Blog

Setting goals for 2019? BCN Services can help you with HR efficiency

December 13, 2018/in Uncategorized /by Trisha Crigger

Yes, it is December already.

It’s that time of year when you reflect on the challenges your business has achieved, crushed, fallen short of or come close to over the past 12 months. You have probably started proactively assessing goals for the coming 12 months.

Those plans should include strategies for growth, doing things differently and maximizing your resources for efficiency when it comes to the world of human capital.

Here are a few powerful and thought-provoking questions to help develop your 2019 plans:

Do you have infrastructure and resources in place to meet your company goals?
What are the biggest challenges facing your company today?
How do you keep up to date with ever-changing employment regulations that affect employees?
What would you change about your employee retention and recruiting strategy?
How confident are you that you are complying with wage-and-hour, immigration and wrongful termination practices?

BCN Services has been providing comprehensive human resources services to businesses for over 25 years and can help you answer these questions. We are your one-stop resource for all HR services including: payroll processing, risk management, human resources administration and employee benefits administration. This helps you focus on your day-to-day business priorities, avoid costly HR mistakes and maximize your company’s profits.

Let us handle all of these services for you, which are typically done by an in-house HR department:

Oversite, compliance and guidance of EEOC, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA and other federal regulations Recruit and retain employees with better healthcare, 401K, and voluntary benefits packages
Electronic onboarding, administration and compliance including I-9 tracking, drug screen program set-up, record keeping of new employees using a state-of-the art HRIS and payroll system
Risk assessment of your HR policies and procedures
Employee relations coaching and training for team members who manage staff and deliver disciplinary actions
Proactive assistance with a workplace safety training program
Lower unemployment rate with complete unemployment case management program

We can help you identify and prioritize your challenges and opportunities for the upcoming year in when it comes to payroll, risk management, HR administration and employee benefit offerings. How can you look at your business in a different way? BCN Services will put together an individualized plan so you can focus on operating and expanding your business.

Call us at 1-800-891-9911 so we can begin helping you.

Wishing you all the best in 2019!

Corey Decker, Sales Manager

Consider year-end payroll as you make holiday plans

December 6, 2018/in Uncategorized /by Trisha Crigger

The holiday season will soon be here and while most people are thinking of planning holiday parties and gift-giving, it is also important to think about your end-of-year payroll now.

Both the year end and holiday payroll processing can be stressful between planning for business closures and compiling end-of-year financials. Starting to think about the topic now and communicate with your BCN Payroll Specialist early to alleviate stress and make this busy time of year go smoothly.

Some things to consider:

Business closure dates: What dates will your business be closed over the holidays? Will you need to receive any payroll deliveries early? How will this impact your employees’ pay?

Pay date changes: Do you have any pay dates that should be changed due to the holidays? Have you reviewed your payroll processing schedule to determine the dates the banks will be closed when you will not be able to issue funds?

Bonus payments: Do you plan to pay any employees a bonus? When do you want that bonus payment to be made? Do those checks need to be printed on paper for you or will they be paid through employee direct deposit?

Fringe benefits: Are there any fringe benefit amounts that need to be reported? By what date do those need to be processed?

Once you have begun planning, it is crucial to involve your BCN Payroll Specialist in this conversation as early as possible. Even before you have amounts and final details, your Payroll Specialist can help answer questions and give advice on your plan. This will also allow them to start planning the processes they must have in place to ensure all your requests can be met in a timely manner.

BCN Services sends communications about all closures and holiday scheduling to help make your season run as smoothly as possible. Please call us at 800-891-9911 so we can assist with your holiday and year-end planning.

Dani Austin, Payroll Supervisor

Michigan’s Earned Sick Time Act will change policies for many employers

November 29, 2018/in Uncategorized /by Trisha Crigger

UPDATED – 11/30/2018 – Michigan Earned Sick Time Act

In early September 2018, Michigan’s Legislature adopted the Earned Sick Time Act, which applies to all private employers employing one or more individuals, and takes effect on April 1, 2019. It was originally advanced as a ‘citizen initiated/petitioned ballot measure’ to be placed before the voting public. The legislature opted to avoid the ballot initiative by adopting the law as written.

On November 28, 2018, Michigan state senators voted for a bill introduced by Senator Shirkey to dramatically scale back the Requirements for Earned Sick Time Act, specifically that small businesses (fewer than 50 workers) will be exempt. This act will also not apply to employees exempt from overtime or who work for a private company but are covered by a labor contract.

What will the Earned Sick Time Act do?

Require employers, with over 50 employees, to provide every employee 1 hour of paid sick time for every 40 hours worked, or 36 hours per year. This will allow employees to use up to a certain amount of paid sick time in a year for a specified number of purposes, such as illness, medical treatment, absences caused by domestic violence or sexual assault, or meetings related to a child’s school or care.
Allow employees to take leave with little advanced notice.
Permit employers to request documentation only if the absence is longer than 3 days, and then requires that the employer to cover the employee’s out-of-pocket costs incurred in providing such documentation.
Require employers to provide written notice to employees of their rights under the Act, including protections against employer retaliation.
Permit aggrieved employees to file claims with the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs or take legal action.

As written, the Earned Sick Time Act could prove challenging for many employers to implement, especially those who have established time-off policies. Employers can comply with the Earned Sick Time Act by providing paid leave (such as vacation, personal days, PTO, etc.), as long as that leave, (1) Accrues at a rate equal to or greater than what the Earned Sick Time Act requires; (2) Is at least the same amount as the Earned Sick Time Act; (3) May be used for the same purposes and under the same conditions. Employees must begin accruing leave on the law’s effective date or when employment begins (whichever is later) at a rate of at least 1 hour for every 40 hours worked.

What does this mean for employers?

It is still somewhat unclear what the Earned Sick Time Act will look like come April 1, 2019. Rest assured that BCN Services will continue to monitor and report on further developments. Meanwhile, employers should take stock of their existing time-off policies, especially if they have separate sick time, vacation time, and personal time policies.

Thom Moore, Partnership Manager

Setting goals for 2019? BCN Services can help you with HR efficiency

Consider year-end payroll as you make holiday plans

Michigan’s Earned Sick Time Act will change policies for many employers

BCN Services, Inc.