It is no surprise that a large portion of American workers are not prepared for a comfortable retirement. With the relentless rising costs in California, and fewer opportunities for employees to invest in retirement accounts through employers, California implemented the California Savers Retirement Program on September 30th 2020. CalSavers, a state mandated law, is designed […]
CalSavers Retirement Program Read More »
The SECURE 2.0 Act passed in December 2022, builds upon the original SECURE Act of 2019 and aims to enhance retirement savings and expand access to retirement plans. Looking ahead to 2025, several key changes are set to take effect that could impact both employers and employees alike. Here’s a quick overview of the key
SECURE 2.0: Key Changes & Updates for 2025 Read More »
The Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) has been a pivotal element in California’s wage & hour labor law landscape, allowing employees to sue employers for labor code violations on behalf of themselves and other employees. However, recent PAGA reforms (AB 2288 and SB92) have ignited debates around their impact on workers’ rights and employer responsibilities.
Understanding the 2024 PAGA Reform Read More »
General Now that we are well into 2024, it is very important that you conduct an internal semi-annual review to ensure your company’s policies and procedures are following the latest Federal/State/Local laws and regulations. It is highly recommended to consult with your Labor Law Attorney, Legal counsel, and/or HR consultant(s) to review your companies distinct obligations. Examples
Spring Cleaning Newsletter: Laws & Policies Read More »
On October 4, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 616, which amends the Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act by expanding the mandatory requirements for Paid Sick Leave in California. Previously, employers were required to provide at minimum 3 days of Paid Sick Leave to CA employees. This update increases the minimum amount of Paid
CA Expands Paid Sick Leave in 2024 Read More »
What is Secure 2.0? On December 29, 2022, the Secure 2.0 Act was signed into law by President Biden as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. The Act has 92 provisions aimed at increasing savings, boosting business incentives, and providing participants with more flexibility when saving for retirement. The SECURE Act (Setting Every
Securing Your Retirement Future – What You Need to Know About the Secure 2.0 Act Read More »
On Sept 27, 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 1162, also known as the Pay Transparency Act which went into effect Jan 1st 2023. California now joins Colorado, Washington, New York City and other local jurisdictions, expanding pay scale transparency and pay data reporting requirements. Read on to see what this can mean for
CA Pay Transparency Law [SB1162] Read More »
Congratulations, you completed another payroll! While it may feel like your job is done, there are important post-payroll to-do’s that are not a part of the payroll processing checklist. Check out these additional post-payroll considerations to include as your standard process to make sure you complete payroll, A-Z! 1. Check your email for your payroll
I Finalized Payroll – Now What? Read More »
The passage of legislative changes in March 2021 regarding the extension of Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) leave and CA Supplemental Paid Sick Leave (SB 95) have notable impacts on California employers. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), for those employers who voluntarily continue to provide Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)-type leave,
FFCRA & California’s New COVID-19 Supplemental Sick Leave Requirements Read More »
Whether you are a new employee or just needing to update your withholdings, your employer will request you to fill out the Federal W-4 Form. Up until 2020, most people understood that they would just need choose their filing status (S/M/H) and the # of allowances. However – as of 2020, the IRS redesigned the
Understanding the Federal W-4 Form Read More »
As states begin to ease restrictions, vaccine distribution increases, and speculation about getting “back to the office” ramps up, it is crucial to make sure your business is prepared. Since many employees will soon find themselves back in the workplace, it is important to make sure as an employer you are being proactive in preparing
Sonoma County: What should I do if an employee tests positive for COVID-19? Read More »
It is pay day, finally! Although most people are ready to pull off the stub & cash in, its important to review your entire pay statement to ensure accuracy. Below we will review each section on a pay statement: Section 1 : Earnings This section displays the gross hours & earnings paid to the employee
Understanding Your Pay Statement Read More »
It is that time of year again – Tax Filing! By now, you should have received your 2022 W2 Form. Although it may look like gibberish and you feel like your just a middle man to your tax provider, it is important for you to understand what is on your W2. To help you understand
Understanding Your W2 Read More »
Hiring your dream team?! Employment does not have to stop at the state line! Whether you have remote employees, live near a border, or are just wanting to expand your geographic footprint – do not let the uncertainty of “how-to” stop you from growing your business. With the onset of COVID-19 and the shift to
Out of State Employees Read More »
To help ring in the new year and to ease the ongoing financial impacts of COVID-19, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) were recently awarded temporary relief as part of the passage of The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (signed into law on December 27th 2020). This bill, which also expanded revisions to the Paycheck Protection Program
Relief for FSA Accounts Read More »
Remember when the term “hands-free” became popular with the rise of Bluetooth compatibility in cars? Well with the rise of COVID-19 we are all adopting the term “contactless”. To stay with the times, Innovative has recently added a “contactless” way for employees to clock in/out utilizing facial recognition! With the newly introduced NoahFace (as in
