As an independent contractor, it's important to protect yourself and your business, and that includes carrying insurance coverage. Protection is crucial, especially in today's marketplace. But what insurance do independent contractors need and how much? Common practice dictates that a contractor should have about $1 million in general liability insurance at least. But it is often best to…

The first time you use a temporary staffing service, you’ll undoubtedly be a bit surprised when you hear the rate the staffing firm quotes you. In the past, companies have often gone to these groups in search of the lowest price possible — but the landscape is shifting. Companies across the country have realized that…

Businesses move quickly these days, adding contingent workers on an as-needed basis when work and jobs ramp up in order to meet company objectives. Many search the web looking for help and hoping to find a quick solution. There are two types of services they can lean on: payroll service companies or payrolling companies that…

Innovative Employee Solutions (IES) is constantly working to improve services for our clients. That's why we're making technology improvements our top priority with a new online services platform. Getting the user-friendly portal out to clients was a process of trial and error, and it took some fine-tuning and adjustment to get right. It was well worth the effort, though,…

Poor internal communication can have some seriously negative impacts on a company — poor morale, high employee turnover and lower employee productivity, to name a few. Worse yet, these can lead to a lasting effect on a company’s bottom line. Statistics show that plenty of businesses could stand to improve in this area. According to…

Hiring new talent for any company can be a time-consuming, tedious process. It starts with drafting an accurate job description and posting it to as many places as possible. Then you need to sift through hundreds of resumes, making sure you don’t waste your time on candidates who are completely wrong for the role. Interviewing…

According to a study by ManpowerGroup, 40 percent of employers are finding it difficult to fill open positions. Considering that we're dealing with one of the biggest talent shortages in over 10 years, this comes as no surprise. While the unemployment rate rose a bit in January 2019, it still remained low at 4 percent, according to the Bureau of…

Keep these factors in mind to make sure your independent contractor compliance program doesn't run into trouble. About 20%–30% of today's workforce in Europe and the US engages in some form of independent work, according to McKinsey, and those numbers will continue to grow. Such growth in the gig economy, along with increased attention from the US Department…

The Raise the Wage Act of 2019 would result in a minimum wage increase that would significantly affect businesses. Discover ways to deal with rising labor costs. Designed to ensure that employees earn a reasonable living wage, the Raise the Wage Act of 2019 (H. R. 582) proposes a gradual minimum wage increase from $7.25 to $15.00, doubling the…

Independent contractors and their employers regularly explore uncharted territory. With so many businesses now relying on the swelling gig economy, the National Labor Relations Board’s January decision to broaden the definition of independent contract work could create a ripple effect in the labor market. HR professionals should keep a close eye on what comes next to protect…