Taking the Guess Work Out of 1099s

In fifteen years as an HR practitioner, there’s one question I can probably pinpoint as the most asked question I have gotten over the years. “Why can’t I just classify them as an independent contractor?” It’s estimated that by 2020 40% of the US workforce will be freelancers or temp employees, up from 30% in 2006. With that number growing, it’s even more important for organizations to understand the independent contractor classification and when it can be used. The penalties for misclassifying employees as independent contractors can include back payment of taxes, interest owed to employees for wages not paid,

Why a Decline in Teens Working is Bad For Them and Bad For Business

The diamond on my ringer finger I can thank in part to a teenager engaging in summer work. My husband worked during the summer every year starting at age fifteen. And although I wasn’t even on his radar at age 15, nor do I think marriage to anyone was at that point in time, his hard work and savings from that hard work led to a lovely diamond on my hand that he paid cash for. He worked painting schools, mowing grass, driving a forklift at a lumber yard and building tree stands while in high school. His college work

If You’re Not Onboard, Get Off the Ship!

The best piece of advice I heard at the recent SHRM19 National Conference came from Cy Wakeman’s session “Business Readiness: Ensuring Our Teams are Ready for What’s Next.” As a consultant, I spend a great deal of my time helping organizations navigate change, from determining what change is needed to creating the roadmap of how to accomplish the change to how to get employee buy-in. The hardest part is often getting employees on board, helping them understand the need for change and addressing their resistance. The current change management process caters too much to the individual employee when it should

All the Hype on Equal Pay. My Short Opinion.

The US Women’s Soccer Team. Some controversy over Taylor Swift’s contract. It’s all in the name of fighting for equal pay for women. Equal pay is a noble cause and one I support. But who owns fixing this?  Maybe we all do, but women own taking the actions to fix it for themselves.  And we all own helping teach the skills to do so. Publicity and activism help.  But teaching women: To know their value Know how to advocate for their value And walk if they don’t get what they are worth is the true way to fix this problem

10 Quotes from Cy Wakeman at #SHRM19

10 Quotes from Cy Wakeman at #SHRM19 on Ensuring Your Team is Ready for What’s Next Our team attended the SHRM Annual Conference this year, and Cy Wakeman said 10 things that resonated with us. Read on for the Cy quotes, and follow along with The Point Blog for more insights from speakers and authors. “Change isn’t as hard when we embrace it incrementally. One upgrade on your phone is easier than converting from a flip phone to the newest version.  Get people to a state of readiness.” “A leader’s new role: Help employees eliminate emotional waste by facilitating good