Paper Trails

Blog

Tag: hr

best payroll companies in Maine

What is the best payroll company in Maine?

What is the best payroll company in Maine? When businesses are looking at outsourcing their payroll and HR needs, there are many Maine-based payroll companies that they may choose from.  At Paper Trails, it is our priority to provide you with all of the necessary information to make the best

Read More »
hr challenges for hospitality businesses

HR challenges for hospitality businesses

The day-to-day grind of owning or managing a business in the hospitality industry is stressful.  Adding HR related issues such as hiring, employee retention, scheduling, labor laws and more, on top of that can leave owners feeling overwhelmed.  Let’s take a look at the top HR challenges for hospitality businesses,

Read More »
small business HCM software

Does my small business need HCM software?

In today’s fast-paced business landscape, managing your workforce efficiently and effectively is vital for growth and success. For small and medium-sized businesses, Human Capital Management (HCM) software can be a game-changer. In this article, we’ll dive into what HCM software is, why it’s crucial for all businesses, and whether small

Read More »
DOL Wage and Labor Audit

What is a DOL Wage and Labor Audit?

Navigating the complexities of labor laws can be daunting for small business owners and HR managers. At one point or another, businesses may go through an audit by the state Department of Labor. This phrase, the the DOL wage and labor audit, may send shivers down your spine. Here, we’ll

Read More »

HR Challenges Facing the Healthcare Industry

HR Challenges Facing the Healthcare Industry While the healthcare industry has always faced numerous stressors, the COVID-19 pandemic added extra layers of complexity for those in this field. Post-pandemic, significant changes to the workforce have occurred. These changes, along with added legislative compliance challenges, have enhanced the day-to-day stress of

Read More »

What is the ADA?

What is the ADA? One job of the U.S. Department of Labor is to protect employees from certain acts from employers. One of these protections is against discrimination from an employer because of a certain disability. This is governed by the Americans with Disabilities Act, also known as the ADA.

Read More »

Maine law requires vacation payouts

Maine amends law to require vacation payouts Changes are coming in Maine, as a law has been amended to require vacation payouts for certain employers. On April 7th, 2022, Governor Janet Mills signed “An Act Regarding the Treatment of Vacation Time upon the Cessation of Employment” into law. This act

Read More »

Improving employee performance

Whether a small restaurant of 15 employees or a large manufacturing company of over 500 employees, a business would not be able to operate day after day without employees. In fact, a strong group of employees is the backbone of any successful business. Many companies realize that retaining top talent

Read More »

What to do when an employee destroys company property

People can be careless. This is especially true when it comes to items that they do not own. Many businesses provide their employees with company owned items such as uniforms, cell phones, laptops, vehicles, etc. But, what happens when employees are careless with these items? Let’s take a look at

Read More »

HR’s role during a recession

HR’s role during a recession Recession is defined as “a significant, widespread, and prolonged downturn in economic activity consisting of at least two consecutive quarters of decline in a country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)”. Many businesses and their employees feel uneasy leading up to and during a time of economic

Read More »

Payroll 101: How to do Payroll

There are many facets and challenges of running a business. While a potential business owner may be extremely talented in a certain field, being aware of everything that comes with operating a business is essential to long-term success. From hiring and retaining new employees, to knowing and complying with HR

Read More »

isolved earns multiple HCM awards

As part of the Paper Trails service, we provide our clients with the access to the isolved HCM system. The isolved payroll and human resource management platform assists Paper Trails and its’ clients in automating human resource tasks to help employers manage employees. This great system is recognized as a leading

Read More »

Tools Paper Trails clients have access to

Paper Trails prides itself on providing world class service to its’ clients. As part of this service, we provide businesses with access to a number of helpful business tools. These resources are free and help businesses manage their payroll and HR needs efficiently and effectively. Below is the full list

Read More »

What is an exit interview?

Equally as important as the employee onboarding process is a business’ employee offboarding process. Part of the offboarding process is the exit interview. This is a critical time for a business to learn about their company. So, what is an exit interview? And what are some best practices when conducting

Read More »

Performance Based Compensation

There are many ways to motivate your employees. Offering competitive pay, a strong benefit package and an inclusive work culture promote employee engagement. Another way to push your employees to produce results is to offer them a performance based compensation package. Continue reading for more information and best practices on

Read More »

HR questions for business owners

Owning a business comes with many responsibilities. There are the day-to-day operations, the thought of keeping your employees engaged, the tedious balancing of your finances, compliance challenges, and much more. Establishing a foundation of knowledge is key to overcoming these obstacles. There are particular questions that all business owners face

Read More »

What is expense management?

