Category: The Shelby Report

The Shelby Report: Start Creating a Modern Workplace Today

Get Inspired in the Modern Workplace By Big Ideas Have you wondered what the modern workplace forecast might be like for the future?  In late June, John Yerger, my business partner, and I attended what some call  “the best – and the biggest HR conference in the world,” the 2019 Society of Human Resource Management […]

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HR Basics to Avoid Labor Woes

HR basics help avoid employee turnover & avoid costly penalties It may be tempting to gloss over the importance of HR basics such as hiring procedures, I-9 procedures, handbook review and more, however, buying into the 3 common myths about HR compliance and ignoring these HR basics will mean financial risk for many employers in […]

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The Shelby Report: Cybersecurity Combats Cyber Crime

Cybersecurity Tools can Arm Employees to Combat Cyber Villains Workers vital to curb steep cost of cybersecurity breaches No grocer – small or large – is immune to cybersecurity attacks. “80% of U.S. businesses expect a critical breach in 2019,” according to Trend Micro’s Cyber Risk Index (CRI).  The consequences of a data breach to […]

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The Shelby Report: Fed Proposes New Test To Clarify Definition Of Joint Employer

HR & Benefits News is a monthly column by Chris Cooley, co-founder of MyHRConcierge and SMB Benefits Advisors. If you’re involved in a franchise arrangement or use a staffing firm to hire seasonal or temporary workers, you’ll be interested in the proposal issued by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) on April 1, to more clearly define joint employer status. […]

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The Shelby Report: Ask 3 Questions Before Letting an Employee Go

HR & Benefits News is a monthly column by Chris Cooley, co-founder of MyHRConcierge and SMB Benefits Advisors. Making the decision to let an employee go can be difficult at best, and can expose grocers to legal action and fines at worst. However, employees that consistently violate policies or underperform are bad for business and the morale of […]

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The Shelby Report: 3 Key Federal Labor Laws For 2019 Highlighted

HR & Benefits News is a monthly column by Chris Cooley, co-founder of MyHRConcierge and SMB Benefits Advisors. Grocers across the nation have many state and federal laws to keep up with throughout the year, and in 2019, they will need to ensure they stay diligent in their compliance with current laws and aware of those that are […]

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The Shelby Report: Five Employee Handbook Tips To Give Grocers The Advantage

HR & Benefits News is a monthly column by Chris Cooley, co-founder of MyHRConcierge and SMB Benefits Advisors. Our company recently performed an HR survey, and 25 percent of the survey respondents noted a concern with their lack of a handbook or the compliance of their current handbook. Most grocers understand that it is important to have an […]

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The Shelby Report: 2019 HR Compliance Checklist

HR & Benefits News is a monthly column by Chris Cooley, co-founder of MyHRConcierge and SMB Benefits Advisors. As we begin a new year in 2019 and approach the end of a decade, the grocery industry and the workplace in general is changing and growing at an unprecedented rate. By the year 2020, there will be five generations […]

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The Shelby Report: Top 2 HR Compliance Questions From Independent Grocers

HR & Benefits News is a monthly column by Chris Cooley, co-founder of MyHRConcierge and SMB Benefits Advisors. Independent grocers are all too familiar with the challenges they face on a daily basis regarding the rapidly evolving supermarket industry, including competition from conventional grocery giants, changing technology, and managing cash flows amidst food deflation and increased labor costs. […]

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The Shelby Report: Occupational Fraud Translates to Big Losses for Small Businesses

HR & Benefits News is a monthly column by Chris Cooley, co-founder of MyHRConcierge and SMB Benefits Advisors. According to the 2018 Global Study on Occupational Fraud and Abuse performed by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), occupational fraud schemes drain business owners around the world of billions of dollars in revenue each year. The ACFE Report to the Nations is […]

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The Shelby Report: Workplace Bullying and the Potential Costs

