Meal and rest breaks can help boost employee efficiency and many states have laws that require employers to provide these breaks. Whether employers provide rest breaks and meal periods voluntarily or because they are required to do so, there may be times when employees misuse this time, such as by taking unauthorized extensions. This podcast will provide ideas for employers to help prevent and respond to such misuse. Listen in as we cover: [01:08] Pay rules for rest periods [01:55] Pay rules for...
Aug 14, 2025•9 min•Ep. 144
Managing Human Resources (HR) responsibilities isn't always easy, but it can be even more challenging if employees aren’t familiar with this important aspect of your business or if they mistrust it. Listen in as we cover: [00:44] Why building trust in HR is important [01:12] The need for communication & employee feedback [04:00] Thinking strategically & delivering policies to help with employee satisfaction [05:31] Providing development opportunities [06:30] Recognizing employees’ work [...
Jul 21, 2025•10 min•Ep. 143
An employee who is summoned for jury duty may have questions about their pay, whether their job is protected during their service, and returning to work after their jury duty. Employers should be prepared to answer such questions. To help, here are some key facts about jury duty: [00:51] Jury duty defined [01:49] Time off requirements [02:18] Pay requirements [05:27] Scheduling requirements [06:45] Policy considerations This content is based on generally accepted HR practices, is advisory in nat...
Jul 08, 2025•8 min•Ep. 142
An essential step to creating an effective employee handbook is determining which policies to include and what policies to avoid. Here are some policies that are considered must-haves and some policies that are potentially problematic. [01:45] At-will policies [02:36] Employee conduct policies [03:32] Attendance [05:52] Employment classification, meal breaks and timekeeping policies [07:51] Leave and time off policies [08:33] Anti-harassment and nondiscrimination policies [10:39] Reasonable acco...
Jun 10, 2025•15 min•Ep. 141
With the summer holidays approaching, employers may have questions about providing time off to employees and the pay requirements for employees who work on Juneteenth, Independence Day, and/or Labor Day. To help you understand the rules, here are answers to frequently asked questions about the holidays. Listen in as we cover: [00:47] Must employers provide paid time off on Juneteenth, Independence Day, and Labor Day? [01:58] If a company offers paid holidays, must it observe Juneteenth, Independ...
Jun 02, 2025•10 min•Ep. 140
State and local jurisdictions continue to adopt and expand programs that entitle employees to paid time off from work for certain family or medical reasons. These are commonly known as paid family and medical leave (PFL) programs, and they typically impose certain requirements on employers, even small business employers. Listen in as we cover: [00:57] What is paid family leave? [01:36] Where is paid family leave required? [02:37] Are small businesses covered by paid family leave? [02:55] How is ...
May 12, 2025•10 min•Ep. 139
The federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires employers to compensate non-exempt employees at least the minimum wage for each hour worked and pay them overtime (at 1.5 times the employee’s regular rate of pay) whenever they work more than 40 hours in a workweek. The amount employees should receive in pay cannot be determined accurately without knowing the number of hours worked. This can be especially tricky when the employee is paid on a piece-rate basis or has waiting time or on-call ti...
Apr 29, 2025•12 min•Ep. 138
We've seen an increase in severe weather, disasters, and other emergencies in recent years. Since these events can impact almost any employer and their employees, all employers should have a plan in place to prepare and respond. To help, this podcast answers common employer questions about disasters and emergencies. Listen in as we cover: [00:44] Preparation [01:30] Communication [02:38] Deciding whether to close [03:38] Safety responsibilities for employers [04:21] Pay issues [09:11] Time off f...
Apr 24, 2025•14 min•Ep. 136
Have you ever considered partnering with a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) to support your business? Hear from Dr. Carmen Armstrong, ADP TotalSource Client Relations Executive, and Dena Grammas, ADP Totalsource HR Business Partner, as they discuss PEOs, and how small businesses can benefit from them. Listen in as we cover: [01:09] What is a PEO? [01:34] Why would a small business consider a PEO? [02:35] How does a PEO solve for small business challenges? [03:08] What is an HR Business P...
Apr 07, 2025•14 min•Ep. 137
Hiring and retaining the right people is often the #1 challenge faced by small business owners. Lessons are often learned the hard way through bad hires and expensive mistakes. In this episode, Clint Smith, Founder and CEO of CareerPlug, will share tips on how to build a winning team to help you grow your business. [01:13] Where to start when you want to grow [02:31] How to attract the right people to your team [03:48] How to build your hiring process [04:40] How to evaluate candidates the right...