As your business continues to grow, the likelihood that an employee will need to use company funds to make a purchase increases. The process in which your business handles these situations is know as expense management. Let’s take a closer look at what expense management is. What is expense management?

Read More »

Tips for making the payroll process easier

Tips for making the payroll process easier One of the most important factors in running a successful business is the overall satisfaction of your employees. Engaged employees are more likely to stay with your company for the long-term and to produce exceptional work results. The easiest way to continue to

Read More »
protected class

What is a protected class?

Operating a business comes with many compliance risks. While business owners have a lot of leeway to make employment decisions as they see fit, there are certain federal laws that protect individuals from being discriminated against. These individuals are part of groups known as protected classes. Continue reading for an

Read More »
What is e-verify?

What is E-Verify?

One of the documents required by the Internal Revenue Service of each employee is the Form I-9. The purpose of the Form I-9 is to verify an individual’s identity and eligibility to work in the United States. Many businesses use E-Verify to verify employment eligibility during their onboarding process. Let’s

Read More »
what are quarterly tax payments?

What are quarterly payroll taxes?

Every business with at least one employee is obligated to withhold and pay payroll taxes. These taxes are withheld for every employee during each pay period. However, while the taxes are withheld each pay period, typically they are not filed each pay period. Due to the fact that these withholdings

Read More »

What is the Form I-9?

As part of a business’ employee onboarding process, each new hire completes the Form I-9. According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, this document is required for each employee of any business. While all businesses use this form, many may not understand why. Let’s take a look at what

Read More »

What is employee onboarding?

In the world of business, from the smallest startups to largest brands, one thing remains constant: employee onboarding. Smaller companies may keep it simple with a two-step process, while larger ones navigate through a more intricate multi-step journey. Regardless of the scale, one thing is clear: the success and engagement

Read More »

Benefits of paperless onboarding

The Internal Revenue Service requires businesses to gather certain information for each new employee. This is typically the first step in a businesses onboarding process. Another step in this process may include the new hire enrolling in your company’s benefits. Some businesses choose to have a more complex onboarding process

Read More »
wage garnishments

How wage garnishments work

At some point in time, most businesses will have employees that are required to have money taken from their paycheck to repay an outstanding debt. This is called wage garnishment. Since most garnishments have specific rules surrounding them, they can be a difficult thing to manage. Let’s take a more

Read More »
pre-tax and post-tax deductions

Pre-tax and post-tax deductions

Most businesses provide benefits to their employees. These benefits must be withheld from employee’s pay properly, according to the IRS, for businesses to stay tax compliant. Certain benefit deductions are considered pre-tax deductions while others are considered post-tax deductions. In this article, we will take a look at the difference

Read More »
Section 125 plan

What is a Section 125 plan?

A key way to attract and retain employees is by offering a strong benefits package. One type of benefit that small businesses could consider is a Section 125 plan. Let’s take a look at what this plan is. What is a Section 125 plan? According to the IRS, a Section

Read More »
What are fringe benefits?

What are fringe benefits?

There are many things to consider when offering an applicant a position within your company. The salary of the position is probably the first thing a potential candidate will look for. After the position’s salary, the benefit package that you offer will be a key to attracting and hiring new

Read More »

When does payroll need to be submitted?

The best way to keep your employees happy and your business thriving is by consistently paying your employees on time. In order to achieve this, you have to understand when your payroll provider requires your payroll to be submitted. Every payroll vendor has different deadlines on when you need to

Read More »

Employee Retention Practices

One of the most difficult challenges facing businesses today is employee retention. Employees are leaving their current companies for better opportunities in record numbers. This turnover can cause headaches in the day-to-day operations of any business. Other employees need to pick up the extra workload while new hires are interviewed,

Read More »
payroll problems

Top Payroll Problems

One of the most important tasks in running a business is successfully managing a payroll management policy. From new employees being hired to old employees leaving, from changes in state and federal laws to updated forms and documents, managing payroll is tedious. There are many problems that may arise throughout

Read More »
business year end

Getting Ready for Payroll Year End

The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve can be extremely busy, stressful, and go by far too quickly. This is the time when businesses are planning ahead for the upcoming year. Before you can achieve your future business goals, you have to make sure you finish out the current

Read More »
Sick leave

Sick Leave & FMLA Tracking

Last week, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act was signed into law. We’ve had a few days to digest this new law, and how it will impact you. There are still a few unknowns, but here is what we know right now. All provisions below become effective April 2nd and expire December

Read More »