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Providing People Solutions |
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Providing People Solutions |
Welcome to HR Partners' blog. To receive our company newsletter, the HR Advisor, please click here.
Many of you have asked, and some direction has been given pertaining to Trump’s payroll tax deferral program. Take a few minutes and read the following articles. And, before you move forward with this, please consult with your accountant and/or CPA.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/28/us/politics/trump-tax-holiday-bill-due.html
https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/29/economy/trump-treasury-new-guidance-tax-holiday/index.html
https://www.foxbusiness.com/money/what-does-trumps-payroll-tax-deferral-mean-for-you
Have a great week!
Wow! I have received a lot of phone calls and emails that many of our respective organizations were victims of this. And, what I learned through this process was another way to contact the Kansas Department of Labor concerning your fraud issues. It is listed below:
How do I report my suspicions of UI fraud?
You can report fraudulent activity by:
UI Fraud Investigations Unit
Kansas Department of Labor
401 SW Topeka Boulevard
Topeka, KS 66603-3182
Many clients have reached out to express concerns with unemployment insurance fraud. We have witnessed two types of fraud. First, an unemployment insurance claim against the employer regarding a current employee of the organization, who never filed a claim. Second, an unemployment insurance claim against the employer by a person who never worked for the employer.
If this happens to your business, you should file a fraudulent claim with the Kansas Department of Labor as soon as possible. The link below is for your convenience.
If you are in another state, there is a similar claim form you can fill out as well. Just visit their respective state department of labor web site.
Stay safe, and as always, call HR Partners if you have any questions or concerns. (785) 233-7860.
New Health administers COVID testing for employers. Interested?
Click here for FAQ's that will assist you, and if you have additional questions, please contact Angela or Dr. Hall (their contact information is below). They are here to assist you in this COVID world.
Stay safe! And, have a great day!
This question came to me recently (this week) and I was wrong (it can happen). Below is the correct answer from the Department of Labor:
If I am an employer, may I use the paid sick leave mandated under the EPSLA to satisfy paid leave entitlements that an employee may have under my paid leave policy?
No, unless your employee agrees. Paid sick leave under the EPSLA is in addition to your employee’s (including Federal Employees’) other leave entitlements. You may not require your employee to use provided or accrued paid vacation, personal, medical, or sick leave before the paid sick leave. You also may not require your employee to use such existing leave concurrently with the paid sick leave under the EPSLA. But if you and your employee agree, your employee may use preexisting leave entitlements to supplement the amount he or she receives from paid sick leave, up to the employee’s normal earnings. Note, however, that you are not entitled to a tax credit for any paid sick leave that is not required to be paid or exceeds the limits set forth under the EPSLA. You are free to amend your own policies to the extent consistent with applicable law.
You learn something new every day in the COVID world. HR Partners will keep you up-to-date on what you need to know. Questions? Concerns? Call HR Partners at 785-233-7860.
If you have over 50 employees, and are currently complying with the FMLA, this blog is for you. The Department of Labor has provided guidance below on how FMLA and FFCRA work together, and not separately.
Do I qualify for leave for a COVID-19 related reason even if I have already used some or all of my leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)?
If you are an eligible employee, you are entitled to paid sick leave under the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act regardless of how much leave you have taken under the FMLA.
However, if your employer was covered by the FMLA prior to April 1, 2020, your eligibility for expanded family and medical leave depends on how much leave you have already taken during the 12-month period that your employer uses for FMLA leave. You may take a total of 12 workweeks for FMLA or expanded family and medical leave reasons during a 12-month period. If you have taken some, but not all, 12 workweeks of your leave under FMLA during the current 12-month period determined by your employer, you may take the remaining portion of leave available. If you have already taken 12 workweeks of FMLA leave during this 12-month period, you may not take additional expanded family and medical leave.
For example, assume you are eligible for preexisting FMLA leave and took two weeks of such leave in January 2020 to undergo and recover from a surgical procedure. You therefore have 10 weeks of FMLA leave remaining. Because expanded family and medical leave is a type of FMLA leave, you would be entitled to take up to 10 weeks of expanded family and medical leave, rather than 12 weeks. And any expanded family and medical leave you take would count against your entitlement to preexisting FMLA leave.
If your employer only became covered under the FMLA on April 1, 2020, this analysis does not apply.
Questions? Concerns? Call HR Partners at 785-233-7860.
You have a COVID hit with one of your employees. It has been confirmed with a POSITIVE test result. What do you do next? You inform your respective staff who have been exposed. Click here for a memo template that can be used.
Questions? Concerns? Please call HR Partners at 785-233-7860.
The newest guidelines can be found here.