Facial Recognition: Contactless Time Punch and Health Screening Read More »
So, you have decided to start a business – congratulations! You have spent time thinking about what product or service you will provide, developed a business plan, and know who your target audience is. And while creating a brand, name, and scoping out your competition is exciting, what comes next? How do you get up
Startup Next Steps Read More »
Needing a better WebHCM solution for your business? Thinking about making a switch and not sure where to start? With Innovative Business Solutions, your company gets personalized attention and customer support. Here is what a glimpse of our onboarding & implementation process looks like! Step 1: Business Solutions Team From the very start, you will
Teaming Up With Innovative Read More »
The days of nonchalant schedules are a thing of the past. Although these employment laws are implemented to protect employees, it does cause quite the planning and calculated configuration for employers all over the United States. For most businesses, having a “rush” or “busy” time, and losing track of hours worked & lunch breaks, is
You have closed out your open enrollment and are now wondering, “What are my next steps?”. Here are a couple suggestions from our HR Client Open Enrollment Checklist for your consideration: Run reports comparing plans/coverage/amounts and/or run a few test checks to make sure new pricing/plans pull through to payroll as expected. Review December and
Open Enrollment Next Steps Read More »
One of the biggest stressors that administrators face is having a thorough knowledge of compliance rules and regulations, all while trying to stay up to date and current with new bills & laws that get passed regularly. One of the biggest compliance topics – FLSA Overtime! Failing to comply with the FLSA Overtime laws is
Are you an employer with 5 or more employees? Did you know as of December 31, 2020, you are now required by the California Fair Employment and Housing Act law to have provided sexual harassment prevention training to all workers? Senate Bill 778 (2019), amendment to SB 1343 (2018) required that all employers of five
Compliance Alert – Lower Threshold for Mandatory Training in 2021 Read More »
Although year end for most is embellished with holiday spirit, singing, mistletoe, and family, Payroll & HR professionals also have the added “cheer” of closing out the year and getting all their important employment compensation information recorded. With the coronavirus, masses of employees working from home, as well as the impending IRS deadlines, it is
Is your business prepared for year end? Read More »
Picture this – It is payroll week, and your administrator who processes payroll suddenly quits, leaving the job of payroll on someone’s plate who has never been trained or knows what they are doing. Sound familiar? Innovative is known for their unmatched support for a reason, especially in stressful situations such as the one mentioned
Free Training Courses Read More »
On Sept 30th, 2020, California’s Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Senate Bill 973, a bill which enacts extensive pay reporting requirements for employers to help reduce gender and racial pay gaps. Starting in 2021, SB 973 requires businesses with 100+ employees to submit annual pay data reports by gender, race, and ethnicity to the
California’s New Employer Pay Data Reporting Requirements [SB 973] Read More »
Starting Tax Year 2020, the IRS announced they will be bringing back the form 1099-NEC for reporting non-employee compensation. This historic tax form, last used in 1982, has circumvented its way back into use because of due date discrepancies on the 1099-MISC, caused by the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act of 2015. To
1099-NEC vs 1099-MISC Read More »
They say, “Timing is everything!” Though 2020 came with unforeseen trials & tribulations, our timing to finish converting clients to a cloud-based software could not have come at a more perfect time. The “years-in-the-making” migration to move 1000+ clients from our legacy, on-site server software, to a robust, billion-dollar international web-based HCM platform came to a finish in March 2020, just days before the global shutdowns began. Utilizing a fully-cloud based architecture allowed our clients, as well as Innovative, to immediately & successfully deploy
Thankful for Cloud-Based Software! Read More »
With things everchanging in response to the unending updates regarding COVID-19, we understand it may be difficult to keep up with the latest information for Employers. Below we have listed a few of the latest resources (at this time) for your reference. Here at Innovative, we are dedicated to serving our clients, employees, and our community
COVID-19: Resources for Our Clients Read More »
Unfortunately, California has been faced, yet again, with the disastrous threats and consequences of wildfires. With so many employers and employees affected, it is important employers are prepared to navigate leaves and support their staff during these times of need. As a part of the local community, Innovative would like to extend our support to all
Emergency Response and the Workplace Read More »
We Are Over Half-Way Through the Year — It’s Time to Revamp Your Year-End Processes! — Don’t wait until the last minute to address needed changes — Now is the time to assess your year-end processes such as Open Enrollment, Performance Reviews, and ACA to determine if there are any needed updates/changes before this year’s
Are You Ready For Year End? Read More »
We have seen a continuing pattern of increased employee leave of absences (LOAs) across our client base. With this occurrence on the rise, now is a good time to ask yourself, as a company administrator, some important questions… What should you do if you find that your company may need some adjustments? A good first
How to Prepare – Leaves on the Rise Read More »
It’s that time for the EEO-1 Survey (The Employer Information Report). The 2019 deadline to submit the certified report for regular Component 1 data to the Equal Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is May 31, 2019. The 2019 deadline to submit the certified report for 2017 and 2018 Component 2 pay data to the EEOC isSeptember 31, 2019.
