Indiana Employee Benefits

Many employers reimburse their employees for mileage driven in an employee’s personal vehicle for business purposes. For 2010, the business mileage reimbursement rate set by the Internal Revenue Service is 50 cents per mile. Starting Jan. 1, 2011, however, these rates for the use of a car, van, pickup truck, or panel truck will rise to 51 cents per mile.  Revenue Procedure 2010-51 contains additional information regarding the standard mileage rates.

Management 2000, an Indiana Professional Employer Organization, provides human resources, benefits and payroll assistance to small and medium size businesses throughout Indiana and across the country. Utilizing their vast array of HR management tools, the HR professionals at Management 2000 are able to provide effective HR strategies and support to client companies. Whether it’s current mileage rates, human resource issues, employee benefits administration or payroll processing, Management 2000 can help. For more information call (317) 549-2000 or visit www.management2000.com.

The economic downturn has driven employers' unemployment insurance costs to record levels. The good news is that employers can control these costs by maintaining sound HR procedures. This includes an effective selection process to avoid hiring poor performers or bad matches who often become ex-employees entitled to unemployment benefits.

Management 2000, a Professional Employer Organization in Indiana, has the HR professionals who can help employers minimize unemployment costs. With extensive knowledge and HR management tools, Management 2000’s HR Department develops effective hiring and retention strategies for its client companies. Call (317) 549-2000 or visit www.management2000.com for more information.   

According to a recent WorldatWork survey, employers plan a 2.5 percent average increase in salary budgets next year, with average raises of up to 0.7 percent projected for low performers, 2.4 percent for middle performers, and 3.7 percent for top performers.  Employee compensation is a critical factor in both recruiting and retention strategies.  Appropriate pay rates depend on many factors, including industry averages and other benefits offered by a particular employer.  

While employers should review compensation on a periodic basis, this is a time consuming task that is often overlooked. Management 2000, an Indiana PEO, can help.   Management 2000 has the HR management tools necessary to develop effective compensation packages tailored to individual employers’ needs.  For more information about the many human resource management services provided by Management 2000’s HR Department, call (317-549-2000 or visit www.management2000.com.  

The Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division has issued a new interpretation of compensable time for workers changing into or out of protective clothing. This changes the prior interpretation that time employees spend donning and doffing protective clothing was not compensable under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Accordingly, employers must now compensate non-exempt employees for the time they spend changing into or out of protective clothing or equipment “required by law, by the employer, or the nature of the job.”

Management 2000, a Professional Employer Organization with offices in Indianapolis, Indiana, constantly monitors federal and state laws and regulations related to human resources administration. With this information, the HR professionals at Management 2000 provide the human resources help employers need for compliance. Whether the issue involves payroll, benefits or general HR administration, employers can count on Management 2000 for accurate, timely advice. Contact Management 2000 at (317) 549-2000 or at www.management2000.com for more information.

Although the economy may be showing signs of improvement, employers remain focused on increasing efficiency and holding down costs.  This may include downsizing, eliminating pay raises, and even cutting pay for employees.  While these actions can be justified, employers must be careful.  Top performing employees still need to be rewarded for their efforts and companies must make sure their compensation is in line with what is being offered in their market.  Otherwise, employees might leave and companies can end up spending even more time and money to replace them.   

Management 2000, a PEO in Indianapolis, Indiana and Dayton, Ohio helps employers develop an HR strategy to recruit and retain quality employees.  From human resource policies, to employee benefits, to payroll services, Management 2000 provides the HR support employers need to be successful. 
 

Using temporary employees or independent contractors can give an employer a flexible way to respond to changing work demands. Temporary employees can be found through temporary staffing agencies or by direct hire, while contractors are usually obtained directly by the company. Whether help is temporary or contract, however, specific rules must be followed in order to comply with a variety of employment, tax and benefits laws. 

The HR Department at Management 2000, a PEO with offices in Indiana and Ohio, provides human resources help employers need to develop effective HR procedures and policies. The experienced HR professionals at Management 2000 provide the HR support employers need to develop an HR strategy that addresses temporary or contract help, as well as other human resource issues.

Payroll errors can be costly. Last month, a petroleum company in New Jersey entered into a settlement agreement under which it will pay $4 million in overtime pay, damages, interest, and penalties to more than 700 current and former employees. According to the Department of Labor, the company and its owner failed to pay employees time and one-half the regular hourly rate for time worked in excess of 40 hours a week and failed to keep accurate time and payroll records for approximately seven years. 

Employers cannot afford to have ineffective payroll policies. Management 2000, an Indiana PEO, provides payroll services for small businesses as well as HR and employee benefits administration. With help from Management 2000, employers can rest assured that payroll and other human resource issues are properly managed. 

