You may think workplace safety policies only apply to “dangerous” environments like factories, construction, or even health care. But a variety of federal and state laws require nearly all employers to provide a safe workplace. And employer’s legal obligations have become increasingly complex in light of the ongoing pandemic. Small businesses and nonprofits in all sectors need to recognize the importance of addressing safety concerns in the workplace. In this installment of our Essential HR Policies series, we take a look at what you should consider when drafting or updating your workplace safety policies.

​There is a major change on the horizon that will impact filing requirements for the vast majority of our small business clients. In January of 2021, Congress passed the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), which amended the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 (AMLA), to crack down on the use of shell companies to launder money.
 
You may be wondering, what does money laundering have to do with my small business? Unfortunately, shell companies are often used to hide who really owns a business and ultimately to hide assets, whether for tax evasion, to fund terrorism or other criminal activities, or to evade other financial obligations like child support. The CTA will require “reporting companies'' to provide information about the “beneficial owners” of the company to FinCEN (the U.S. Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network).*

​Innocent infringement is a common, though misunderstood, response when your business or nonprofit is accused of copyright infringement. Perhaps you’ve received a cease and desist letter demanding what seems like an exorbitant fee because of a picture posted on your website or music used in a social media campaign. Maybe you’ve even responded to the letter and pointed out your “innocence” and removed the offending content.
 
But is that enough to really solve the problem and settle the matter? In most cases, no.

​It’s not unusual for nonprofit organizations to partner or collaborate with other organizations to accomplish a mutual purpose. Often, our nonprofit clients prefer to document these relationships with an MOU or Memorandum of Understanding. But just what is an MOU, and how is it different from a contract?

You might decide to close your business for a number of reasons. Perhaps it is no longer financially feasible, or maybe you are moving on to something else. Regardless of the reason, there are several legal tasks you’ll need to undertake to protect yourself, your credit, and your reputation within the community—especially if you think you might want to have another business someday.

When most people start a business, they tend to put off legal issues until other things have been dealt with. Business owners know that legal issues will require the services of a lawyer, which can be both expensive and intimidating. But the truth is that some legal issues regarding your new business should be dealt with from the start and trademarking your business name is just one example.
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Many of the entrepreneurs we talk to, spend a lot of time and money coming up with a unique brand name or logo or slogan, but then they skip the important step of actually protecting it. It is easier than you might think for someone to claim your idea as their own. The first step is to register your trademark. This article outlines the six necessary steps you will need to take to trademark your company name.

You still have a job—yet you are itching to start a business. You might wonder if you have the time to do so, or if you are even allowed to do so. The answer depends on whether you signed an employment agreement and what kind of role you have with your current employer.

Here are some considerations if you wish to join the more than 24 million Americans who dream about being their own boss.