Employment Archives

Why the future workforce will work from home

The work from home trend is not a new concept. Workers have been working from home from the dawn of civilization, but speaking strictly in the modern era, let’s take the past 40 years this trend has increased year after year. In 1979, with the OPEC oil embargo in its sixth year, the Washington Post published the article, “Working at Home Can Save Gasoline,” which suggests telecommuting could have eased the gas crisis. This article urged companies to introduce telecommuting to conserve gas. As you can imagine, employers were opposed to this idea initially. They used argument such as: How can you tell that the workers are doing any work at all from the comfort of their homes? Or, workers are missing out on crucial interactions with their team. But the counterarguments must have been strong enough to help support this trend as it keeps… [Read More]

Hiring on a Trial Basis

Now more than ever employers are specific about finding the right candidate for their open position. They are looking for the perfect match: a candidate that is both skilled and fits the company’s culture. To accomplish this, many are taking the approach of hiring a potential candidate on a temp-to-hire or temp-to-permanent basis in order to evaluate the worker on the job. Think of it as an extended job interview that allows both the employer and candidate to ensure they’re right for each other before committing to a long term relationship. Is it starting to sound like the dating world? If it is, it’s because the parallels are very similar. There are advantages in hiring on trial basis: It allows the employer to evaluate a candidate in their job environment. Reduces employer risk should the candidate not be the right fit If it is… [Read More]

The Differences Between an Employer of Record and a PEO

When you hire workers who live in other states, you are required to fulfill the legal requirements of each state. Most employers do not have the resources or expertise to handle this. These companies choose to partner with either a professional employer organization (PEO) or employer of record (EOR). Understanding the difference between the two will show you why using an EOR, such as NexusCW, is the more beneficial option. Compliance When you hire out-of-state workers, you must comply with that state’s laws and regulations. This includes reviewing proof of worker eligibility and paying taxes in the proper states. Compliance requires you to be familiar with all rules relating to labor and unemployment, document retention and storage, upfront costs, and proper forms. Maintaining compliance yourself is a headache and carries the risk of potential IRS fines and legal fees. According to the Department of Labor… [Read More]

Difference Between an Employer of Record & Staffing Agency

It is not uncommon to hear employer of record services equated with staffing services. Although the two are mutually beneficial, an employer of record is a separate entity from a staffing agency, each with distinct functions and responsibilities. Roles A collaborative relationship exists between an employer of record and its client, which can be a business or a staffing agency. While an employee works for the client, the employer of record assumes the role of the legal employer for tax purposes. The employer of record handles all administrative functions, such as payroll processing, federal & state tax withholding and filing, record-keeping, and all HR support functions. The EOR also conducts pre-employment screening such as background checks and drug testing, in addition to human resources functions such as administering benefits, termination of employees, and all other worker issues. On the other hand, a staffing agency recruits… [Read More]

Generations in the Workplace

A new multi-generational workforce poses both challenges and opportunities for today’s employer. An increase in average retirement age and life expectancy have created an unprecedented five generations coexisting in the modern workforce, also known as the “5G Workforce.” Each generation brings to the workplace a different set of character traits, behavioral patterns and value systems. These differing perceptions and values are a potential source of conflict, frustration and misunderstanding. Unresolved conflict among employees decreases productivity, morale and motivation. Employers must understand generational differences and use this understanding to manage generational diversity. Once properly managed, an employer can capitalize on the unique strengths of this diverse workforce. Successful management of the 5G workforce begins with an understanding of not only the differences among generations, but the environment that shaped those differences. The five generations of the modern workforce include: • Traditionalists: Employees born 1945 and before… [Read More]

The Rise of the Gig Economy

With the rise of what is now known as the “gig economy,” the job market is changing. The gig economy is an environment in which short-term, temporary work is preferred to traditional employment. This contingent workforce is utilized for single projects or tasks, employee absences or field expertise. The benefits of this type of labor have been recognized by both employers and workers alike. For the worker, the gig economy offers flexibility and diversity not found in the traditional job market. Many short-term engagements, such as consulting “gigs,” do not have a firm work schedule. Workers have a newfound flexibility in completing these projects or tasks. This type of work also introduces the ability to diversify. A worker is no longer chained to one company and one position. Contingent workers have the option of career exploration. They can work for many different businesses across a… [Read More]