Latest posts six columns

September 11th brings us two lesser-known but surprisingly wise holidays: National No News is Good News Day and Make Your Bed Day. At first glance, they may seem unrelated — but at People First Inc., we see a theme: Peace of mind through preparation.   Let’s break it down.   Make Your Bed Day reminds...

I recently worked with a client who was feeling overwhelmed about how to create and implement a Paid Time Off (PTO) policy. They wanted to do the right thing for their team but weren’t sure where to start. Should it be based on hours worked? Should part-time and full-time employees be treated differently? How do...

Source: ADP® HR Tip of the Week   The federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires employers with 15 or more employees to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with a disability, unless it would impose an undue hardship on the employer. Many states have similar requirements, some of which cover smaller employers....

Well, there’s a lot to unpack in this, in this particular video. First of all, HR needs to be involved. A company that does not, that has an HR department as the supervisor mentioned but not involve them is trouble. The employee should have been given a job description with the new duties and the...

Before dawn breaks, dedicated newspaper carriers across the country are already hard at work, ensuring their communities stay informed — rain or shine, seven days a week. Today, on National Newspaper Carrier Day, we salute their hustle, reliability, and resilience.   In fact, we see a little of ourselves in them.   At People First,...

We recently got a call from a client with a tricky situation. One of their employees had casually mentioned being injured during a weekend recreational trip. Nothing unusual there—until the following week, when the same employee claimed they’d hurt themselves on the job instead.   The employer was understandably concerned. Was this a legitimate workplace...

Source: ADP® SPARK   Absenteeism and tardiness can have a significant impact on a company, including lost productivity, increased overtime costs, and elevated stress among the employees left to pick up the slack. To help manage these issues, it is a best practice for all employers to have written policies and procedures in place governing...

If you’ve ever found yourself procrastinating at your desk by racing your computer mouse around desktop icons… well, you’re not alone. August 28th is officially National Race Your Mouse Around the Icons Day, a lighthearted reminder that sometimes we all need a moment of levity (or a mental break between Zoom calls).   Here at...

I recently had a client reach out with a question I hear often: “We’re struggling to keep track of our employees’ PTO. Can you help us figure out the best way to manage it?”   PTO (Paid Time Off) can be surprisingly tricky to manage. Between accrual rates, carryovers, and making sure everything aligns with...

Source: ADP® SPARK Newsletter   H.R.1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (the Act), was signed into law July 4, 2025. The Act includes several changes that will impact payroll, employment taxes, and employee benefits. Below, we answer frequently asked questions about changes in the tax treatment of overtime and tips made by the Act....

On Thursday, August 21st, we’re celebrating something special—and no, it’s not just Poet’s Day, though we do love a good rhyme.   It’s also a chance to reflect on 25 years of People First Inc. and how HR consulting—when done right—has a rhythm, cadence, and impact that’s not unlike a well-written poem.   While Poet’s...

I recently had a client ask me to write contracts for all of their employees. Curious, I asked why they wanted contracts in place. Their answer was simple: “We’re giving everyone raises, and we want to document it properly.”   The Problem with Calling It a Contract   While the intent was good, labeling these...

Source: ADP® HR Tip of the Week   A variety of HR issues can surface when a company is growing or shrinking. Below, we provide some guidelines for managing these types of transitions.   A Growing Business:   Maintaining company culture. Businesses often struggle with maintaining their company culture during rapid growth. Think about what makes your...

In Florida, lizards are just part of the scenery—darting across sidewalks, scaling palm trees, and sunbathing like they own the place. So when we realized August 14 is National Lizard Day, we couldn’t resist a little metaphorical fun… especially as we celebrate 25 years of People First Inc!   Because believe it or not, HR...

Not long ago, a client reached out with a question that left them feeling a little overwhelmed: “Barbara, our third-party administrator is preparing something called a Form 5500. We have no idea what this is or why we need it. Can you help?”   Breaking Down the Mystery   Form 5500 is one of those...

By David Anderson, Margret V. Bjarnadottir, and David Gaddis Ross   In the past few years, addressing systemic pay inequities has been a goal for many companies. Not only does improving equity protect companies from legal liability, but it also helps build a better, fairer workplace. How to achieve pay equity, however, isn’t always obvious. When we present our research on...

W2 or 1099, which one is legal for you? Got a call from a client just starting out and they’re going to be having folks work for, for them for just a few hours a week, maybe a couple of days a week. So they thought they could pay them as an independent contractor. That’s...

At People First Inc, we’ve been helping businesses navigate the ever-evolving world of HR Consulting for 25 years—and we’ve learned a thing or two about what truly matters: People, clarity, and processes that actually make sense.   That’s why we had to laugh (and maybe cringe a little) when we saw the calendar note: August...