How much does it cost to hire an employee?
If you run a restaurant that handles tips, you know that it can sometimes be tricky to keep track of…
Counting compliance: federal labor laws by employment size
How to do payroll for a small business As your entrepreneurial venture grows and you find yourself needing to hire employees to help take on the increasing workload,…
4 SBA Certifications to help disadvantaged businesses
If you ask any member of the Homebase team, they’ll tell you that I have a not-so-secret obsession with—and knack…
State voting leave laws 2020: What’s required?
Here are all of the 2020 state minimum wage increases While the federal minimum wage rate of $7.25 has not changed since 2009, there were many 2020 state minimum wage…
When customers refuse to wear masks: How to train employees to deal with difficult situations and enforce critical policies
As a business owner or manager, one of your top priorities amid the dangers of COVID-19 is most likely keeping your employees and customers safe while they spend time in your establishment. You may live in one of the more than 20 states that require residents to wear a mask in public. ( You can view a list of the state requirements here .) Or you may be enforcing your own mask requirements, just as some of the biggest store chains in the country—Walmart, Best Buy, and Target—are doing. Either
COVID-19 Financial Resources for Small Businesses
The CARES Act amends the Small Business Act to create the Paycheck Protection Program. Under the program, eligible businesses—or those with fewer than 500 employees—can quickly receive loans up to a maximum amount to eligible businesses to help pay up to eight weeks of payroll costs. The loans can also be used for rent, health benefits, insurance premiums, utilities, etc. You can apply with this application for the program. The SBA is planning on offering low-interest federal disaster loans fo
How a Doggy Daycare is Coping with COVID-19 & Preparing to Reopen
While it’s no secret the dogs of America have been relishing the extra quality time as we remain stuck at home during the COVID-19 outbreak, social distancing has prevented them from enjoying quality time with their furry friends due to the closures of doggy daycares. One of these daycares that has had to close its doors is in St. Louis, Missouri. Unique in its concept that dogs should be allowed to spend time with each other all day instead of rotating in and out of crates, The Watering Bowl i
A Breakdown of how the CARES Act Helps Small Businesses and Workers
On March 27, the $2 trillion coronavirus relief law—also known as —was passed by the federal government to help small businesses owners and their employees get through the tumultuous time brought on by the COVID-19 outbreak. The legislation is robust, with several strategies aimed at providing aid, relief and economic security for people impacted by forced closures and social distancing. What does that mean for small business owners? What about their employees? In this article we’ll break down
What is a Rotating Schedule Anyway? An Inside Look
There are many types of business, many types of jobs, and many types of shift management strategies to cater to those many types of businesses and jobs, because the 40-hour, 9-to-5 lifestyle just doesn’t always cut it. Business owners and managers who operate establishments that are open outside of the regular work hours (such as restaurants, bars and hospitals) must find a way to keep their bases covered and their employees happy. But what is the best strategy to successfully check both boxes?
Customer Story: How an Atlanta Toy Shop Saves Time with
“Unplugged play” is a common phrase used when describing Atlanta-based children’s store Rhen’s Nest Toy Shop. Luckily, that’s exactly what owners Christina and John Bonaccorse set out to create—a warm, inviting place for parents to bring their children and discover some great, unique toys while enjoying a wonderful experience, instead of resorting to letting “screen time” take over. It’s the screen time that the Bonaccorses were trying to avoid when the concept of Rhen’s Nest was crafted in 201
How to Stay Compliant with Work Schedule Laws
Change is in the air when it comes to labor laws on how employers can schedule shifts for hourly workers. Many cities are implementing predictive scheduling laws that require employers to give employees advance notice of their work schedules, and some states have proposed to enforce the idea as well. The purpose of the laws is to give hourly employees a “good faith” estimate of their workweeks. However, with “good faith” comes the great responsibility for restaurant owners and managers to stay c
Customer Story: How a Treasure Island Restaurant Uses to Work Easier
On Treasure Island in the San Francisco Bay, there sits a lovely, unique restaurant dedicated to good food and a great experience. Mersea offers a stunning view of San Francisco to go along with the comfort casual cuisine, and co-founding partner Meesun Boice said the idea for the unique place came about after she met executive chef and restaurateur Parke Ulrich in the Treasure Island Yacht Club. Meesun, who previously had a long career in tech and calls herself an “accidental restaurateur,” le
What is an Earnest Money Deposit?
Lessons learned in civilian active shooter scenario training
“Have you thought of what you would do in an active shooter scenario?” The question rang in my ears as I sat in a meeting room with my colleagues at the start of an active shooter training day led by Safariland. A few people raised their hands and shared their ideas on how we could escape our office building in the horrible event of a shooting, and I thought to myself, “I’m glad someone’s thinking about it.” Luckily, I was about to become considerably more knowledgeable not only on how to esca
How a retired fire Lt.’s ‘Memorial Run’ truck honors the fallen
Not many truck drivers are used to vehicles following their rigs to try and get a look, but for a retired fire lieutenant and his wife, it’s something that’s happened more than once. That’s because the “Memorial Run” is one of a kind. Although the semi is emblazoned with the names of a few fallen firefighters, retired fire Lt. Randall Rogers said the goal is to honor every firefighter who has given his or her life in the line of duty. As Rogers and his wife Elizabeth drive across the country
What does the future of firefighting look like?
Fire service technology has already changed drastically since the 1600s. Can you imagine not being able to enter a burning building because you were without personal protective equipment? Nowadays, firefighters are forging through the flames with high-tech gear such as thermal imaging cameras to help them see where they’re going, and drones to get an eye in the sky perspective. With the speed that technology moves in every other industry, one has to wonder what the future holds for the fire se
5 things to know about the Oscar-nominated doc 'Heroin(e)'
A Netflix documentary that follows three women as they fight the opioid epidemic in Huntington, West Virginia is gaining national attention after receiving an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary Short Subject. “Heroin(e)” is a 39-minute film that follows three women who have taken different approaches to battling the opioid epidemic ravaging their town. They come from different paths in life – a fire chief, a judge and a street missionary – but they have one thing in common: They aren’t givi
The history of bagpipes in the fire service
If you’ve ever been to a firefighter funeral, or even down the street from one, you’ve heard the Great Highland Bagpipe. Their beautiful music captivates the listener and sets the somber tone for another hero being laid to rest. Like many staples in our society, you may not have even wondered how the Scottish instrument achieved such an integral role at firefighters' funerals — and other responders for that matter— in the United States. Turns out, it all started over 170 years ago with the Gre
Teenager doesn’t have a prom date, takes her biggest achievement instead
If you weren’t in a long-term ~*forever*~ relationship when prom time came around in high school, you probably dreaded finding a date. You built up this night so immensely in your head that you just KNEW if you went alone to this magical evening everyone would laugh and stare at you as you hung your head in shame. But we all know prom is just a bunch of kids standing around in a room with paper mache decorations and weak punch waiting to go to a party afterwards so they can drink their dad’s li
NASA releases photos of Earth from Saturn and it’s humbling to say the least
Did you guys know that outer space is really, really big and Earth is really, really small? Of course you did, but how often do you actually sit back and think about how insignificant our little blue planet is compared to the vastness of the great unknown? Luckily NASA is here to remind us all just how true that is with these incredible photos of how Earth looks through the rings of Saturn.
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