Human Resource Policies

Diversity can bring positive opportunities to any organization. These opportunities include:

• Attracting and retaining high-quality people from a variety of backgrounds.
• Increasing morale because everyone feels that he or she is welcome and appreciated, regardless of background;
• Improved productivity due to increased morale; and
• Reduced discrimination and the risk of lawsuits.

Many small and medium size companies don’t have the time or staff needed to develop human resource policies and procedures that encourage diversity.  The HR professionals at Management 2000, an Indiana PEO, can help.  They have the knowledge and experience to develop effective strategies that support diversity.  For more information about human resources consulting services, call Management 2000 at (317) 549-2000 or visit www.management2000.com.

In general, employees have a duty to obey direct orders and respect their supervisors' authority.  Direct insubordination or discourtesy jeopardizes productivity, harms morale, and undermines supervisors' authority. Insubordination and discourtesy can take many forms, including: 
 

• using abusive or profane language,
• having a disrespectful attitude,
• threatening or intimidating colleagues or customers,
• making false public statements against a supervisor, and
• assaulting a person.

Employers must be careful, however, when disciplining employees for insubordination or discourtesy. The HR professionals at Management 2000, an Indiana PEO, have the knowledge and experience to counsel employers on the best way to handle these situations. They provide the human resources help employers need to develop and enforce effective human resource policies and procedures. For more information about the human resource management services Management 2000 offers, call (317) 549-2000 or visit www.management2000.com.

While federal law sets minimum wage requirements, many states require higher payments. For example, the federal minimum hourly rate is $7.25, but Ohio requires payment of $7.40/hour, Oregon requires $8.50/hour, and the state of Washington requires payment of $8.67/hour.

The HR professionals at Management 2000, an Indiana PEO, have the human resource management tools needed to research laws in every state. With this knowledge, Management 2000 provides the human resources help employers need to establish legally compliant payroll policies. For more information, contact Management 2000 at (317) 549-2000 or visit www.management2000.com.   

Maintaining accurate employee records and legal compliance is critical for all employers. Failure to do so can result in hefty penalties, as demonstrated by a Texas company that failed to maintain accurate time and payroll accounts and did not properly pay employees for overtime hours worked. As a result, the company must pay $579,910 in back overtime wages. 

Management 2000, an Indiana PEO, provides the human resources help employers need to develop effective payroll policies. For more information about all the human resource management services Management 2000 can provide, call (317) 549-2000 or visit www.management2000.com.

The U.S. Department of Labor has launched a new initiative that would require nearly every U.S. business to proactively demonstrate compliance with safety laws, wage laws, and anti-discrimination laws.  This program, known as "Plan/Prevent/Protect" (also known informally as "P-Cubed" or "P3"), results from the fact that the DOL is overwhelmed and understaffed.  Because of this, the DOL has decided to shift some of their policing duties onto the private sector.  Once implemented, P3 will require every entity covered by the FLSA, OSHA, the OFFCP, and MSHA to make written plans ("Plan"), create processes ("Prevent"), and test the processes with designated compliance employees ("Protect"). 

Management 2000, an Indiana PEO, has experienced HR professionals who keep up to date on current employment laws and trends.  They have the ability to help employers develop effective and legally compliant human resource policies and procedures.  For more information about the human resource management services provided by Management 2000, call (317) 549-2000 or visit www.management2000.com.  

Ethical behavior by all employees is critical to the long-term success of any company. Statistics show that employees who believe that their company operates in an ethical manner tend to be more productive and stay with the company longer. One of the first steps in ensuring that a company is run ethically is implementing a strong policy on ethics. Unfortunately, many companies with small HR departments, or none at all, tend to overlook ethics as part of their HR procedures and policies.

Management 2000, a Professional Employer Organization, can help. The experienced professionals in its HR Department provide a wide range of human resources help, including developing and implementing effective ethics policies. For more information about the human resource management services Management 2000 provides, call (317) 549-2000 or visit www.management2000.com.     

·        Use only UL-approved electrical decorations and extension cords.

·        Inspect all lights and cords before use.

·        Keep your tree and other decorations away from heat sources.

·        Water your tree frequently to prevent its drying out and becoming a fire hazard.

·        Turn off tree lights before leaving home or going to bed.

·        Keep candles away from trees, curtains, decorations, and flammable liquids.

·        Place candles where they can't be tipped over by children or pets.

·        Never leave candles unattended, and make sure they are extinguished throughout the house before going out or going to bed.

·        If you use a fireplace or wood stove, protect from sparks with a screen.

·        Never dispose of wrapping paper, ribbons, or gift boxes in the hearth.

Management 2000, a Professional Employer Organization in Indiana, has experienced Safety and HR professionals who can help employers keep employee safe at home and at work. Conducting safety audits, reviewing HR procedures and policies and providing HR management training are just a few of the ways the HR department at Management 2000 help employers maintain a safe workplace. For more information about all the human resource management services Management 2000 provides, call (317) 549-2000 or visit www.management2000.com.

