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Conducting a Remote Layoff

Conducting a layoff is never easy—and conducting a layoff virtually adds new challenges for employers. While difficult for both the employer and employees effected, employers can improve this process by utilizing best practices. Effective remote layoffs can ease this difficult time for laid-off employees, while avoiding risk for the employer.


What Are Layoffs?
Layoffs are mass firings of employees, sparked by a need to cut expenses to save an organization in crisis—not typically due to employee performance. However, layoffs are permanent. Unlike furloughed employees, laid-off employees no longer have access to their employee benefits. However, they are typically entitled to unemployment assistance.


Expansion of Remote Work—and Remote Layoffs
A survey conducted by the Society of Human Resource Management and Oxford Economics found that 64% of HR professionals report having salaried professionals who are working remotely. Though remote work had been growing prior to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, more employees are working remotely than ever before.
This same survey found that 32% of employers are planning on reducing their headcounts—through actions such as layoffs. Given current economic conditions, cost-saving measures such as layoffs are a reality for many employers. Unfortunately, in-person layoffs aren’t always feasible, and employers should prepare accordingly.

Conducting a Remote Layoff
When creating a process for remote layoffs, employers can consider including the following practices:


• Set up a meeting—Ensure varying time zones are accounted for, as participants may be joining from various locations.
• Include HR, and the employee’s manager—Including both HR and the employee’s manager can eliminate the need for multiple conversations.
• Use video platforms if possible—Though the layoff won’t take place in person, using a video platform can allow for a face-to-face conversation. If video is not an option, consider a phone conference rather than an email.
• Be detailed—Include critical information such as the termination date, and benefits and compensation information.
• Create expectations—Be transparent about next steps for the affected employee—including the return of company-owned critical assets.
• Prepare to answer questions—Support the laid-off employee by being prepared to answer clarifying questions that he or she may have.

Prepare for Follow-up Steps
When conducting layoffs—there are necessary steps to be completed. To ensure that loose ends are tied up, employers may consider the following:

• Proactively involving IT—Before conducting remote layoffs, communicate with IT about removing the laid-off employee’s access to internal networks. As you won’t be able to collect equipment immediately, it will be necessary to conduct IT tasks remotely. Let IT know of any required actions in advance to ensure that tasks can be completed in a timely manner while avoiding missteps.


• Creating specific follow-up actions—There may be follow-up actions that need to take place—don’t hesitate. Follow-up actions may need to be completed not only by the employer but by the employee being laid-off. Employers will want to plan for follow-up actions, including:
o Mailing or shipping necessary materials
o Providing necessary resources

Employers should also ensure to provide the laid-off employee with guidance and resources to complete any required tasks. These may include:

o Returning any proprietary documents or information
o Requiring signatures—completed via next-day delivery, or electronically


Effective Remote Layoffs
Laying off employees can be a necessary reality for many employers. More work functions, including the process of laying off an employee, are often beginning to take place remotely. Be using best practices, employers can minimize risk for the organization and ease the transition for affected employees. Laws and guidelines related to terminations may vary—when updating practices, employers should consult with local legal counsel. For additional remote workplace resources, contact Pinkerton Insurance Group.

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The Top 7 Benefits of Payroll Automation Software for Small Businesses

