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.
The Rewards of Trust and How to Get Them
Why do people stop trusting in one another? And what happens to a team when trust disappears? To answer these questions, let’s start with a fable. About a year ago, Abigail began her first day on a new job. She was a software engineer, new to the workforce, and eager...
Now that we’ve become a “remote first” company with most of our employees working from home, we’ve started hiring remote employees in other parts of the country. We’re covered by FMLA because we have more than 50 employees—even at our headquarters alone. Will our remote employees be eligible for FMLA leave once they’ve worked the required amount of time?
Answer from Marisa, SPHR: Yes, these new remote employees will likely be entitled to take leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), but not just yet. To be eligible for leave under the FMLA, an employee must have worked for your company for at least...
What is an exit interview?
Answer from Celine, SHRM-CP: An exit interview is a conversation with a departing employee about their time at the company and the reason for their departure. It’s completely optional, but some employers conduct them to learn about workplace issues they may want to...
Federal Contractor Minimum Wage and Final Tip Rules
Minimum Wage Beginning January 30, 2022, the minimum wage for work performed on or in connection with covered federal contracts will increase to $15.00 per hour. The minimum base wage for covered tipped employees will be $10.50 per hour. 80/20 Tip Credit Rule Restored...
What is a workweek? Is it just our hours of operation?
Answer from Kelley, PHR: A workweek is not the same thing as your hours of operation. Rather, it defines the 168-hour period (i.e., seven 24-hour days) in which you track your non-exempt employees’ time to determine whether they’re owed any overtime premium pay. The...
Massachusetts and Maine Minimum Wage and PFML Increases
The following changes to Massachusetts employment law take effect on January 1, 2022. Minimum Wage Massachusetts’s minimum wage will increase to $14.25 per hour. The minimum base wage for tipped employees will increase to $6.15 per hour. Premium Pay The premium pay...
7 Reasons to Go Paperless with Your Payroll
As a business owner, you know that occasionally you need to adapt your business model in order to grow and remain successful. But with new trends in automation and digitization popping up in the business world, how do you know what’s right for your company? We suggest...
An employee worked unauthorized overtime. Do we have to pay them the time and a half for these hours?
Answer from Margaret, PHR, SHRM-CP: Yes. Any overtime worked by non-exempt employees must be compensated, regardless of whether the overtime was authorized. We recommend communicating with the employee about work expectations outside of their scheduled workday, making...
Should we cancel our annual holiday party again this year?
Answer from Kyle, PHR: Ultimately, that’s your decision. Some companies are forgoing an in-person holiday party again this year, while others feel like it’s safe enough to celebrate in person. Unfortunately, COVID cases and hospitalizations due to the virus are rising...
What are effective ways to manage remote employees and monitor their work?
Answer from Sarah, PHR, SHRM-CP: Managing remote employees can certainly be a challenge. Here are some of the practices we recommend: Set measurable goals around quality of work. Whether employees get their work done to your satisfaction is more important to your...
How to Design a Powerhouse Team
Many Americans get their first job working at a fast-food chain. You may have been one of them. If so, you probably remember your first day. Maybe you started at a register. Or perhaps you began in the kitchen. Either way, you had a lot to learn in a short amount of...
One of our employees has taken on a second job, and I’m concerned the additional work might hurt his performance or interfere with his work for us. What do you recommend?
Answer from Kyle, PHR: If you haven’t had previous issues with this employee’s performance, I wouldn’t worry too much about his taking a second job. Side jobs are common, and many people manage them just fine. You can certainly reiterate your performance expectations,...
Payroll Management, Inc.
550 Center Street STE 1210
P.O. Box 1837
Auburn, ME 04211-1837
