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What Role Should HR Play in Benefits Open Enrollment to Ensure Success?

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There's no doubt that employee benefits brokers play a vital role in any benefits enrollment process. They know what benefits programs are available, which vendors can provide them, and how benefits are priced.
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How To Follow ACA Reporting Requirements & Avoid Penalties

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Many organizations struggle to understand if they are following the Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting standards correctly while others are not aware that they need to report in the first place. If you aren’t in compliance with ACA reporting requirements, each employee represents a potential fine. These fines can range from hundreds to millions of dollars—easy enough to bankrupt a smaller organization.
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Clark Schaefer Strategic HR's wheel of HR Services, including HR Strategy, Recruitment, Training & Development, Benefits & Compensation, Communications, Employee Relations, Recordkeeping, and Health, Safety & Security

What is HR’s Role in the Mergers & Acquisitions Process?

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Mergers & Acquisitions are a complicated process affecting every facet of an organization – most importantly, its people. Because employees are the key to ensuring the success of any organization, it is critical to develop a thoughtful and strategic human resources-focused approach in the process. This requires HR leaders to be involved from the beginning.
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Employee Benefits Trends 2025–2026: Attracting Top Talent

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Review of the benefit trends attracting top talent in 2026.
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How To Set Up An Employee Bonus Plan

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HR Question: I am having trouble motivating my employees to do more than just the fundamental functions of their job. Could an employee bonus plan help? And if so, how do I set this up?
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How Can I Support Employee Well-Being Beyond the EAP?

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While many organizations have implemented an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) as an important way to support their employees' mental health, that is only one component of well-being. There are many ways HR can play a direct role in supporting employees' overall well-being. In this article, we'll discuss what well-being is, how it impacts individuals and organizations, and offer specific examples of how you can support employee well-being in your organization.
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What Employers Need To Know About Michigan’s Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA)

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On February 21, 2025, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed House Bill 4002 into law, amending the state's Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA). These changes have significant implications for employers operating within Michigan as they include revisions to accrual rates, carryover rules, and compliance deadlines.
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How Can I Use Salary Benchmarking As a Recruitment Strategy?

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HR Question: Like many companies, we're struggling with recruiting right now. I've been tasked with doing salary benchmarking to see if compensation is part of the problem, but I'm not sure how to go about doing it. Can you advise me on how to tackle the benchmarking process?
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How to Manage Creditable Coverage Reporting and Notices

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HR Question: I am getting ready to report “creditability” of my prescription plans in March of this year, but I just sent a notice in October. Are these the same notices? And if so, why do I need to send them out twice?
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Do I Have to Give Performance Bonuses to Employees on FMLA Leave?

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HR Question: It’s almost time for bonus calculations and payments, but one of my employees has been out on approved FMLA leave for the past six weeks. I don’t want to penalize the employee for being out, but it doesn’t seem fair to my other employees if I give this individual their full bonus. How should I handle performance bonuses during FMLA leave?
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What are the Best HR Practices for the End of the Year?

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HR Question: I know there are several year-end human resources activities that should be done, and I'm worried I will miss a step. What are some of the best HR practices for the end of the year?
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What to do if the IRS notifies you of Affordable Care Act (ACA) penalty fees

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HR Question: How do I know if my company needs to submit Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting to the IRS? What are the potential ACA penalty fees if we do it wrong?
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What are the Latest ACA Reporting Changes and Deadlines?

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ACA update - employers with 10+ forms will be required to report through electronic methods. Here are the ACA reporting forms and deadlines.
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What Are The Top 5 Commonly Missed Records In Employee Personnel Files?

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Are you missing any key records in employee files? Avoid these common mistakes to protect your organization and improve HR compliance.
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Can I backdate FMLA paperwork?

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Under certain circumstances, you can backdate FMLA paperwork. The key is following the right process to be compliant. We'll explain how!
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Can We Cut a Live Check to Entice an Employee to Return Company Property?

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Is it acceptable to cut a live check to entice a terminated employee to return company property? Learn about your options and legal concerns.
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Can My Employee Take a Vacation While on FMLA Leave?

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What would you do if an employee posted vacation pictures while out on FMLA leave? Our HR expert shares what to do... and what not to do.
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How Can We Address Pay Compression?

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Pay compression occurs when the pay of newer/less-skilled workers approach the pay of more experienced workers. Here are our recommendations to tackle it.
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What Laws Apply When Businesses Reach 50 Employees?

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Reaching a workforce of 50 employees is a terrific milestone. Be sure you're aware of the laws that apply to businesses with 50 employees.
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What Is the Difference Between FSAs and HSAs

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FSAs and HSAs are designed to help individuals and families save money for medical expenses. Here are 5 key differences between FSAs & HSAs.
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What Are Total Compensation Statements?

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Learn what to include in Total Compensation Statements and how to use them to boost your recruiting and retention efforts.
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HR’s Role During An Economic Crisis

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What is HR's role during the current economic crisis, and how can these professionals become integral parts of the organization's strategy?
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What is Equal Pay Day?

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Do you know how long it takes for a woman to earn as much as her male counterpart's annual salary? It changes every year!
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Do I Need HR?

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When it comes to HR, you are better to be proactive than reactive to avoid losing key employees, receiving legal penalties, or litigation.
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Could Sabbaticals Be Your Next Retention Tool?

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Sabbaticals are gaining in popularity as companies look for meaningful ways to retain employees. Here's what you should consider.
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Clark Schaefer Strategic HR Wheel of HR Services, featuring Health, Safety, & Security.

Who’s Using Your EAP

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What do I need to know about EAP use in order to better share this new resource with employees? Learn more in our Question of the Week.
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Work-Life Balance Has Become Work-Life Integration

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Adopting a work-life integration approach to your work environment just might be the key to attracting and retaining your best employees.
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Are Employee Gift Cards Considered Taxable Benefits?

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If you provide gift cards as employee rewards, do you know whether they are taxable benefits? Read this HR Question of the Week to find out!
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How To Determine If A Home Office Injury Is Covered By Workers’ Compensation

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Remote workplace injuries can be harder to investigate. Here's how to determine if an injury is covered by workers' compensation.
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Mental Health Concerns in the Workplace

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How can Human Resources and business leaders partner together to address rising mental health concerns in the workplace?
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Do Our Remote, Out-of-State Employees Qualify for FMLA?

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If you have out-of-state remote workers, be sure that you know how to remain compliant with FMLA regulations. If not, you risk costly fines.
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Bonus Grants: A Creative Way to Retain and Reward Key Employees

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If you're struggling to retain employees, bonus grants are a flexible and simple tool to use as part of your retention strategy.
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Does My Company Need an AED?

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Create an awareness plan tonsure employees know where to find their AED in the case of an emergency as well as receive adequate training.
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What Should I Consider Before Doing a Reduction in Force?

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Review these eight recommended steps when considering a reduction in force (RIF) within your organization.
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What Should Ohio Employers Know About Marijuana in the Workplace?

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True and False questions to help you understand your organization rights as it relates to marijuana in the workplace.
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