This blog post was originally published by UKG – inspiring every organization to become a great place to work through HR, pay, workforce management, and culture technology built for all. For small business owners, keeping your “payroll machine” running smoothly is a top priority. Payroll is the lifeblood of your employee satisfaction and trust, financial stability, and overall business health. But managing payroll can be a time-consuming and error-prone process, especially as your company grows. Manually calculating wages, withholding taxes, generating reports, and keeping ahead of ever-changing regulations can quickly become overwhelming. This is where payroll automation software comes in — a powerful tool designed to streamline the process and free you to focus on what matters most: running and growing your business. The Power of Automation Manual payroll tasks are not only slow and labor-intensive but also prone to mistakes. A single miscalculation in tax withholdings or overtime pay can lead to very unhappy employees, large IRS penalties, and a heavy financial burden for your business. Payroll automation software eliminates these issues by streamlining the entire process, from data entry and calculations to tax filing and generating reports. This not only saves your payroll team a lot of time but also minimizes the risk of errors that can lead to costly penalties and employee dissatisfaction. Let’s dig deeper into the productivity and time-saving benefits of automated payroll software and see exactly how it simplifies the payroll process: Automated data entry Payroll automation software offers seamless data integration with existing timekeeping systems and employee self-service portals. This eliminates the need for manual data entry of hours worked, deductions, and benefits elections, saving you countless hours each pay period. Imagine the time your payroll team will save by not having to manually enter hours from paper timesheets or track down missing information from employees. Streamlined calculations and withholdings Payroll software handles all the complex calculations for wages, taxes, deductions, and overtime pay. You can set up automatic deductions for benefits, garnishments, and retirement contributions, ensuring everything is accounted for accurately. No more spending hours poring over spreadsheets or relying on error-prone manual calculations. Automated tax filing and payments At last — no more scrambling to meet tax deadlines or manually filing forms! Automated payroll software can handle federal, state, and local tax calculations, deductions, and deposits, ensuring timely payments and compliance with tax regulations. This eliminates the stress of manual tax filing and ensures you’re never late on a tax payment. Effortless report generation Need to analyze payroll trends or generate reports for budgeting purposes? Automated payroll software provides instant access to detailed reports on payroll expenses, employee earnings, and tax liabilities. This allows you to make data-driven decisions and gain valuable insights into your labor costs. You can easily identify areas for cost savings, track employee benefits use, and forecast future payroll expenses. By automating these tasks, you can reclaim hours previously spent on manual payroll processing. This frees up time to allow you to focus on more strategic initiatives, such as culture-building, employee development, and business growth. Imagine the benefits of investing that saved time into creating a great place to work for all and innovating new and better ways to manage all your business functions! However, the benefits of payroll automation software go beyond simply saving time. By automating tasks, you’ll also see a substantial reduction in labor costs associated with manual payroll processing. Hiring and training dedicated payroll staff Payroll processing requires dedicated staff with specialized knowledge. Payroll software eliminates the need for additional payroll personnel, allowing you to allocate those resources to add value elsewhere within your business. You can also free up your budget for other business needs or invest in additional staff for core business functions. Reduced errors and penalties Even a small error in payroll calculations can result in penalties from the IRS or state tax agencies. Automated payroll software minimizes the risk of errors, significantly reducing the likelihood of incurring costly fines and penalties. This can translate to meaningful cost savings for your business. Improved compliance Noncompliance with tax regulations and complex payroll laws can result in hefty fines and penalties. Payroll automation software ensures your business stays current with the latest regulations, reducing the risk of noncompliance and associated fees. You’ll have peace of mind knowing you’re always adhering to all legal requirements. All these cost savings can be reinvested back into your business, allowing you to focus on growth and development. For example, you can invest in employee learning and development, expand your product line, or offer more competitive benefits to attract and retain top talent. By automating payroll, you’re not just saving money — you’re investing in the future of your business. Payroll Automation Software: Accuracy You Can Count On An automated payroll system ensures that your employees are paid accurately and on time, every time. It’s designed to handle all complex calculations, including taxes, deductions, and overtime pay, to reduce the risk of human error that can lead to missed payments or incorrect paychecks. 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Empower Payroll with UKG Ready One of the best ways to grow your smaller business

The 4 Benefits of AI for Small HR Teams

This blog post was originally published by UKG – inspiring every organization to become a great place to work through HR, pay, workforce management, and culture technology built for all. Artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere today, and for many of us, it can all seem a bit overwhelming — especially when it comes to leveraging it for your business and reaping the benefits of AI in HR. But once you’ve got all the facts, it’s easy to see how AI can make day-to-day work for you and your HR team more efficient and impactful than ever.  Let’s start with the basics. Simply put, AI is the use of computers to do things that have traditionally required human intelligence. Its algorithms classify, analyze and form predictions from data, then learn from the new data created to improve over time. 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Can a Small Business be a Great Place to Work?

Can a Small Business be a Great Place to Work? This blog post was originally published by UKG – inspiring every organization to become a great place to work through HR, pay, workforce management, and culture technology built for all. With seemingly endless modern job perks on the rise, HR professionals at small businesses may be wondering how they can compete with larger organizations to attract and retain the best talent. For an already resource-strapped company, it can be overwhelming to think about spending more time and money to win the war for talent against those with big budgets and dedicated teams focused on culture and engagement. But it’s critical not to get lost in the noise here. Instead, when competition for talent is high, smaller organizations need to ask a simple question as they wade through all the perks and initiatives their larger counterparts engage in — is that what really matters to people? 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It leads to better retention through tracking the skillsets of employees and helping them to further develop and build upon those skills, and it works with them to build a career path within the organization. To do this, there needs to be a commitment to support fair and consistent performance and succession strategies that identify, nurture, and develop top talent. Small businesses often have flat structures, which allows employees more visibility and connection. These broader learning opportunities ultimately keep everyone invested in the company’s culture, and both internal and external job seekers will view your organization as one that prioritizes career development. 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It’s important that employees earn enough to feel financially stable, and that your workplace promotes equal pay practices, but what more can be done? Offering programs that give employees access to their pay before pay day, for instance, has been linked to improvements in productivity and reduced absenteeism.   Celebrate your people’s achievements to foster a sense of purpose Nearly 50 percent

