The Importance of Exit Interviews

Exit interviews are important to gather critical information about morale, management practices, salaries, etc. Ask questions such as:

1. Why are you leaving?

2. What did you like most and least about the job?

3. Did the job give you opportunities to make adequate use of your skills and abilities?

4. How do you feel about your salary and company salary structure? Were you paid fairly?

5. How do you feel about the company’s benefits and programs?

6. What did you think about the performance management process? Did you know where your performance stood in the eyes of your supervisor?

7. How do you feel about the quality of the supervision you received on the job? Were you watched too closely? Were you given clear instructions and expectations?

8. Do you feel your work was appreciated?

9. How did you feel about our working conditions?

10. Did you receive adequate training?

11. How would you rate this company as a place to work? Would you want to work here again?

Source : HR Daily Advisor “2 reasons why you must do exit interviews” January 26, 2010

HR Lunch and Learn Feb. 24th

On February 24, 2010 I’ll be teaching a Lunch ‘N Learn at the Fort Worth Business Assistance Center titled:

HR Essentials for Small Business Owners. What YOU need to know to avoid fines and maintain compliance!

During this hour and a half seminar we will cover the following topics:

* What are the ILLEGAL interview questions I can’t ask applicants?

* How can having an Employee Handbook protect my company?

* Which laws must my company comply with to avoid fines?

* Are my workers Independent Contractors or Employees?

* What do I need to know about unemployment claims?

* What are the Equal Employment regulations?

* What do I need to know about wages and benefits?

* What is EVerify?

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

11:30 am to 1:00 pm; $25, includes Box Lunch

Fort Worth Business Assistance Center

1150 South Freeway, Fort Worth, TX 76104 (1-35 @ Rosedale)

Call Crystal Marrow at 817-871-6025 to reserve your spot.

5 New Year Resolutions Every Employer Should Keep in 2010

With the start of this new year I want to share with you five things all employers should do to help protect their businesses and stay in compliance with the law:

1) Update your job descriptions to include the new ADAAA provisions and ensure proper FLSA (exempt/hourly) status.

2) Update your Employee Handbooks to include the Ledbetter Law, new FMLA Military Leave, ADAAA and GINA (the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act).

3) Update your federal posters to include GINA and new FMLA (mandated by the Federal Government on 11/21/09).

4) All employers offering benefits ensure COBRA administration is giving notice to laid off employees about their extended benefits.

5) Conduct EEO/Sexual Harassment and Safety Training if you have not done so in the past two years. (California requires supervisors be trained in their first 6 months).

If you have questions please don’t hesitate to give me a call, or if you are in Fort Worth, attend one of my HR training classes.

Obama signs new law extending COBRA subsidy and Unemployment Insurance

President Obama signed this bill into law on 12/19/2009 (P.L. No:111-118). This federal spending bill includes two important provisions:

1. Extended and expanded the COBRA subsidy program enacted under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). This expands the COBRA premium subsidy period to employees who were/or are involuntarily terminated on or before 2/28/10. Employers who have affected employees will pay the 65% subsidy for employees COBRA payments and employees will only need to pay 35% of their COBRA coverage. The COBRA premium subsidy is extended from 9 months to 15 months and employers must notify the affected terminated employees.

2. Extended unemployment benefits through July 31, 2010. For example, an individual who runs out of all their unemployment benefits on or before 2/20/2010 may be eligible for an extension of an additional 14-20 weeks of benefits. All affected employees are encouraged to contact your state’s unemployment office to understand their detailed unemployment benefits. Each state, depending on their unemployment rates will have different weekly extentions.

Unemployment, the IRS and Office No-nos

Check out the  online version of our December newsletter.

If you would like to receive this newsletter via email each month please subscribe here:

IRS Announces 2010 Standard Mileage Rates and Publishes new W-4

The Internal Revenue Service has provided the following guidance for 2010 regarding standard mileage for various expenditures.

These new rates are lower than the allowance given in 2009!!

Beginning on Jan. 1, 2010, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:

• 50 cents per mile for business miles driven
• 16.5 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes
• 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations

Click here to download the new 2010 W-4 that should be filled out by all employees. If a new W-4 is not filed out in 2010, then all EMPLOYERS are to begin withholding as if the employee were single claiming no withholding allowance until the employee submits a new W-4.

U.S. Employee Health Is Declining! Are you ready for Rising Costs?

Although health care is at the top of the domestic agenda we see the health of the U.S. workforce declining!

According to a report released by the Families and Work Institute (FWI) on September 22, 2009, both employers and workers must pay attention to how they can promote better health.

Sadly, overall U.S. health has declined in all income levels according to “The State of Health in the American Workforce.” Employees are experiencing more physical and mental stress levels in their daily working time. The research found the following:

• 62% of employees are overweight or obese.
• 49% of employees had not participated in regular exercise in the past 30 days.
• 41% of employees experience 3 or more indicators of stress.
• 28% of employees report their overall health as excellent as opposed to 34% in 2002.
• 27% of employees have experienced sleep problems affecting their job performance in the past month.
• 21% of employees receive treatment for high blood pressure
• 14% of employees are being treated for high cholesterol.
• 1 in 3 employees experience one or more symptoms of clinical depression.
• 1 in 4 employees smoke.

Our firm offers new wellness options designed to MINIMIZE YOUR HEALTH CARE COSTS.

Contact us to schedule an on-site re-evaluation of your benefits programs.

SOURCE: 10/1/09, SHRM Report: Health of U.S. Workforce Declining.

FMLA coverage extended for Military Families

President Obama signed a FMLA coverage extension for Military Families on October 28, 2009. The 2010 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) extends FMLA exigency leave coverage to both active duty members of Armed Forces, Reserves and National Guard, and family members of active members of the Armed Forces, Reserves and National Guard. The FMLA provides 26 weeks of leave and is only for employers with 50 or more employees. This new laws covers FMLA caregiver leave for up to five years after the veteran ends active duty. Qualify exigencies are the following:

1. Short-notice deployment

2. Military event and related activities

3. Childcare and school activities

4. Financial and legal arrangements

5. Counseling

6. Rest and recuperation

7. Post-deployment activities and

8. Additional activities to address other events which arise out of the covered military members’ active duty or call to active duty.

Unemployment Benefits Extended!

President Obama approved the extension of Unemployment Benefits an extra 14 weeks of benefits in states with unemployment rates less than 8.5% and an extra 20 weeks in states with unemployment rates above 8.5%. Any individual whose benefits have expired will be eligible to re-apply for the additional benefits.

Click here to check the current unemployment rate in your state.

November is American Diabetes Month®

The shocking reality: Diabetes is the 5th largest killer disease and there is no cure. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), nearly 8% of the U.S. population (23.6 million people) have diabetes.

The most startling statistic is that about 5.7 million of those people who have diabetes are completely unaware of it and have not been diagnosed.

For more information on what you can do please visit the Diabetes.org website.