Many employers have to determine whether a new hire is going to be an employee or an independent contractor. Often, this decision is made at the outset because the employer needs to know whether to withhold taxes when issuing a first paycheck. In fact, taxes are only the first of many reasons an employer needs to know the difference between …
When Your Business Partner Thinks He Is Funny…. But He Is Not.
Attorney Joe Turner weighs in on this complicated but serious issue. Dear Joe, I am in a Partnership with four other Physicians. One of the Partners fancies himself a comedian. He likes to send out joke emails to the entire staff and will often add improper comments to serious ones. The problem, aside from being immature and distracting, is that often …
Employment Contracts: Why They Are Important and How You Can Use Them to Protect Your Business.
Hiring new employees is a difficult process. You have to be sure they are properly suited for their position and have a personality and temperament which will suit the work environment you have spent time and effort putting together. This coupled with negotiating benefits, salary, and slotting in time for training in an already busy schedule can seem overwhelming and …
The Difference Between Lay-Offs and Furloughs
Lay-Off vs Furlough Lay-Off and furlough are two terms that are often used interchangeably but have two very different meanings. While lay-off is a form of termination, furlough is a type of unpaid leave that allows the employee to maintain their employment status and, in some cases, to maintain their benefit eligibility (check with your benefit carriers to see if …
Employment Contracts – Does your business need them?
Employees are a vital part of your business and naturally you want to hire people you can trust. However, it is also important to have policies in place should employees break this trust through theft or other forms of misconduct. In New Mexico, employees can be hired on an “at-will” basis, meaning their employment can be terminated at any time …