Since the “stay at home” order has been lifted, and the Memorial weekend has passed, many calls have come into HR Partners from employers discussing possible COVID-19 “exposure” scenarios with their respective employees. So far, most of the “exposures” have come back with negative test results; two were positive.
So, what should an employer do when an employee reaches out to them about a possible exposure to the COVID-19 virus? Below is a link to CDC guidelines which can assist you, but if you are still concerned about how to proceed with this new development, please call us at 233-7860. We have answers.
HR Partners' own Kristina Dietrick was on the KSNT Town Hall broadcast last night. Please see a clip from the LIVE show, below:
Topeka Family Therapist & Human Resources Expert on Job Stress During Pandemic – KSNT Town Hall
"It's not what you say about yourself, it's what others say." - Anon.
We like to think our clients know us best. Here's what they have to say...
Robert A. Shively, CAE, CFRE
Executive Director
Kansas Masonic Foundation
“When I joined the Kansas Masonic Foundation as their Executive Director four years ago I knew that as a small organization I needed professional human resource advice from an outside advisor. Being an organization of only five staff members it was impossible to provide the level of ongoing consultation needed internally.
I interviewed a number of agencies and immediately realized when I interviewed HR Partners that the talent and expertise they had on staff would be a perfect team for our organization. I especially appreciated the “legal” help and advice they could provide as well. I am thoroughly satisfied with our partnership and am confident it will last for many years to come!”
“When I joined the Kansas Masonic Foundation as their Executive Director four years ago I knew that as a small organization I needed professional human resource advice from an outside advisor. Being an organization of only five staff members it was impossible to provide the level of ongoing consultation needed internally.
I interviewed a number of agencies and immediately realized when I interviewed HR Partners that the talent and expertise they had on staff would be a perfect team for our organization. I especially appreciated the “legal” help and advice they could provide as well. I am thoroughly satisfied with our partnership and am confident it will last for many years to come!”
Bruce Graham
Chief Executive Officer
Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc.
“HR Partners has helped us with those ‘I’ll get around to it’ things such as an employee handbook and updating employee files. The most important benefit is they are a phone call away from peace of mind on all things HR. It is a challenge for any employer to keep up on changes to personnel practices and requirements. The suite of services HR Partners can provide is comprehensive and affordable. The question should be, can you afford not to engage them as part of your employee relations program?”
Gina Stewart
Director, Information Management, Analysis and Reporting
Washburn University Alumni Association and Foundation
“HR Partners provides a screening process when searching for candidates for a position. The phone screens save me valuable time and give me the information needed to decide whether to invite someone to our office for an in-person interview. They also serve as a knowledgeable resource for up to date standards with HR issues. Two of the most significant improvements would be making the hiring process a breeze and having a resource to provide valuable feedback on HR issues.
HR Partners allows you to continue to work on your mission, whatever it might be, while spending less time on HR issues. You have the confidence when hiring someone that they will have the skills/knowledge to the job well.”
Angie Clevenger
Human Resources
Butler Electric Cooperative
“Knowledgeable and efficient are the two words I would use to describe HR Partners. When I need accurate information in a timely manner, I know I can count on HR Partners!”
Kevin Holland
Vice President
Cook, Flatt & Strobel Engineers
“We started working with HR Partners when we had staffing changes in our Accounting and Human Resource department. HR Partners has been there to assist us in that transition and has become a resource that we plan to continue to utilize. Everyone in their office is professional, courteous, knowledgeable, and always very prompt. HR Partners has been able to provide advice and guidance on numerous HR topics and provided a mandatory Workplace Etiquette for our employees. They have also updated our personnel manual in order to provide clear and consistent polices for our employees. HR Partners would be an asset for any company looking for assistance with any human resource needs.”
Gwen Denton
Human Resources Director
Grandstand Glassware & Apparel
“I have worked with HR Partners for over two (2) years in an advisory and legal capacity. The HR Partners Team has made themselves available with little notice when I’ve been in need of their expertise in an immediate situation. They are available when I want to bounce an idea or will just listen when I need to work through a situation. They have assisted with phone screens, job descriptions, policies, unemployment, FMLA, HR audit, and so much more. They are very easy to work with and I have always felt they ‘really’ cared about assisting me and our organization. Their guidance has helped me grow personally in my knowledge which extends to being a better HR Professional for my employees and my company. Thank you, HR Partners!”
Susan Koch
Human Resources Officer
Kaw Valley Bank
“It gives me the peace of mind knowing that we have the support and expertise of Human Resources professionals just a phone call away through our collaboration with HR Partners. I would definitely tell anyone considering working with the HR Partners team that they offer a wide variety of services tailored to the client. The HR Partners team assisted our Company with the revision of the Employee Handbook by customizing it to our needs and culture while ensuring it complied with federal, state, and local employment laws.”
