by Admin. | May 23, 2018 | HR, Liability, NY News
NYS Passes Sexual Harassment law
NYS passed the law in April 2018 which contains assortment of provisions aimed at preventing sexual harassment as well as the silencing of victims.The law goes into effect October 9, 2018. Additionally, on May 9th, Mayor DiBlasio also signed the STOP SEXUAL HARASSMENT in NYC ACT.
Policy and Training
The new law requires all employers to adopt and distribute a sexual harassment prevention policy and provide interactive sexual harassment prevention training to all employees.
The state will be developing a model policy and a model training, so employers will not need to create their own. They will, however, need to administer both the policy and the interactive training. We will provide additional information in our clients HR Support Center Portal as well as via newsletter as it becomes availabl and released by the state.
Employers do have the option of creating their own policy and training program, so long as it meets the requirements set by the state.
No Mandatory Arbitration or Confidential Settlements
The new law bans contract provisions that require arbitration for claims of sexual harassment. Any such provision in a contract entered into after July 11, 2018, will be null and void. The rest of the contract will remain enforceable, assuming it was drafted correctly. However, this provision of the new law may be unenforceable under the Federal Arbitration Act. Until this question is resolved, we encourage employers to operate as if contract clauses that require arbitration of sexual harassment claims will not hold up in court or to consult with legal counsel before continuing to use them.
Confidential settlement agreements with respect to claims of sexual harassment are also prohibited by the new law, unless a confidential agreement is the preference of the person who brought the claim. If the claimant does not want confidentiality, employers will not be able to include language that prevents the disclosure of the underlying facts and circumstances of the claim when it involves sexual harassment. This provision of the new law also takes effect July 11, 2018.
Protections for Non-Employees
In addition to the requirements and prohibitions above, the law also gives non-employees—such as vendors, contractors, and consultants—the ability to file a complaint with the Division of Human Rights if they feel they have been sexually harassed in an employer’s workplace. This expansion of the current law has already taken effect.
Employers Next Steps
New York employers can take several steps to prepare for the new requirements created by the Budget.
- Employers, initially, should evaluate existing sexual harassment prevention policies and education regarding non-employees in the workforce, including independent contractors.
- Employers should review existing sexual harassment policies and training programs for compliance with the Budget’s minimum standards, and revise them accordingly if necessary.
- New York employers should review standard settlement and arbitration agreements in connection with sexual harassment complaints, and revise them in light of the Budget’s requirements.
by Admin. | May 10, 2018 | group health insurance, HR, PEO, Small Business Group Health
Survey Shows 94% of PEOs Expect an Increase in Employees
Businessman pressing a People concept button.
Professional Employer Organizations (PEO) growth doesn’t appear to be slowing down. Earlier this year, NAPEO released the results from there 2017 Q3 Industry Pulse Survey. The findings showed that PEOs are continuing to grow, and at an impressive pace. In the report, 72% of PEOs reported revenue growth in Q3 of 2017, compared to Q3 of 2016.
With all that is happening with employment laws, healthcare and health insurance, and other areas of HR that impact small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), it is easy to see why PEOs and other HR outsourcing options are seeing, in many cases, rapid industry growth.
Now, NAPEOs latest Quarterly Pulse Survey, which compared the 4th quarter of 2017 to the 4th quarter of 2016, shows that PEO growth is still occurring, and will almost certainly continue in 2018 and beyond.
DATA FROM THE 2017 Q4 NAPEO PULSE SURVEY
The NAPEO Quarterly Pulse Survey – Q4 2017 was conducted in early 2018, and was taken by 32 PEO executives.
The first result from the survey looked at PEO revenue. 71.9% of PEO executives said their organization’s revenue increased in Q4 of 2017, compared to Q4 of 2016.
Broken down further, 50% said that revenue increased somewhat, and 21.9% said revenue increased significantly.
Next, the survey showed that PEOs experienced an increase in the average annual wage per worksite employee (WSE), with 65.5% of executives responding.
NAPEO’s findings also revealed that 66% of PEOs saw an increase in gross profit. Of this 66%, 43.3% said gross profit increased somewhat, while 23.3% said it increased significantly.