The owners of a concrete company in California have been charged with 15 felony charges of payroll tax evasion and workers' compensation insurance fraud. The charges are based on allegations that the company intentionally under reported wages by disguising the funds as payments made to independent contractors. This, in turn, illegally reduced the company's state payroll tax and workers' compensation expenses. If found guilty, the company would owe $230,000 in back taxes.

Without proper payroll policies, companies like this one face costly legal actions. The human resources consultants at Management 2000, a Professional Employer Organization, help employers avoid these problems. Whether it’s payroll, employee benefits management or human resources administration, Management 2000 provides the HR support employers need to stay compliant and profitable. For more information, call (317) 549-2000 or visit www.management2000.com.

If it hasn’t already, snow will soon be falling in many parts of the country. Following are some safe snow removal tips employers can share with employees to help avoid injury, both on and off the job. 

·           Stretch for a couple of minutes before shoveling to loosen up back, shoulder, neck, arm, and leg muscles.

·           Pace yourself as you shovel to prevent overexertion.  Start slow and give yourself a chance to warm up.  Once you are warmed up, maintain a steady  pace to reduce stress on your body.

·           Lift smaller amounts when snow is heavy and wet.

·           Breathe in while lifting and out while throwing.

·           Keep your feet shoulder width apart for balance.

·           Hold the shovel close to your body for better leverage and less strain.

·           Push snow rather than lifting it when possible, especially when the snow is heavy.  For example, push snow to the edge of walkways and then lift and throw it.  This way you avoid continual lifting and you don't have to throw snow as far.

Management 2000, a Professional Employer Organization in Indiana, has experienced Safety and HR professionals who can help employers develop effective safety policies. By conducting safety audits and providing HR management training, these professionals help employers keep their employees safe and injury-free. For more information about all the human resource management services Management 2000 provides, call (317) 549-2000 or visit www.management2000.com.

There may be times when discipline or termination of an employee who has filed a worker’s compensation claim is warranted, just as it would be for any other employee. Employers facing this situation, however, must not underestimate the legal risks involved. In addition to rights under state law, a worker’s compensation claimant may be covered by the ADA, FMLA, or similar state laws. Employers who fail to recognize these potential problems can face significant legal consequences.

Assisting employers with worker’s compensation, as well as other human resource issues, is but one of the many services provided by Management 2000, a Professional Employer Organization. The HR Professionals at Management 2000’s offices in Indianapolis, Indiana provide HR support to employers regarding a variety of HR issues, including HR policies and procedures, compliance, recruiting and retention, and training. For more information about human resource management services from Management 2000, call (317) 549-2000 or visit www.management2000.com.       

Employers with employees in multiple states must take care to comply with each state’s employment laws. For example, Illinois and Kentucky require employees to have 24 consecutive hours/one day of rest during a calendar week, but Indiana does not. Monetary penalties for each employee denied this day of rest can be imposed on the offending employers.

Management 2000, a Professional Employer Organization based in Indiana has the human resource management tools to identify employment laws in every state. With these tools, the HR professionals at Management 2000 help employers develop effective and legally compliant human resource policies and procedures. To learn more about the human resources help Management 2000 provides, call (317) 549-2000 or visit www.management2000.com.  

While holidays are fun and exciting, they can also create stress and anxiety. Not only can this create problems at home, it can negatively affect a worker’s ability to do his or her job well. An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a company-sponsored program for employees that provides counseling and referral services to employees with a wide variety of personal problems. In addition to stress, anxiety and depression, these problems can include:

• marital problems, domestic violence, divorce, child care, and elder care;

• legal and financial concerns;

• addictive behaviors, such as substance abuse or gambling;

• the death or terminal illness of family members or close friends;

• eating disorders; and

• career-related difficulties, such as job relocation.

Management 2000, a Professional Employer Organization based in Indianapolis, Indiana, knows that effective EAPs can not only help employers improve employee attendance and morale, they can also lower both turnover costs and employer health care costs. The human resource professionals at Management 2000 provide comprehensive HR advice regarding EAPs, as well as other human resource policies and procedures. For more information about the human resource management services provided by Management 2000, call (317) 549-2000 or visit www.management2000.com.  

Employers must take care when classifying workers as independent contractors. If the Internal Revenue Service finds that an independent contractor should have been classified as an employee, it can assess the employer any or all of the following:

• An amount equal to 1.5 percent of wages (3 percent if no information return was filed).

• Up to 40 percent of the worker's share of Federal Insurance Contribution Act tax that should have been withheld.

• A civil penalty equal to 100 percent of the total amount of tax evaded or not collected. There can also be a criminal penalty of a $100,000 fine ($500,000 in the case of a corporation) and/or five years in prison.

• Up to $50 per Form W-2 that should have been filed.
• A civil penalty of $50 per W-2, if IRS finds the employer willfully failed to furnish correct W-2s to employees. There's also a criminal penalty consisting of a $1,000 fine and/or one year in prison for willful failure to furnish W-2s as required.
• Interest on past-due tax payments.

