Employee training programs are critical for getting (and keeping) your staff up to speed on essential skills and knowledge.

Whether you need to present a training program for compliance purposes, to improve performance, or to impart skills needed for a new work tool or program, getting the message across effectively is harder than it looks. This challenge is compounded by the fact that most employees dread training, often viewing it as little more than an interruption to their workflow, rather than embracing the potential benefits.

Presenting effective training programs requires careful design and engaging presentation. For most employers – especially small to medium sized businesses – seeking professional assistance is the best way to improve training outcomes.

Design Employee Training to Match Goals

Start by identifying three to five major goals that you want training to achieve. What do you want the outcome of the program to be? What points are you attempting to get across to your team? How does the program benefit the trainees? Does it make their life better in some way or help improve the performance of the organization?

Use these main points to guide the design of the program. Ensure that whoever is presenting the training circles back to these goals and refers to them often. This will help reinforce the purpose of the program.

Engage Attendees to Make an Impression

Unless you want your trainees to sleep (literally or figuratively) through the program, you have to capture their attention and hold it.

This does not mean that you need a professional entertainer or comedic genius to present the program. On the other hand, however, sitting still and listening to someone drone on monotonously will challenge the most dedicated members of your team to stay focused and learn.

Getting attendees up and moving is important to. If you don’t plan to include breakout sessions or interactive exercises, take frequent breaks. Building in frequent question-and-answer periods is another way to keep attendees engaged.

Consider Seeking Help from an Expert

Designing and delivering effective employee training programs is truly part art and part science. Having an expert assist you in the preparation of training programs is a great way to improve the experience and the outcomes.

Likewise, a human resources or training consultant can advise you on the best way to present your training programs and engage your team. Making your programs fun, educational and interesting will also help raise their interest and enthusiasm levels for future programs as well.

As a part of our comprehensive human resources services, WTA, Inc. assists companies with the design and presentation of training, including key onboarding functions. We also handle payroll, benefits administration, workers compensation, recruiting and hiring. Contact us today to learn more about our cost-effective services and how we can help you improve your organization’s training programs.

When companies implement a dress code for employees, they typically do so with the best of intentions. Unless you undertake this task with care, however, you could impact employee morale and affect your ability to attract top talent. You could also find yourself embroiled in a legal quagmire, if your code contains discriminatory requirements or if you fail to enforce it consistently.

When Is a Workplace Dress Code Appropriate?

In most cases, companies require a more formal mode of dress for any employee who interacts with customers. As an alternative – depending on your business model – you could consider a uniform approach. For example, you could require in-person customer service staff to wear a branded polo shirt with khaki pants.

In more traditional professional services businesses, such as law firms, formal business attire remains the norm. But what happens when an employee violates the unspoken understanding of what constitutes business attire?

For those employers who deal in less formal business interactions, offering a casual dress code could be used as a recruiting tool, as many potential new hires might see this as a desirable benefit. But, if your employees do not interact with the public, how much can you (or should you) dictate guidelines for appropriate work attire and at what point could these guidelines become problematic for you?

What Can You Include in Your Workplace Dress Code?

You might mentally define appropriate work attire for your company as business casual. But does that term mean the same thing to every employee?

Legally, you have a bit of latitude in how you dictate appropriate work attire, as long as it does not discriminate against any group. Otherwise, you could face legal action for discrimination in the workplace. And, to a reasonable degree, you typically must make accommodations for religious considerations.

In most cases, you are best served to list specific items that are not appropriate for your workplace. This might include t-shirts, shorts, flip-flops, etc. It’s also a good idea to be specific about how violations of your dress code will be addressed.

Could a Company Dress Code Backfire?

If business owners and decision-makers aren’t careful, implementing and enforcing a dress code could become, at best, a human resources nightmare. At worst, the issue could turn into a legal minefield. The biggest risk you face is including any potentially discriminatory requirements. You should have business-specific justification for any dress requirements you institute, such as interaction with customers or safety concerns.

The way you enforce your dress code can also lead to potential problems. You must enforce your rules consistently and equally for all staff members. You must also tread carefully in how you deal with violations, especially for repeat offenders.

