ESC’s Compliance Blog Series – Part 6

This blog is the final edition to our compliance series. In this piece, we have added some new additional considerations for employers to be aware of. Additional Compliance Considerations There are a few compliance updates that New York has recently announced. Listed below are new updates that each business should be aware of: Additional Compliance … Continued

Looking Forward: 2021 HR Compliance Updates

As we are nearing the end of one of the most unpredictable years in recent memory, there are several new and updated HR-related regulations applicable to employers.

Legal and People Issues Surrounding the Pandemic: An ESC/Gross Shuman PC Webinar

ESC’s Chief People Officer, Liz Warren, and Hugh C. Carlin, Esq., an attorney and shareholder with Gross Shuman PC, hosted a virtual panel discussion. The discussion focused on legal issues, people issues, and recommended best practices surrounding the anticipated return to the workplace in the WNY community.

The Five Steps of Coaching & Progressive Discipline

Coaching and progressive discipline is the process for both dealing with teaching employee’s new skills as well as dealing with job-related behavior that does not meet expected performance standards. The primary purpose of progressive discipline is to assist the employee to understand that a performance problem or opportunity for improvement exists. The goal of this process is to have the employee improve their performance to average or above-average expectations, but sometimes this doesn’t happen. In these instances, there must be a commitment to move forward with a separation or the entire process becomes meaningless.

Is it Time to Outsource Your HR?

You Know it’s Time to Outsource HR When… By Lauren Kersten, HR Manager ESC has been working with for-profit and non-profit organizations of various sizes and industries for over 20 years. During the conversion process, we find that many of our new clients have things in common that helped them make the decision to outsource. … Continued

Controlling “Uncontrollable” HR Costs

Managing Your Unemployment Costs Often times business owners think unemployment costs just drain their bottom line and that there is nothing they can do to change it.  But the fact is, strong proactive HR systems can truly help keep costs minimal. Simply stated, the amount of successful unemployment claims made against a company’s  account determines … Continued

DOL Proposes Amendment to Clarify Overtime Pay Calculations

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) generally requires overtime pay of at least 1 ½ times the regular rate of pay for hours worked in excess of 40 hours per week for non-exempt employees.  The Department of Labor (DOL) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to amend the rules regarding how overtime is calculated, specifically related to what forms of “regular pay” employers include and exclude in the 1 ½ times calculation.

Request Schedule Change After Disability Leave

An employee is out on disability leave. The employee calls to request to come back to work, but only working nights and weekends. Does the employer have to accommodate this request?

Quiz Corner: Overtime Pay

Can You Refuse to Pay Unauthorized Overtime? Q: Can an employer refuse overtime pay for an employee if the company policy clearly states that overtime must have prior management approval? A:  Employees who clock in and out in order to be paid are usually nonexempt and only paid for the hours they work.  Even if the … Continued

Job Descriptions 101

Good job descriptions are a fundamental part of recruiting and retaining your staff. They are the cornerstone for important processes such as job postings, interviewing and selection, setting expectations, training and performance management.