It’s EEO-1 Survey Season Read More »
It’s time for Spring Cleaning of your employee Notices and Posters! Now is a great time to go through company documents and ensure you have the most updated versions of Federal and State required notices for your employees. Did you know, as of the beginning of April, there is an updated version of the Family Care
Are Your Employee Notices Up-to-Date? Read More »
How can I make sure my company stays up-to-date and compliant? This is a question we receive often. There are resources available, many free, which are tailored to help employers stay informed and up-to-date on the latest policy changes and compliance regulations. Below are three examples of resources which provide helpful HR related tools and information to help you stay in-the-know.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA)Will it stay or will it go? Can we leave it in the past or do we need to be prepared? According to Attorney and ACA expert, Arthur Tacchino, “…the Affordable Care Act will remain stable for at least two more reporting seasons”. What does this mean for your company? Click here to read
ACA & The Unexpected… Read More »
What are the rules surrounding final pay of a terminated employee? Do I have to provide payment within a certain amount of time? What am I required to pay out? What can I deduct? These are a few of the common questions that come up from our clients. As an employer it is important to know
Employers may soon receive an announcement letter from The US Social Security Administration (SSA) notifying them of any discrepancies in recently submitted records of employee names and Social Security numbers that do not reconcile with their records. A recent notice received from the SSA, states, “If we cannot match the name and SSN reported on a Form W-2
Act Now: Correct Employee Information Read More »
On April 26, 2018, the IRS reverted the 2018 Health Savings Account (HSA) limits back to the originally published amounts released in May of 2017. The current rates are: $3,450 for individuals with self only coverage; and $6,900 for family coverage. After reducing the limits in March of 2018, the IRS reinstated the higher annual limit in April stating, “…
HSA Limits: What’s Changed This Year & What’s Next? Read More »
If you missed the Affordable Care Act filing deadline, you can find information on what do next by visiting the IRS website’s page (by clicking here). There you can find information on how to apply for an extension as well as learn about all potential applicable penalties.
Missed the ACA Filing Deadline? Read More »
The New Form: The IRS has published the 2018 Form W-4. The IRS developed updated guidance for withholdings after the latest tax reform bill was signed into law in December. The new withholding tables reflect many changes including updated tax rates and brackets. What this means for you and your employees: Employers – You should implement the
The IRS Publishes 2018 Form W-4 Read More »
On January 1st, 2018, a new Parental Leave Law takes effect in California. The law applies to employers with 20+ employees and covers employees who are not eligible for Family Medical Leave (FMLA) or California Family Rights Act (CFRA). California employees (who are fathers or mothers) are now able to take up to 12-weeks of
New CA Parental Leave Law Read More »
Two new California laws are taking effect, on January 1, 2018, that restrict what information employers can request during the hiring process. Employers will no longer be able to inquire about an applicant’s salary history, or conduct conviction related background checks without a contingent employment offer. As the new year draws near, it is important
New CA Recruiting Laws Read More »
In order for an employee to be exempt from overtime pay, certain requirements must be met. One of those requirements is related to the employee’s hourly rate of pay. The required minimum rate for exemption is determined annually on October 1st by the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR). The DIR uses the analysis of
2018 Exempt Classification Rate Changes Read More »
Here at Innovative, our hearts go out to our community, all of our clients, their employees and families during this challenging time. As some of the shock and smoke of last week’s fire dies down, many of those affected are now focusing on how to begin rebuilding their lives. An important next step for people,
Unemployment Insurance Benefit – One Week Waiting Period Suspended Read More »
Emergencies and the Workplace: How Employers can support their staff “Strength doesn’t come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t.” Fires are raging across Sonoma and Napa County. Many homes and business have been destroyed. There seems to be no one who has not been touched or
Emergencies and the Workplace Read More »
Spring is the perfect time to do some preplanning on work projects. A good place to start is your next open enrollment. Many HR professionals dread enrollment season, viewing it as an administrative headache. Use this time and your experience to make this year’s enrollment a breeze. Make it as smooth as possible for your
The Benefit of Feeling Valued During Open Enrollment Read More »
Many employers view performance reviews as a pain. They seem unproductive or don’t achieve the goals for which they were designed. It can also be a stressful and unpleasant experience for both managers and employees. Managers struggle to find time to create meaningful content for each employee, while employees may not absorb managers’ feedback because
Performance Reviews – Worth It? Read More »