Some of our employees have been careless on the job and broken company property. Can we deduct the cost of replacing the broken items from their paychecks?

by | Sep 28, 2021 | Employment Law, FLSA, Human Resources

Answer from Monica, SPHR, SHRM-CP: Probably not. Many states have imposed significant limitations on what kinds of things employers can take a deduction for, and often the deduction also requires employee consent. In addition, most deductions that would take an...

What are protected classes?

by | Sep 17, 2021 | Employment Law, Human Resources

Answer from Kyle, PHR: Protected classes—also sometimes called protected characteristics—come from anti-discrimination law. We talk about them with respect to employment laws, but they also come into play in housing and education. The classes and characteristics...

What’s the difference between an exempt and non-exempt employee?

by | Sep 7, 2021 | Employment Law, Human Resources, Payroll

Answer from Eric, SPHR, SHRM-SCP: Exempt and non-exempt are classifications under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). That’s the federal law requiring that most employees receive at least minimum wage for each hour worked and overtime pay for hours worked over 40 in...

Can we ask an applicant why they are leaving their current job?

by | Aug 31, 2021 | Employment Law, Human Resources

Answer from Kyle, PHR: Yes, you can ask applicants why they are leaving their current job. The employment application is a good place to collect this information. In the section where the applicant lists their previous employment experience, you can ask for the reason...

What Is HR Compliance?

by | Aug 16, 2021 | Business Tips, Employment Law, Human Resources

Running a business comes with no shortage of perks: the freedom to be your own boss, invest in an idea, steer its trajectory, and, with a little luck, create wealth. It has its challenges, too. Competition may be fierce. Demand for what you offer may be low. Costs may...

5 Things to Know When Hiring Seasonal Employees

by | Jun 3, 2021 | Business Tips, Employment Law, Taxes, Time & Attendance

Seasonal job positions are integral to many businesses—big and small—remaining operational. These positions are typically filled during a company’s busiest or peak business time when extra help is needed (holiday rush), or a particular season that corresponds to the...