News & Resources

Things to consider in a March Madness policy

March is here and it can only mean one thing: the NCAA Basketball Tournaments. This Thursday, March 21st is the first full day of the men’s tournament and this Saturday, March 23rd the women’s. With …

March 20, 2013

When can obesity be a factor in employment decisions?

Article courtesy of SBAM Approved Partner AdvanceHRMore than one-third of adults in the United States are obese, says one health-related government agency. That means, if you are in business long enough, there's a good chance …

March 19, 2013

When does an employee qualify as exempt from withholding?

Article courtesy of SBAM Approved Partner AdvanceHRWhen it comes to filling out W-4 forms, employees don't always take the task seriously. Sometimes, they simply write "exempt" on their W-4s or claim a false high number …

March 18, 2013

Retirement security in a post-pension era

Article courtesy of SBAM Approved Partner ASEBy Kevin MarrsA recent nationwide opinion survey suggests that employees are “highly anxious” about their retirement prospects, and overwhelmingly support action by Congress to create a new privately run …

March 15, 2013

Turn your employees into innovators. Today on Business Next.

Tune in today at 10am (repeats at 3pm and 8pm) on the Michigan Business Network.Author and business consultant Ellen Huxtable discusses how to encourage team innovation in your small business. Also today, from the Detroit …

March 12, 2013

USCIS revises employment eligibility verification form I-9

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has published a revised Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9. All employers are required to complete a Form I-9 for each employee hired in the United States.Improvements to Form I-9 …

March 12, 2013

NLRB continues to wage war on common employer policies

Article courtesy of SBAM Approved Partner ASEBy Michael J. Burns As 2012 closed, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) continued to issue decisions challenging employer policies long accepted as standard in the workplace. In the …

March 9, 2013

Personality matters – we want to work with people we like

By Steven StraussQuestionHi Steve: Here is my problem: I am a wedding photographer and there is a guy in my town who I often compete with for business. While my business is good, for some …

March 8, 2013

How to make great hiring decisions – Today on Business Next

Tune in at 10am (repeats at 3pm and 8pm) on the Michigan Business Network.Today on Business Next, the week’s legislative update with SBAM’s Director of Government Relations Dave Jessup. Also, an interview with business consultants …

March 7, 2013

Staffing directors contribute to disillusionment of new hires

Article courtesy of SBAM Approved Partner ASEBy Joe DeSantis A newly-published survey says that about half of new hires experience “buyer’s remorse” on the job. The same survey says that staffing directors know their selection …

March 7, 2013

Collaboration requires trust, not butts in seats

Article courtesy of SBAM Approved Partner ASEBy Linda Yesh-McMaster, Joe DeSantisDo you have to be face-to-face in order to collaborate? Yahoo CEO Melissa Mayer recently stirred the pot on this question when she banned individual …

March 1, 2013

H-1B filing season to begin April 1-5, 2013 – Visa may run out in first week

Article courtesy of SBAM Approved Partner Clark Hill PLC Employers are reminded to identify new candidates who will require H-1B sponsorship as soon as possible, to ensure that these applications are accepted for processing. April 1 …

February 28, 2013

FMLA: Service member leave, intermittent leave clarified by new regs

Article courtesy of SBAM Approved Partner ASEBy Anthony KaylinHave you had problems calculating time for intermittent leave? Have you had FMLA requests for family service member leave? On February 5, 2013, the DOL’s Wage and …

February 27, 2013

Some factors in employee retention are not really new

Article courtesy of SBAM Approved Partner ASEBy Joe DeSantis In the words of the old song, Everything Old is New Again. But the results of a recent survey from CareerBuilder about employee attitudes suggest that …

February 26, 2013

Study identifies emerging direction for employee coaching

Article courtesy of SBAM Approved Partner ASEBy Michael J. Burns Lee Hecht Harrison, a national recruiting firm, recently published results of a study it commissioned on employee coaching. Coaching is a broadening field of employee …

February 25, 2013

Great tips on how to better train and manage your employees. Today on Business Next.

Tune in at 3pm (repeat at 8pm) on the Michigan Business Network!Business consultant Tom Borg returns to Business Next with insights on the value of employee training, how to get your employees to buy-in to …

February 21, 2013

Employers beware: Background checks are under attack

Article courtesy of SBAM Approved Partner ASEBy Frances Chapman and Anthony KaylinDoes your company use credit or criminal background checks in your hiring process? Do you have a three-year or seven-year blanket policy on criminal …

February 19, 2013

Attracting top talent

By Steven StraussQuestion: I am in the process of hiring some new employees but I really can’t pay a lot, given the economy and all. How do I attract top talent, and keep them, given …