Latest podcast episodes feature analysis of Wage & Hour laws, the Small Business Deduction's future, and small business health insurance
The NFIB Small Business Rundown podcast offers small business owners an inside source in Washington, D.C. and the nation’s state capitals. Hosted by NFIB Vice President of Advocacy Adam Temple, the podcast covers the issues that small business owners care about. Recent episodes featured explanations of Wage & Hour laws, the future of the Small Business Deduction, and a recent small business health insurance survey.
Episode 4: Wage and Hour Laws Explained
Beth Milito, Executive Director of the NFIB Small Business Legal Center, explained the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and its impact on small business owners.
“The goal of FLSA is to make sure employees are treated fairly when it comes to wage and hour issues,” Milito said. “What this means is that courts and the U.S. Department of Labor, the federal agency that is charged with enforcing FLSA, interpret FLSA as broadly as possible. While some exceptions might come in play, such as the overtime exception for certain executive employees, the vast majority of employees in the United States are covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act.”
Milito explained various aspects of FLSA compliance, such as:
- Distinguishing between employees and independent contractors
- Minimum wage
- Tipped employees
- Overtime pay guidelines
- Child labor rules
“FLSA law is complicated and there’s no shame in making a mistake. You just want to make sure to fix it. And remember, you can reach out directly to the NFIB Small Business Legal Center with questions. While we cannot provide direct legal advice or representation, we can often point small business owners in the right direction.”
Episode 5: Small Business Perspectives: Testimony Before Congress
Courtney Titus Brooks, NFIB’s Director of Government Relations, appeared on the Small Business Rundown to explain the Small Business Deduction and where it stands in Congress. The Small Business Deduction allows many small businesses to claim up to a 20% tax deduction on qualified business income – but it is set to expire after 2025.
“When you talk to members of Congress or their staff, there’s a sense of urgency that the small business community feels,” Brooks said. “I think we’ve had some great advocates helping us try to make this permanent, including the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee for the past two Congresses, who has led the charge on making the Small Business Deduction permanent. Several members of Congress are deeply concerned. We’re coming up to this tax cliff and they’re ready for the fight, but they need engagement from the small business community, explaining why this deduction is so helpful.”
The podcast also featured testimony from NFIB members Tina Miller, owner of six Walkabout Outfitter locations in Virginia, and Wiley McDade. co-owner of Devil’s Due Distillery in West Virginia. Wylie recently appeared before the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee to testify about some of the challenges Devil’s Due Distillery has faced in the current economy.
“We need lower and more consistent fuel prices to allow for planning on thin margins,” Wylie told the House committee. “We need choice and energy to achieve efficiency in our industry. We need to strengthen national manufacturing and refill our national commercial warehouses. We need to pull back from intensive industry rate hikes and stabilize local housing availability. We’re just one small, proud West Virginia business out of many thousands all looking for the same thing: an opportunity to succeed.”
Episode 6: Small Business Health Insurance Survey
Holly Wade, Executive Director of the NFIB Research Center, discussed the results of NFIB’s recent Small Business Health Insurance Survey, which was focused on the relationship between small businesses and health insurance.
“A few months ago, we sent out a questionnaire to a random sample of NFIB members and, the results we found were that over half of NFIB members do offer health insurance,” Wade said on the podcast. “About 56% of our membership offers health insurance to their employees and one of their areas of concern is the escalating cost. So, whether small business owners offer health insurance or not, cost is a huge concern, but also a very important benefit for many small business owners to recruit and retain employees.”
The episode also featured an interview with Kelly Moore, a small business owner and NFIB member who owns and operates three National Automotive Parts Association (NAPA) retail locations in Ohio. Kelly recently testified before the U.S. House Ways & Means Subcommittee on Health about the difficulties her businesses have experienced trying to offer health insurance to their employees.
“The biggest concern currently is the cost containments,” Kelly said. “My employees have a relatively affordable deductible due to the Association health plan that NAPA Auto Parts was able to offer, which took us out of the small group market, but the costs of health care are continuing to increase. It’s becoming harder to secure health care, much harder to find doctors who are willing to treat you in a timely fashion.”