Clearly, improper classification of employees can be a costly mistake. The HR professionals at Management 2000, an Indiana PEO, have the knowledge and experience to help employers classify employees properly. With legally compliant human resource policies in place, employers can avoid costly litigation and hefty fines. For more information about the many human resource management services provided by Management 2000, call (317-549-2000 or visit www.management2000.com. 

Regular attendance at work is an essential function of most jobs. However, there are many legitimate reasons why employees cannot be at work every day. In order to help control absenteeism, employers should have a policy that addresses issues associated with attendance. These issues include tardiness, sickness, personal business, family and medical leave, and disability. Developing such policies, however, can be a time-consuming task for employers.

More and more, small and mid-size businesses are relying on Professional Employer Organizations for human resources administration. Management 2000, an Indiana PEO, provides the HR support these companies need. Management 2000’s HR professionals have extensive experience developing effective attendance policies as well as other HR policies and procedures. This is just one of the many ways Management 2000 can help take the administrative burden of personnel matters off employers. 

For more information, contact Management 2000 at (317) 549-2000 or visit www.management2000.com.     

• Payroll and employee benefits administration. Management 2000’s employee benefits advisors can make sure companies comply with employment laws regulating payroll and benefits, such as the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

• Recruiting and retention. The HR professionals at Management 2000 can manage recruiting and retention efforts to ensure success as well as compliance with federal, state and local laws.

• Policy development. Management 2000 can develop the human resource policies and procedures needed for internal control and guidance, again in compliance with employment laws prohibiting discriminatory labor practices.

• Recordkeeping and compliance. Management 2000 can help make sure companies comply with employee record retention requirements. 

For more information about the many ways Management 2000 can help your company, call (317) 549-2000 or visit www.management2000.com.

Data released last month by Quest Diagnostics Inc. (a drug testing company) indicates an increase in American workers and job applicants testing positive for prescription opiates.  This data further shows that employees are two to four times more likely to have opiate indicators in their systems after an accident than during a pre-employment screening.  This naturally raises the concern that use of the drug may have played a role in the accident. 

Employers often overlook the importance of dealing with human resource issues such as on the job injuries and drug use. Without effective human resource policies, however, these issues can create costly problems in terms of medical care and liability to third parties. Management 2000, an Indiana PEO, helps employers develop and enforce an effective HR strategy to address a full range of issues. For more information about Management 2000’s human resource management services, call (317) 549-2000 or visit www.management2000.com.

Compliance with employment laws is a difficult task for employers.  Even practices that seem to make good business sense can violate these laws. Recently, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals (Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin) ruled that a health care provider’s policy of complying with patients’ requests to be treated only by white employees created a hostile work environment for non-white employees.  

Management 2000, an Indiana PEO, has experienced HR professionals who keep up to date on current employment law decisions and trends.  They have the ability to help employers develop effective and legally compliant human resource policies and procedures.  For more information about the human resource management services provided by Management 2000, call (317) 549-2000 or visit www.management2000.com.  

Every company whose employees have E-mail access should have a policy on E-mail use. This policy should include the employer’s right to monitor E-mails. Additional tips employers should consider are including E-mail in document retention programs, limiting information in E-mails to facts rather than exaggerations, speculations and insults, and having in-person conversations to discuss sensitive situations. 

Management 2000, a Professional Employer Organization in Indianapolis, Indiana understands the need for effective human resource policies. The experienced HR professionals at Management 2000 provide the HR support employers need for an HR strategy that addresses E-mail use and other human resource issues.

For more information about the HR management services provided by Management 2000, call (317) 549-2000 or visit www.management2000.com.

Small business owners often find it difficult to keep up with the various laws and regulations governing employment practices.  Hiring, payment of wages, promotions, maintaining employee records and rest/meal breaks are but a few of the issues impacted by state and/or federal laws. Compliance is time consuming, but non-compliance can be financially devastating.  

Management 2000, a Professional Employer Organization, has the HR management tools to identify applicable state and federal laws and develop appropriate human resource policies for its clients. This is just one of the many ways the HR professionals at Management 2000 provide HR support and resolve human resource issues.

For more information about the HR services Management 2000 provides, call (317) 549-2000 or log on to www.management2000.com.

There can be no doubt that job satisfaction is linked to whether or not employees believe they are compensated appropriately.  Employee morale can be negatively affected when pay is below industry standards or where there is a disparity in pay between employees in similar positions.  This can result in low productivity and turnover, both of which are costly to employers.  

Management 2000, an Indiana PEO, provides the human resources help employers need to develop effective HR strategies, including compensation programs. Its HR Department has the tools and experience to research wage trends in various geographic areas. With this information, Management 2000’s HR professionals can help employers create effective payroll policies and procedures.  For more information about all the human resource management services provided by Management 2000, call (317-549-2000) or visit www.management2000.com.