The safest way to implement an equitable attire policy is to consult with an HR specialist. As a professional employer organization (PEO), this is just one of the services that WTA, Inc. provides for our clients. Our legal department can help you determine the best approach for your company on this and other potentially volatile HR issues.

WTA, Inc. helps companies by handling every aspect of the human resources function, including payroll, benefits administration, recruiting, risk management and more. Contact us today to learn how our HR services can help your business become more productive and reduce your operating costs.

If you run a small or medium-sized business, hiring and retaining high-quality employees can be a challenge. When you use the services of a PEO (professional employer organization), you can attract the level of talent that will propel you to success.

PEOs provide a suite of value-added services that few smaller businesses can afford on their own. And, in most cases, businesses can actually save money by outsourcing their human resources functions to a PEO.

So, how exactly can a professional employer organization help you up your hiring game?

No. 1: PEOs Allow You to Offer Better Benefits

Great employees demand great benefits, including healthcare, disability and retirement options. Because PEOs oversee large pools of employees, you can offer your prospective talent a truly exceptional package of benefits without increasing your costs.

PEOs also handle all the administration of your benefits. This frees your staff up to handle other priorities while providing exceptional support and responsiveness for your staff.

No. 2: PEOs Are Experts at Recruiting

Sometimes the only way to recruit the best employees is having access to a network of industry insiders. You can pay a recruiter thousands of dollars for this privilege or you can use a PEO and enjoy these same benefits for no additional cost.

When you use a PEO to assist you with recruiting, you can rest assured that your job opportunities will get in front of the right candidates, even those who are especially well-qualified but not necessarily in the active job-seeking process.

No. 3: PEOs Do All the Legwork for Recruiting & Hiring

How much time is involved with posting job ads, fielding responses, answering questions, reading resumes, checking references and conducting interviews? Investing those countless hours each time you need to hire someone is especially taxing for smaller businesses who already have to run lean.

PEOs are set up to handle all of these tasks and more. You still get to make the final hiring decisions, but you save countless hours (and potentially thousands of dollars) when you let an expert take care of the preliminary steps of the process.

No. 4: PEOs Engage Employees with Onboarding & Training

Effective onboarding sets the stage for an engaged and productive employer/employee relationship, but it takes time and effort to get it right. PEOs handle all aspects of onboarding, which also ensures regulatory compliance.

Training is another important part of keeping your staff engaged and productive. Your PEO can handle all aspects of training for you, ensuring that your staff has the necessary tools to perform their roles.

No. 5: PEOs Provide Exceptional Employee Support

Retaining top talent is as important – if not more so – than the recruiting and hiring processes. PEOs provide a variety of services designed to keep your staff members satisfied. This encompasses everything from answering questions about benefits to coordinating vacation schedules and delivering paychecks.

In northern Utah, WTA, Inc. offers a full range of payroll and HR services, from benefits administration to risk and liability management. Contact us today to learn more about how our hiring and recruitment services can help your business succeed.

If you do not offer a 401(k) plan to your employees, it could be hurting your business.

Employees expect the “big three” core benefits – health insurance, paid time off and a retirement assistance plan – to be available no matter where they work. In a recent MetLife study, 60% of respondents said that a 401(k) program (or similar) was a “must-have” benefit.

The benefits of offering a retirement program are significant and, even if you offer matching contributions, you may discover that your company comes out money ahead – especially if you use a PEO to administer your plan.

Why You Need to Offer a 401(k) or Another Retirement Plan

As you can see, the majority of employees want to work for companies that offer a retirement plan. Financial stress about the future is one of the most commonly cited concerns in the MetLife study referenced above and, when you can help reduce those fears, employees become happier, more engaged and more productive on the job.

You may be able to lower your payroll costs by adding this benefit to your current offerings. In fact, many employers find that they can reduce the amount of compensation they offer employees if they increase the type and level of benefits they offer.

Business owners can also take advantage of this benefit to save for their own retirement. This is especially important because few small business owners have a viable financial strategy in place for their own retirement.