Mar 12, 2025•10 min•Ep. 135
Despite your best efforts to develop a competitive compensation program, there may be times, such as when inflation is elevated or during a tight labor market, that employees increasingly try to negotiate their pay. Listen in as we cover some steps to help employers prepare for and manage pay raise requests: [00:46] Understanding applicable laws [02:40] Having a compensation philosophy and being open about pay practices [03:44] Knowing the market and competitors [05:27] Conducting employee "stay...
Feb 18, 2025•12 min•Ep. 134
Excited but unsure what to expect, ADP’s Small Business Services launched Grit & Wisdom, it’s first-ever contest of this kind, which called for small business owners based in the U.S. to share their best advice for success. The entries revealed not just the journey of building businesses but the passion and perseverance that fuel success every step of the way. Listen to learn more about the great insights from Grit & Wisdom: [0:57] What was the Grit & Wisdom contest [3:11] Advice the...
Feb 03, 2025•12 min•Ep. 133
Are you prepared for tax season? Get answers to the most common questions small business owners have from our guest, Kelly Phillips Erb, a recognized tax attorney and writer. We’ll dive into how to leverage an accountant’s expertise as a partnership, helping you from preparation to long-term planning. Listen in as we cover: [02:16] Tax preparation & what businesses can provide up front to their CPA [03:56] Most common mistakes that small businesses make during tax season [07:26] Common tax d...
Jan 13, 2025•15 min•Ep. 132
When it comes to closing out the year successfully, considering year-end bonuses, providing W-2 forms, and furnishing annual tax credit notices to employees are three important undertakings for employers. In this episode, we’ll provide guidance to help you navigate these end-of-year responsibilities. Listen in as we cover: [0:44] General considerations for end-of-year bonuses [2:45] Overtime implications of bonuses [4:53] Tax implications for bonuses [5:53] W-2s: Timelines & how to furnish t...
Dec 16, 2024•12 min•Ep. 131
Typically, when an employee requests leave for family, medical, bereavement or other reasons, their request is legitimate. However, on occasion, some employees may try to take advantage of their leave benefits. So, what can employers do to help prevent this misuse from occurring, and how do they address it if it does occur? Listen in as we cover ways to help prevent and address misuse of leave. We’ll discuss: [0:57] Employer and employee trust [1:37] Examples of leave misuse [2:14] How to addres...
Nov 20, 2024•11 min•Ep. 130
ICHRAs (individual coverage health reimbursement arrangements) are a relatively new type of health plan that allows employers to offer their employees a tax-free allowance to purchase benefits. While ICHRAs are growing in popularity, many businesses are hazy on the details. Unfortunately, myths and misperceptions about ICHRA could lead a business to dismiss a benefits option that may be right for them. Listen as we debunk: [2:46] Myth #1: The marketplace has challenges — ICHRA can’t be good insu...
Nov 04, 2024•14 min•Ep. 129
An employee handbook is one of the most important documents an employer can maintain. Why do so many employers consider it essential? We'll cover these reasons, and dive into the ways an employee handbook can help you. Listen in to learn more about: [0:57] Formalizing policies [1:40] Meeting state and local policy and notice requirements [3:24] Supporting the onboarding process [4:04] Guiding employment decisions [4:31] Reinforcing at-will status [6:08] Informing employees if they have questions...
Oct 22, 2024•10 min•Ep. 128
Interviews are an important part of the hiring process, helping you gather job-related information that you typically can't find through resumes and applications alone. To be effective, interviewers should prepare and ask the right questions. Candidates for the same job should generally be asked the same set of core questions. Here are six key inquiries to consider for your core interview questions, along with the reasons for asking them — and what to look for in responses. Listen in as we cover...
Oct 01, 2024•8 min•Ep. 127
The end of the employer-employee relationship is an inevitable part of running a business and requires special care. To help you manage your next employee separation, we address some common misconceptions about the termination process, and help you know the facts. Listen in as we cover: [0:43] At-will employment [3:11] Final pay timing [4:26] Method of final pay [5:56] Return of company equipment [7:59] Entitlement to unemployment benefits [8:37] Recordkeeping post-employment [9:40] Pay for unus...
Sep 17, 2024•14 min•Ep. 126
Open enrollment is the period when employers who offer company-sponsored benefits allow their eligible employees to choose or change their benefits to best meet their needs. Whether you’re offering group health benefits for the first time or are a seasoned employer, these five tips could help your business have a more efficient (and smoother) open enrollment. Listen in as we cover: [1:59] Where to begin [2:36] Employee input to inform a good benefits strategy [3:13] How to help your strategy be ...
