Small Business Toolbox

A library of business management info


Labor
  • Family and Medical Leave Act Expanded for Military Families
    05/02/2008
    The recently expanded Family and Medical Leave Act provides two new types of military FMLA leave: Qualifying exigency leave and service member family leave.
  • New Form I-9 in Effect Dec. 26, 2007
    12/21/2007
    The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued a new Form I-9 to verify employees' eligibility for employment. Employers must begin using the new form by Dec. 26. Previous versions of Form I-9, in English or Spanish, are no longer valid after Dec. 26, 2007. Employers who are still using the old forms after this date will be subject to applicable penalties and fines.
  • New Form I-9 Reduces Documentation Required for Employment Eligibility
    11/26/2007
    On Nov. 7, 2007, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued a new Form I-9—the document all employers must complete to verify employees' employment eligibility. Employers should download the new form, note the form's changes (also discussed below) and begin using the new form immediately.
  • Show of Support
    11/09/2007
    November 11 took on storied meaning when the armistice ending World War I went into effect on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. In the words of President Wilson, November 11 has since been a day to reflect "with solemn pride on the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of nations …"
  • NFIB Members Encouraged to Participate in Drug-Free Work Week
    10/12/2007
    Oct. 14-20 is National Drug-Free Work Week, and all members of NFIB are encouraged to participate. The purpose of the week is to highlight how being drug-free is key to workplace safety and health, and to encourage workers with alcohol and drug problems to seek help.
  • Know the Rules Before Hiring Young Workers
    06/29/2007
    Many businesses look forward to the end of the school year almost as much as students. Why? Because these companies see teenagers with three months of free time as a good match for summer job openings.
  • Understanding the New Federal Minimum Wage
    05/31/2007
    On May 25, 2007, President George W. Bush signed into law the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007. This legislation will raise the current minimum wage of $5.15 per hour to $7.25 per hour by July 2009, in three phases.
  • ADA Tax Breaks Help Small Businesses Stay Accessible
    05/18/2007
    You may have heard about the Americans With Disabilities Act and wondered how it might affect your business. Perhaps you've heard about predatory plaintiffs using the ADA to extort small businesses in "drive-by" lawsuits. Even if you haven't heard of the ADA, the reality is that you have obligations to make your small business accessible for the disabled. Instead of waiting for a lawsuit to hit you, why not take care of some accessibility issues ahead of time? Fortunately, Uncle Sam offers a variety of incentives to help you become ADA compliant, taking a proactive approach that won't break the bank.
  • Independent Contractor Versus Employee: Nailing Down the Distinction
    04/12/2007
    One of the thorniest problems employers handle is accurately making the distinction between independent contractors and employees. While the difference may be clear in your own mind, the Internal Revenue Service applies complex criteria to the question, so you should be certain that your independent contractors meet the IRS's test before treating them as contractors. Above all, seek outside legal advice when making the initial decision and throughout the employment/contractor relationship when circumstances change.
  • Medical Leave: Reconciling FMLA Leave With the ADA
    03/15/2007
    Many small-business owners have less than 50 employees, and therefore, are not subject to the federal Family Medical Leave Act. Nevertheless, there may be other laws besides the FMLA to be considered, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, before deciding to grant or deny requests for medical leave. To better understand the nuts and bolts of federal law, employers must break down the demands that arise from the intersection of the FMLA and the ADA, since both require a covered employee to be granted medical leave in certain circumstances.
  • Workplace Safety: Look Around You
    05/30/2006
    Have you looked around your workplace recently? Most likely you will find a few safety hazards that you need to correct to prevent you or one of your employees from getting hurt.
  • Good Question
    05/25/2006
    Can you ask a potential employee if he's ever had a heart attack? No, and small-business owners looking to cut health-care costs by screening potential hires for health problems during interviews ought to look elsewhere.
  • Youth Employment: Expanded Protections for Youth Working in Cooking, Roofing and Driving
    05/04/2006
    On Dec. 16, 2004, the Department of Labor’s Employment Standards Administration’s Wage and Hour Division published final regulations implementing changes to employment rules for youth. The final rules, which became effective on Feb. 14, 2005, expand protections for youth working in restaurant cooking, roofing, driving and other areas.
