"The Human Resources Management (HRM) function includes a variety of activities, and key among them is deciding what staffing needs you have and whether to use independent contractors or hire employees to fill these needs, recruiting and training the best employees, ensuring they are high performers, dealing with performance issues, and ensuring your personnel and management practices conform to various regulations. Activities also include managing your approach to employee benefits and compensation, employee records and personnel policies. Usually small businesses (for-profit or nonprofit) have to carry out these activities themselves because they can't yet afford part- or full-time help. However, they should always ensure that employees have -- and are aware of -- personnel policies which conform to current regulations. These policies are often in the form of employee manuals, which all employees have."
- Carter McNamara, MBA, PhD
Links
Human Resource News and Resources
Voluntary Charitable Donations from Employees - Clarification August 14, 2012 - Recent changes to RSA 275:48 (Withholding of Wages) have implications for nonprofits that currently accept voluntary charitable donations from their employees through payroll deduction. The Center sought clarification on the issue and is now providing an update. Read more...
 The Deep Value of Investing in PeopleMay 17, 2012 - In this article from the 2012 Spring edition of the Nonprofit Focus, board leader Barbara Couch reflects on the impact of effective HR practices. Read now...View the entire Nonprofit Focus...The Nonprofit Salary TrapAugust 31, 2011 - This article by John Tobin, featured in condensed form in our Nonprofit Focus, addresses the challenges faced by nonprofits (specifically legal services, but broadly applicable) in attracting and retaining top talent at nonprofit salaries. In it he says, "In order to create and develop and maintain a vibrant staff of varying backgrounds, experience levels, and skills, any organization must provide its staff with a livable middle class standard of living."
Read the article...
There's an App for That!July 26, 2011 - The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced the launch of its first application for smartphones, a timesheet to help employees independently track the hours they work and determine the wages they are owed.The free app is currently compatible with the iPhone and iPod Touch. The Labor Department will explore updates that could enable similar versions for other smartphone platforms, such as Android and BlackBerry, and other pay features not currently provided for, such as tips, commissions, bonuses, deductions, holiday pay, pay for weekends, shift differentials and pay for regular days of rest. Learn more...Want a low-tech alternative?
Does your Healthcare Program need a check-up?September 28, 2010 - The Affordable Care Act of 2010 makes some changes to healthcare programs
offered by employers. Nonprofit employers who offer tax-favored healthcare programs like Health Savings Accounts or Flexible Spending Arrangements should make sure that their employees know of these changes. Beginning Jan. 1, 2011, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, like a nonprescription pain reliever, will be reimbursable through healthcare programs like flexible spending arrangements or health reimbursement arrangements only if the OTC drugs are prescribed.
Read more...
Department of Labor Posters Available Free of ChargeSeptember 28, 2010 - The Department of Labor is issuing another employer alert to all businesses operating in the State of New Hampshire. We have been notified that once again companies have sent letters to businesses as well as visiting business locations, indicating the need to purchase up to date labor law posters or risk being fined for noncompliance. The State of New Hampshire, Department of Labor has these posters available free of charge. The postings can be obtained by contacting the Department of Labor at 271-1492, 6294,3176 or by visiting our website www.labor.state.nh.us
Payroll Tax Exemption Form Issued by IRSApril 14, 2010 - The Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act will provide tax exemptions for employers that hire and retain eligible workers. The IRS has issued a new form for organizations to use to claim this credit. Form W-11 and answers to frequently asked questions can be found at the IRS website. The form is required to claim both the payroll tax exemption for nonprofit employers that hire workers who have previously been unemployed for at least 60 days and to claim the new hire retention credit of up to $1,000 for every new worker retained on the payroll for at least a year.
Most eligible employers will use the W-11 when they file Form 941 - Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return, This form has been revised for use beginning with the second calendar quarter of 2010 and is currently posted in draft form.
Health Reform Resources: On-line InformationApril 14, 2010 - How health reform will affect you, nonprofits, small businesses, the middle class, the uninsured and how health reform will be implemented are questions that FamiliesUSA proposes to answer on its Web site. They will also cover what states must do to prepare for coverage expansions. Check out the website regularly to find new information.
Another web-based resource was published by the Washington Post and consists of a collection of Web sites the Post calls “worth keeping an eye on.”
NH Employers are Significantly Impacted by Economic Stimulus PlanOn February 17, 2009 President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) into law. Employers are impacted by this legislation in many ways, one of which is the creation of a COBRA tax subsidy for assistance eligible individuals. Read this article contributed by Checkmate Payroll for more information
Avoiding Common Hiring PitfallsThere are a number of ways that recruiting and hiring processes can go wrong, and hiring the right people into the right positions is too important to leave to chance. Whether your organization has dedicated human resources professionals or not, there are a number of common hiring mistakes that can be easily avoided according to this Guidestar article.
How to Write Job DescriptionsCheck out the new Free Report, " How To Write Job Descriptions That Are Complete, Accurate, And Legally Sound," which provides you with nine universal steps every employer can take to write solid job descriptions that keep your organization in step with the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) and the new Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) regulations. (Free registration required)
Be Proactive When Facing Tough DecisionsIf your company is in the unfortunate position of having to effect a mass layoff or plant closing, you must take into consideration the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act's (WARN) 60-day notice requirement. Read this article from legalworkplace.com to learn more...
