Staffing and your business: staffing considerations in the current business environment.

• Author: Whitaker, Pamela D.
• Position: Business Guide 2014

Why should your business consider using a staffing firm?

Properly staffing a company requires a specific area of expertise, just like any other business. Just as most business owners would find it impossible to be a computer/ IT expert, it is similarly difficult to be an expert in the many facets of staffing, all while running the core business. Beyond just being frustrating, staffing can be extremely risky without a dedicated expert. In the following article, we will look briefly at some of the "minefields" of modern employment--situations that a proven staffing partner will help you to avoid.

Temp worker classification

If your temporary workers are mistakenly misclassified and the court considers them to be regular employees, your company could unknowingly be responsible for providing benefits like health insurance, life insurance, retirement benefits and stock options. Even when the classification was designated by a third party, if it is wrong, the legal responsibility passes through to your company. A knowledgeable partner in staffing will protect you and your business from these types of situations.

A fair and equitable workplace

It is easy, and possibly dangerous, for a company owner to assume their managers are operating a fair and equitable workplace. The correct federal law posters are being displayed and everything else seems right.... But at the end of the day, an owner is responsible if a manager is (knowingly or unknowingly) in violation of a fairness law, and it could cost the company a lot of money as well as loss of focus on daily business functions. Here are three good questions to ask: 1) Are your managers on top of legal issues such as proper pay for work and correct overtime pay? 2) There are 10 protected classes--characteristics or factors that cannot be targeted for discrimination and harassment. Six of these apply to ALL employees. Do you know which six apply to every employee? 3) Suppose an employee files a complaint regarding workplace fairness, would you know who to consult or what to do next?

Health-care reform

As we all know, major health-care reform goes into effect January 1, 2015, bringing with it potentially far-reaching change for many employers. Also known as the "pay-or-play" provisions, these reforms will cause certain employers to be subject to an excise tax if they fail to offer minimum essential health-care coverage to an employee or if that coverage does not meet certain requirements. It is tempting...