of the business. In most businesses, administrative functions, such as payroll and tax filings, while critical, are still considered non-core...
Steps to Proper Compliance Training
In any workplace, failure to comply with local, state, and federal laws can lead to costly penalties, and in the most severe cases, dissolution. To complicate things further, the legal landscape is constantly changing with laws being added and amended on a regular...
HR Audits 101: Execution and Outcomes
In our last blog post, we addressed common questions that employers have about the timing, scope, and execution of HR audits. We also shared the typical principal points in an HR audit. In this blog post, we will go more in depth, detailing the specific steps in...
HR Audits 101: Common Questions
In our last blog post, we discussed the importance of performing regular human resources audits. These HR audits are crucial for a number of reasons, chiefly ensuring compliance in a constantly changing legal landscape. They also help to recognize HR successes,...
HR Audits 101: Why Are They Important?
Many organizations have put forth much effort and expense to develop human resources policies, practices, and procedures that are both aligned with the organization’s corporate culture and compliant with the law. Still, with organizations and the legal landscape...
Background Checks: A Potential Risk for Employers
You’ve found the perfect candidate. Skills, experience, personality, and goals all align with your organization’s needs. There is just one more hurdle to cross – the background check. For companies that utilize background checks as part of their hiring process, it is...
Forget Resolutions- 7 Predicted Workforce Trends for 2017
Now that 2016 has come to a close, employers are looking to the future and creating or adjusting workforce management strategies for the year ahead. Here are some trends that experts predict will play a role in workforce management in 2017: 1. Human Resources...
Small Businesses Can Get More By Doing Less
Running a small business is inherently challenging. Daily, you are faced with issues that can impact the growth, profitability, and success of your business; and seemingly small decisions can have tremendous implications. While large corporations have sufficient...
Protecting Your Small Business From Employment Related Liability
You’ve heard it stated many times, “your employees are your greatest asset”. Their commitment, drive and performance can either make or break a company in today’s competitive environment. While the vast majority of employer/employee relationships are productive...
Covering All the Bases in Retirement Plans
Any fan of baseball probably knows that David Ortiz- “Big Papi”- of the Boston Red Sox recently retired. Well, as Big Papi prepares for his “golden years” at least he won’t have to worry about his finances. While the top, multi-year, mega million dollar...
Mitigating the Rising Costs of Benefits
In last week’s blog post, we discussed the factors contributing to the rising cost of healthcare. Escalating health insurance premiums pose a real threat to employers, since providing enticing benefits packages is an important factor in employee satisfaction and...
Rising Health Care Costs: Cause for Concern
Health care costs are on the rise, and that has staggering implications for employers since employee benefits costs are also increasing. While it’s probably of no surprise, CNN reports that the cost of healthcare is increasing at a faster rate than wages and...
Noncompliance: A Big Concern for Small Business
Today, small business owners face a variety of challenges. Starting and running a business is a challenge in itself, but the myriad of labor regulations thrust upon businesses just increases the complexity. Failure to comply with local, state, and federal laws can...
Recruiting Recent College Graduates
It’s September, and college students all across the country are returning to campus. Amidst the rush of students returning and new freshman moving in, it may be hard to notice that job recruiters are also establishing a presence on campuses. For companies with...
The Importance of HR Services for Startups
“Human resources is dead.” The above phrase is often repeated in startup circles. Why? Many startups pride themselves on innovation and creativity, and because HR is the non-flashy part of business, it has gained somewhat of a stigma in the startup world. Founders,...
The Importance of Effective Onboarding
We are living in an age where people go through many jobs in their life - about a quarter of the working population faces a job transition every year. Being a new employee in any workplace can be tough, but there is also a challenge posed to the employer in ensuring...
Effective Strategies for Dispute Resolution
Today, most organizations celebrate workforces that are made up of a variety of attitudes, ideals, and beliefs. Sometimes, however, these differences can lead to workplace conflicts that can be costly if ignored. It is good to recognize that conflicts can be healthy,...
Removing the Pain from Performance Reviews
The announcement of an upcoming annual performance review is usually accompanied by a pervasive sense of dread that permeates the workplace. Performance reviews can be stressful for all members of an organization, from the managers who are tasked to giving reviews...
Managing a Multigenerational Workforce
Workplaces today are facing a problem that was not very common in the past-- multigenerational workforces. With people working well into their 70s and 80s, more and more companies are experiencing generational gaps, with their employees spanning as many as five...
Medical Marijuana in the Workplace
Currently, 25 states and the District of Columbia have laws legalizing marijuana in some form- medically, recreationally, or in some cases, both. These jurisdictions provide marijuana users with varying levels of protection from employment discrimination. Despite...
Winners in Defeat: Business Lessons from the New England Patriots
Well, here we are again. The New England Patriots nearly made it to the Super Bowl . . . again. They may have fallen two points short of the big game, but guess what? They’ll be vying for the Super Bowl next year. New Englanders from Boston to Bangor certainly know...
Use Employee Coaching to Strengthen Your Team and Keep Them on Track
Performance reviews are part of a process that includes individualized employee goals and should be a two-way communication between employee/manager.
2015 Employee Engagement Trends
The Trends in Employee Engagement report highlights how building culture and leadership are the key to engaging employees and running a successful business.
10 Best Practices for Better Corporate Wellness
The first step to any engagement program and perhaps the most obvious is to have a true concern for the health and happiness of those employed by your company. The feeling that an employer sincerely values employee wellness can improve atmosphere, relationships, and performance.
How Will the New Paid Sick Leave Law Affect Massachusetts Small Businesses
For small business owners, requiring paid sick leave could effectively double the cost of a job or position. Read this piece to learn about the Paid Sick Leave Law.
How is Your Small Business Managing Millennials in the Workplace?
Many small businesses today that are hiring millennials find a difference in how millennials work compared to older employees. And, with millennials expected to comprise 75% of the global workforce within the next decade, this begs the question “How do you effectively lead and manage a millennial?”
7 Cost-Effective Ways Boston Businesses Can Increase Employee Retention
As a Boston business owner, you have first-hand experience dealing with the intricacies of employee retention and turnover.
New England Businesses That Partner with a PEO 50% Less Likely to Fail…Here’s Why
Evidence suggests that outsourcing non-revenue generating activities could prove to be a major competitive advantage. Learn about how PEO and outsourced HR benefits.
5 Reasons Boston Business Owners Should Consider Hiring a Payroll Company
Payroll is one of the top time-consuming tasks for Boston business owners who want to ensure their employees are paid punctually, given the correct amount, and provided access to their pay even in times of uncooperative weather