Four in 10 small business employers have turned down a potential employee in the past year because their AI skills fell short. Among Gen Z respondents, it’s nearly two in three.
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Author:
Rachel Blakely-Gray
Rachel Blakely-Gray has spent more than a decade writing about payroll, payroll taxes, and accounting for small business owners at Patriot Software. As Content Manager, she covers everything from multi-state payroll tax filing to 1099 reporting requirements, translating IRS and state regulations into plain English.
Trump Accounts: A New Benefit for Your Team?
August 13, 2026In July 2025, the government passed a massive bill (“The One Big Beautiful Bill”). The bill made sweeping changes like no tax on overtime and no tax on tips. It also established “Trump Accounts” for children.
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Payroll Deduction Authorization Form: What to Include
August 12, 2026A payroll deduction authorization form is a signed document that lets an employer withhold a set amount from an employee’s pay for a specific purpose.
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What Is Callback Pay, and How Do I Compensate Employees?
August 10, 2026Key Takeaways − Callback pay (or call-back pay) is extra pay you give when you call an employee back to work after they’ve left for the day. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not require callback pay itself, but it does require you to pay for all hours worked, and it requires overtime when […]
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Handling the Payroll Complexities of Crossing the 50-employee Threshold
August 6, 2026Key Takeaways − Hitting 50 employees is a major compliance milestone, especially under federal benefits and health coverage rules. Payroll gets more complex as you add benefits, more pay types, and tracking. You may also face multi-state issues. You need tighter processes, better systems, and clear documentation to avoid penalties and payroll errors. A modern […]
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Pay Compression: What It Is, Why It Happens, and How to Fix It
July 31, 2026Pay compression happens when the pay gap between newer and longer-tenured employees shrinks, often because starting salaries rise faster than existing raises.
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Employer Student Loan Repayment: Up to $5,250 Tax-free Permanently
July 30, 2026If you’re looking for a new benefit to offer employees, you might consider employer student loan repayment. The benefit itself isn’t new, but it got a tax-exemption makeover in 2020 thanks to the CARES Act and Consolidated Appropriations Act. And in 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act made the tax exemption permanent.
Read More Employer Student Loan Repayment: Up to $5,250 Tax-free Permanently
“SOS! Do I Need to Prepare a 1099 for Credit Card Payments I Make to Contractors?”
July 28, 2026Paying a contractor to perform work for your business comes with a little disclaimer: reporting said payments on Form 1099-NEC. But what if you pay your contractor using a credit card? Do you have to prepare a 1099 for credit card payments?
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How to Maintain Payroll Accuracy During Periods of Rapid Hiring
July 24, 2026Key Takeaways − Rapid hiring multiplies payroll complexity and the risk of mistakes. Standardize processes, use checklists, and centralize data to maintain accuracy. The right payroll software can automate calculations, taxes, and onboarding tasks. Regular audits, clear roles, and training keep errors from snowballing as you grow. Why payroll gets risky when you are hiring […]
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When Is Rounding Employee Time Illegal?
July 22, 2026Key Takeaways − You can round employee time in some cases, but it must be neutral, not one-sided. Federal law (FLSA) allows rounding in small increments (e.g., 5, 6, or 15 minutes) if it does not consistently favor the employer. Rounding is illegal when it regularly shortchanges employees, especially minimum wage or overtime pay. Some […]
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