Why You Consider Matching Employee 401(k) Contributions

For most businesses, the tax advantages of providing matching contributions are significant – usually significant enough to offset the contributions themselves.

You should, of course, consult a tax attorney or CPA to explore your options and the potential benefits. However, the U.S. tax code is designed to substantially reward companies that help employees plan for a more secure future.

You will attract and retain higher level employees if you offer to match their contributions (up to a reasonable level – typically around 3%). And, if you have the right small business-savvy tax professional, you may discover that matching funds is financially beneficial as well.

Choosing the Right Retirement Plan for Your Business

As a busy entrepreneur and small business owner, you are forced to become an expert on a variety of topics. However, the complexity of 401(k) plans, individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and other retirement assistance benefit programs makes it difficult to navigate without the assistance of an expert.

If you outsource your payroll and human resources functions to a PEO, you don’t have to become an expert on retirement plans to figure out which one is right for you. Your PEO team can outline your options and explain the pros and cons of each type of plans.

But perhaps the best part about working with a PEO is that they administer your retirement benefits for you, along with handling payroll, hiring, onboarding, training and related functions.

WTA, Inc. serves small and medium-sized companies in Salt Lake City and the surrounding areas of northern Utah. Our value-added services, including workers compensation administration and employer liability management, actually save our clients money in most cases, as compared to handling these functions in-house. Contact us today to learn more about how we can assist you through the administration of your employee retirement benefits plan.

Payroll and HR services can be invaluable for helping small businesses tackle some of the most complex challenges they face.

Although these services can be highly cost-effective, especially as compared to hiring your own employees, you can derive even greater benefit if you choose to outsource your payroll and human resources services to a company that offers other value-added options.

Professional employee organizations – commonly known as PEOs – provide HR services to small business owners that go above and beyond basic payroll and human resources functions.

The Value of Outsourced Payroll & HR Services

For any business with employees, the payroll and HR functions add a substantial layer of complexity and risk. For small businesses, this risk can increase significantly.

Unless your business is large enough to justify hiring a full-time human resources administrator, you are likely either handling payroll and HR yourself or handing it off to another member of your team. Unless you have an in-depth understanding of tax and employment laws, regulatory and compliance requirements, etc., the process can eat up hours of time each week. And, on top of the time, you risk making mistakes that could place you at legal risk.

Outsourcing these functions to an expert will ultimately cost you less money – after all, how much is your time worth? – and reduce your liability. You will have the peace-of-mind that comes with knowing deductions are correct, tax payments are getting made properly and your company is compliant with all requirements.

Adding Value to Your Payroll & HR Services

If you choose to work with a PEO, you will derive all the benefits described above. But you will also enjoy many other advantages that you might not otherwise have.

As a part of the PEO experience, your payroll administrator will also handle critical tasks such as workers’ compensation administration, immigration compliance and employee benefits administration.

In fact, employee benefits are one of the most valuable services provided by PEO firms. Because PEOs work with multiple companies, they have the ability to offer high-quality healthcare plans and related benefits at a much more affordable rate than you could otherwise obtain.

Imagine being a small company that offers its employees the type of benefits they could only access through a large, corporate employer – for about the same price as the large firm. This helps you attract and retain the right employees to help your business grow and thrive.

Choosing a Payroll & HR Services Firm

You anticipate growing your small business over the coming years and, for that reason, it’s important to select a human resources and payroll outsourcing firm that will facilitate that growth.

WTA, Inc., a PEO firm serving businesses in Salt Lake City and throughout Utah, offers a full range of HR and payroll services. We also offer all the value-added services you need to grow your company, including business insurance, risk management, recruitment and hiring, regulatory compliance and employee benefits administration. Contact us today and let us show you how your business will benefit from using our payroll and HR services.

The #MeToo movement has brought renewed attention to an issue that has been of serious concern to employers for decades: workplace sexual harassment. It has also provided the confidence that many employees need to come forth after becoming the victim of harassment in the workplace.