OPERATING INCOME, NUMBER OF CLIENTS, AND WSE PROJECTION DATA
The next group of results from the survey uncovered data around operating income, the number of clients, and worksite employee projection information.
First, the report showed that 65.7% of PEO executives reported an increase in operating income in the 4th quarter of 2017, compared to the 4th quarter of 2016. The 65.7% can be broken down further, with 43.8% saying that operating income increased somewhat, and 21.9% increasing significantly.
Next, 59.4% of PEOs said that the number of clients increased, while 31.3% said that the number of clients stayed about the same. Of the 59.4%, 50% said that clients increased somewhat, and 9.4% said clients increased significantly.
Lastly, the survey asked PEO executives about worksite employee (WSE) projections over the next 12 months.
Perhaps the most promising and impressive statistic found in the quarterly survey, almost 94% expect WSEs to increase. Here is the full breakdown:
- 71% expect EE to increase somewhat
- 22.6% expect EE to increase significantly
- 3.2% expect EE to stay about the same
- 3.2% expect EE to decrease somewhat
With PEOs seeing an increase in revenue throughout 2017, and executives overwhelmingly expecting EE to increase over the next 12 months, revenue outlooks for the rest of 2018 and into 2019 look extremely promising throughout the PEO industry.
PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYER ORGANIZATIONS CONTINUE TO THRIVE
Much like the last few Quarterly Pulse Surveys from NAPEO, the 2017 Q4 survey shows that despite all of the uncertainty and complexity with various areas of HR, PEOs continue to grow.
Regarding the survey, Pat Cleary, President & CEO of NAPEO, said, “This is just the latest example that more and more business owners are realizing the true value of using a PEO. Surveys and studies consistently show that using a PEO is good for a business and its employees. PEOs provide a real benefit to businesses by providing HR services and solutions that they would otherwise be unable to afford.”
Some additional findings from the survey include:
- Average annual wage per WSE increased somewhat
- Average number of WSEs per client company stayed about the same
- Number of internal employees (including salespeople) stayed about the same
- Number of Worker’s Compensation claims reported to carrier stayed about the same
The survey also revealed that the average PEO has 19 worksite employees per client.
What’s the difference between co-employment and employee leasing? PEO and Employee Leasing. What’s the Difference.
Learn how a PEO can help grow your business. Check out PEO Case Studies here and learn how they can apply to you.
Click below for a free PEO assessment. Our PEO Quoting Tool ensures that we have first-hand insight as to what the small business owner needs to be successful.
by Admin. | Mar 21, 2018 | HR, Liability
Handling Snow Days and Employee Pay 
Spring started yesterday but Old Man Winter did NOT get the Memo. So what to do if it snows and employees are unable to get to work?
IF YOU CLOSE YOUR BUSINESS
If your company decides to stay open during bad weather, it’s important to understand some of the risks you face. According to a Connecticut Business and Industry Association survey of 430 member-companies, the most common practice when “bad weather forces a closing” is to pay hourly employees only for the hours actually worked. “This was true for a majority of both small employers (25 to 249 employees) and large employers (more than 250 employees),” according to the survey.
EXEMPT EMPLOYEES
Exempt employees should be paid if a business is closed due to inclement weather- they should receive their weekly salary for this time. However, an employer can take these days out of the personal days, vacation time, or paid time off. As an employer, it is respectful and in some places required to alert employees that it will come out of their personal time. If it one full week of closure, employees do not need to be paid for that time. However, if work is done during any of the time the business is closed, employees need to be compensated.
If your company chooses to use accrued time to pay employees, but an employee does not have any paid time off accrued, you still must pay the employee their full wage. In some cases they will need to examine contracts to ensure that there are no limits to how much time can be taken away. However, if vacation or PTO is notoffered to employees in general, exempt employee should still be paid.
NON-EXEMPT EMPLOYEES
For non-exempt employees they do not need to be paid for hours they do not work. However, a company may give them the option to elect to use their paid time off or vacation time. When it comes to non-exempt employees who are paid a fix weekly salary for fluctuating hours they must be paid for the week if they work for at least three hours.
Local State Policies on Sending Employees Home
Like above, if an exempt employee goes to work, they must be paid for the entire day. However, non-exempt employees do not necessarily have to be paid for the time they do no work. Some states have reporting time pay- which means that they need to be paid for a certain number of hours regardless of whether or not they worked.
