Click on the image above for a short video that highlights the most important factors to consider when choosing a Professional Employment Organization (PEO) for your business.

  The Tennessean recently reported employees of a Nashville car wash company have filed a federal lawsuit against the owners of the company.  The suit alleges the employees weren’t paid for hours spent waiting for dirty cars.  Here’s an excerpt from the article:

The 30-year-old carwash is a West End Avenue institution, attracting hundreds of cars during weeks of sunny weather, including those of Music Row fixtures. Workers named in the suit claim managers clock them in and out frequently but forbid them to leave during off hours.

“You need to be paid from the first task of the day until you finish and for any time that you are asked to stand and twiddle your thumbs,” said Charles Yezbak, the Nashville employment lawyer handling the suit against Shur-Brite. “These guys are clocking people in and out at their whimsy and will.”

Owner William Smith said managers clock workers in and out according to how busy the carwash is, but denied that workers are not free to leave anytime they’re off the clock.

“We don’t hold them,” said Smith, who co-owns Shur-Brite with his brother, Glen Smith.

For the complete article click HERE.

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A growing number of similar lawsuits are being filed around the country, according to an analysis conducted by the Bureau of National Affairs. The number of Fair Labor Standards Act federal lawsuits increased from 2,898 cases in 2003 to about 6,735 cases in 2006.  To ensure your business is in complete compliance with all federal and state employment laws business owners should consider partnering with a Professional Employment Organization.  PEOs will keep you abreast of changing employment regulations and will offer to take over the unwanted payroll and HR obiliations.

  The Tuscon Citizen published great article on the role Professional Employers play during a recession.  Here’s an excerpt:

In today’s market, owners of small and medium-sized businesses may be forced to ask themselves a few critical questions:
“Will a recession affect my business?”
“How can I be sure my employees are taken care of?”
“How can I be successful when others are struggling?”
One way business owners can begin to address these difficult questions is by using the services of a professional employer organization.
A PEO serves as a human resources department for small- and medium-sized businesses. By entering into a relationship with a PEO, companies receive assistance with payroll processing, employee benefits management and compliance with the growing number of federal and state employer-related laws and regulations.
In short, PEOs can help small- and medium-sized businesses manage risk. This is essential during periods of economic downturn when there are more workers’ compensation claims and terminations, and increased opportunities for unemployment-related risk.

For the complete article CLICK HERE.

  I read a noteworthy article from 4Hoteliers.com about who should and should not consider outsoucing their Human Resource & Payroll functions.  Below is an excerpt.  Take a look at what they said.

If you have fewer than 100 employees, the answer is yes. At this size, you often don’t have the resources for an in-house HR staff, so outsourcing is just right for you. You don’t have to worry about managing all the details that are so critical to HR in your business, and most small-business owners just don’t have the skills and experience to do so. Remember, HR functions must be handled correctly as close to 100 percent of the time as possible; slip-ups can cause your business major problems…whatever you decide, make sure to keep your employees in the loop. They will appreciate knowing that you are seeking the most affordable solution for the business while doing your best to meet their needs.

All in all I have to agee their assessment.