AZ Minimum Wage Change January 1

Minimum wage in Arizona is changing just like the year is.   It’s going up to $6.90 per hour effective tomorrow.  Minimum wage will also be adjusted based on the cost of living yearly.    Is it really a good thing to pay a higher minimum wage?  What kind of message is it sending, is what I want to know? 

 Is this a move made to encourage legal workers to step into these low-end positions as illegal immigrants are being weeded out of Arizona business?   Just a thought.  

Posted December 31st, 2007 by admin - Posted in Benefits, Human Resources, Immigration | | 0 Comments

A Workers Comp Money Pit!

For a business owner, finding the right workers comp provider can mean the difference in thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.  However, there are many different "cost drivers" to workers comp.  An obvious one is how well the assests of the carrier are managed.  That affects rates and discounts that play into the cost of workers comp premium.

Recently, I read this quote regarding an investigation into one of the largest work comp providers in the west, known to charge exorbitant rates:  "The report paints a picture of an obscure rogue operation with more than $22 billion in assets, little oversight, minimal public checks and balances, and indiscriminate spending with little attention until recently from top state officials such as the governor and the insurance commissioner."  With findings like this, would you trust your workers comp coverage to this company?

To read the entire article…and to discover who this company is, click here.  But here is the point:  as a business owner, you would be well served to thoroughly check out a prospective carrier before placing coverage with them.  Or better yet, outsource your HR functions to a PEO who employs experts to manage workers comp, taxes, medical insurance plans, etc. for you!  Why hang on to that headache!

Posted December 27th, 2007 by Kym - Posted in Workers' Comp | | 0 Comments

How Does the Employer Sanctions Law Involve You

Q: If you are licenced in another state but hire in AZ how does the employer sanctions law affect you?

A: It is unclear how they will enforce this part of the law. However, as it reads right now, the new sanctions law requires an employer to use E-verify program, which is a federally run program. The E-verify program requires an employer to use this system for ALL employees if it uses it for one. So, the translation is that an employer would have to run all of his/her employees through the E-verify program. Having said that, there are some murmurings from attorneys and those who wrote the law that this was not the intent of the AZ sanctions law, and that the federal government will not require strict adherence to this part of their program for AZ companies. This is only a rumor at this point. Check with your employment attorney for direction on how you should proceed for your business and industry.

Posted December 27th, 2007 by admin - Posted in Immigration | | 0 Comments

You Make Me Sick!

It's the season for sharing!  Around our office I see it each year…some poor soul catches the cold or flu then proceeds to share generously (though not intentionally) with others!  Now, I'm no "health nut," but it seems to me there are some common sense things to prevent the spread of your own virus, and to combat catching one from co-workers.  Kudos to the writer of this article for providing ideas for both, and even revealing where germs hide out in your office.  Is it too much to expect grown adults to take responsibility for themselves and others?

Now, if you'll excuse me…I feel a sneeze coming on and I'm really in the mood for sharing!

Posted December 20th, 2007 by Kym - Posted in Health, Safety | | 0 Comments

How to Cook Up a Successful Team

There are certain guidelines to follow when forming a successful team in business.  Two of the hardest parts are finding the right people to interview, and hiring the right people. 

In order to attain a winning team, there has to be a balance of characters, attitudes, and personalities.  There are four main types of employees, as described in this article from BusinessWeek, magicians, warriors, sovereigns, and lovers. 

 Does your company have the right mix to be winners?

The Four Types of Employees

• Magicians. They are the rational yet imaginative souls in your organization. They think a new idea or insight is the only thing that can move the world. In truth, they're obsessed by ideas. Their answer to feeding the troops is to pull a rabbit out of a hat. These types of people think a mere argument over an idea equals action.

• Lovers. For them, everything comes down to human relations. They're pragmatic but emotional. They focus on building the winning coalition. They are obsessed not by ideas but by feelings. They consider agreement an action.

• Sovereigns. They are the emotional and imaginative types. They focus on the big picture and judge everything on whether it leads to where they want to go. They redefine what people consider is possible. They are obsessed by beliefs. And they consider direction a form of action.  

• Warriors. They are rational and pragmatic. They're focused on the next battle and can only see clearly what's directly in front of them. They hold people accountable to systems and the fairness of those systems. They're obsessed by facts. For them, action is finding the critical factor to get something immediately accomplished.

Posted December 20th, 2007 by admin - Posted in Human Resources, Productivity, Recruiting | | 0 Comments

Judge Won’t Wait for Ruling to Start Enforcing

“A federal judge said Thursday he may let the state’s new employer sanctions law take effect while he debates its legality.“  This is a piece from an article I found on the East Valley Tribune website.   

You can throw out all the advice that the lawyers are giving out to business owners, which is to wait for a ruling on the case.  If they are going to enforce the law regardless of what lawsuits are coming forward against it, I wasn’t that far off with a prior post about the rush for businesses to enroll in the E-Verify program.  All businesses that want to comply and be safe from the harsh penalties of the new employer’s sanctions law will now be signing up in record numbers.   

Have you signed up yet?

Posted December 14th, 2007 by admin - Posted in Human Resources, Immigration | | 0 Comments

Are Employees Really a Company’s Greatest Asset?

Employers often say, "Our employees are our greatest asset!"  But is that really true?  How many of us would run into a burning home to save our cherished photos, computers or other "valuable" possessions.  Yet, when we see an unsafe work condition or practice, we fail to implement any administrative or engineering control to insure that workers are not injured as a result of that unsafe condition or practice.  We'll risk our lives for possessions, yet tell the world that employees are our greatest asset!?!

The proof is in the action!  Make an effort today to create a safer work environment for one of your employees or a co-worker! 

Posted December 6th, 2007 by Kym - Posted in Safety | | 0 Comments

Is someone working in your house your responsibility?

I recently had a question regarding… Well, instead of me telling you- here it is:

"I employ a cleaning lady and write a check to her cleaning business. As a private home owner am I required to verify immigration status?"

So what is the answer: Check with your attorney for legal advice

What I "think" about this (this is just my opinion based on my research)

You hire a company to do a job.  You are the customer and NOT the employer and the new immigration law applies to employment practices.  So, don't worry about it…

Am I wrong to think this way? Am I a part of the problem?  If so, do I have the right to inquire about the status of a vendor's employees?

Posted December 6th, 2007 by Harry Glazer - Posted in Human Resources, Immigration | | 0 Comments

Going Green for the Green

Companies are going green for the money. It has often been thought of as an increased cost for a company to switch over to be an environmentally friendly business. Now comes a new light on the subject. Not only is there a change to increase the bottom line, but also the added bonus of contributing to the solution has many small business owners seeing green.

An Azcentral.com article states, “Small businesses report savings of 20 percent to 30 percent by making energy-saving moves, says Byron Kennard, executive director of the Center for Small Business and the Environment. "As energy and gasoline prices rise, small businesses can voluntarily and profitably lower their energy bills," he says.”

Survey of Small Business Owners: Would be willing to pay more for goods, services to run your business if you knew they were "environmentally friendly":

Yes … 66 percent          No … 30 percent

Posted December 4th, 2007 by admin - Posted in Human Resources | | 0 Comments