Whatever the situation, employers have the legal and ethical obligation to investigate all allegations of sexual harassment. You can also take steps to protect your employees and your business from the cost, embarrassment and emotional damage associated with these claims.

Understanding Workplace Sexual Harassment

Although this issue is far to complex to summarize in a few paragraphs, federal sexual harassment protection in the workplace originates from the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Specifically, Title VII of the Act protects employees from all types of harassment, which the Act defines as a form of discrimination.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) provides a brief but comprehensive definition of workplace sexual harassment. In essence, federal protections prohibit unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and all other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature.

The EEOC also considers offensive remarks about an individual’s sex to be discriminatory. In other words, “man bashing” or “woman bashing” by one of your staff members can land you in hot water. It’s important to note that any employee, male or female, can be the victim of sexual harassment in the workplace.

Two specific considerations are used to legally measure harassment allegations of all types:

• quid pro quo, and
• hostile environment

To learn more about each of the two types of workplace harassment, the U.S. Department of Labor publishes a helpful factsheet.

Is Sexual Harassment Happening in Your Business?

Workplace harassment costs companies in many ways, including increased absenteeism and turnover, decreased motivation, lost productivity, fines and legal fees.

Although you want to believe that none of your employees could be guilty of sexual harassment, the statistics indicate that this behavior is widespread. Experts also believe it’s highly underreported by victims.

In some cases, an employee may cause problems due to their disregard of the law and a lack of respect or common decency. In other cases, members of your staff may cause problems based on their ignorance of the law or a lack of understanding. Either way – intentional or not – the employer is obligated to prevent discrimination and harassment and, if it happens, you must take swift and decisive action.

Even then, you could face serious consequences.

Protecting Your Employees & Your Business from Sexual Harassment Claims

You have both a legal and an ethical obligation to provide your employees with a safe workplace. Providing comprehensive training is necessary today, to educate employees and to make your company’s zero-tolerance position on this issue crystal clear. Implementing strong company policies and procedures to address this issue also helps achieve both of these goals.

Provide employees with a formal process for making a complaint. Strongly encourage the reporting of issues as well as a “see something, say something” platform for others who may witness discrimination or harassment.

Finally, if allegations do arise, take quick and decisive action. Consulting a lawyer or human resources expert is the best way to ensure your actions are in the best interest of your employees and your company. Having a neutral third party – like a professional employer organization (PEO) – handle these issues helps ensure a thorough and fair investigation and outcome.

WTA Inc. provides a variety of human resources services for small and medium-sized businesses in Utah and Nevada. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your business address issues of discrimination and sexual harassment in the workplace.

The explosive growth of the so-called gig economy has many employers eager to explore the use of independent contractors.

Although many companies – especially small to medium-sized businesses – may derive benefits from using independent specialists in some roles, this arrangement does have some potential downsides.

Before you decide to contract with anyone to perform work that you might otherwise hire an employee to do, it’s important that you learn the rules. Otherwise you could find yourself in a bind with the IRS, your state’s unemployment agency and other regulatory bodies.

What Is an Independent Contractor?

The essence of defining independent contractors, sometimes called independent specialists, lies with the fact that they are truly independent.

In other words, you would typically enter into a contractual relationship with someone who agrees, for a set fee, to provide you with a work product. For example, you might contract with a graphic designer to produce marketing collateral materials for your business or with a web designer to build your company’s website. These obligations tend to be short-term, finite and outside the ongoing, core operations of your business.

To accomplish his or her objectives, the contractor can use whatever tools and resources they see fit, including subcontractors. They typically perform their work outside of your facility, on their own time schedule. Contractors also typically work for other clients, in addition to your company and, often, they have their own established entity. To be compensated, contractors submit an invoice for the set fee stipulated in the independent contractor agreement you negotiated and signed with them.

Where Does the Line Blur Between Contractors & Employees?

Although there is an ongoing legal debate about this subject, some actions will put you at risk.

You cannot dictate certain conditions to an independent specialist, such as when, where or how they must perform their duties. You should not provide them with any tools to carry out their obligations or supervise their work. You typically cannot pay a contractor by the hour, week or month, nor can you provide them with any benefits. You should never have them perform the same job duties as any of your employees.

