Newsletter Signup. Stay Connected.

By submitting this form you are agreeing to receive emails from Focus HR Inc.

Blog

Arizona Businesses Brace for Another Minimum Wage Increase

January 1, 2019, Arizona businesses will see the minimum wage increase to $11.00 per hour. This is a scheduled bump approved by voters in 2016 through The Fair Wages and Healthy Families Act. The ballot measure gradually increases Arizona’s minimum wage over a period of three years and also requires earned paid sick time for Arizona employees. […]

10 Tips for Workplace Safety

Accidents can happen in any work environment but there are safety measures you can take to make incidents less likely. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA,) 5,190 workers were killed on the job in 2016.  That’s an average of more than 99 a week or more than 14 deaths every day, and one […]

Focus HR’s Greg Stutz Recognized for Leadership

TUCSON – The organization tracking employment trends, best practices, and innovative ideas in the workplace is recognizing Focus HR’s Greg Stutz for his exceptional strength in leadership as Chief Operating Officer. At the 2018 Celebrating Innovation in the Workplace Awards in Tucson, the Society for Human Resource Management Greater Tucson (SHRM-GT) recognized Stutz for his ability to […]

Federal Income Tax: Are You Withholding Enough?

Changes made by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will affect your 2018 tax return. The law revised personal exemptions, as well as the Child Tax Credit so, to avoid unpleasant surprises this tax season, the IRS is encouraging everyone to do a “Paycheck Checkup.” There’s an online withholding calculator available so you can determine if you’re […]

Coming Soon: Arizona’s Mini-COBRA Law

Beginning January 1, 2019, Arizona businesses with fewer than twenty employees will be required to offer COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985.) This new mandate applies to medical group plans only.  Stand-alone dental and vision plans do not apply.   Here’s the bill passed last spring by the Arizona Senate. Who must comply?   Employer […]

Are You Hiring? Don’t Ask This Question!

You can ask job candidates a plethora of questions, but there’s one we strongly recommend you avoid:  “How much money did you/do you make?” There’s no harm in asking why a candidate wants to work with your company, what motivates them, or how knowledgeable they are with certain computer applications, but lawmakers nationwide are pushing for a Salary History […]

Work Comp Premiums: Drowning in the Assigned Risk Insurance Pool?

Is your workers’ compensation insurance premium uncomfortably high?  If you have a history of Workers’ Compensation claims, if your company is newly established, or if it’s labeled high-risk for injuries, you’re probably swimming in the “assigned risk pool.” Business owners want to dive in on the open market because that’s where insurance companies offer lower rates and […]

Breaking the ‘Code’ in Workers’ Compensation

Pay special attention to the employee code(s) you select when setting your Workers’ Compensation insurance.  Your code(s) will impact the insurance premium you pay and whether future claims are handled smoothly. Classification codes are the creation of the National Council for Compensation Insurance (NCCI.)  Since different jobs have different injury risk factors, varying class codes have […]

Compliance Deadline: New Form to Fight Data Breaches Now Required

If you own or operate a business, or run background checks, you must update your Model FCRA “A Summary of Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act” disclosure form.  The deadline was Friday, September 21, 2018. The new  document has been released by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB.) Under the Fair Credit and Reporting […]

Seasonal Stress: What is Your Body Telling You?

The next three months will be filled with holiday fun, numerous activities to attend, and A LOT of family time.  Sounds wonderful, right?  Let’s talk about the common denominator… STRESS. Stress is your body’s way of responding to any kind of demand or threat as protection.  Too much, or uncontrolled stress can be damaging to […]

Understanding E-Verify and the I-9 Form

E-verify and Form I-9 are both tied to the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA.) which requires that business owners verify the legal status of every employee. If an employer fails to get the appropriate documentation they face a fine between $110 and $1,100 per violation.  Penalties increase to a range of $375 […]

It’s Not Just a Medical Plan

Your medical carrier is not only an insurance carrier that shares in the cost of your medical care, they also provide an extensive Wellness Program to members.  From helping you to “get on track” with your fitness/health goals to hands-on counseling regarding a chronic disease, your medical insurance carrier is there to support your needs and […]

Follow Focus HR, Inc. on social media.

TWITTER
FACEBOOK
LINKEDIN