More and more employers are moving away from traditional vacation, sick and personal leave policies. Paid Time Off (PTO) policies provide a bank of time employees can use when they must miss work, whatever the reason might be. Fifty-four percent (54%) of employers recently surveyed offer this type of program. Almost three fourths (72%) of these employers also allow employees to carry over unused time to the next year. 

Time off with pay is an important component of an employee benefits plan. The HR professionals at Management 2000, a PEO with offices in Indiana and Ohio, provide human resource help to employers who want to design or revise their time off policies. Whether an employer’s HR strategy involves traditional vacation, sick and personal leave policies, or a comprehensive PTO policy, Management 2000’s HR Department can provide the HR support needed to develop an effective time off program.  

• Benefits Plan design
• Employee Benefits Administration
• Payroll Coordination
• Communication

The newly enacted Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requires employers to provide “reasonable break time” to employees to allow them to express breast milk for nursing children. The law requires that the break time be provided for one year after the child's birth and that an employer must provide a private, shielded place other than a restroom in which the nursing mother may express the breast milk. The amendment does not apply to businesses with fewer than 50 employees if compliance would impose an undue hardship on the employer and does not require the employer to compensate the nursing employee for the break time. The measure does not, however, preempt state laws with more generous provisions for nursing mothers.

Management 2000, a Professional Employer Organization with offices in Indianapolis, Indiana and Dayton Ohio, constantly monitors federal and state laws and regulations related to human resources administration. With this information, the HR professionals at Management 2000 provide the human resources help employers need for compliance. Whether the issue is legal compliance, employee benefits management , discipline, or training, employers can count on Management 2000 for accurate, timely advice.

Employers often wonder what human resource policies they should implement.  The topics range from discipline, to employee medical benefits, to how long they should retain employee records.  Developing these policies can be a time consuming, difficult task, especially for small employers who are busy running their business.  Without these policies, however, employers can face problems such as poor productivity, low employee morale, and even costly legal issues. 

Management 2000, a Professional Employer Organization with offices in Indianapolis, Indiana and Dayton, Ohio, understands this dilemma. The human resource professionals in Management 2000’s HR Department have the knowledge and tools to help employers develop effective human resource policies and procedures to fit individual needs.  With HR support from Management 2000, employers can focus on the important task of making their business successful.  

The Federal guidelines that protect consumers from deceptive endorsements and advertising may pose liability issues for employers if their employees use social media to talk about their employer's products or services. When employees comment on the products or services their company provides in blogs or on their Facebook accounts, the presumption is that they are doing so for the company’s benefit and with the company's approval. On-line comments by employees can, therefore, create problems for their employers even if the comments are not authorized by or sponsored by the company.  

Employers can protect against such liability by having an appropriate policy in place. Management 2000, a Professional Employer Organization with offices in Indianapolis, Indiana and Dayton, Ohio can help. The HR Department at Management 2000 regularly provides human resources advice to small business owners regarding effective policies and procedures for their companies. 

Disciplining employees is often an unpleasant task, and can become even more difficult if supervisors make the following mistakes:

• Thinking of discipline as merely a punishment instead of an opportunity to correct a situation
• Taking an apologetic approach, such as saying, “HR told me to do this”
• Trying to maintain friendships and letting people get away with things too long
• Failing to keep good documentation

Management 2000, a Professional Employer Organization in Indiana, has a staff of experienced human resource professionals who can provide employers with practical advice regarding disciplinary issues. This is but one of the many benefits offered by the HR Department at Management 2000

Although employers do not want to lose good employees, when one does leave, an exit interview can be an important learning tool for the employer. Properly conducted, exit interviews can provide the employer with the opportunity to:

·                    Discuss and clarify the reasons for the resignation;

·                    Explain company policies relating to departing employees and clarify final pay and benefits issues;

·                    Obtain information about a supervisor's management skills;

·                    Obtain feedback about the employees' opinions and attitudes toward the company;  
 

·                    Resolve or defuse any remaining disputes with the exiting employee;

·                    Learn of changes in policies and practices that could make the company more competitive (e.g., flexible work arrangements, compensation and benefits packages, etc.).

     The HR Department at Management 2000, an Indiana PEO, can help employers design effective exit interviews and provide advice on using the information gathered. 

• Employee Benefits Management
• Strategic Human Resources
• Risk and Safety Management
• Payroll Services

If you are devoting too much time and money towards these areas give us a call and we can develop a plan to give you time to run your business!
800-554-5945
http://www.management2000.com