Have you ever watched MythBusters, the science experiment television show that sets out to test myths and prove or debunk them once and for all? The hosts’ mission is to unveil the truth behind urban myths, folktales, and legends. Well, that's what we're doing in this post! We are debunking eight payroll myths we often hear in our industry. Chances are good you've heard one or two of these myths before.

Too often, the human resource professional is so caught up in putting out daily fires that it can be difficult to take a big picture, 365-degree view of the industry. Taking the time to plan and prepare for the future is essential to a successful HR strategy long-term, and that’s why we sat down with two HR leaders to discuss their thoughts on the industry and the biggest opportunities for success and failure in 2018.

So you’ve got your business up and running and invested countless sleepless nights, skipped vacations, and forgot your own birthday to keep the dream of being a small business owner alive. You’re not alone. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are more than 27.9 million small businesses in the U.S. and more are being added every year.

As you add employees, the complexity of your business grows, and regulations change with more people on the payroll. You soon realize you can’t wear all the hats forever. Now is the time to set a great HR foundation for your business.

Here are some general guidelines to help you think about when to use a consultancy, hire a full-time HR professional, and when you might need both!

What are your HR goals for 2018? Do you want to communicate better with employees? Recruit more talent? Offer more engaging training and content? Whatever size your company, a few more free tools in your toolbox could put you well on your way to reaching your goals this year!

We know that in your role, especially if your team is small, you likely wear many hats, from recruiter and trainer to compliance and governance. Below we’ve rounded up some of the most popular free tools and resources for HR professionals.

If you’ve received an official IRS notice, the likely response is to panic. But panicking is not really necessary. Notices are often just a matter of a clerical error or payment discrepancy that is easily resolved. Sometimes the required fixes are simple, and sometimes they are complex, but the important thing is to be active and transparent.

What you need to know for the New Year

With a contentious tax overhaul in the works in Washington D.C., it can be hard to keep up with all the other changes planned for 2018. While you wait for clarity on shifting tax laws, here’s a round-up of state and federal regulations you’ll need to accommodate in the coming year.

If your email notices, wellness campaigns, and employee announcements aren’t gaining traction and getting employees to take action on important items like signing up for benefits, it might be time to change your approach. Consider how incorporating some of the best practices from the field of public relations into your communication strategy can improve engagement and encourage employees to take action.

Streamlining processes, improving file management, avoiding duplication, empowering employees, and helping recruit new employees more efficiently sounds like an easy YES! But, before you sign up for human capital management software, consider your transition strategy. We’ve helped thousands of companies successfully implement payroll/HR platforms, and we’ve seen it all. Avoid these five mistakes for a smooth transition!

Would you subscribe to multiple accounting software platforms? Deploy two different point-of-sale systems? Probably not. But when it comes to human resources, using a variety of systems is common practice.

Many of today’s HR departments have a mix of digital tools such as online recruitment and applicant tracking software, an online benefits enrollment system through their broker, and yet a separate platform for payroll.  

When the various platforms don’t integrate, it can mean additional time to download and upload files, or maintain a set of spreadsheets to analyze data and create reports. Sometimes HR processes are made even more complicated by the existence of paper-based processes.

So what is human capital management (HCM), and how can it solve HR challenges like these?

Payroll service companies can be a big help when it comes to calculating and filing your company’s payroll taxes, printing checks, and being available to answer important payroll-related questions. Industry-leading companies have streamlined processes and controls that lead to greater efficiency and fewer errors, which can save your company time and money.

When considering payroll service options, it is important to choose a reputable company because ultimately your business is responsible for paying the taxes, not your payroll company. That means you must do your homework to ensure the payroll company is compliant with regulatory standards and that your taxes are paid in full and on time.