HR & Benefits News is a monthly column by Chris Cooley, co-founder of MyHRConcierge and SMB Benefits Advisors. Most of us experienced or witnessed bullying on the playground as kids, but many small and medium business owners are unaware of how prevalent bullying currently is in the workplace, and how corrosive it can be to the work […]

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The Shelby Report: Avoid HR Headaches When Acquiring & Merging Stores

HR & Benefits News is a monthly column by Chris Cooley, co-founder of MyHRConcierge and SMB Benefits Advisors. Many independent grocers we’ve spoken with have either recently purchased or will soon be purchasing new stores. Whether you are evaluating a potential acquisition or preparing for a merger, HR (human resources) is a crucial, yet often overlooked, consideration. […]

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The Shelby Report: Key to Success – Hire & Keep the Best People

HR & Benefits News: Key To Success – Hire & Keep The Best People HR & Benefits News is a monthly column by Chris Cooley, co-founder of MyHRConcierge and SMB Benefits Advisors. It’s no secret, hiring and keeping workers has significant impact on independent grocers. Its impact is second only to “competition from other retailers” say independent grocers […]

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The Shelby Report: Feds Step Up I-9 Audits – Be Ready

HR & Benefits News: Feds Step Up I-9 Audits – Be Ready Editor’s note: HR & Benefits News is a monthly column by Chris Cooley, co-founder of MyHRConcierge and SMB Benefits Advisors. It’s The Law “All U.S. Employers must ensure proper completion of Form I-9 for each individual they hire for employment in the United States. This includes citizens and […]

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The Shelby Report: Believing ACA Rumors Can Be Costly

Believing rumors about The Affordable Care Act can be costly for grocers. For example, many companies mistakenly believed that ACA wouldn’t be enforced, but the IRS has recently started sending out penalty letters for the 2015 tax year. We have heard of penalties ranging from $40,000 to upwards of $2 million.

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The Shelby Report: Stop Rolling the Dice with Employee Health Benefits

Editor’s note: HR & Benefits News is a monthly column by Chris Cooley, co-founder of MyHRConcierge and SMB Benefits Advisors. Independents face so many conflicting choices about employee health benefits. It’s crucial to control escalating benefits expense, but if you reduce benefits or cut hours, you risk losing workers, customers and profits. There’s a better way, and I […]

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The Shelby Report: Myth Busters – Avoid Risky Employment Practices

We hear three common myths about employment regulations as we work with independent grocers. Believing these myths could sink a small to medium-sized business. This “myth busters” chart can help independents recognize and avoid employment practices that put them at significant financial risk. Read more at: HR & Benefits News: Myth Busters—Avoid Risky Employment Practices

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The Shelby Report: ACA Non-Compliance Not Worth the Risk

Editor’s note: HR & Benefits News is a monthly column by Chris Cooley, co-founder of MyHRConcierge and SMB Benefits Advisors. The Employer Shared Responsibility Provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) penalizes employers who either do not offer (healthcare) coverage or do not offer coverage which meets minimum value and affordability standards. These penalties apply to firms with […]

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The Shelby Report: Avoid Sexual Harassment Policy Hazards

Editor’s note: HR & Benefits News is a monthly column by Chris Cooley, co-founder of MyHRConcierge and SMB Benefits Advisors. Stories of accused sexual harassers like Harvey Weinstein, Charlie Rose, Bill O’Reilly, Matt Lauer and others appear daily in the media. More than ever before, grocers are at risk if they don’t have the right sexual harassment policies […]

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The Shelby Report: Current Employee Handbook – A Must for Grocers

Editor’s note: HR & Benefits News is a monthly column by Chris Cooley, co-founder of MyHRConcierge and SMB Benefits Advisors. Myth: Independent grocers really don’t need employee handbooks…no one reads them anyway. Reality: An employee handbook can help protect grocers who face lawsuits or discrimination charges if it’s up-to-date and well-written. Grocers of all sizes need a current employee handbook. If you […]

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