Debbie Robinson
CEO and General Manager
Wood County Electric Cooperative, Inc.
“I have recently used the services of HR Partners to coordinate the evaluation of our CEO. I found their services made the process convenient and easy to administer. HR Partners also helped us to analyze the results of our CEO evaluation survey offering unique perspectives we may not have otherwise picked up on. I’m very happy with the services I received.”
Tambra Offield
Office Manager
East Texas Electric Cooperative
“HR Partners worked closely with myself and our General Manager to develop our new employee handbook specifically to fit our needs.
We were so impressed that when our Board President asked about doing an evaluation of our General Manager’s performance, that we immediately thought of HR Partners.
We can’t thank HR Partners enough for all their help with our GM’s review process. HR Partners’ knowledge and experience made the process so easy.
I have recommended HR Partners to all ten (10) of ETEC’s distribution cooperative members for all their human resources needs.”
Joe Koechner
Pharmacist/Owner
KexRx Pharmacy & Home Care
“I’ve been working with HR Partners for seven (7) years and they’ve been a trusted resource for all of our HR needs. From creating our Employee Handbook, Job Descriptions, assisting with the hiring process and terminations, they have been a much needed and valuable partner as our company has grown from one location with six (6) employees to five (5) locations with over forty (40) employees.”
Dan Beal
President
McElroy's, Inc.
“When McElroy’s first started in business, there were not the extensive Human Resources compliance requirements that there are today. HR Partners has assisted us by formalizing our policies and updating our employment records to make sure we meet these requirements. This has enabled McElroy’s, Inc. to focus on what we do best and continue to provide ‘Service You Trust’ to our clients.”
Sandy Warren
VP Operations
Capper Foundation
“Consultation services provided by HR Partners proved a valuable resource for personnel matters and in updating our personnel handbook. As we continued to grow in staff size, we found an on-going retainer with HR Partners a great fit to support management, policy and training needs. The HR Partners team is professional, knowledgeable and creative in their approach and we can have confidence in managing employment matters with their involvement and understanding of our organization.”
Michelle Meier
Administrator
Kansas Medical Clinic
“HR Partners has built an exceptional company with some of the most proactive professionals I’ve seen in a long time. We hired HR Partners with a human resources 911 issue and were in much better shape within two weeks! Kristina Dietrick, President of HR Partners, is also great as a speaker and motivator for your staff.”
Martha Bartlett Piland
President and CEO
MB Piland
“We have worked with HR Partners on multiple occasions. Since we’re too small to have an HR advisor on staff, we have relied on HR Partners’ expertise in reviewing our employee manual and other HR-related documents. HR Partners has also been available for advice when needed. They are thorough, straightforward and focused on positive outcomes. I am always confident in HR Partners’ counsel.”
Brent Boles
Co-Owner
Schendel Lawn and Landscape
“Schendel worked with HR Partners in several different capacities over a five state area. HR Partners answered our questions about employment law, helped train our management staff to be better leaders, and ensured our employee policies and procedures were legally sound and in the best interests of both Schendel and our co-workers. I've always found the HR Partners staff to be very knowledgeable, friendly and easy to work with. The relationship we formed with HR Partners helped protect both our company and our co-workers, and I feel it was very beneficial to Schendel."
Ross T. Hendrickson
President
MRH Insurance Group, Inc.Group, Inc.
“I want to thank you and your team again at HR Partners for your amazing work in securing a high quality Customer Service Representative (CSR) for our Topeka MRH Insurance Group office. Without a doubt, if it were not for your company’s ability to understand the different paths to communicate our need, we would not have been successful in securing in our opinion, the very best CSR in Topeka. HR Partners was instrumental in providing the strategy to secure such an individual for our company and my workings with each and every member of your team was professional and impressive. I shall ever be grateful for your assistance in helping our company grow in Topeka and northeast Kansas by securing the right MRH Team Member for our operation.”
Kelly Liby
Anesthesia Associates of Topeka, PA
“Kristina and her team are a dynamic and reliable group to work with. Whether there is a crisis or you’re looking for strategic planning, they will handle it in a responsive, knowledgeable manner. When I need a speedy answer which I can depend on to also be the right answer, HR Partners delivers. This is a talented, smart group and I highly recommend their services.”
Tom Meyer
President
Kansas Grain Inspection Service, Inc.
“HR Partners has been instrumental in ensuring our company is in compliance with ever-changing government requirements. Equally as important, they’ve helped us effectively deal with some of those out-of-the ordinary human resource issues that pop up from time to time. They have been accessible and very pleasant work with.”