New I-9 Form RequiredThe new I-9 form is required for employees hired on or after February 2, 2009. On and after February 2, 2009, the documents on the List of Acceptable Documents will change. For example, employers are required to accept expired passports and identity documents through February 1, 2009. On and after February 2, 2009, expired documents may no longer be accepted to complete the I-9 form. The current I-9 form is to be used through February 1, 2009. Learn more...
Department of Labor Update: Proof of Coverage SubmissionBeginning July 1, 2006 the New Hampshire, Department of Labor began accepting Injury Reports (NH Forms 8WC) via EDI. The New Hampshire Legislation mandated the reporting of workers claims via EDI. Most are currently reporting claims via EDI today; the few exceptions are those who report a very small quantity of reports in a year. The department will be providing a WEB submission method in the near future to allow these low volume employers the ability to report workers claims electronically. In August of 2008 the New Hampshire, Department of Labor signed an agreement with NCCI, to begin to accept the New Hampshire Form 6WC (Proof of Coverage) filings via EDI. As NCCI currently provides a service for the collection and reporting of proof of coverage information in several states, the New Hampshire, Department of Labor has designated NCCI as its agent to collect, store and report POC information. We are working on the development of this system with NCCI and expect to complete testing in February/March 2009. You must continue to submit your proof of coverage filings via paper until you are contacted by the department, NCCI or both, to notify you of the switch from paper filings to electronic filings. The New Hampshire WEB site has been updated to include the POC EDI Information and documents.
FMLA Rules Revisions Take Effect January 16thU.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has released the final changes to regulations governing the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The final rule revisions take effect on January 16, 2009, and help clarify employer and employee responsibilities under the law. If your agency/company has 50 or more employees within a 75 mile radius, this affects you. Please be sure you are in compliance with Federal and State regulations by reviewing the new regulations. The links below will bring you to the updated information.
Rewarding Employees in Tough Economic TimesCheck out the new Free Report, " Rewarding Employees In Tough Economic Times: Retention Ideas That Won't Bust Your Budget," which offers lots of innovative ideas for low- or even no-cost perks, services, and practices designed to help keep employees engaged and committed both during and after the current economic crisis. The report also features guidance for managers on motivating employees through personal recognition efforts, and offers advice on how to determine which low-cost initiatives are best for your own organization. Free Registration Required to View the Report
When Layoffs Are Necessary, Nonprofits Need to Be PlanfulUnfortunately, with the state of the economy today, layoffs may be an option that some nonprofits need to explore. Fieldstone Alliance has an article on how to prepare for this event and ways to make the process work as effectively as possible. Read more...
The AARP Workforce Assessment ToolIt’s a demographic certainty: the workforce is aging and the leading edge of the 76-million boomer generation is nearing traditional retirement age. An AARP study, Preparing for the Aging Workforce: A Focus on New Hampshire Employers, shows that six in ten employers believe their business is likely to face a shortage of qualified workers but only one in ten have taken steps to prepare for this shortage. AARP has released a new online tool to help employers gauge the impact of the aging workforce on their business. The AARP Workforce Assessment tool is a free, confidential resource that can help you assess your current and future workforce needs, anticipate skill shortages and build on your strengths to attract and retain experienced workers. Access the free, confidential AARP Workforce Assessment tool by going to AARP’s Employer Resource Center at www.aarp.org/employerresourcecenter. Read more about the tool...
Workers' Compensation UpdatesThe Department of Labor has published the following updates to their website:
Regional Human Resource Associations
Get in touch with your local human resources associations and learn about the information and benefits that they provideSeacoast Human Resouces Association
Human Resources Assocation-Greater Concord
Greater Merrimack Valley Human Resource Association (the Greater Merrimack Valley areas in Massachusetts and NH)
Manchester Area Human Resources Association
Greater Monadnock Society for Human Resource Management
Greater Nashua Human Resources Association
River Valley Human Resources Association
HR State Council of NH Affiliate of the Society for HR Management
National Human Resources Association - NH
New Hampshire Department of Employment Security
The NH Department of Employment Security (NHES)
is a federally funded state agency. As a part of their mission they
develop and disseminate labor market information and provide
measurements of labor market outcome to assist local and state
officials, private employers, educators and trainers and the public in
making decisions which promote economic development and the efficient
use of state labor resources. Visit their Website for valuable
resources including the recently released "New Hampshire Occupational Employment & Wages - 2007"
NH Department of Labor
The NH Department of Labor website provides information and resources employment issues in NH. The site includes important basic information about wage and hour regulations, worker's compensation, worker safety, and much more
U.S. Department of LaborThe U.S. Department of Labor offers online tools for HR managers. The elaws Advisors are interactive e-tools that provide easy-to-understand information about a number of federal employment laws. Each Advisor simulates the interaction you might have with an employment law expert. It asks questions and provides answers based on responses given.
Attracting and Hiring Staff
How do you get the right people without making the mistake of finding someone with the right skills but the wrong mind-set? Hire for Attitude, Train for Skill, is an article that offers an intriguing view of the hiring process.
http://management-issues.com/display_page.asp?section=opinion&id=1968
One
of the first steps in getting the right candidate for the job is
defining and describing the position. The Nonprofit Professionals
Advisory Group offers guidance on writing an effective and engaging job description.
http://www.nonprofitprofessionals.com/library/position_description_oyster.htm
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