Aug 20, 2024•9 min•Ep. 125
Non-exempt, non-exempt salaried and exempt employee classifications are some of the most misunderstood terms when it comes to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Unfortunately, misunderstanding these terms and the rules that govern them can result in costly penalties. We’ll go over what employers need to know about these classifications and more. Listen in as we cover: [0:52] What are non-exempt employees? [1:42] What are non-exempt salaried employees? [2:25] Are “salaried” and “exempt”...
Aug 05, 2024•10 min•Ep. 124
As the workplace continues to get busier and busier, it’s critical to consider methods to improve efficiency. Today, we're exploring workforce management technology and how it can revolutionize productivity in the workplace. We'll break down this topic to help you understand this area, and the options for your business. Listen in as we cover: [0:43] What is workforce management technology [1:38] Using process automation to make things efficient [2:12] Improving communication and collaboration [3...
Jul 22, 2024•5 min•Ep. 123
Companies have seen how the last few years have significantly changed the way we attract, hire and retain talent. Let us help you plan for what’s next. On this episode of HR{preneur}, we have brought in a talent acquisition leader to discuss new methods and strategies to help you land the best employees in this market. Listen in as we cover: [0:42] Economic trends impacting employment [1:50] Workforce priorities in today’s market [4:54] Hiring for all generations [9:17] Evaluating candidates and...
Jul 08, 2024•14 min•Ep. 122
You might be familiar with anonymous tiplines, but are you aware of how they can help your company and employees? In this episode we interview Anthony Lavalle, Co-Founder of Report It LLC, as we explore anonymous tiplines, their increasing prevalence and how technology is impacting this. We’ll also dive into use cases for them, and how they can benefit your organization and employees. [0:30] What are anonymous tiplines & common uses [0:58] How they work & steps to take if you get an anon...
Jun 03, 2024•7 min•Ep. 121
The U.S. Department of Labor has released a much-anticipated final rule on the most common exemptions from overtime that impacts employers and the classification of their employees. The rule will increase the minimum salary required to qualify for exemptions under federal law for executive, administrative, professional and highly compensated employees, first on July 1, 2024 and again on January 1, 2025. We’ll go over what employers need to know about these changes and more. Listen in as we cover...
May 20, 2024•12 min•Ep. 120
Federal laws, and laws in many states and the District of Columbia, provide workplace protections for employees needing to breastfeed or express milk. In this episode, we discuss the workplace breastfeeding and lactation protections that employers need to know. Listen in as we cover: [1:05] Key federal laws [2:50] Department of Labor guidance [3:51] Common questions [5:47] Practical guidance For more information and guidance, go to: www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pump-at-work This content may not be d...
May 06, 2024•8 min•Ep. 119
Financial health and wellness is proving to be critical for companies as well as for their employees, as more employees are seeking education and resources in this area. Today’s episode is a special segment HR{preneur} is bringing to you to explore financial wellness. We’re joined by a leader in this area to help us dive into what this means for employers and how they can help support their employees. Listen in as we cover: [1:07] The importance of financial literacy & wellness [1:45] Why em...
Apr 22, 2024•6 min•Ep. 118
Under federal law, non-exempt employees are entitled to overtime when they work more than 40 hours in a workweek. Some states even require overtime in additional situations. But, certain myths can get in the way of employers meeting their overtime obligations, and this could result in penalties and other consequences. We’ll debunk five myths about overtime, and help you know the facts. Listen in as we cover: [0:57] Determining whether overtime is due [2:31] Overtime without prior authorization [...
Apr 08, 2024•8 min•Ep. 117
Small business owners have a lot to navigate, including financial decisions that are critical to their success. Today’s episode is a special segment HR{preneur} is bringing to you to explore banking and finance. We’re joined by Wells Fargo Bank, and we’ll dive into the top benefits your bank should offer, and how that can help your business. Listen in as we cover: [2:34] Selecting the right bank and type of account [4:24] Getting guidance from your banker [5:44] Using your banker as a resource a...
Mar 18, 2024•12 min•Ep. 116
Independent contractors continue to be valued contributors to organizations, as they offer flexibility, specialized skill sets, and cost-effective solutions that traditional employees cannot always provide. Depending on your situation, tapping into the contractor workforce can be important for your success, but you need to have the right processes and systems in place to maximize their value. Listen in as we discuss this more and cover: [0:53] Recent survey of 300 organizations & biggest fin...
Mar 04, 2024•13 min•Ep. 115
