Human Resources

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...

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...

I recently had a client reach out with what seemed like a simple question: “Can I pay this person as a contractor?”   Rather than giving a quick yes or no, I took the time to ask about what the person would actually be doing. Were they taking directions from the company? Would they set...

By Rachel Zheliabovskii   Congress’ recently passed budget and tax bill — the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — makes permanent a tax credit for employers who offer paid family and medical leave (PFML).   Congress first passed the temporary credit in 2017 as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The credit, which...

I recently had a client reach out in a bit of a panic. One of her customers had accused an employee of theft — and not just a vague complaint, but a serious claim that something had gone missing. My client was understandably hesitant. She said, “Isn’t this just hearsay? What if I get in...

I recently had a conversation with a client who was doing a great job building her team—but found herself completely overwhelmed when it came to organizing employee records. She called and said, “Barbara, I have no idea what goes in which file. I just know I’m not supposed to keep everything in one place!” She...

By Kathryn Mayer   At a time when employees are worried about retirement savings, new research indicates that female workers are faring even worse. Research from the Nationwide Retirement Institute (NRI) reveals a gender disparity in retirement confidence and readiness among current U.S. workplace savers as more women than men report challenges.   NRI’s survey...

By Roy Maurer   Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing employee recognition programs by making them more personalized and data-informed, spawning a variety of use cases beyond traditional applications. Employers are leveraging AI to analyze performance metrics, communication patterns, and employee preferences in order to deliver tailored recognition that resonates. By identifying unsung heroes and predicting when...