At best, you invite a plethora of audits, from the IRS, the Department of Labor, OSHA or any number of other compliance-oriented agencies if you cross any of these lines. At worst, you could find yourself subject to harsh fines and penalties and, in a worst-case scenario, you may have to give the contractor back pay and benefits for the time they worked for you.

These are only some of the red flags that might indicate that a contractor actually fits the legal definition of an employee. Behaviors that cross the line for some businesses may not be a problem for others. The challenge is knowing the difference.

How Can You Use Independent Contractors Legally?

Unfortunately, the independent contractor definition established by the IRS is not black-and-white.

You could engage the services of an attorney to advise you on these matters. You could also utilize the services of a professional employer organization (PEO). A PEO has regulatory and compliance experts to guide you through the legal aspects of issues relating to employment and benefits, risk management, workers compensation and liability management.

In Utah and Nevada, contact WTA Inc. for assistance with all your human resources, payroll administration and related matters. Our recruitment and hiring services provide a variety of benefits and, when you use our services, you can reduce your overall costs while improving your company’s performance. Contact us today to schedule your complimentary consultation to learn more about how our services can benefit you.

Human resources is a topic that’s fraught with potential financial risk and legal liability for your business. Consequently, you must do everything you can to protect yourself and the company’s future.

Your employee handbook can provide a number of benefits and protections – but only if it’s written correctly and updated as often as necessary to reflect changes in the law and other relevant factors.

Unfortunately, a large percentage of small to medium-sized businesses do not have a handbook. Many business owners don’t believe it’s a priority, especially if the company only has a handful of employees. Without one, however, you could find yourself in the middle of an expensive and potentially devastating situation.

Why You Need a Human Resources & Employee Handbook

A handbook allows you to show new employees what your company is about, explain what they can expect when they come to work for you and assist them in knowing where to turn if they need help.

But, from a legal perspective, the benefits of a human resources handbook become much more important.

A handbook allows you to formally communicate company policies and lay out the obligations of your employees. This ensures that every employee is given clear and consistent information. It also ensures that your company is in compliance with governing laws and regulations.

How An Employee Handbook Helps You Avoid Legal Trouble

When a current or former employee threatens (or takes) legal action against your company, your handbook may be your ticket out of trouble – assuming you enforce its policies consistently across the board.

An employee handbook proves that your company exercised reasonable care to uphold its legal obligations to your employees. It also demonstrates that you clearly communicated the company’s required code of conduct and the penalties for violating the rules.

Upon issuing the handbook to new hire, requiring them to sign an acknowledgment will demonstrate that the employee read, understood and agreed to everything contained therein. This is key in the event of any challenge or legal issue that comes up.

How to Design & Implement an Effective Employee Manual

You can find templates in a variety of locations, online or through small business associations. However, you have no guarantee that the information is relevant or up-to-date.

You could invest the hefty sum it would take to have an attorney draft a handbook for you. This will ensure your manual is legally compliant but you’ll have to revisit the attorney periodically for updates.

Or you could use the services of a professional employer organization (PEO), who will include this important document as a part of their services. WTA Inc. provides a full range of human resources and payroll administration to businesses throughout Utah and Nevada. Our comprehensive HR outsourcing services protect you and your business, minimizing your risk and saving you money.

Contact us today to learn more about our human resources services, including recruitment and hiring, risk management, onboarding and employee handbooks.

If you aren’t currently using PEO services – or if you aren’t familiar with the many advantages provided by professional employer organizations – resolve to explore the possibilities in 2019.

WTA, Inc. provides a full range of human resources-related services to small and medium-sized businesses in Utah and Nevada. We think that, once you learn more about the many clear advantages we offer, this might just be the year you make the move to working with a PEO.

What Types of PEO Services Are Available?

PEOs are set up to handle every aspect of your human resources, including:

• Payroll and tax administration
• Recruiting and hiring
• Employee benefits administration
• Workers’ compensation administration
• Risk management
• Regulatory and governmental compliance
• Immigration compliance
• Employer liability management

The difference between a PEO and a payroll service is that, when you work with a PEO like WTA, Inc., we become the employer of record for your staff. You retain control of their job description, day-to-day activities, performance reviews, etc., while we take over the legal liability and risk.

