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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 who opted not to be on our medical plan is about to have a baby. Would this event allow the employee and their newborn child to enroll in our plan?
Answer from Bethany, SPHR, SHRM-SCP: It would, yes. The birth of a child is a HIPAA special enrollment right, meaning the employee, their spouse, and their newborn child may enroll into the medical plan midyear. However, it’s a somewhat common misconception to assume...
I know that most of the federal employment discrimination laws kick in when an employer reaches a certain number of employees. How do we count that number?
Answer from Marisa, SPHR: According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), you should count every employee who has worked for your organization during at least 20 calendar weeks in the current or previous year. Those 20 weeks don't have to be...
Can we discipline an employee for working for another employer during FMLA?
Answer from Megan, JD, SPHR: Yes, in two circumstances. First, you can discipline the employee if their other job violates your outside employment (aka moonlighting) policy. Second, you can discipline an employee who obtained FMLA leave fraudulently. If, however, you...
What Is Discrimination?
A hiring manager, eager to fill an exciting new role in the company, reacquaints himself with a candidate’s resume as that candidate takes a seat across from him. Looking up, the hiring manager jolts involuntarily, surprised to see a gray-haired man likely in his late...
An employee emailed us saying that if we didn’t give them a raise, the email would serve as a resignation notice. What do we need to do to accept this resignation?
Answer from Laura, MA, SHRM-CP: We recommend you reach out to the employee to inform them of your decision not to provide them with a raise. In this communication, you can note that you’re accepting their resignation per their email and ask them when their last day...
Making the Most of Job Interviews
When interviewing job candidates, time is critical. The time you spend talking to candidates adds up quickly, especially if you have a lot of great candidates. That has a cost—you’re not getting other important work done. That time also goes by incredibly fast. Within...
What should we do if a candidate asks us not to contact their current employer?
Answer from Shawna, SHRM-CP: It’s ultimately up to you, but we’d generally recommend that you honor the request. The candidate may have a good reason for asking you not to contact their current employer. They may fear retaliation if their manager gets wind of their...
An employee allegedly made a racially insensitive comment in the presence of a coworker. How should we respond?
Answer from Kyle, PHR: You need to investigate the matter. A racially insensitive comment could be considered harassment—unwelcome behavior that’s based on a protected class such as race. Harassment becomes unlawful if putting up with it is a condition of continued...
How Paid Family Leave and Related Programs Can Help Your Business
Employment benefits that improve quality of life, increase flexibility, and enable people to attend to their personal needs rank high among both employees and job-seekers. And yet, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), while 79 percent of employees have...
Can a part-time employee be exempt?
Answer from Aimee, GPHR, SHRM-SCP: Yes, a part-time employee may be classified as exempt. The minimum salary and duties requirements must still be met, of course. And the minimum salary cannot be prorated when an exempt employee works part-time. In other words, the...
If an employee runs out of paid time off, can we allow them to take an unpaid leave?
Answer from Kim, SPHR, AAM, CPIW: In most cases, yes. In general, you can offer the option of unpaid leave when an employee has used all of their paid leave time. A few things to keep in mind: In some situations, such as under the Family and Medical Leave Act, the...
How do we handle leave paperwork when the employee needing leave is incapacitated or unable to be reached directly?
Answer from Margaret, PHR, SHRM-CP: In the event you’re made aware that an employee needs medical leave, but the employee is not available for direct contact due to inpatient care in a facility or incapacitation, send the applicable leave paperwork to the employee’s...
Payroll Management, Inc.
550 Center Street STE 1210
P.O. Box 1837
Auburn, ME 04211-1837