The Top 7 Recruitment and Employee Retention Strategies for Small Businesses

This blog post was originally published by UKG – inspiring every organization to become a great place to work through HR, pay, workforce management, and culture technology built for all. In today’s competitive job market, attracting and retaining top talent is about more than just offering a competitive salary. Small businesses have a unique advantage over larger corporations: the ability to create a personal, responsive, and value-driven workplace culture. A strong company culture not only keeps employees engaged but also helps businesses thrive. However, many small businesses struggle with hiring and retention due to limited budgets and a lack of formal HR infrastructure. A recent study by HR.com’s HR Research Institute and UKG found that while 60% of SMBs are concerned about retaining key talent, only about a quarter are leveraging strategic HR technologies to improve hiring, culture, and retention. This presents an opportunity: the right technology can help small businesses overcome these challenges while fostering a workplace culture where employees want to stay. At Pinkerton Payroll & Insurance, we understand these struggles firsthand. Our HR technology solutions help businesses streamline processes, improve employee experiences, and ultimately build a stronger workforce. Why Company Culture Matters More Than Ever A strong workplace culture has direct benefits for businesses of all sizes, but for SMBs, it’s a game-changer. Here’s why: Attract Top Talent: When your culture aligns with your mission and values, it becomes a magnet for like-minded professionals who are excited to contribute. Boost Engagement and Trust: Employees who feel valued and supported are more productive and committed. Reduce Turnover Costs: Hiring and training new employees is expensive. A positive culture builds loyalty, saving you time and money in the long run. Leveraging HR Technology to Strengthen Your Business Many small businesses assume HR technology is only for large enterprises, but that’s far from the truth. In reality, modern HR platforms streamline day-to-day tasks, freeing up time to focus on strategic growth. Pinkerton Payroll & Insurance offers technology solutions that help business owners attract, engage, and retain employees—without the administrative headaches. 7 Key Recruitment and Retention Strategies for Small Businesses To help small businesses compete for top talent, we’ve compiled seven key strategies that leverage HR technology to improve hiring and retention. Attract Top Talent with Engaging Job PostingsFirst impressions matter. Use an applicant tracking system to save time, optimize job postings, and highlight company culture, benefits, and growth opportunities. Posting on social media and industry-specific sites can also help expand your reach. Impress Candidates with a Smooth Hiring ProcessSpeed and efficiency matter in today’s job market. Offer online applications, skills assessments, and video interviews to keep the process seamless. Automated updates ensure candidates stay informed and engaged throughout the process. Use Data to Refine Your Recruitment StrategyHR analytics can help businesses track applicant flow, identify hiring trends, and predict future workforce needs. Data-driven insights ensure your hiring efforts are targeted and effective. Simplify OnboardingA strong onboarding process sets employees up for success from day one. Automated workflows and centralized portals make it easy for new hires to access important information, complete paperwork, and integrate into the company culture. Invest in Employee DevelopmentContinuous learning keeps employees engaged and motivated. Provide access to online learning platforms, career development pathways, and upskilling programs to ensure long-term career growth. Support and Empower EmployeesEmployees want to feel valued. Recognition programs, pulse surveys, and open communication channels help businesses proactively address concerns and boost morale. Modernize Payroll and BenefitsPayroll and benefits are crucial to employee satisfaction. Automated payroll systems, self-service portals, and compliance tools ensure accuracy and ease of access—reducing errors and enhancing employee confidence in their pay and benefits. Thinking Outside the Box: Addressing Hidden Employee Pain Points Beyond the usual perks and benefits, businesses should consider less obvious factors affecting retention—like employee commutes. Studies show that long, stressful commutes contribute to burnout and job dissatisfaction. Larger corporations may offer transportation solutions, but SMBs can explore creative alternatives, such as remote work options, commuter benefits, or flexible scheduling. Gain a Competitive Edge with the Right Strategy In today’s business landscape, a strong company culture is no longer optional—it’s a necessity. Implementing these recruitment and retention strategies, paired with the right HR technology, can help small businesses attract top talent, enhance employee engagement, and ensure long-term success. At Pinkerton Payroll & Insurance, we provide technology solutions that help small businesses simplify HR, streamline payroll, and build a workplace where employees thrive. If you’re ready to take your business to the next level, contact us today to learn how we can help.

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