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6 Reasons Why Choosing “Big Payroll” Can Lead to Trouble

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big payroll problems

Choosing “big payroll” is a lot like buying big box furniture. We can understand the appeal: it’s cheap, available everywhere, and does the job. However, if you had the opportunity to go to a craftsman who made custom pieces suited to your home for roughly the same cost, wouldn’t you jump at the chance? As a small firm, we’re able to give you that bespoke experience by combining our exceptional service, innovative thinking, expert knowledge, and best-in-class products. 

At CorpStrat, we’re here to make payroll personal. This means instead of long hold times and endless phone trees, you have a dedicated support team that always answers when you call and actually cares about you and your business. Additionally, we have the flexibility to find creative strategies and solutions to make sure your company is on the best track. Here are some things to consider before choosing “Big Payroll”:

1. You won’t have a dedicated payroll specialist in your corner. 

Speaking to a new rep every time you have a question can become time consuming. Our team is set up so that when you call with a question, you get connected directly to “your” person. It is of utmost importance to provide every one of our clients with round-the-clock support, robust reporting, and out of the box solutions that can save time and money. We handle your team’s payroll as if it’s our own. 

2. You’ll find yourself constantly stuck on hold, even if you have a pressing issue.

After a warm onboarding, “big payroll” suddenly stops answering your calls. No one has time to stay on hold, especially if you’re dealing with a payroll concern. We can guarantee that every time you call us, your dedicated representative will answer and walk you through the issue at hand. 

3. Even when you do get someone on the phone, they don’t know anything about you or your business. 

Many giant payroll companies are volume-based which means they’re built to prioritize reaching their quotas rather than giving you the best service. We fervently eschew this type of thinking which is why we take the time to get to know the ins and outs of your business so we can provide concierge-like service with an “I’m on it” attitude. 

4. Payroll rates appear affordable but come with hidden fees and little to no compensation for errors.

“Big payroll” often touts its affordability, this comes back to them being volume-based. However, these sharply slashed prices come with a hidden cost: fees. These fees can run the gamut from cancellation fees to initiation fees to charging you for errors (even if the errors occurred on their end). We’re all about transparency. This means no hidden fees and complete peace of mind. Plus, we’ll make sure you’re the first to know if new rates or policies are issued. 

5. You end up using bloated platforms with out-dated tech that is confusing and doesn’t work as promised. 

Many “big payroll” companies offer piecemeal solutions that are cobbled together into one disjointed “platform”. Our award-winning payroll system features single sign-on, employee self-service, and state-of-the-art and mobile-optimized technology. On top of that, we can customize the tech for your team specifically. 

6. You don’t get answers to your queries in a timely manner. 

When it comes to payroll concerns, you can’t drag your feet. Often you need an answer quickly otherwise it can lead to a domino effect of more errors. Every member of our team works tirelessly to ensure you get the answers you need the moment you need it so you’re never left in the lurch. 

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See how CorpStrat Payroll can transform your business. Contact us today at marketing@www.corpstrat.com 

ERISA Compliance – What Every Employer Needs to Know About Plan Documents

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Imagine an agent from the Department of Labor walks in your office and asks for your ERISA documents. For 90% of employers, the answer would be “what is that?”. Yet for every employer, maintaining ERISA documents is essential – and here is why:

ERISA is a federal law that sets minimum standards for employee benefit plans maintained by private-sector employers.

ERISA includes requirements for both retirement plans (for example, 401(k) plans) and welfare benefit plans (for example, group health plans). ERISA has been amended many times over the years, expanding the protections available to welfare benefit plan participants and beneficiaries.

The Department of Labor (DOL), through its Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), enforces most of ERISA’s provisions. Violating ERISA can have serious and costly consequences for employers that sponsor welfare benefit plans, either through DOL enforcement actions and penalty assessments or through participant lawsuits.

All welfare plans are subject to ERISA (medical, dental, vision, life, disability, certain employee assistance and wellness programs, for example) and are required to have a plan document that is memorialized in writing. ERISA further required that the plan document contain specific, express provisions. This means if you deliver any type of benefit program to employees, it’s likely you need a current ERISA document.

How does the DOL enforce ERISA?

The DOL has broad authority to investigate or audit an employee benefit plan’s compliance with the ERISA. The DOL’s EBSA division handles audits of employee benefit plans. To perform these audits, EBSA employs over 400 investigators working out of field offices, many of whom are lawyers or CPAs or have advanced degrees in business or finance. The DOL has authority to assess civil penalties for many different types of ERISA violations.

How can an employer minimize its risk of being audited by the DOL?

As a practical matter, an employer has little control over whether it will be audited by the DOL. However, an employer can take the following steps to help minimize its exposure to a DOL audit:

  • Respond to participants’ benefit questions and requests for information on a timely basis;
  • File Form 5500 on time and make sure it is complete and accurate;
  • Create and distribute participant notices required by law (for example, the summary of benefits and coverage) by the deadline; and
  • Make timely updates to plan documents and summary plan descriptions (SPDs) to reflect legal and design changes.

How can employers be prepared for a DOL audit?

The best way to prepare for a DOL audit is to remain in compliance with the law and establish a recordkeeping system for maintaining all of the important documents relating to your employee benefit plans. Retaining complete and accurate records will help move along the audit process and provide an accurate picture of an employer’s benefit package. As a general rule, these records should be retained for seven years.