What Are the Advantages of Using PEO Services?

Although you’ll enjoy a variety of advantages when using the services of a PEO, these are some of the highlights.

Improved Employee Benefits

Using the resource-pooling power of a PEO, you’ll be able to improve the quality of your employee benefits without incurring extra cost. This helps you both attract and retain top talent. Turnover goes down for most companies who use a PEO, by about 14 percent on average.

Reduced Legal Liability

By ensuring that your company is in compliance on all relevant issues, and by handling all your payroll tax filing and remittance, our services help to reduce your human resources-related legal liability.

Faster Business Growth

Instead of spending time and effort on HR-related tasks, compliance, etc., you and your team can get back to what you’re supposed to be doing – growing your business. In fact, the research proves that companies that use a PEO grow, on average, 7 to 9 percent faster than those businesses who do not and are 50 percent less likely to go out of business.

Choosing the Right PEO for Your Business

To get the most out of your professional employer organization relationship, choose a PEO partner that shares your vision for the future growth and profitability of your company. Look for a company that is passionate about taking care of your valued employees and protecting you from the many HR-related risks that about in today’s litigious climate.

At WTA, Inc., we have more than a century of combined experience in the industry. We are a locally owned and operated company just like yours, and we understand how to help you succeed.

WTA Inc., serving clients throughout Nevada and Utah, offers all types of PEO and payroll services. We can handle all of your human resources administration or any portion that you prefer. Contact us today to learn more. We look forward to showing you how you reduce costs, reduce legal liability and grow your business more successfully when you use the WTA Inc. PEO services.

Have you considered outsourcing human resource services for your business? If so, you may already recognize the many benefits that an HR partner can provide. However, if you haven’t explored this option, you may be missing out on an opportunity to grow your business and improve your bottom line.

A quick review of the pros and cons of letting an experienced professional handle your payroll, benefits and other HR services will help you determine whether this may be a beneficial step for your business.

The Benefits of Outsourcing Human Resource Services

Although outsourcing the HR functions of your company can provide many benefits, the most important advantages are cost savings, better employee benefits, reduced risk and liability, improved productivity and the ability to attract and retain top talent.

Business owners appreciate these benefits because they are measurable and concrete. However, consider the less quantifiable advantages that come with taking this burden off the shoulders of your own staff. You will free up valuable resources – human and economic – to use for growing your business and improving focus.

The Downside of Outsourcing HR Functions

Although few, using an outside service to handle your HR functions can pose some risks.

The biggest challenge most companies experience is concern from your staff. Employees traditionally fear change and, when changes concern their paychecks and benefits, the chatter can reach a fever-pitch. They may fear having their privacy breached or having an outside source have control over their job duties, performance evaluations or even their future with the company.

Fortunately, these challenges are easily addressed if you choose the right company to handle your human resources services. When handled correctly, your HR consultant can provide the information, resources and reassurance your employees need to adapt. In fact, choose the right HR partner and your team will quickly recognize the many benefits they will gain.

Who Can You Trust with Your Outsourced Human Resources?

You have many choices for outsourcing your payroll, benefits and other HR services. However, if you’re going to take this leap of faith, you need a true partner who can handle all aspects of this important business function.

A professional employee organization (PEO) specializes in handling every detail of your human resources, including recruiting, workers’ comp administration, payroll, regulatory and government compliance, employee benefits administration, risk management and more.

By outsourcing the HR components of your business, your small company can provide world-class benefits and services to your employees. At the same time, you save money, reduce your liability and free your company’s resources to focus on more lucrative priorities.

In Utah and Nevada, WTA Inc. provides PEO services to business owners who recognize the clear benefits of these services. Not only will we take on all the risk and responsibility associated with HR but, for most clients, we can provide appreciable cost savings. Contact WTA Inc. today to learn more about the benefits of outsourcing human resource services with a PEO.