July HR To-Do List

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

2017 is half over already! Can you believe it?  The Fourth of July is almost here, so get out there and enjoy your hometown parade, have a BBQ with friends, or binge on some Netflix shows you’ve been saving up…but be sure to celebrate our freedom!

Before you celebrate though, be sure to plan for a couple things during the month of July:

  • MINIMUM WAGE GOES UP on July 1 in several California locations including:
    • San Francisco to $14 per hour
    • San Jose moves to $12 per hour
    • Other Northern California cities with a minimum wage increase on July 1 include Milpitas, San Leandro, Emeryville, and Richmond
    • The City of Los Angeles and Unincorporated Los Angeles County goes to either $12 or $10.50 depending on the employer’s size
    • Outside California, minimum wages also go up on July 1 in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Oregon.
    • See our Minimum Wage Hikes blog post for additional information
  • Do you self-fund your health plans? If so, take note that your PCORI fees are due July 31 This year. PCORI is the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, and the fee pays for research “on the clinical effectiveness of medical procedures.” More information can be found here. Speak with a broker or your tax specialist for information specific to your health plans.
  • Do you have a 401(k) plan? If so, your Form 5500 is due on July 31 as well. The Form 5500 will report to the IRS on your plan’s “financial condition, investments, and operations” for tax year 2016. Your broker will have more information on filing, but for more information you can always review the IRS’s information page as well.
  • Schedule some “Lunch ‘N Learn” events. These can be little to no-cost events held informally in a conference room. Presenters can be brought in from outside, or even be employees who want to educate people on a hobby or a topic they feel passionate about. This is a great way to engage employees and encourage them to bond with one another over topics outside of work.
  • Schedule that Company Picnic! Make some reservations and start planning for a fun, outdoor activity for a summer off-site!

Remember to get out there and maintain your work-life balance too. Summer is a great time to start some new habits regarding that balance!