Because the DOL has increased the frequency of health plan audits, employers should consider reviewing their health plans for compliance now, before they are selected for audit. It is important for employers to get their health plans’ paperwork in order as part of this process. Don’t be fooled into thinking you are “too small” for ERISA. Employers of every size who provide any type of Employer Sponsored Benefit Plan are subject to ERISA. Ask your broker if you need documents and get them done!

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Lief Organics Leaf Labs

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Lief Organics, is a Valencia-based wholesaler of raw nutrients and ingredients for the natural foods and supplement industry. The company just relocated their manufacturing and distributing to new facilities, with a staff of over 100 and a robust sales team growing to $30 million in sales, Lief needed more space.

Lief Organics has experienced amazing growth by creating an environment that attracts high-level talent, an energetic and amazing workspace, and by delivering high-touch employee benefits through CorpStrat.

Adel Villalobos, The President and CEO was born with a knack for 2 things; science and baseball. He would eventually use baseball as his motivation to attend California State University Northridge, to obtain his degree in Biochemistry and Nutrition. Once enrolled, Adel further realized his passion for science and decided to focus less on his baseball mitt and more on garnering any experience he can get in what was then a relatively new and burgeoning Nutraceutical Industry.

He eventually landed a part-time job as a Customer Service Rep with a company called Natrol. It was at Natrol, where the seed of eventually starting his own company was planted. Adel, was eager to learn and was willing to try his hand in various departments at Natrol, from Customer Service to QC Lab Tech to Marketing, Product Development and even Legal. After moving around all the departments at Natrol, Adel knew what his next step needed to be, and that was to try to make it on his own as a leader in an industry that he has grown to love. In 2008, Adel would eventually go on to start Lief. At the time, equipped with only big dreams and humble beginnings, have now grown into a 140,000 sq. ft. Contract Manufacturing Facility in Valencia California, just 20 minutes north from his home that he shares with his wife and 2 children.

“I love being a part of the professional and personal growth that happens when you are in the Health Sector. Our industry attracts great people. Whether it is our staff or our clients. And I am committed to building great relationships and spreading quality supplements worldwide.”

Lief’s VP, Victor Leyson, has been working with CorpStrat for nearly 11 years, Lief’s employees receive employee benefits, payroll, and communicate with their employer through CorpStratHR robust Human Resource Management System The HR platform that delivers a “hire through fire” cloud-based way for companies to manage their people and their employment lifespan. “CorpStrat has been a key advisor and catalyst for our growth and unusual amazing advocate for our company” says Leyson. “I value CorpStrat as my one stop shop for guidance and honest /sound advice on all our benefits and Insurance needs from a more global level.”

Please contact us for more information or questions regarding your HR needs.

We May Not Own The Building, But Our Name Is On Top!

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The “CorpStrat” headquarters is located near Desoto and the 101 freeway.

How We Celebrate

CorpStrat celebrates its 25th year in business this year, and what better way to showcase our success than with our logo atop our new headquarters. In January, we moved to Woodland Hills CA, and we officially emblazoned our new offices this past month.

CorpStrat has been named one of the Top Insurance Brokers 2017 by both the San Fernando Valley, and Los Angeles Business Journals. The firm is a member of Anthem’s ACE team, Blue Shields’ President Council, and the firm’s principals maintain Life and Qualifying Member status of The Million Dollar Round Table, an elite group of professionals representing the top 1% of successful insurance and financial service advisors in the USA.

We are proud of our growth, our success and future. Our staff stands ready to help companies and professionals with Employee Benefits, Payroll, HR Technology, HR Compliance, and Business insurance planning.

Payroll Nightmares

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One of the biggest headaches employers have to manage on time is payroll. Often, payroll challenges make you wonder – why is something so critical to your business and your employees so complicated and confusing?

If you’re familiar with these payroll-related conditions, we can help you find your way to payday zen.

Employee Nightmares, Employer Late Nights, and Legalese-Induced Insomnia…

[Read more…] about Payroll Nightmares

10 Quotes That Will Help You Stay Positive While Processing Payroll

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Need a pick-me-up while processing payroll? If you work in HR you know full well what the term “Quit” means, but beyond the definition is the feeling, the thought, the stress, and the “I’m done” attitude where even if you don’t physically leave, you’ve mentally or emotionally checked out (especially when processing payroll) But before you have a manager level meltdown, take a deep breath and give these ten inspiring quotes a read to reconstruct your work attitude and stay positive.

Of course, for long term payroll solutions and stress-free paydays we recommend  giving us a call, as we can help you set up or manage a new or existing payroll system where information is easily accessible (even from mobile devices) for you and your employees, not to mention secure, simple to use, and affordable.  No 1 (800) numbers, No call centers, No ridiculous spreadsheets. Just concise, modern, dedicated, and frustration-free payroll.

1. “Have fun. The game is a lot more enjoyable when you’re trying to do more than just make money.” – Tony Hsieh, Founder of Zappos

2.  “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” – Zig Ziglar

3. “A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes. It is a catalyst, and it sparks extraordinary results.” – Wade Boggs

4. “If you don’t think every day is a good day, just try missing one.” – Cavett Robert

5. “It takes but one positive thought when given a chance to survive and thrive to overpower an entire army of negative thoughts.” – Robert H. Schuller

6. “Sweat equity is the most valuable equity there is. Know your business and industry better than anyone else in the world. Love what you do or don’t do it.” – Mark Cuban

7.  “Change your thoughts and you change your world”. – Norman Vincent Peale

8. “Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow.” – Helen Keller

9.  “The only place where success comes before work is a dictionary.” – Vidal Sassoon

10.  “It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it.” – Lou Holtz