Posts Tagged employees
Many small business owners (SBOs) think they don’t need to have a human resources or payroll department. They think they can handle all of the HR and payroll paperwork themselves. The problem is, not having a payroll department means these employers are taking on a considerable financial risk. (more…)
You might be thinking, “Wait, isn’t that what a performance review is for?” Unfortunately, performance management – or, as it has also been called, “performance review” has long had a negative connotation attached to it, when, really, it should be a positive and constructive experience. In fact, through my years of HR experience, I have seen how powerful and profitable a good performance management strategy can be for small businesses. (more…)
Worker’s compensation fraud is “the fastest growing segment of insurance fraud,” according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. One way, small business owners commit insurance fraud is by under-reporting payroll to avoid paying worker’s compensation premiums to their insurance carrier. If your small business is under-reporting payroll to save on premiums, you need to know that you’re playing with fire. If you’re caught, you could face financial penalties and jail time.
Last year, Sung Hyun Kim and Caroline Choi, CEOs of sewing companies Meriko Inc. and SF Apparel Inc. were arrested, along with their accountant Jae Kim, on suspicion of workers’ compensation insurance fraud. Beginning as early as 2006, they’re accused of underreporting $78 million to more than a half-dozen insurance carriers. The trio conspired to hide payroll to avoid paying workers’ compensation insurance premiums. They fabricated payroll records and paid employees under the table through an undisclosed bank account. Sung Hyun Kim faces up to 28 years in prison, Choi faces more than 15 years behind bars, and Jae Kim could get a 22-year prison term, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Employers can use a variety of “creative” methods to under-report payroll. Some common under-reporting methods used include:
Perhaps, business owners don’t realize the impact their dishonesty can have on their company, employees and other companies. Employees who are hurt on the job may not have workers’ compensation coverage to pay their medical bills. Or, in cases where there’s no worker’s compensation insurance, your small business may be considered “self insured,” which means as an employer, you must pay the employee’s medical bills and lost wages. If the injury is severe and the costs are high, you may be forced to go out of business.
Additionally, when you cheat the insurance companies out of the premiums they’re owed, this causes the rates to go up for everyone else. Businesses pass these premium increases on to their customers in the form of higher prices for goods and services. Therefore, fraud hurts everyone. So don’t do it! It’s not worth the risk.
Payroll fraud can be a costly issue for employers. By outsourcing your payroll services to a reputable external payroll provider, like The Payroll Department, you can help ensure your payroll information is secure and reviewed regularly for errors and other discrepancies. Contact Teresa Ray of The Payroll Department at (317) 852-2568 to learn how outsourcing your payroll can protect your company from fraud and give you peace of mind.
-Ariane of The Payroll Department blog team
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