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Payroll

Payroll management, processing, and compliance for businesses of all sizes

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6 min read

Georgia's Dignity and Pay Act: What the End of Subminimum Wage Means for Employers of Disabled Workers

Georgia's Dignity and Pay Act requires Section 14(c) certificate holders to pay workers with disabilities at least half the federal minimum wage ($3.63/hour) starting July 1, 2026, and bans subminimum wages entirely after June 30, 2027. What certificate holders — sheltered workshops, community rehabilitation programs, and nonprofits — need to model in payroll budgets, grant contracts, and job costing before both wage steps hit.

Mike Thrift

payrollcompliancelegal
6 min read

The NLRB Joint-Employer Standard Reverted in 2026: What It Means for Staffing, Franchise, and Subcontractor Arrangements

On February 25, 2026, the NLRB withdrew its 2023 joint-employer rule and reinstated the 2020 standard, which requires actual "substantial, direct, and immediate control" over eight essential employment terms. Here is what the reversal means for businesses using staffing agencies, franchise agreements, or subcontractors — and the practical steps to limit exposure.

Mike Thrift

compliancelegalsmall-business
6 min read

The Roth Catch-Up Mandate Arrives: 2026 401(k) Rules for High Earners and Business Owners

Starting January 1, 2026, SECURE 2.0's Section 603 requires workers 50 and older with over $150,000 in prior-year FICA wages from the same employer to make 401(k) catch-up contributions — $8,000 standard, $11,250 for ages 60–63 — as after-tax Roth. Plans without a Roth option must amend by December 31, 2026 or bar catch-ups entirely; W-2 S-corp owners are in scope while K-1 partners are not.

Mike Thrift

401kretirement-planstax-planning
7 min read

DOL Opinion Letter FLSA2026-2: When a "Discretionary" Bonus Isn't — and What It Does to Overtime Pay

DOL Opinion Letter FLSA2026-2 (January 5, 2026) holds that a formula-driven safety and attendance bonus of up to $9.50/hour is nondiscretionary and must be included in the FLSA regular rate — turning a $12/hour base into a $21.50 regular rate and adding $107.50 of overtime pay in DOL's own 50-hour example. Here is the three-part test, which common bonus types fail it, and how to fix the payroll math.

Mike Thrift

payrollcompliancesmall-business
7 min read

The Four-Day Workweek's Biggest Trial Yet Is In. Here's What It Means for Your Payroll

A Nature Human Behaviour trial of 2,896 employees at 141 companies found the four-day workweek cut burnout, held productivity steady, and convinced 90% of firms to keep it. Here's how small businesses handle the payroll side: the 100-80-100 model vs. compressed 4/10 schedules, FLSA overtime rules, California's daily-overtime election process, and the metrics to track in a pilot.

Mike Thrift

payrollsmall-businessworkforce-management
8 min read

New Jersey's Medicaid Employer Assessment (A5324): What the First-in-the-Nation Law Means for Your Payroll

New Jersey's A5324, effective July 1, 2026, bills employers $325–$725 per year for each Medicaid-enrolled employee or dependent once 50 or more are enrolled — matched by the state, not self-reported. Here is how the tiered fees work, which workers are exempt now and in 2027, and how to prepare your books for a bill you didn't calculate.

Mike Thrift

payrollcompliancetax
9 min read

Quiet Quitting in 2026: What Employee Disengagement Costs Your Small Business

U.S. employee engagement sits at just 32% in 2026, and Gallup estimates disengagement costs the global economy $8.9–$10 trillion a year. Here is how small-business owners can recognize the warning signs of quiet quitting, why replacing an employee runs 50–200% of their salary, and which management levers — clarity, recognition, and growth — actually re-engage a team.

Mike Thrift

small-businessworkforce-managementproductivity
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