State Minimum Wage, Paid Sick Leave, and Tax Changes to Expect in 2019

As we head into 2019, more states and localities have announced changes to their minimum wage rates. Here’s a rundown of the latest developments. States: Alaska: $9.89 (from $9.84), effective Jan. 1, 2019. Arkansas: $9.25 (from $8.50), effective Jan. 1, 2019. The minimum wage will increase annually until it reaches $11 an hour by 2021. California’s hourly minimum […]

New Local Tax Laws Add to a Patchwork of Complications

  In July 2018, New Jersey became the latest state to pass legislation allowing cities to impose payroll taxes on employers, joining 15 other states that allow local taxing. The New Jersey bill allows municipalities with more than 200,000 residents to impose employer payroll taxes of up to 1 percent of total payroll to be […]

4 Common Human Resources Problems and How to Handle Them

If you’re in HR, and you find yourself struggling, you’re not alone. HR is a field that presents many unique challenges. From supporting a positive work environment and mediating conflicts to upholding company standards and guidelines, HR departments cover a lot of ground. With such a wide array of responsibilities, it’s only natural that you […]

The Paid Leave Trend Continues at the State and City Level, With Federal Encouragement

As the Obama administration continues to push for federal paid family and sick leave requirements, it’s also prompting state and local governments to take matters into their own hands. On May 5, the Labor Department announced that it’s offering $1 million in federal grants to allow state, county or city governments to research paid leave laws. This is at least the […]