- CONNECTICUT – This law only applies to four industries: beauty shop, mercantile trades, and laundry/cleaning/dyeing operations, all must be paid for a minimum of four hours and in the hotel and restaurant industry a minimum of two hours. It can be waived if the scheduled shift is less than four hours.
- NEW YORK – Regardless if there is work to be done, if an employee shows up they must be paid for at least four hours of work, unless the scheduled shift is less than four hours in which case they must be paid for the full amount of time. This does not apply to: employees who are on call or live on the employers’ premises, building service industries, administrative, executive, profession, outside sales, farm laborers, taxicab drivers, babysitters, companions, golf caddies, staff counselors, and booth renters (those who rent space in a beauty shop).
EMPLOYEES WHO CAN’T MAKE IT TO WORK
If your business chooses to open but an employee cannot make it to work exempt employees can lose time out of their personal or vacation time. If no time has been saved or it has all been exhausted an employer may deduct funds from pay, only if the employee misses a full day of work.
TELECOMMUTING
If you allow employees to work from home, or expect them to work from home in the event of inclement weather they must be paid. Exempt employees should be paid for the day, or week, whichever is applicable. If an exempt employee is expected to any work whatsoever from home, or another location they must be paid for that time- even if it is beyond a week that the company is closed. As always, non-exempt employees should be paid for the hours they work.
If you are an employer it is important to recognize that snow days are an opportunity for you to support employees, especially those who have children or commute more than an hour away. If our HR Partners have written your employee handbook, office closings and delays are already addressed but it is important to use your best judgement a communicate with your employees early enough to give them time to make arrangements depending on their situation.
Click here to schedule a 1 on 1 compliance consultation.
by Admin. | Feb 15, 2018 | HR, PEO, Small Business Group Health
Case Study: Law Firm and PEO Solution
Professional Services: New York Law Firm’s Benefit Benchmark Study Reveals Gap In Offerings
A law firm with a benefit offering below the New York law firm benchmark, no HR person on staff, no formal recruitment strategy and no employee development plan was struggling to attract top lawyers and paralegals, and to keep top producers. This was affecting their stability, employee morale, and ultimately, their bottom line. After losing one of their highest billing attorneys and a key associate to a larger firm with more robust benefit offerings, they realized they needed to make an immediate and drastic change to recruit and retain quality employees.
SOLUTION
Our PEO partner immediately assigned a seasoned Human Resources Manager with vast experience working with law firms to help, and conducted a market analysis of other firms in the area. After establishing a benchmark, the PEO developed an innovative employee benefits program that rivals top law firms in the area. Our PEO partner then devised a recruitment and retention strategy designed to reposition the firm in the marketplace.
RESULT
The firm now offers benefits and employee development that are on par with their top competitors. They have a clear plan on how to increase employee satisfaction and retain quality people while attracting top new talent. Their turnover has reduced significantly, and employees shared positive feedback during and after their benefit enrollment meetings via employee satisfaction and engagement surveys. Leadership can now focus on clients and on growing the firm.
Click below for a free PEO assessment. Our PEO Quoting Tool ensures that we have first-hand insight as to what the small business owner needs to be successful.
Contact Us Now Learn how our Agency is helping buinsesses thrive in today’s economy. Please contact us at info@medicalsolutionscorp.com or (855)667-4621.
PEO: Co-Employment
by Admin. | Jun 6, 2016 | HR, Liability
Updating Your Employee Handbook for Benefit Provisions
Alex Miller | Millennium Medical Solutions | (855) 667-4621 | alexm@medicalsolutionscorp.com.
Have you updated your Employee Handbook for Benefit Provisions? Handbooks are important for many reasons such as informing employees of their rights and duties, communicating available resources, and outlining paid time off policies. With respect to health and welfare benefits, here are a few things to consider:
1. Does your handbook go too far?
Handbooks cannot change the terms of governing benefit documents such as summary plan descriptions (SPDs). Handbook provisions should mirror plan terms and/or refer
to plan documents. Any provisions purporting to amend plan documents are ineffective. However, handbooks may ll in the blanks where the plan documents are silent or refer to outside policies. For example, an SPD may indicate that certain eligibility criteria is determined by the employer. In this case, that criteria may be explained elsewhere such as a handbook or benefit booklet.
