Blog
We’re the people behind payroll.
Payroll Management is a family-owned and operated independent payroll processing, HR, time and attendance, and tax support services provider for small and medium-sized businesses that want personalized service from real people.
An employee is requesting copies of their harassment complaint and investigation files. How should I respond?
Answer from Emily, MBA, SPHR: It depends. You can certainly share a copy of the original complaint with the person who filed it. You can also tell them about the general results and let them know whom they should speak to if the harassment continues. You shouldn’t...
7 Ways to Reengage Your Workforce and Inspire Loyalty
You’ve probably been hearing about the Great Resignation (or however you want to describe it) for months now. Even if you’re not dealing directly with increased turnover, your employees know they have options. Their friends, family, and people they know peripherally...
Is there anything special we should know before terminating a remote employee?
Answer from Kim, SPHR, SHRM-SCP: Terminations involving remote employees function much the same as those in a physical worksite, but there are some things to keep in mind: If the employee works in a different state, you’ll need to follow that state’s laws regarding...
What is age discrimination?
Answer from Kyle, PHR: Age discrimination (sometimes called ageism) means treating people less favorably because of their age. In the workplace, this commonly happens when an employer favors a younger worker over an older one. In some cases, age discrimination is...
An employee in a job that regularly requires lifting 50 pounds now says they can only regularly lift 25 because of an off-the-job injury. Can we terminate?
Answer from Kate, SHRM-CP: Possibly, but proceed with caution. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires employers that have 15 or more employees to provide accommodations to employees to enable them to perform the essential functions of their job unless...
Can we require exempt, salaried employees to turn in time sheets?
Answer from Laura, MA, SHRM-CP: Yes. There are many reasons you might want or need to track exempt employee time. For example, you may opt to track an exempt employee’s hours for purposes of client billing, grant tracking, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA),...
Federal Law Alert
EEO-1 Reporting Is Now Open April 13, 2022 The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has announced that the 2021 EEO-1 Component 1 data collection is now open. The deadline to file the report is May 17, 2022. Employers should visit the EEO-1 Component 1...
New Hampshire Protects Off-Duty Medical Cannabis Use
New Hampshire’s supreme court has held that an employee’s off-duty use of medical cannabis (a.k.a. marijuana) can be a reasonable accommodation under state disability law, which applies to employers that have six or more employees (except for non-profits). As a...
One of our employees informed us that she’s menopausal and experiencing symptoms in the workplace. What can we do to support her and others in her situation?
Answer from Lisa, PHR: Menopause (the time that marks the end of the menstrual cycle) and perimenopause (the time just before) can come with a host of symptoms. Anxiety, brain fog, burnout, menstrual changes, cognitive changes, depression, hot flashes, sleep issues,...
Should we have a COVID section in our employee handbook?
While COVID will continue to affect our workplaces for some time, we generally recommend not adding COVID policies directly to your handbook. Guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to evolve, and federal and state laws related to...
What are the basic steps of a harassment investigation?
Answer from Rachel, SHRM-SCP: When an employer receives a harassment claim, they have a legal obligation to examine the claim by conducting a thorough investigation. This includes the following steps: Select an interviewer. Typically, this person would be an impartial...
Avoiding Burnout When You Work in HR
If you work in HR, you know that employee burnout remains pervasive. You also know that the task of supporting overly stressed employees often falls on your shoulders. But you’re exhausted too. Burnout isn’t just a problem you have to help others solve; you also have...
Payroll Management, Inc.
550 Center Street STE 1210
P.O. Box 1837
Auburn, ME 04211-1837