Abe: Yes. While many employers only verify basic employment information, a thoughtful reference check can help confirm what you've learned during the interview process and provide insight into a candidate's work style, strengths, and overall fit. Abe: Focus on open-ended, job-related questions like: What were this person's greatest strengths? How did they respond to feedback? What [...]
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) questions often don't come with advance notice. An employee shares they're expecting a baby, a parent is diagnosed with a serious illness, or someone needs surgery. In those moments, business owners need to know what the law requires and when it applies. Here are the basics that every employer [...]
Money is never just about numbers. It is also about possibility: the education a child may pursue, the first apartment they may rent, the home they may one day buy, the career they may build, and the confidence they may carry into adulthood. That is the promise behind Trump Accounts, a new type of child savings [...]
When you purchase, build, or remodel a building, the tax rules do not always treat every part of that property the same way. Some costs may be tied to the building structure itself, while others may relate to assets that wear out, get replaced, or serve a more specialized business function. That is where a cost [...]
Abe: Talking too much. Great interviews are built on curiosity. Instead of spending most of the conversation selling the company, ask thoughtful questions that help you understand what the candidate is truly looking for. Abe: Ask open-ended questions and keep digging. Instead of accepting a surface-level answer, ask follow-up questions like: Why is that important to [...]
Pay transparency is becoming one of the most significant shifts in the employment landscape. While several states now legally require employers to disclose compensation information in job postings and throughout the hiring process, forward-thinking organizations are recognizing that transparency goes far beyond compliance. At its core, pay transparency helps employees understand how compensation decisions are [...]
Running your own business comes with freedom, flexibility, and opportunity. It also comes with one responsibility that can surprise even experienced entrepreneurs: planning ahead for taxes. Unlike traditional employees, business owners and independent contractors usually do not have taxes automatically withheld from every paycheck. That means tax planning cannot wait until filing season. A smart tax [...]
Pay decisions can feel simple in the moment: an employee asks for a raise, a new hire negotiates higher, a manager wants to reward someone, or leadership realizes a role is harder to fill than expected. But over time, one-off pay decisions create bigger problems. Salary banding gives your organization a framework for making compensation decisions [...]
Managers shape the employee experience more than any handbook or policy. They are often the first to notice performance issues, conflict, attendance concerns, and communication challenges. That puts them in a powerful position to support employees, reinforce expectations, and protect the organization. With the right training, tools, and support, managers can become one of your [...]
An unexpected IRS letter can make anyone pause. A letter asking you to update bank information can feel especially unsettling. Recently, many taxpayers have been receiving IRS CP53E notices related to tax refunds and direct deposit information. The notice itself is real, but scammers appear to be taking advantage of the confusion by creating fake versions [...]