  • Helping Small Businesses Benefit From Being Drug-Free
    05/01/2006
    Workplace drug and alcohol abuse compromises the ability of any business, especially a small business, to be profitable, productive and safe. More than three-quarters of individuals who use illicit drugs are employed, and when they arrive for work, they don’t leave their problems at home. Some of the costs—increased accidents, absences and errors—are obvious. Other costs like low employee morale are less obvious, but their effects are equally harmful.
  • Overtime: Who Gets It?
    04/21/2006
    It’s been more than a year since the U.S. Department of Labor announced major revisions to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The changes aimed to clarify which employees qualify for overtime pay as well as update dated terminology and job descriptions. Even with the new regulations, there is no denying that confusion still exists amongst employers and employees. And as employees’ job responsibilities are often subject to change, it’s a good idea to periodically review their job descriptions, and make sure that they are appropriately classified under the FLSA.
  • USERRA: New Rules Protect Military Service Members
    01/06/2006
    The U.S. Department of Labor has announced new regulations under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994, the federal law that governs military service members' workplace rights. The new regulations are intended to protect the rights of those who leave their civilian jobs voluntarily or involuntarily to serve in the military, including the military reserves and the National Guard.
  • 'SHARP' Status: Consultation Service Leads to Exemption from OSHA Programmed Inspections
    09/08/2005
    The Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program recognizes small employers who operate an exemplary safety and health management system. It’s one of the highest awards OSHA can give to a company. This program is run by the state’s Safety and Health Consultation Office. Acceptance into SHARP by OSHA is an achievement of status that will single you out among your business peers as a model for worksite safety and health. Upon receiving SHARP recognition, your worksite will be exempt from programmed inspections during the period that your SHARP certification is valid.
  • Labor Rules for Young Workers
    08/22/2005
    Each year, millions of teens work part-time or take summer jobs. College students heading back to campus are also looking to make a buck or two while working toward their degrees. These working teens and students are gaining valuable work skills and contributing enthusiasm and eagerness to businesses across the country.
  • OSHA Posters: Free for the Asking
    08/12/2005
    Don't be mislead by advertisements that suggest you must purchase official OSHA posters and publications. Most are free just by visiting the OSHA Web site or making a quick phone call.
  • New OSHA Compliance Assistance Products
    06/03/2005
    OSHA is very pleased to announce the availability of following new OSHA compliance assistance tools that have been produced through the Alliance Program:
  • Temporary Protected Status Update
    03/04/2005
    If you are employing Honduran or Nicaraguan individuals presently authorized to work in the United States under a government immigration program known as “Temporary Protected Status,” or TPS, set to expire Jan. 5, their work authorization has been extended to July 5. In addition, their overall TPS status has been extended until July 5, 2006.
  • Ergonomics Today Promotes Productivity Tomorrow
    09/22/2004
    For some people, the word "ergonomics" brings to mind funny looking handles on cooking utensils or chairs that look more like abstract art in a museum than something you'd actually sit in. But say "ergonomics" to a small-business owner, and he or she just might visualize money flying right out of the cash register.
  • Experience Matters: What You Might Not Know About Your Workers’ Compensation Premium
    09/21/2004
    Small-business owners have gotten used to the fact that workers’ compensation premiums are high and getting higher. You shop around for the best deal on the best policy and you think that’s all you can do. What you might not know, though, is if you pay more than $5,000 in workers’ compensation premiums each year, you have more control over your premium than you think.
  • The Labor Lows: Struggling With Workers’ Compensation Costs
    09/20/2004
    Small-business owners across the nation share the same concerns when it comes to the welfare of their business and one of those concerns is the cost of workers’ compensation. The latest edition of the NFIB Small-Business Problems and Priorities report shows that issues related to workers’ compensation are the third biggest problem facing small-business owners today, topped only by the cost of health insurance and the cost and availability of liability insurance. But it hasn’t always been that way.
  • Is Your Business Ready for the New FLSA Overtime Rules?
    08/31/2004
    Steps you should take to ensure your business is in compliance with the new regulations.
  • Finding Help for Small Business Owners on Labor Department Web Site, Part 1
    05/03/2004
    If you've been dreading the untold hours you'll spend reading through the seemingly endless Department of Labor (DOL) material, this site will allow you to breathe a sigh of relief.
  • Finding Help for Small Business Owners on The Department Of Labor's Web Site, Part II
    03/27/2002
    If you've been dreading the untold hours you'll spend reading through the seemingly endless Department of Labor (DOL) material to find out what health, hazard, wage and retirement regulations pertain to your business, this site will help.