Employees need to be paid, no matter how busy you are as the owner of a company, and no matter how many employees you may have. And as no business can function without them, ensuring that employees are paid accurately for the work they’ve carried out for you, and in a timely manner, is absolutely imperative.
It’s also important that payroll meets both state and federal government regulations, and what may seem like a simple task every pay period, can actually become pretty complex and longwinded. Fortunately, outsourced HR services are a fantastically cost-effective solution for businesses struggling to fulfil their payroll requirements, and below are just 6 of the many burdens they can relieve you of:
- Payroll taxes
The majority of full-time salaried employees must pay income tax to the federal government, and this is typically withheld on their paycheck to be given automatically. Many small businesses ask their employees to complete a W-4 form so that their taxes are not automatically withheld.
- Garnishment of wages
From child support and tax payments to court orders, there may be a variety of reasons why any one of your employees has part of their wages garnished, and depending upon the individual and their circumstances, this can become complex. However, no matter their complexity, wage garnishment orders must be complied with, often making the payroll process longwinded and confusing.
- Payroll options
Your employees may be paid using a variety of methods, and while a direct deposit system via ACH is a popular choice, this might not be available to all of your employees. Whatever your preferred method of payment may be, you still have to take into account the needs and wishes of your employees, and finding a balanced system that works for everyone, isn’t always easy.
- Varying pay
While some employees may receive exactly the same paycheck, at exactly the same time every week or month, it may not be the case for others. You may have employees who are paid by the hour, or who receive a different pay scale for different tasks they’re asked to complete, and then there are commission based employees, and over time rates must also be accounted for.
- Employee benefits
If you have employees that are involved in a matching retirement or health insurance program, then they may choose to put a percentage of their pay into this account as and when they please, further complicating their paycheck.
- State tax
If you have multiple remote employees living in multiple states, their payroll must be adjusted in accordance with state tax requirements, and this can be extremely burdensome.
As you can see, there are a whole host of considerations to make and adhere to when calculating and issuing paychecks as a business owner, and the consequences of getting it wrong can be far greater than merely a disgruntled employee. To make sure payroll is always calculated and issued accurately, on time and in compliance with all relevant regulations, work with an experienced HR service provider.