A 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.
Read More Payroll Deduction Authorization Form: What to Include
A 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.
Read More Payroll Deduction Authorization Form: What to Include
Key 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 […]
Read More What Is Callback Pay, and How Do I Compensate Employees?
Key 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 […]
Read More Handling the Payroll Complexities of Crossing the 50-employee Threshold
Pay compression happens when the pay gap between newer and longer-tenured employees shrinks, often because starting salaries rise faster than existing raises.
Read More Pay Compression: What It Is, Why It Happens, and How to Fix It
If 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
You must withhold the right amount of taxes on employee wages when paying employees. But what if you need to pay an independent contractor? To keep tax information straight between independent contractors and employees, you need to know the difference between Form W-9 vs. W-4. Read on for the scoop.
Read More Form W-9 vs. W-4: What Are the Right Forms for Employees and Contractors?
Hired your first employee? Check. Set a start date? Check. Ready to process payroll? Not quite yet. Before you can start paying your employees, there are a few steps you need to know and some terms to learn. This handy payroll 101 guide explains how to set up payroll the right way so you can […]
Read More How to Set up Payroll for a Small Business
Key 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 […]
Read More How to Maintain Payroll Accuracy During Periods of Rapid Hiring
Key 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 […]
Read More When Is Rounding Employee Time Illegal?
Key Takeaways − When minimum wages conflict, you generally must pay the highest applicable rate. You may need to compare federal, state, and local (city/county) rules for each employee. Multi-state payroll means tracking different rates, different rules, and different effective dates. Document your process, update rates on time, and use tools like payroll software to […]
Read More Navigating Local, State, and Federal Minimum Wage Discrepancies