LANSING - Pumpkin spice lattes are flowing and leaves are changing color, which can mean only one thing: This year’s holiday season is right around the corner. For small business owners who already juggle more than their fair share of responsibilities, it also means they’ll need to manage some unique situations that only arise in November
WASHINGTON DC - The U.S. Supreme Court justices appeared sympathetic to a Detroit resident whose cell phone records, obtained without a warrant, were used against him in trial. However, the justices also appeared uncertain about a decision that arguably could affect every citizen's privacy rights, according to a transcript of the Wednesday hearing in the
LANSING - It’s hard to believe, but Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday have already come and gone, kicking off the 2017 holiday shopping season. While many of us are already feeling overwhelmed with finding the perfect gifts for friends and family, navigating the politics of office gift giving can add even more
LANSING - Employers today should assume employees are tied to one another through the use of LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, or all of these social media sites. In fact, employers can and do encourage employees’ use of social media to enhance marketing, business development, and employee recruitment. However, employers are also utilizing confidentiality and non-solicitation agreements
LANSING - In 2014, Governor Snyder signed legislation increasing the Michigan minimum wage rate in stages. Increases took effect on September 1, 2014, on January 1, 2016, and on January 1, 2017, raising the minimum wage to $8.90 per hour. On January 1, 2018, Michigan minimum wage will increase to $9.25 per hour. Beginning in
LANSING - It can be hard for small businesses to compete with the big guys. But that’s why there’s Small Business Saturday. American Express founded Small Business Saturday in 2010, giving small businesses and brick-and-mortar stores across the country a special boost and a way to get shoppers’ attentions between Black Friday and Cyber Monday
LANSING - At long last, it looks as though the IRS is finally gearing up to assess Affordable Care Act (ACA) penalties based on 2015 employer responsibility reporting (1094-C and 1095-C forms). If your organization receives an assessment notice, you’ll want to scrutinize it carefully, as there may be many errors. The IRS has updated
WASHINGTON DC - On Nov. 2, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-Texas) released a 429-page tax reform bill, entitled: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (H.R. 1). According to the Chairman, the legislation aims to lower business and individual tax rates, modernize U.S. international tax rules, and simplify the tax law,
LANSING - It has been proven that women are promoted less, underrepresented in the C-suite, and receive lower wages then men. A recent study set out to discover why and see if women’s behavior is responsible. The study, published by Harvard Business Review, revealed that biological differences between men and women do not affect the
DETROIT – Consumers Energy announced today that it will spend $250 million with small businesses in Michigan over the next two and a half years. The spending commitment is part of the company’s involvement in the Pure Michigan Business Connect (PMBC) initiative. In 2015, Consumers Energy pledged to spend $1 billion a year with Michigan businesses for
