Monthly Compliance Calendar Alert – Keep Your Company Compliant in January: Tax Season Begins, Employee Handbook Finalization, and Employee Performance Review

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.5″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”]

If you are in HR, you’re no stranger to compliance management, forms, and deadlines—though keeping them all in order may be a different story. We want to be sure you are equipped with the right information to keep everything on track throughout the year, from ACA to FLSA.

That is why we put together the HR compliance calendar, to bring you an important list of dates and deadlines you need to know to keep your workplace on track.

In this month’s compliance calendar, you will find the key topics to keep your Company up-to-date including employee awareness and required or recommended training.

*NEW: Monthly Compliance Calendar Consultations – As a client of Guardian HR you already know how valuable it is to receive assistance from your dedicated consultant but did you know you also have a compliance consultant available to you as well.  We will review your overall HR practices and procedures and set you up on a 12-month compliance agenda where you will have monthly meetings with your compliance consultant who will help you implement our recommendations. Ask your Dedicated Consultant to get you started with your Compliance Consultant today.  There’s no additional cost.
  • Not applicable to HUB100 or GHR Hotline Clients

Holidays

  • New Year’s Day – January 1
  • MLK Day – 3rd Monday in January

Important Dates and Deadlines for this Month

January 1

  • Coverage begins for new year health insurance plans for individuals through the Marketplace.

January 11

  • Employees are required to report to you tips of $20 or more earned during Dec 2020

January 20

  • Presidential Inauguration Day

Topics to Discuss and/or Review

1. Verify minimum wage requirements for facility locations. (check federal, state, and local laws as minimum wage varies). For clients with access to the Forms Library, references to this section can be found in the folder “Compensation and Payroll” specifically the “Minimum Wage Rates by State and Municipality” document.

 

2. Record retention: Maintain necessary records and purge outdated records. (See laws on I-9 record retention). For clients with access to the Forms Library, references to this section can be found in the folder “United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS)” and the folder “Personnel Files.”

 

3. Finalize Employee Handbook (If applicable).

 

4. Update all internal resources for appropriate year limits and reporting requirements.

 

5. Distribute updated Employee Handbook or updates to Company Policies, collect and store Employee Handbook Acknowledgements, and/or contractual agreements.

 

6. Review required employee communications for the upcoming year.

  • Certain notices must be available to employees upon request, required by federal, state, or local laws or given circumstances (i.e. COBRA information, statutorily required pamphlets, benefit summaries, etc.). For clients with access to the Forms Library, references to this section can be found in the folder “COBRA.”
  • Post new compliance posters, update required pamphlets, and wage orders (if necessary). Feel free to reach out to our sales team at sales@guardian-hr.com to place an order for the required materials.
  • Check to see what requirements in your City/State has for required notices/employee communications. For clients with access to the Forms Library, references to this section can be found in the folder “Hiring” in the subfolder, “New Hire Packets.” Select your state and see the requirements for posters/notices here.

 

7. Work with benefits broker to ensure that all filing deadlines for benefits plans and health care reform elements are met (such as quarterly disclosure notices for 401(k) plans, etc.).

 

8. Review Employee Personnel Documents for upcoming Evaluations. For clients with access to the Forms Library, references to this section can be found in the folder “Performance.”

 

9. Prepare for employees’ performance evaluations by comparing past evaluations noting the current level of performance, examining the progress made since the last review, and establishing goals for employees’ next review.

 

10. Determine if any salary increases should be made at this time based on performance, productivity, seniority, and other lawful factors contemplated by the Company.

 

11. Schedule Annual Performance Evaluations. For clients with access to the Forms Library, references to this section can be found in the folder “Performance” in the “Performance Appraisals, Reviews, and Forms” subfolder.

 

12 Follow through with Performance Evaluations. For clients with access to the Forms Library, references to this section can be found in the folder “Performance.”

 

13. Determine if the evaluation was effective (i.e. notice any changes in employee’s work quality or quantity, or any changes in employee’s performance after evaluation.

Tips

More information in reference to the topics discussed in this month’s compliance calendar can be found in our comprehensive online Forms Library, which is available to members 24/7.

Note: This calendar is designed to help our clients review the key human resources-related reporting and notice requirements that may apply to their organizations. Please note that this list is for general reference purposes only and is not all-inclusive. Many of the compliance requirements are complex ERISA or other statutory legal filings and responsibilities may vary depending on your company’s plans. We encourage you to consult with your insurance brokers, plan administrators, and/or your ERISA and tax advisors for further guidance.

For the most current information on certain tax-related or benefit-related documents or forms provided by the IRS, or other sources, please check with a tax professional, benefit professional, and/or the correlating websites (i.e. irs.gov/LatestForms, etc.).

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]