IRS Increases Mileage Rate

The IRS has announced an increase in the optional standard mileage rates for the final six months of 2011.   

The rate will increase to 55.5 cents a mile

for all business miles driven from July 1, 2011, through Dec. 31, 2011.

The new rates are contained in Announcement 2011-40 on the optional standard mileage rates.

Source: IRS

USDOL elaws Poster Advisor 

You will be asked a series of questions and then the Advisor will identify which federal notices have to be posted.

Don't forget to visit your state's employment/ labor agency website to identify which state notice posting requirements are applicable to your organization.

If your hospitality business is subject to the FLSA and you did not receive our prior update regarding the DOL rules related to Tipped Employees, CLICK HERE for more information. 

Our Approach to Working with Clients 

We consider ourselves to be your human resource (HR) partner, so we strive to work collaboratively with you on every project. When we work together, we can identify issues and formulate recommendations hand-in-hand to best assure the attainment of your objectives.

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CONTACT US

for more information about our services.

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 WNC HRA

NCSHRM

SHRM

US Dept. of Labor

 NC Dept. of Labor

 The Latest from OSHNC   

Carol had the opportunity to attend the Catawba Valley HR Association meeting in April. OSHNC representatives presented an informative program, focusing on safety inspections and citations.

Click on the following links for highlights from this presentation: 

What to Expect from an OSHNC Inspection

The Eight Most Costly OSHNC Citations   

Take Your Vacation - Please!

It is imperative that employees take vacation time throughout the year to reduce their stress at work. When an employee accrues unused vacation time, the employer has much more to worry about if the employee leaves the company or suddenly decides to take many weeks of vacation at one time. When an employee works straight through the year without a substantial break, the employee can suffer from fatigue, poor health, and stress, all of which can increase worker's compensation and health insurance costs for the employer. To keep these costs down, keep your employees healthier, safer, and happier by enforcing necessary breaks and regular time off.

To encourage employees to take necessary breaks, take a vacation yourself. As the employer, you can set the example of vacation benefits by returning to work well rested and relaxed.  You can also remind people that vacation time can be taken in small increments. Taking an afternoon off may increase moral and won't be as complicated as taking a week off from work duties.

It has been proven that the most productive, successful employees are those who take advantage of their vacation time. This means they return to work feeling relaxed, rejuvenated, refreshed, and ready to be productive. What's more, by getting out of the routine of everyday work, employees can find themselves being forced to behave and think differently, gaining a fresh perspective, creative inspiration, and new ideas. So help improve employee morale and health by facilitating and encouraging employee vacations.

Source: Accounting Principals & bNet

Heat is the number one weather-related killer. On average, more than 1,500 people in the United States die each year from heat illness. This number is greater than the 30 year mean annual number of deaths due to tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, and lightning combined. These deaths are preventable. Workers who are exposed to extreme heat in work environments can reduce their risk of heat illness and injuries if the right precautions are put in place.  

If you're an employer who has employees working outdoors or in strenuous environments in extreme heat, take a look at some helpful tips for hot weather: CLICK HERE  

Skin cancer is a big concern with any exposure to the suns ultraviolent (UV) rays. To learn more about spotting skin cancer and prevention methods :CLICK HERE

Hurricanes can cause devastating destruction and costly damage to people and organizations alike. History proves that a lack of hurricane awareness and preparation are common threads in cases of irreversible damage. By knowing your vulnerability and what actions you should take, you can reduce the effects of a hurricane disaster.Hurricane hazards can come in many forms, including storm surge, high winds, tornadoes, and flooding. HR professionals should be considering the impact on their employees and businesses as we progress within hurricane season. The north Atlantic hurricane season began June 1 and lasts through Nov. 30.  

If you prepare your organization now, you may not have to face repercussions of hurricane season. The following link contains many helpful tips and guidelines for hurricane preparedness within the office: CLICK HERE     

 NC Adopts E-Verify Law

Recently, North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue signed a law requiring employers to electronically verify the immigration status of new hires. Under the new law, North Carolina cities, counties and businesses that employ 25 or more employees will now be required to use the federal government's E-Verify system. 

The federal E-Verify system is a free program that provides an automated link to federal databases to help employers determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers. The legislation would also allow for anonymous reports against business suspected of employing illegal workers.   

Like the I-9, the E-Verify employment eligibility verification must be completed within 3 business days after each employee has been hired. (I-9 Section 1 must be completed on the start date. Please note that we recommend that you complete all new hire paperwork on the start date.) 

The law will take effect at different times for different employers:

October 2011:   NC's Cities and Counties

October 2012:   500+ Employees

January 2013:    100 - 499 Employees

July 2013:            25 - 100 Employees

Organizations with fewer than 25 workers or those that employ seasonal workers, who work fewer than 90 days in a year, will be exempt from the new law.

SWS is proud to be a member of the

Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and an associate member of the Asheville Independent Restaurant Association 

.

Carol Rovello serves as the Chamber Board Vice Chair for Small Business and Entrepreneurship, the Board Chair for the Center for Diversity Education, and a member of the Leadership Asheville Program Development Team and the Asheville Downtown Association.  

Congratulations!!

The Chamber announced the following award winners at its Annual meeting on June 30th:

Small Business Leaders

Danny's of Danny's Dumpsters

Sandeep Gupta, Carolina Furniture Concepts 

Athena

Ann Young, Mission Hospital 

Good Health-Good Business

Steve Frabitore, Tupelo Honey Cafe 

Volunteer of the Year

Mike Hiers, WNCW 

William A. V. Cecil Leadership Award

Oscar Wong, Highland Brewing Company 

Excellence in Public Service

Louis Bissette, McGuire, Wood & Bissette P.A.