News & Resources

Asking for salary history may be age discrimination

For many professionals, reaching six figures in salary is a high point of a career. Yet, ironically, if they lose their job for one reason or another, their salary history may price them out of …

February 12, 2016

The business value of having a positive workplace

Michael Rogers, vice president communications for the Small Business Association of Michigan, talks to business coach and consultant Tom Borg about the value of cultivating a positive workplace and satisfied workforce.

February 10, 2016

Zika virus implications in the workplace

Organizations with employees who work in affected countries, or who have employees who will travel to those countries, should be aware of their obligations and be prepared to answer questions raised by employees with concerns.

February 9, 2016

Can’t find Millennials to hire?

It’s news because, unfortunately, it’s not news.Michigan is continuing to lose its millennial population, and although the hemorrhage of people that started in 2009 has receded, the bleeding continues.

February 5, 2016

Creating a powerful and profitable employee suggestion system

Why should small business owners implement an employee suggestion acquisition system?

February 4, 2016

Save time and save money on your people administration

Keeping human resources information up-to-speed is growing as an important challenge facing small business today.

February 4, 2016

Background checking: will your disclosure forms soon be non-compliant?

Two current court cases, one to be decided in the U.S. Supreme Court, could lead to substantial new changes in the way employers must notify applicants and/or employees that they will be obtaining background checks …

February 3, 2016

Insights into small business wellness programs

From SBAM’s Business Next show on the Michigan Business Network, Michael Rogers, vice president communications for the Small Business Association of Michigan, chats with Mary Kline and Amy Ritsema, co-CEOs of Onsite Wellness in Grand …

February 1, 2016

Advice on how you can improve the health of your workforce

Today on SBAM Shorts Michael Rogers, vice president communications for the Small Business Association of Michigan, talks with Sue Tellier, the owner of JetCo Solutions in Grand Rapids. Her small firm won the Small Business Association …

January 21, 2016

Assuming a disability leads to liability

In order to be protected under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) the employee or applicant must be able to perform the essential functions of a job.

January 20, 2016

Can lack of daylight affect performance?

So the holidays are over and we are all back to work in full swing. And for us Midwesterners, winter has sprung its frigid temperatures and long nights on us.

January 19, 2016

The way to employees’ hearts is through their stomachs

Check your total rewards program. Does it include food? Internet grocer Peapod thinks it should. The company recently surveyed over 1,000 office workers and concluded that employers that provide free food and drink as a …

January 18, 2016

Self-funded wellness plans may stand up against EEOC attacks

How the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) impacts wellness programs still makes employers’ heads spin. On the one hand, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) encourages such programs as a way to control costs. On the …

January 13, 2016

Powerball fever and office lottery pools

Office lottery pools are undeniably fun and they build excitement and camaraderie among coworkers, which cannot be a bad thing. However, there have been a number of high profile-lawsuits and untold amounts office drama that …

January 8, 2016

New SBAM survey shows small businesses hiking wages

Forty-two percent of small businesses say they plan to increase wages in the next six months, according to the latest Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM) Barometer survey.

January 5, 2016

IRS extends filing deadline for ACA reporting & Benepay can help

In what has seemingly become the new normal for the IRS when working with the Affordable Care Act, another deadline has been extended. This time, on December 28, 2015, the IRS extended the deadline for …

January 4, 2016

Attention managers: Do you give feedback, or guidance?

Fast Company posted an article this week titled “Former Googler Lets Us In On The Surprising Secret To Being A Good Boss.”