13 Oct

Posted at 17:27h in White Papers by . .

News Brief headerThe Small Business Administration (SBA) and the U.S. Department of Treasury (Treasury) recently released a simpler Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness Application Form 3508S and instructions.

This updated, simple two-page application is for borrowers of $50,000 or less, and is not for use by borrowers who received PPP loans totaling $2 million or more together with their affiliates. This action streamlines the PPP forgiveness process to provide financial and administrative relief to small businesses. The SBA and Treasury have also eased the burden on PPP lenders, allowing lenders to process forgiveness applications more swiftly.

13 Oct

Posted at 17:23h in Human Resources White Papers by . .

HR Insights Blog HeaderThe COVID-19 pandemic changed the world within just a few months. As the crisis worsened, established processes were relaxed or abandoned in favor of maintaining operations. Among the most significant of these changes has been the increase in telework arrangements and the domino effect that it has caused.

Telework, or working from home, has risen steadily over the past several years, but it exploded amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Take, for instance, a 2017 Gallup poll that found that 43% of Americans worked remotely at least some of the time. Now, nearly that same percentage (42%) is working remotely full-time, according to a recent Stanford study.

13 Oct

Posted at 17:04h in Business Operations White Papers by . .

HR Insights Blog HeaderTime theft in the workplace is a common and expensive problem across industries. And, if not addressed, it can cost employers time, money and customers.

In fact, the American Payroll Association found that 75% of businesses in the United States are affected by time theft every year. Another study estimates that time theft costs U.S. employers more than $400 billion per year in lost productivity. When employees are working remotely, it’s harder to detect and prevent all types of fraud. This article explores the risk of time theft and explains how to prevent time or schedule abuse among remote employees.

09 Oct

Posted at 23:14h in Human Resources White Papers by . .

HR Insights Blog HeaderAhead of elections, many employers want to encourage voter participation and are considering if any initiatives may be appropriate for their organization. While voting initiatives allow employers to help increase voter participation— these efforts can also bolster employee relations.

Because partisan political and voting initiatives risk divisiveness in the workplace, employers should focus on simply encouraging voter participation. This article outlines the impact of voting initiatives and various efforts that employers can consider to help educate employees and encourage them to vote.

09 Oct

Posted at 22:26h in Risk Management White Papers by . .

OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration logoThe Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is the government agency that monitors and enforces compliance with workplace safety laws.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, Compliance Safety and Health Officers (CSHOs) have the authority to inspect the facilities of any employer subject to OSHA’s regulations. Employers have a right to request a warrant for inspection. Although it may buy time, it will likely broaden the inspection and give the CSHO a negative impression.

02 Oct

Posted at 17:51h in Distracted Driving White Papers, Risk Management White Papers by . .

Legal Update HeaderThe Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Hours of Service final rule became effective Sept. 29, 2020. The final rule revised the previous regulations on hours of service and affect the sleeper berth provision, adverse driving exception, short-haul exception and the 30-minute break rule.

The FMCSA says it believes these changes will provide more flexibility and allow for more productivity while ensuring safety.