By Elizabeth Rice, SPHR

This election year, the issue of paid sick leave is one of growing concern for employers, labor organizations, and legislators across the country. Since the beginning of the year, 12 states and the District of Columbia have seen the introduction of new legislation requiring employers to offer their employees paid sick leave in various forms. San Francisco and Washington, D.C. recently enacted legislature requiring employers to allow their staff to begin accumulating paid sick time based on hours worked. In May, New Jersey approved legislation requiring companies to offer six weeks of paid leave to workers wishing to care for a new child or sick relative. And in Ohio, advocacy groups are working to place a paid sick leave mandate on the November ballot requiring the accrual of paid sick time immediately upon beginning employment.

The Push for Paid Leave

The growing movement to make paid sick leave a basic labor standard in the United States stems from the fact that nearly half of all American workers are currently ineligible to receive pay for time missed due to illness (source: Bureau of Labor Statistics). Workers argue that when they become ill, they are forced to choose between going to work sick or missing wages – or, in some cases, risking a reprimand or dismissal.

Challenges for Employers

Employers, on the other hand, claim that covering the cost of mandatory paid sick time may force them to cut jobs, reduce employee wages and benefits, or even to go out of business altogether.

Meanwhile, in states where mandatory sick time legislation has already been enacted, keeping track of the varying laws from state to state presents nationwide employers with another challenge altogether. In New Jersey, for example, employees are required to partially fund their own paid leave through a payroll deduction, and must use accrued vacation time before accessing their allotted paid sick leave. In San Francisco, accrual of paid leave is tied to hours actually worked, while in Maine employers who voluntarily offer paid sick leave must follow state regulations regarding the flexibility of its use.

Employers operating in multiple states with varying laws regarding paid leave are charged with the time-consuming task of ensuring each employee is paid in compliance with his or her state’s laws. Those who fail to comply leave themselves subject to potential litigation and heavy penalties.

How Outsourcing May Help

For companies who lack the time and capacity necessary to keep up with varying sick leave laws across state lines, outsourcing employment through a nationwide employer of record may provide some much-needed relief. As the legal employer of record, these organizations assume responsibility for paying employees in compliance with their individual state’s laws. Employers operating out of one state but wishing to open additional offices in another can put their out-of-state staff on the employer of record’s payroll and no longer have to deal with compliance issues regarding that state’s labor laws: those responsibilities shift to the outsourcing company. Utilizing the expertise and nationwide capability of these types of organizations can help save businesses time and hassle, while dramatically reducing their risk of noncompliance.

About the Author: Elizabeth Rice, SPHR, is the President of

Innovative Employee Solutions

, a San Diego-based company specializing in payroll and HR administrative services for the contingent workforce. Ms. Rice has more than 20 years of experience in HR and executive management

Source:

isnare.com

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By Chuck Magee

Google announced some months back it was completely eliminating its radio and newspaper advertising. That is the biggest vote for online advertising I’ve seen yet. Google was advertising on over 800 newspapers and 1600 AM and FM radio stations. They are for the moment keeping their TV ad services. I think the fact that it is the closest experience to web surfing for most people. Even television is getting to be more interactive, with DVR and Internet-enhanced programming giving more control to the viewers. Regardless of the reasons, the company whose name has become verb has decided that the old media just isn’t profitable enough to earn a spot in their media toolbox any more.

As the world shrinks more and more, expect to see more companies focus on getting their advertising on the Internet. The business with the fastest and most accurate advertising will be in control of the customers, because customers are learning to use faster, smarter interactive media now.

Internet marketing is not a specialty field any more, nor is it only for online

advertising agencies and big companies. Local online marketing is alive and VERY well, and it’s getting bigger and stronger with every new computer sold.

Are you still putting your money into the endgame of print advertising? How long will you ride it out before you acknowledge the paradigm shift and point your business toward the future? Don’t take my word for it — go Google it yourself.

Since the dawn of the internet, everyone has speculated that the face of the real estate industry would be greatly changed. That is no more evident than in the amount of business that we see generated by the internet vs. the various forms of print advertising. If you look at the fact that in 2009 84% Real Estate sales started with online searches its easy to see why. Websites are interactive but also allow searchers to link to Brokers sites for more information and pictures allowing them to weed out properties that don’t match their criteria.

The days of every client calling for a property showing have long past. I for one think this is not all good. I feel sales are lost from not being able to build trust with your client. Today, buyers have seen aerial photos of land, virtual tours of houses and have clear expectations of a property. I think we are going to see even more changes as Facebook gets bigger and stronger.

If you want to be successful in the future whether in Real Estate or any other public business you must get with the social media movement.

Internet advertising in keyword search and social media over the next five years is going to take total control of many industries, I feel that will be even more evident in Real Estate where trust is crucial and must be earned if you want to make a sale that is usually tens of thousands of dollars. Lets face it people talk to each other and that’s where Facebook and business social sites come in, engage or parish.

About the Author: Chuck Magee has been in the land development and sales business for almost two decades. In 2000 Chuck and his wife Lindey developed a website called Mississippi-Landsource.com. The website was launched for uniting the real estate market in Land For Sale In Mississippi. In 2009 more sites were launched as sister sites for other states like Land For Sale In Louisiana and Land For Sale In Alabama.

Source: isnare.com

Permanent Link: isnare.com/?aid=590191&ca=Internet