Network with Your Fellow
AOCA Members at iFLEX 2017
Join us at  iFLEX 2017 , April 4-6, 2017 at the Las Vegas Convention Center , and connect with industry experts and peers who can help you grow your business and drive impact. You will also have the opportunity to network with your fellow AOCA members at the following AOCA events:
  • AOCA Member Meeting and Luncheon, Wednesday, April 5 at 12:00 p.m. Room N220
  • Government Affairs Committee Meeting, Wednesday April 5 at 2:00 p.m. Room N222
  • President's Reception,
    Wednesday, April 5 at 5:30 p.m. Room N220
We can't wait to see you in Las Vegas!



6 Ways to Persuade Customers Through Social Media
AOCA Partner, PISTN: Marketing Accelerated

Your business'  social media pages  are perfect places for you to persuade customers to visit your shop, use your services or buy your goods.

It's more of a soft sell that other forms of marketing, like direct advertising or cold-calling; you're trying to foster a relationship to build up trust to bring customers into the fold. So how do you use social media to persuade new customers?
Give back. Share or like their content and comment on their posts. Everyone likes to be seen or know that they are being paid attention to. Social media is no different: people are more likely to retweet someone who has already retweeted them. If you show potential customers that you're paying attention to them and care what they have to say, they're more likely to do the same for you.
Let other people speak for you. Just like in traditional advertising, there's nothing better than regular word of mouth. When you have customers give you positive reviews-either on your own web site, social media feed or on some third-party review site like Yelp-share it often. That's doubly true if there's a name attached. If you can get customers to pose for a selfie with you or your staff and agree to let you post their comment, you'll be even better off. Make sure you offer them something back, however, such as a discount or free gift. 


As an AOCA partner, PISTN: Marketing Accelerated offers AOCA members discounted services. Visit their member page to learn more .
AOCA Staff Spotlight
Meet Allison Kuzniarowicz, Event Services Senior Associate for AOCA. Allison will be the events coordinator for iFLEX and AOCA's Management Certification Course.
 
Raised in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago, Allison holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management & Administration from Bradley University. She is a new member of the AOCA team and is excited to be a part of the team.
 
Fun Fact: Allison is an only child and loves to decorate her condo in her spare time.
Q&A with Affinity HR's Claudia St. John
Q:  I have a customer service rep that is hourly (non-exempt). She's a very hard worker and works long hours. It is not uncommon for her to put in a full day, get home, and then work on her smartphone late into the evening. Should I reclassify her as salaried (exempt)?

A: The determination of whether she should be considered exempt should not be based on whether she works from home after hours. Instead, it should be based on whether she satisfies the criteria for being exempt from the National Labor Relations Act. (Google "DOL Fact Sheet #17A" for a list of criteria.)

In the meantime, you need to pay your non-exempt employees for all time worked — even if that work is conducted from home and not at your request. Be sure your customer service rep is tracking and reporting her time and you are paying for her time, including any overtime that may occur as a result of this after-hours work.  

Learn more about AOCA's partnership with Affinity HR Group and how you can access custom support to your most challenging people management issues.
New Discounts from AOCA's Savings4Members
From office and maintenance supplies to fuel and wireless services get the products you need to keep your business running with Savings4Members. For a limited time, enter to win top technology products, power and hand tools, plus gift cards and more!


Don't miss out on all current Savings4Members' vendor promotions. You can view all promos here

Click here to learn more or contact a Savings Consultant at info@savings4members.com or 844.346.3746
Upcoming Federated Insurance Sponsored Webinar
Register today for the upcoming complimentary Federated Insurance webinar, Employment Insights - Title III - ADA Cases/Web Accessibility, on Wednesday March 22, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. ET. You will learn:
  • Specific website features that can minimize (or attract) unwelcome website accessibility claims
  • Insight about local and state initiatives running counter to the changes being implemented through presidential executive orders

Owners/operators, operations managers, HR professionals and risk managers are all encouraged to participate.

 


Financial Estate Planning
Since Congress passed the American Taxpayer Relief Act in 2012, very few Americans have been subject to federal estate taxes. As currently imposed, the tax will impact only .2 percent of decedents. In 2017, the federal estate tax exemption is $5.49 million per person. Married couples can double this.

HR Question of the Month: 
We dropped under 50 employees, does FMLA still apply?
Question: Our company recently made some changes, and we no longer have more than 50 employees. How do we handle our prior FMLA obligations (50 or more employees)? Do we have to wait a certain time period before we no longer are required to provide FMLA leave?