New Law Bans Genetic Screening for Employment   A new Federal law prohibits employers from doing genetic screening on job applicants or employees for jobs. This comes after concerns over possible misuse of genetic information by both employers and insurers. It is now illegal to discriminate against anyone based on their genetic information.  The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently created detailed regulations for the employment portion of the law (which was added to the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008).   Over the last 20 years, genetic research has advanced quickly. In 2003, scientists mapped out the human genome, which equals all of the genes that make up humans. Scientists say these advances, as well as family histories, make it possible for people to learn their potential to develop certain medical conditions sooner than ever. Since treatments for some conditions can be extremely expensive, concerns over the possible misuse of genetic inform ...

Minimum Wage in Florida Remains Unchanged   For the second year in a row, Florida’s minimum wage remains unchanged and at the Federal level. It is holding steady at $7.25 per hour. The current Federal minimum wage went into effect July 24, 2009. As of January 1, 2011, seven states raised their minimum wage. According to the National Employment Law Project, wage levels have increased from $7.35 to $8.67 an hour.   Minimum wage in Florida is adjusted to inflation, but was not increased for 2011, since this year’s calculation was below the Federal minimum wage. Federal law requires employers to pay the higher of either federal or state minimum wage.   Reports show entry level workers in South Florida earn an average of $9.32 an hour. For workers who receive tips, they must be paid a direct wage of at least $4.23 an hour and must average at least $7.25 an hour including tips.    To view the Federal poster from the U.S. Department of Labor’s website, visit http://www.dol.gov/whd/ ...

  Blank Meeting Agenda Template Meeting Agenda Tips Free Blank Meeting Agenda Form   Effective meetings take planning and preparation. A well organized meeting will hopefully have employees looking forward to the next one! A free business blank meeting agenda template will make this process easier. Here are some tips for your business meeting agenda template that you can tailor to your specific needs: There are several standard items to be included. Start in the header with the word “Agenda” and a basic outline with details. Type of meeting (or the subject) Location (if the meeting is held in a new place, be sure to include a specific address and directions if possible) Date Time Agenda items to be included (add in any others specific to your meeting). Opening and Welcome (list name/title) Announcements (list name/title) Old Business Approval of minutes fr ...

IRS Tax Form Instructions Form 1040 Basics Helpful IRS Tax Form Instruction Information Taxes! It’s a word no-one likes to hear—but something we all have to pay. IRS tax form instructions are available online and will help make the process as painless as possible when it’s that time of the year.  There is some basic knowledge to keep in mind that will help you when looking for IRS tax form instructions. IRS tax forms are used by tax-exempt organizations and taxpayers to report financial information to the IRS. They are used to report income and calculate the taxes that need to be paid to the United States.   Form 1040 Basics   The most well-known and widely filed form is the Form 1040. This form is used for individual income taxes. It is used for personal income tax returns filed with the IRS. The first form was published for use in 1913. Any full-time United States resident can use the Form 1040 (also referred to as the “long form”). People with no ...

Employee Benefits Optimize your Options   Sections: Optimize your Employee Benefit Options Health Insurance Plans Location of HealthCare Providers Other Employee Benefits Options   There are so many details involving employee benefits. Let us do the hard work for you by finding you the best benefits package possible for your employees! A good Professional Employer Organization (PEO) will offer your company access to competitively priced employee benefit plans. By pooling businesses together under one group, PEO’s have the benefit of getting great prices from insurance carriers. Those savings can then be passed to your company! PEO’s provide access to a wide range of employee benefits that are difficult to navigate individually. Here are some PEO employee benefits: Health Employee Benefit Insurance Plans PEO’s can offer access to Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) and Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs). Both options offer a range of options with various deductibles and co-pays. ...