Un-deployed airbags and seatbelt pre-tensioners can be recycled through KPA’s new recovery program. We help small businesses with transportation logistics, and ensure DOT compliant transportation of these devices on their journey to the recycling facility where 95% of materials are recovered. Find out more at http://www.kpaonline.com/what-we-do/ehs/airbagrecycling.html
Tip of the Month
Tip of the Month: Recycle Your Airbags and Pre-tensioners
Wednesday, February 1st, 2012January Tip Of the Month: Audit Your HR Compliance
Friday, January 6th, 2012With the focus on enforcement by the Department of Labor in 2012 every HR manager should take the time to do a compliance audit by the end of this month. It is always better to self- audit and correct issues rather than take the “wait and see if they catch me” approach. KPA provides a HR Compliance Audit form at http://www.kpaonline.com/what-we-do/hr/hr-resources/whitepapers.html that will allow you audit all of your HR practice and also provides guidance on best practices. Take the time to audit at the beginning of this year and then make it an annual habit to ensure your company is in compliance.
December Compliance Tip of the Month: SPCC? ASAP!
Thursday, December 8th, 2011The deadline for completing a Spill Prevention , Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) plan for your facility has been extended six times since 2002, but the latest deadline on November 10, 2011 has passed without an extension. The New SPCC regulations are now law.
The SPCC requirements are intended to help prevent discharge of oil into navigable waters or adjoining shorelines. If your facility has the potential storage capacity of 1320 gallons or more of petroleum products, you must act, potentially even if you already have a SPCC plan in place.
To find out more about EPA’s SPCC requirements you can either visit the EPA’s Emergency Management information pages, or contact KPA. We can prepare, amend, and help you implement a SPCC plan that keeps your business in compliance with these requirements.
Tis’ the Season for Holiday Pay
Tuesday, November 1st, 2011Currently, employers are not required to provide employees with paid time off for national holidays. However, companies choose to provide paid holiday leave to employees as a benefit of their employment. Here are a couple guidelines that you should be aware of with regard to holiday pay:
- Exempt employees (salaried employees who do not receive overtime), who are given the day off, must be paid their full weekly salary if they work any hours during the week in which the holiday falls.
- Paid time off for holiday leave is considered “non-productive hours” and is NOT considered when computing overtime pay for non-exempt employees (salaried or hourly employees who are eligible for overtime).
It is always important to review your company’s policy regarding holiday pay for the list of recognized holidays and any rules or specifications unique to your company.
Prepare Your Business for Winter Storms
Sunday, October 2nd, 2011You don’t need a weather man to know this winter will come with more extreme storms. Before they hit, prepare your business to handle extreme cold and snow. Take action this fall to protect employees from injuries and illnesses, minimize damage and recover quicker following a winter storm situation. Here’s a quick checklist to help you get ready.
- Get familiar with NOAA National Weather Service and weather warning systems at http://www.weather.gov/
- Replenish emergency stockpiles and supplies in a safe location onsite
- Prepare for power outages: test the back-up emergency power generator, and back-up heating source
- Check condition of sandbags, shovels, road salt or ice melt
- Have a business emergency/continuity plan
- Maintain an inventory of all equipment and assets for your business in the event of structural damage
Compliance Tip of the Month: Improve Your Driving at Work
Thursday, September 1st, 2011Thirty percent of traumatic fatalities occur from employees driving on the job. If you ever talk on your cell phone while driving, follow too closely behind the vehicle in front of you, or forget to wear your seat belt, you put your life and the lives of others at risk. Just putting your ringer on silent or turning your phone off all together can greatly reduce your chances of getting in an accident.
If you or your employees drive in any capacity as part of your job, KPA’s new online Safe Driving course will help you increase the number of safety precautions you take every time you get behind the wheel. Take it today and have all new employees complete it within 30 days of hire.
Start Writing Effective Job Descriptions
Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011A well written job description is a key component in all phases of the employment lifecycle. Having a job description for each position and providing the job description to applicants and employees will assist you in:
1. Recruitment, Interviewing and Hiring
2. Orientation and Training
3. Performance Management
4. Disciplinary Action Support
5. Legal Compliance and Lawsuit Defense
This template is designed specifically for human resources professionals at dealerships to help you write effective job descriptions. It is a free download, and we recommend using it as often as needed. It is available here:
http://www.kpaonline.com/compliance-resources/hr-resources/whitepapers.html
Compliance Tip of the Month
Friday, July 1st, 2011
Training Requirements for Dealership Employees
The quick guide to training: who needs it, in which areas and departments, for which enforcement agencies, and how often each training requirement must be renewed. Check the list at http://kpa.co/iSyVAA
Don’t Get Caught in Summer Hiring Traps
Thursday, June 2nd, 2011Many businesses will be hiring minors or interns for the summer. Before you hire make sure you are hiring and paying in compliance with both state and federal regulations. Check out the FLSA – Child Labor Rules Advisor and the US DOL Wage and Hour Division’s Employment/Age Certification Issuance Practices Under State Child Labor Laws. The Federal government does not require work permits or proof-of-age certificates for a minor to be employed. However, many states may require them for workers of certain ages. These certificates help to protect the employer from prosecution for employing an under-aged worker. Having these age certificates constitutes a good faith effort to comply with minimum age requirements. To review best practices paying interns go to http://blog.kpaonline.com/2010/04/interns-a-source-of-free-labor-not-likely/
A Lot of Safety on Your Lot
Sunday, May 1st, 2011Inventory lots, parking lots, and holding lots make up the backbone of your business, and need to be kept safe. Here are a few basic safety checks keep your lots up to code, and keep them safe for employees and customers. First, make sure the speed limit is posted, blind spots are eliminated, and that employees are given specific test drive routes if they leave the premises with customers as part of their job. If golf carts are part of your business, safe operating rules need to be posted in the cab of each cart.
All employees need to practice safe driving. This includes using seatbelts, and eliminating the use of cell phones while behind the wheel. All paperwork needs to be current, including safe driver training records, and DMV records.
More details are available in the May 2011 newsletter article, “Lot Safety Checklist” at
http://www.kpaonline.com/news-and-events/newsletter/compliance-newsletter-may-2011/lot-safety.html