For small to medium-sized businesses, it can be a challenge to implement effective HR policies and procedures when the focus is solely on building your business. Keeping a safe, fair, and comfortable work environment is crucial to retain your top employees and avoid lawsuits. Mistakes are made in the workplace though. RTR Consulting reviews the common human resources mistakes businesses make and what you can do to prevent them from happening.
Communication is one of the key elements to success in business. What happens when employee communication takes place after hours though? Do the rules change or is there a separate set to follow? RTR Consulting reveals some helpful guidelines about how to effectively communicate with employees after business hours.
Implementing an effective and appropriate dress code for the workplace does not have to be a daunting task. As an employer, it is your right to establish and enforce a dress code that employees must adhere to during business hours. RTR Consulting gives your business our best dress code tips whether you are implementing a new policy or updating an existing one.
Now that summer is in full swing with sunny skies and warm weather, companies can plan fun events for their employees. Company picnics are a popular choice among employers to boost employee morale and embrace the community. How can you ensure your company picnic runs smoothly and is fun for everyone? RTR Consulting reveals the dos and don’ts of attending a company picnic to make the experience enjoyable for your employees.
Employees across Los Angeles, Pasadena, San Francisco, and Oakland are celebrating new minimum wage standards. The numbers can vary slightly from business to business based on company size and industry, but there remains an upward trend in wages. RTR Consulting informs businesses of the change and the new numbers you need to know.
According to KABC, the increase across California took place at the beginning of the year. It brought minimum wage from $10 an hour to $10.50 for businesses with less than 25 employees. Larger businesses were required to offer at least $11 an hour. Certain areas, such as Los Angeles County, will soon see higher wage increases, as their minimum amounts were also increased last summer. The wages are expected to rise to $12 and $13.25 in July 2018.
KABC interviewed Coalition for Economic Survival’s Larry Gross who commented on the raising wages that do not provide enough for Los Angeles County residents to afford rent. Gross reveals, “It currently takes about four minimum wage jobs to afford the average rent in L.A. This increase, while needed, will have little impact on relieving our housing crisis.” Some businesses are working hard to keep up with the minimum wage standards while others have more leeway to offer competitive wages to retain top talent.
San Francisco’s Minimum Wage Ordinance (MWO) reveals that minimum wage will reach $15 an hour this July and each year following will expect an increase based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Oakland and Pasadena saw similar increases with wages around $12 to $13 an hour.
One of the most important things you can do for your business is to be aware of the changing laws and take action when they go into effect. Ignoring labor laws is a serious offense that could cost your business time and money. It could also greatly affect your reputation, putting your business at risk for a decrease in employee morale and a lower employee retention rate.
Labor laws also help to shape the workplace environment. They are designed to give businesses the opportunity to focus on profitability and developing more efficient internal processes. Rather than spending countless hours solving problems and putting out HR fires, you devote more time to your business.
It is crucial to be aware of new legislation because one change could be the difference between a lawsuit and a happy employee. California law dynamically changes, and your business needs to be cognizant of the ever-changing workplace as well as the laws associated with it. California has seen minimum wage increases consistently over the last few summers. As a business, it is your job to be knowledgeable of these changes and post the new laws for employees to see.
The minimum wage is still on the rise and expected to increase. Is your business prepared for the changes? Do you have all the necessary paperwork and human resources procedures in place to comply with the new minimum wage standards?
RTR Consulting has more than 20 years devoted to developing effective and efficient Human Resources policies, procedures, and best practices for small to medium-sized businesses. Contact us today to learn more about how to find top talent for your business.
The internet has made it effortless to accomplish daily tasks and help make businesses more efficient. This includes the introduction of job boards and websites used to recruit top talent. RTR Consulting reveals the reasons why using a job board to find top talent for your small to medium-sized business is inefficient and how you can improve your search for the best candidates.
Because most job sites make applying easy, your business will spend more time sifting through a large pile of unqualified applicants than finding a candidate that has all the skills or desired experience required for the position. Using job boards confines you to a limited pool of applicants, 5% of which are unemployed and 3 to 5% of employees looking to leave their current position. Your business ends up having access to less than 1% of qualified candidates.
