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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.
Federal Law Alert: Federal Contractor Minimum Wage Increases
Beginning on January 1, 2023, the minimum wage for work performed on or in connection with federal contracts will increase as follows: For contracts covered by Executive Order 13658: the minimum wage will increase to $12.15 per hour and the minimum base wage for...
Do we have to get permission to run a background check?
Answer from Jenny, SPHR, SHRM-SCP: The short answer is yes: the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires you to get permission from your applicant or employee before conducting a background check. Aside from this legal requirement, telling applicants what to expect...
Can employers provide feedback on a potential hire’s or current employee’s clothing?
Answer from Eric, SPHR, SHRM-SCP: If an employee’s clothing does not conform to your personal appearance rules or dress code policy, you can certainly let the employee know, ask them to change, and discipline them for violating the policy. Regarding job applicants, we...
Three Ways to Make Holidays More Inclusive
The office holiday party is a time-honored tradition: readers of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol may remember the Christmas party hosted by Ebenezer Scrooge’s old boss, Nigel Fezziwig. While the look and feel of these end-of-year holiday parties have changed since...
Can I require applicants to have a high school diploma?
Answer from Rachel, SHRM-SCP: We recommend that you not require applicants to have a high school diploma unless you can demonstrate that the requirement is job-related and consistent with business necessity. Requiring a diploma when it's unrelated to the position can...
A new employee told coworkers that she received a signing bonus. Now they’re upset, saying they’ve been here longer and haven’t gotten anything extra. What should I do?
Answer from Janelle, SHRM-CP, SHRM-PMQ: First, don’t reprimand the new employee who shared her salary information. Discussing pay is a protected concerted activity under the National Labor Relations Act. You can read about this law and what protections it provides to...
An employee let us know their paycheck was short. Can we wait to pay the difference on their next check?
Answer from Kyle, PHR: Don’t wait. If the employee was underpaid, it is in your best interest to pay the employee the difference immediately. Wages are due on the regular payday for the pay period covered, as required by the Fair Labor Standards Act. State law may...
What are protected classes or characteristics?
Answer from Kara, JD, SPHR: Protected classes—also known as protected characteristics—come from several federal laws, though about half are from Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Although we’re usually talking about them with respect to employment, they may...
We have discovered an employee has been sleeping during lunch breaks. Can we ask employees not to sleep in the office during their lunch break (or any other unpaid break)?
Answer from Kelley, PHR: It depends. Generally, employees can use unpaid breaks as they see fit. However, if the employee sleeping is affecting their work, disrupting others, or otherwise negatively impacting the business, you could (and should) address those issues....
What are the best practices for disciplining employees?
Answer from Kim, SPHR, AAM, CPIW: Discipline is an act on the part of the employer to address and correct inappropriate behavior or a policy violation by an employee. Discipline functions both as an incentive for employees to refrain from bad behavior in the first...
Can we require remote employees to inform us when they move to a new city or state?
Answer from Kim, SPHR, SHRM-SCP: Yes, you can and should require that remote employees notify the company when they move. There may be compliance and tax obligations when an employee relocates to a new city or state—not only for the employee, but also for you as the...
Can we promote an employee to a newly created position without giving other employees a chance to apply for it?
Answer from Kyle, PHR: Generally, and as long as you’re not a federal contractor, you don’t need to post an open position for all employees to see. That said, if your company has an established policy or practice of posting internally, you should be consistent. Of...
Payroll Management, Inc.
550 Center Street STE 1210
P.O. Box 1837
Auburn, ME 04211-1837
