http://www.trigonstaff.com/Mon, 06 Feb 2012 02:42:52 GMTen-usBarb Dennis http://www.trigonstaff.com/blog/article/468/remote/epa-lead-regulations-from-trigon-insurance  Article from our sister company Trigon Insurance discussing the recent EPA lead regulations for contractors working on buildings built prior to 1978.      Article on www.Trigon-Insurance.com  [...]Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:04:59 GMThttp://www.trigonstaff.com/blog/article/462/remote/department-of-labor-looks-to-level-the-playing-field  In a move that will affect most American corporations, the Department of Labor plans to require companies to prepare and adopt compliance plans aimed at ensuring they do not violate wage, job safety and equal employment laws.    The effort[...]Wed, 04 Aug 2010 14:04:51 GMThttp://www.trigonstaff.com/blog/article/442/remote/termination-issues-per-the-u.s.-dept.-of-laborUpon termination of employment, some workers and their families (who might otherwise lose their health benefits) have the right to choose to continue group health benefits provided by their group health plan for limited periods of time. Employers may also [...]Wed, 26 May 2010 16:48:06 GMThttp://www.trigonstaff.com/blog/article/441/remote/trigon-offices-closed-for-memorial-dayTrigon we will be closed on Monday, May 31st in observance of Memorial Day. We will resume regular business hours on Tuesday, June 1st. Thank you. [...]Wed, 26 May 2010 16:39:41 GMThttp://www.trigonstaff.com/blog/article/424/remote/the-benefits-of-employee-leasing  You may save money by leasing your staff through an employment service agency. Staff may even get a better benefits package.   If you own or run a business, imagine ditching the drudgery of administering employee records. Instead of toiling ove[...]Fri, 07 May 2010 15:48:54 GMThttp://www.trigonstaff.com/blog/article/422/remote/health-care-reform-reshapes-tax-code In March, Congress passed two pieces of legislation designed to reform the U.S. health care system. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PL 111-148) was enacted on March 23, and was quickly followed by the Health Care and Education Reconciliati[...]Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:17:31 GMThttp://www.trigonstaff.com/blog/article/418/remote/what-is-vicarious-employer-liabilityVicarious liability is a form of strict, secondary liability that arises under the common law doctrine of agency – respondeat superior – the responsibility of the superior for the acts of their subordinate, or, in a broader sense, the responsib[...]Tue, 20 Apr 2010 12:39:30 GMThttp://www.trigonstaff.com/blog/article/416/remote/healthcare-reform-update:-small-employer-tax-creditNew update on requirements for small business employers on providing healthcare for their employees.   Healthcare Reform Update: Small Employer Tax Credit  [...]Thu, 08 Apr 2010 14:00:40 GMThttp://www.trigonstaff.com/blog/article/415/remote/department-of-labor-employer-compliance-guideGreat resource for employers to reference for laws that may impact their business.   Department of Labor Employer Compliance Guide  [...]Thu, 08 Apr 2010 09:10:55 GMThttp://www.trigonstaff.com/blog/article/414/remote/how-the-health-care-reform-act-will-impact-businessHere is a recap of how the Health Care Reform Act will impact business owners.   How the Health Care Reform Legislation Will Impact Your Individual and Employer Clients Immediately. Individuals and employer group plans that wish to keep their current [...]Wed, 31 Mar 2010 10:24:24 GMThttp://www.trigonstaff.com/blog/article/408/remote/interview-with-sales-manager-mike-plowman-on-employer-tax-compliance   Interview with Trigon Sales Manager Mike Plowman discussing Employer Tax Compliance and how the failure to pay employer taxes may end up in liens, penalties and fines on your business.   This brief 5 minute video also looks at how a serv[...]Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:01:15 GMThttp://www.trigonstaff.com/blog/article/407/remote/arizona-construction-jobs-up-in-januaryArizona added 800 construction jobs from December 2009 to January 2010, according to this article from the Phoenix Journal.  Not all good news since an estimated 26 percent of the construction work force in Arizona lost jobs in 2009. Even more reason [...]Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:54:09 GMThttp://www.trigonstaff.com/blog/article/403/remote/pending-payroll-bill-would-affect-employer-tax-payments-In late February, the Senate passed H.R. 2847, the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act (HIRE Act) by a 70-28 vote. As of this writing, the bill had not yet become law, but was pending in the House of Representatives. If subsequently signed by the P[...]Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:23:07 GMThttp://www.trigonstaff.com/blog/article/372/remote/arizona-tax-credits:-new-employer-withholding-lawAs of January 1, 2010, Arizona taxpayers can now authorize their employers to reduce their state tax withholdings for certain tax credit donations. This does not reduce your tax liability, but it does allow you to make donations through your withholdings r[...]Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:48:08 GMThttp://www.trigonstaff.com/blog/article/368/remote/why-should-i-hire-an-accountant-for-my-business?A lot of businesses go through bankruptcy and liquidation due to their improper accounting practices. An accountant plays an important role in an organization since money management is one of their key roles in addition to keeping proper accounting records[...]Fri, 08 Jan 2010 08:06:50 GMThttp://www.trigonstaff.com/blog/article/360/remote/are-you-ready-for-the-new-year?Are you ready for the New Year? December and January are probably the two most important months for payroll administration. Here are just a few of the more significant items employers should have on their checklist:DecemberCheck employees' addresses and [...]Thu, 10 Dec 2009 09:28:28 GMThttp://www.trigonstaff.com/blog/article/352/remote/agents-dominate-workers-compensation-marketplaceArticle written by Veronica DeVore (veronica.devore@iiaba.net)Writer/Editor for the Big "I" www.iiab.netThe Majority of small business clients prefer to purchase coverage through an independent agent.While personal lines customers often turn to the Interne[...]Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:19:15 GMThttp://www.trigonstaff.com/blog/article/346/remote/the-swine-flu,-the-ada-and-lawyers-on-the-prowlYou might not think that the H1N1 virus, commonly know as swine flu, has anything to do with the ADA. Well, you clearly have not been reading Nation's Restaurant News. Lisa Jennings writes a complex and cautionary tale for restaurant managers, warning them[...]Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:17:15 GMThttp://www.trigonstaff.com/blog/article/341/remote/osha-begins-national-emphasis-program-on-recordkeepingThe U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is initiating a national emphasis program (NEP) on recordkeeping to assess the accuracy of injury and illness data recorded by employers.The recordkeeping NEP involves[...]Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:11:04 GMThttp://www.trigonstaff.com/blog/article/313/remote/new-irs-initiative-giving-rise-to-more-employment-tax-audits-this-fallThe Internal Revenue Service has announced a new National Research Program ("NRP") initiative relating to employment taxes. The IRS started NRPs in 2001 to measure the "tax gap." The "tax gap" is the difference between the am[...]Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:34:54 GMThttp://www.trigonstaff.com/blog/article/305/remote/video:-can-you-be-held-personally-responsible-for-employer-taxesTo encourage the prompt payment of withheld income and employment taxes, Congress passed a law that provides for the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty. The video linked to this page discusses the personal liability the employer is exposed to when they administ[...]Mon, 27 Jul 2009 09:32:55 GMThttp://www.trigonstaff.com/blog/article/297/remote/employment-law-video---what-is-an-independent-contractorVideo discussing the difference between an Independent Contractor and an Employee. Independent Contractor Law Video Fri, 26 Jun 2009 10:34:00 GMThttp://www.trigonstaff.com/blog/article/289/remote/osha-cites-sulzer-metco-coating-with-23-violations-and-fines-after-a-worker-fatalityThe U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Sulzer Metco Coating with 23 alleged serious safety and health violations following the death of a worker. "Sulzer Metco Coating needs to take immediat[...]Fri, 22 May 2009 12:20:48 GMThttp://www.trigonstaff.com/blog/article/282/remote/optimizing-your-s-corporation-tax-breaks-through-a-downturnGreats tax tips to consider in running an S Corporation. Click here for article on S Corp tax breaks [...]Thu, 14 May 2009 12:14:16 GMThttp://www.trigonstaff.com/blog/article/274/remote/how-to-keep-tabs-on-any-businessThere is always less room for error when the economy goes south. But benchmarking your business means a lot more than tracking revenues, gross margins and debt ratios. To truly a get a handle on your company's health, you have to look beyond income s[...]Wed, 06 May 2009 22:13:25 GMThttp://www.trigonstaff.com/blog/article/251/remote/accounting-basics---what-is-income-statement?While learning accounting basic, you can find that income statement is defined as a report that provides accounting information about a business to shareholders, government entities, and other interested parties. The accounting information provided in this[...]Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:38:26 GMThttp://www.trigonstaff.com/blog/article/250/remote/claiming-expenses-for-use-of-home-as-officeOnce upon a time the only expenses that you could claim when using part of your home as an office were the additional costs incurred. This meant that HMRC would not allow any part of your standing charges to be claimed as they argued that you would incur [...]Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:31:57 GMThttp://www.trigonstaff.com/blog/article/226/remote/the-impact-of-the-recent-financial-crisis-on-401(k)-account-balancesDuring 2008, major U.S. equity indexes were sharply negative, with the S&P 500 Index losing 37.0 percent for the year, which translated into corresponding losses in 401(k) retirement plan assets. But how individual 401(k) participants are affected by t[...]Wed, 01 Apr 2009 11:23:57 GMThttp://www.trigonstaff.com/blog/article/225/remote/the-cost-of-osha-non-complianceThe U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is citing McLendon Enterprises Inc. of Vidalia with six workplace safety violations and proposing $124,250 in penalties. The citations come after an OSHA compliance [...]Wed, 01 Apr 2009 11:22:55 GMThttp://www.trigonstaff.com/blog/article/224/remote/capital-gains-tax---learn-the-basicsCapital gains tax is also one classification in the tax laws. If you had a transaction qualified in the category, you better pay your obligation to the government. Actually it is a voluntary act which is paid only when a capital asset is sold. Taxpayers ca[...]Wed, 01 Apr 2009 11:22:03 GMThttp://www.trigonstaff.com/blog/article/223/remote/irs-wage-garnishment,-court-orders-and-levies-explainedFrom time to time people find themselves in a predicament where they cannot pay their dues. Depending on which state you reside in, garnishment laws exist to ensure that creditors who are owed money are paid if the debtor is unwilling to enter into a volun[...]Wed, 01 Apr 2009 11:20:31 GMThttp://www.trigonstaff.com/blog/article/222/remote/labor-legislation-could-be-bad-news-for-businessesAS THE GOVERNMENT bails out one big company after another, leaving small businesses to grudgingly fend for themselves, new legislation may make their survival even more of a challenge. Introduced in both houses of Congress last week, the Employee Free Ch[...]Wed, 01 Apr 2009 11:19:47 GMT