January 2025

HR & Safety News, Insights and Updates

Consultstu LLC delivers fractional human resources services to small/mid businesses.

Our monthly newsletter keeps clients and friends up to date on important

law updates, business news and employment trends.

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Employee W2s must be sent out by January 31, 20 25

IRS ACA Filing Instructions for 2025 forms

Welcome to 2025! Checklist of HR and Payroll Actions for the New Year

HR Compliance. We are now into 2025 and it is time to review and update your company's HR and payroll practices and documents for the new year. We have assembled a list of human resources and payroll items to review and update for January 2025. Here is Consultstu's 10-point HR and Payroll checklist for 2025 - start now to complete these actions. Need help or have a question, call our team today.

Update your new hire packet with 2025 documents. Replace your W4 with the 2025 version. Optional – send the new W4 to existing employees in January to see if they would like to make changes for 2025.
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I9 Audit Services - Independent Audits for Publix Suppliers and other situations

Immigration. For the past 5 years, Consultstu LLC has successfully performed third-party auditing for Publix Suppliers and Waste Management contractors. Our services involve reviewing immigration- related documents (I9, E-verify records, supporting docs), creating an audit report and advising on recommended corrections. At the end of the audit, we provide our client with a certificate of compliance. Contact the Consultstu team if you need I9 audit services.

2025 IRS Mileage Rate Rises to 70 cents

Pay and Benefits. Businesses and individuals who rely on their vehicles for work-related travel will be impacted by changes in the IRS mileage rate. In 2025, the increase will be 3 cents for business-related mileage. The IRS mileage rate for business miles in 2025 will be 70 cents per mile.

Workplace Culture: Free lunches, retreats and mentorship: 5 connection strategies that work

Company Culture. Work is much more interesting — and enjoyable when employees feel connected and employers reap benefits as well. There are many proven options to foster relationships in and out of the office. Seven out of ten employees wish they had better connections with coworkers, and 77% consider this an important part of company culture, according to a survey from a recognition software company.

SSA Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) goes up 2.5%

Benefits. Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for more than 72.5 million Americans will increase 2.5 percent in 2025. The 2.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to nearly 68 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2025. Increased payments to nearly 7.5 million SSI recipients will begin on December 31, 2024. Read more.

Employee Milestones to Celebrate - Start in 2025

Employee Recognition. Employee milestones are cause for celebration. By recognizing team members' personal and professional milestones, you're offering a holistic employee experience that supports and engages them. These celebrations demonstrate you're rooting for their success, and that you're happy to share in their moments of joy. But what should you celebrate exactly? Here are 13 events to celebrate from Nectar, an employee recognition company.

Can Employers require a fitness-for-duty certification before returning an employee to work after missed work due to a serious health condition?

Answer: Yes. As a condition of restoring an employee who was absent on FMLA leave due to the employee’s own serious health condition, an employer may have a uniformly applied policy or practice that requires all similarly situated employees who take leave for such conditions to submit a certification from the employee’s own health care provider that the employee is able to resume work. Read the FMLA regulation This is also true for non-FMLA medical-related absences handled under the ADA too. When there is a reasonable belief, based on objective evidence, that the employee's ability to perform the essential job duties will be impacted by the medical conditions. Read more.