Depending on the platform where you post your open positions, there are various features to take advantage of without using a job board. For instance, LinkedIn allows employers to post their positions within relevant groups. Make sure to pay attention to group rules, so you don’t get kicked out. Some groups are strict about solicitation and posting certain types of content.
When searching for top talent, you don’t want to cast too wide of a net. Though you want to open the door to as many talented applicants as possible, you want to ensure each applicant is worth reviewing. Under- or overqualified candidates could steal precious time from your business. Spending a few minutes reviewing résumés can add up to hours that take time away from running your company. Hour long phone or in-person interviews also detract from operating your business.
Not all job boards are as popular or well-known, as there are several sites competing for prominence. Some job boards can be costly depending on how long you post a position for, which can lead to too many applications or not enough. Sometimes, the greatest candidates can be found through connections. Networking on LinkedIn groups is a useful tool to help you find top talent.
Job boards can reveal your plans for positions, especially if you are planning on replacing a current employee with a new one. If they come across your job posting, then you may end up with a disgruntled employee. This can make it difficult to maintain a good reputation and could aid in the loss of employees earlier than expected. When searching for top talent, it is crucial to maintain a healthy company culture while paying attention to your business’s reputation.
Job boards, such as Indeed or LinkedIn, have aggressively advertised their platform to help all types of businesses find the best candidates. One of the services they tout is sponsoring your job posts with ad dollars. Posting on job boards can be a tricky game, which means it can take more time away from running your business.
What’s the best way to find and retain top talent? Get in touch with your personal HR consultant to seek the highest quality candidates for your business and ensure they grow with your company.
RTR Consulting has more than 20 years devoted to developing effective and efficient Human Resources policies, procedures, and best practices for small to medium-sized businesses. Contact us today to learn more about how to find top talent for your business.
There are several keys to retaining top talent. Hint: discussing compensation is one of them. This does not mean breaking your budget in the hopes of preserving the top talent at your business. This week, we take a look at the ways you can retain your top talent without handing out lavish salaries every year.
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which exempts employees from minimum wage and overtime requirements, has been interpreted narrowly by the Supreme Court since the ‘50s. A recent case has given the Supreme Court reason to interpret FLSA exemptions more broadly. What does this mean for employers when it comes to legal disputes? RTR Consulting gives you the details about the exemptions and what they could mean for you, as an employer, in court.
Encino Motorcars v. Navarro demonstrates an employer violating the FLSA in not paying employees overtime. Encino Motorcars, LLC was sued by current and former employees because they believed the employees were exempt from the overtime requirement. The Court changed the Ninth Circuit’s decision, which held that certain employees were indeed exempt. A broader interpretation caused the Court to rethink their decision, giving the employer the advantage. JD Supra, LLC, notes, “According to the Court, the principal did not serve as ‘a useful guidepost for interpreting the FLSA.’ Instead, the Court ruled, courts are only obligated to give the exemptions a ‘fair reading.’”
The case’s ruling may foreshadow changes for how federal courts interpret FLSA exemptions in the future. Broader interpretations put the law on the employer’s side to give them a fairer chance in court. It will not favor one side over the other, but it gives them an equal chance. The narrow interpretation serves as a misleading guide that seems to give one of the party’s advantage.
Employers can have a better chance of winning their case with the perspective shift in reviewing the law for FLSA disputes. It will be easier for courts to find employees exempt in cases like Encino Motorcars v. Navarro. When the ruling is too close to making a decision, the broader interpretation gives an employer the advantage when resolving an FLSA exemption dispute.
It is crucial to be aware of current legislation that could affect your business. Even in successful cases, high costs are associated with legislation disputes. Though employers have a higher likelihood of winning an FLSA exemptions case, this does not guarantee a success when you leave the courtroom. It is critical to stay up-to-date on ever-changing legislation and become aware of the court’s changing views to ensure your business is not negatively impacted. An expensive trial can cost more than your valuable time and money. It can also affect your reputation. The best way to retain talent and stay out of the courtroom is to be aware of new laws, follow them, and treat your employees well.
RTR Consulting has more than 20 years devoted to developing effective and efficient Human Resources policies, procedures, and best practices for small to medium-sized businesses. Contact us today to learn more about how to protect your business when legislation changes are made.
Stay tuned for next week’s blog to learn more about the key to retaining top talent in regard to compensation.
