We are in month 4 of managing our lives and businesses in the midst of CoVid-19.  For some, this has been business as usual; for others, it has been devastating.    Early on we saw lots of social media posts encouraging us to order take-out from our local restaurants and to purchase from mom and pop shops rather than the big box stores. 

Now, let’s talk about referrals!  It is the way that most small businesses grow their business.  I tell you, you tell your friend, who tells her sister, who tells her mom and pretty soon business is booming. 

I usually only do business with businesses that are referred to me.  I feel that if you are willing to recommend a business to me, that business must have done right by you and will therefore, do right by me. 

When I refer you to a business that I have worked with, I am doing so with confidence that you will be treated well and taken care of.    I also know that if things are not going well, I can call that business on your behalf and help to get things moving smoothly. 

I don’t know anyone who grows up thinking they want to run payroll.  But I do know people who wake up wanting to help people run and grow their businesses.  By making referrals, I am helping both the business I am referring to AND the business needing the service/product.  It is truly a win-win!

For the month of July – Wisconsin Pay Specialists is offering a $50 gas card for a referral that signs on with us to do payroll or bookkeeping!  Don’t keep us a secret.

Now that things are opening back up, keep in mind that if you call an employee back work and they refuse to come back, they should no longer be receiving unemployment and you need to complete the WD0003 (yellow form) indicating that they refused work. 

If we manage your unemployment claims, be sure to let us know of any employees who are receiving unemployment and have refused your offer to return to work so that we mark the correct box on the form!

Best wishes to everyone – stay healthy and let’s get to work!!

Wisconsin to Revise Withholding Methods, Effective July 1

At the direction of Governor Tony Evers, the Department of Revenue will be revising withholding tax tables. The updated withholding tables will be effective for payroll periods beginning on or after July 1, 2020.

Employers are required to implement the revised tables no later than July 1, 2020. Publication W-166, Wisconsin Employer’s Withholding Tax Guide, will be updated with the new withholding tables by April 1, 2020.

It is important to note that an individual may file a new Form WT-4, Employee’s Wisconsin Withholding Exempt Certificate/New Hire Reporting, with his or her employer any time he or she wishes to change the amount of withholding from his or her paychecks, provided the number of exemptions claimed does not exceed the number he or she is entitled to claim.

Requirement for Work Permits for 14- and 15-Year Olds Temporarily Waived

Are you hiring 14- and 15-year olds to work in your business? Last month Governor Evers temporarily waived the under-16 labor work permit requirement before teens can begin to work for you. This work permit holiday is in effect for the duration of the public health emergency.

You will still need All of the following documentation in order to be in compliance and file for the permit once the order expires:

• Proof of age (Birth certificate, baptismal certificate, Wisconsin ID card or Wisconsin driver’s license, or other evidence allowed by Wis. Admin. Code § DWD 270.07(4),
• Employer’s written intent to hire, including job duties to be performed and the hours and time of day to be worked, signed by the employer or someone duly authorized by the employer,
• Written consent from the minor’s parent, guardian or court-ordered foster parent consenting to the employment or a countersignature of the parent, guardian, or foster parent on the employer’s letter, AND
• A copy of the minor’s social security card

Once the order expires, you’ll have 30 days to file a permit application on behalf of each minor employee you hired and permitted to work under this exception.

T-Rex, Run!

Google Chrome users are probably familiar with the T-Rex dinosaur that shows up when your computer is not connected to the Internet. The T-rex had short arms and therefore lot of things were out of its reach. Chrome, like that dinosaur, is having trouble reaching the Internet.

What’s even more interesting is that the offline dinosaur in Chrome is also a game. Press the space bar to activate and your Chrome tab will quickly turn into a moderately addictive game. The T-Rex will run and your mission is to prevent it from bumping into the saguaros (cactus) by pressing the space bar to jump. Watch out for the birds!

The SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) reopens today.

• What is Arbor Day and when is it celebrated?
  
  Arbor Day is an annual observance that celebrates the role of trees in our lives and promotes tree planting and care. As a formal holiday, it was first observed in 1872, in Nebraska, but tree planting festivals are as old as civilization. The tree has appeared throughout history and literature as the symbol of life.
  
  For many years, Arbor Day was celebrated on April 22, J. Sterling Morton’s birthday. Today, National Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday in April. All fifty states, Puerto Rico, and some U.S. territories have passed legislation adopting Arbor Day, which is celebrated on a date appropriate for tree planting in their region.
  
  Here are some suggestions on how to celebrate the day, courtesy of the Arbor Day Foundation:
  
  Celebrate Arbor Day in a personal way by planting a tree yourself. Plant trees on your own property, or volunteer with your local government agency to plant or care for trees on public land in your area.
  
  Read a book about trees, and learn to identify trees in your yard and neighborhood.
  
  Enjoy the outdoors. Visit a local park or take a nature hike, taking care to notice the different tree varieties you encounter. Bring along a field guide to help with identification.
  
  
  You can visit https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/treeplanting/order.html for more information on ordering seedling.
  

W I Pay – Tip of the Day                                                                          

Be on guard people!

We just heard from a colleague that one of their employees received word from a “service” that was supposed to help him fast track his unemployment payments due to CoVid19. The employee, not knowing it was a scam, provided the “service” with the bank account information and the “service” proceeded to forge multiple checks worth thousands of dollars.

Please do not give any information over the phone or email to anyone who asks you for information.

Ever.

Under any circumstances.

#bettertogether