2. Are all handbook provisions current?
A handbook should reflect current, compliant provisions such as those addressing benefits, eligibility, and termination.
- Does your handbook exclude certain employee groups from benefits (e.g., temporary employees or interns)? If so, be aware of potential exposureunder the Employer Penalty which defines a full-time employee as any employee who works at least 30 hours per week. There are no exclusions of categories of employees. However, if using the look back measurement method, part-time employees,seasonal employees, and variable hour employees can be asked to wait up to 13+ months to determine full-time employee status without penalty.
- Does the handbook contain an outdated waiting period (e.g., indicating that plan entry is the first day of the month following 90 days of continuous service?
- Does the handbook contain conflicting eligibility terms? For example, does the handbook indicate that an employee must work at least 40 hours per week to be eligible for benefits when an employee must only work at least 30 hours per week?
- If the look back measurement method rules are being used, are those referenced or outlined?
- Does the handbook indicate that same-sex spouses are excluded from benefit eligibility? Excluding same-sex spouses is not advisable due to recent court cases and EEOC discrimination inquiries and likely conflicts with plan terms. It may also conflict with the company anti-discrimination workplace policy.
3. Does the handbook demonstrate that an offer of coverage was made?
Under the Employer Penalty rules, an employee must be offered an effective opportunity to accept coverage at least once with respect to the plan year. Final regulations do not apply any specific rules for demonstrating that an offer of coverage was made.
Many employers require an affirmative waiver of medical benefits. This is the best method to prove an offer was made, provided that a waiver can be collected from every single employee waiving. Otherwise, any waiver not returned by the employee arguably proves that he was never made the offer.
When an affirmative waiver is not required, otherwise documenting information regarding the election process is key. An employer will want to show that employees received sufficient information about the offer so that they must have known medical coverage was available.A widely-distributed handbook with clear information about the offer and its terms can be a valuable part of an employer’s distribution of information as well as benefit booklets, email correspondence, posters, mandatory meetings, etc., as applicable.
If you need assistance with creating or modifying your handbook, please contact us and we can help you with a solution.
NOTE: This document is designed to highlight various employee benefit matters of general interest to our readers. It is not intended to interpret laws or regulations, or to address specific client situations. You should not act or rely on any information contained herein without seeking the advice of an attorney or tax professional.
by admin | Dec 26, 2013 | HR
Holiday Time Off: 3 Q&As for Employers
Holiday Time Off: 3 Q&As for Employers: The holiday season is approaching and you may be wondering whether your company is required to provide time off or holiday pay. Here’s a look at some frequently asked questions and answers .1. Are employers required to provide employees time off for a holiday?Although not generally required by federal or state law, many employers choose to grant employees time off for certain holidays or to close the business altogether on those days.Companies with 15 or more employees are subject to federal religious discrimination laws and may need to allow employees time off for religious observance. Employers should also consult their state’s nondiscrimination laws to learn if there are similar requirements for time off related to religious observances for employers of fewer than 15 employees. 2. Do employers have to pay their employees if the business is closed for a holiday?
Federal law and most state laws do not require employers to pay employees if time off for holidays is granted. Whether or not employees are paid for holidays is generally a matter of company policy. Employers need to be careful when it comes to exempt employees, though–as a general rule, if an exempt employee performs any work during a workweek, he or she must be paid the full salary amount .3. What about employees scheduled to work on a holiday if the business remains open?
Extra compensation (above and beyond an employee’s regular rate of pay) for work on holidays is also generally a matter of company policy, although employers must comply with any specific state law requirements regarding holiday pay. Although some companies pay employees at a special rate (such as time-and-a-half) for holiday shifts, generally an employee is only entitled to his or her regular pay, plus any overtime.Remember that states will generally enforce an employer’s written policy regarding holiday pay, so it’s important to follow company policy and to apply the rules consistently and fairly to all employees. For questions about the specific requirements in your state, contact your state labor department or a knowledgeable employment law attorney. Our section on Leave and Time Off features more information on both mandatory and voluntary leave. | |
