Skip to content

Providing Employer Intelligence
to Small Business Owners

You didn't go into business to be an employer. SmallBiz Brainiac is here to provide you
with the intelligence you need to thrive in your role and succeed in your business. 

The Secret to Online Success is Here!

These FREE books tell you how to convert internet traffic to sales and how to create a mass movement where people pay you for your advice.

Free report - 8 Steps to Lower Your Employer Liability

ipad-download

With all the noise and distractions, it’s hard to know what to focus on. If you don’t address these pitfalls you could end up falling victim to one or more of them. Make sure that your to-do list gives priority to those tasks that impact your focus on these perils.

Shoot me your employer related question!

  • Please enter a number less than or equal to 9999.
  • Drop files here or
    If your question references a document, you can upload it here.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Blog Posts

Independent Contractor or Employee?

By Thomas Rock Lindsay | Feb 13, 2017

Independent Contractor or Employee? Do you remember from episode 3 of the SmallBiz Brainiac podcast, the examples of employers who have been and are currently being sued for improper classification of their workers? Click here to listen to that episode. In this post we’ll learn about the IRS Common Law Rules and the 11 point test for determining if a…

Read the full article

Demystify the Hiring Process

By Thomas Rock Lindsay | Mar 25, 2016

The hiring procedure is complicated. It’s made up of several daunting processes. For me, hiring has always been one of the most difficult aspects of being an employer. There is so much to do. Everything from defining the position, to on-boarding. And, when I’ve been in a hurry, or desperate for help, I’ve been sloppy…

Read the full article

10 Small Business Pitfalls to Avoid

By Thomas Rock Lindsay | Feb 11, 2016

10 Small Business Pitfalls You Must Avoid Owning and running a small business is not easy. There is a lot of competition out there, and while you struggle, they seem to have it all figured out. Everyone wants your time and attention including vendors, regulators, suppliers, employees, customers and your family. You are constantly being sold…

Read the full article

Latest Episodes

Social Media Screening of applicants for potential employment

135: Social Media Screening for Employment

By Thomas Rock Lindsay | Jun 29, 2017 |

The number of employers using social media to screen candidates is at an all-time high. Today I wanted to go over a type of pre-employment screening that is becoming increasingly more popular as time goes on. Pre-employment screenings, or background checks are nothing new. In fact, we have discussed background checks before on this show.…

OSHA Claim Reporting Retaliation & Post Accident Drug Testing Rules

134: OSHA Claim Reporting Retaliation & Post Accident Drug Testing Rules – Part 2

By Thomas Rock Lindsay | Jun 27, 2017 |

OSHA says a post accident drug testing policy which deters and discourages employees from reporting a claim is illegal. In part 1, I introduced you to the 3 new provisions in OSHA’s recordkeeping rule that took effect on January 1, 2017. On this episode we’ll learn more details about the provision that prohibits you from retaliating against your employee for…

Penalties for violating the Fair Work Week law range from $500 to $2,500 per occurrence depending on severity.

133: New York City’s Fair Work Week

By Thomas Rock Lindsay | Jun 22, 2017 |

Penalties for violating the Fair Work Week law range from $500 to $2,500 per occurrence depending on severity. Back in 2016, Seattle passed their Secure Scheduling Law. This law actually takes effect on July 1, 2017. You can hear more about the Seattle Secure Scheduling Law by going to our website, www.smallbizbrainiac.com and pulling up episode…

Effective January 1, 2017, OSHA’s new Recordkeeping rule took effect. There are two main parts to the new rule. I told you about the Recording and Reporting part in episode 89 on December 6, 2016,

132: OSHA Claim Reporting Retaliation & Post Accident Drug Testing Rules – Part 1

By Thomas Rock Lindsay | Jun 20, 2017 |

OSHA calls this new power an “important new tool” to ensure employers maintain accurate records. Effective January 1, 2017, OSHA’s new Recordkeeping rule took effect. There are two main parts to the new rule. I told you about the Recording and Reporting part in episode 89 on December 6, 2016, but I didn’t cover the…

The law was designed to require any contractor or subcontractor working on a federally funded or "public works" project to pay a "prevailing wage" to its laborers or mechanics.

131: Certified Payroll – The Davis Bacon Act

By Thomas Rock Lindsay | Jun 15, 2017 |

Davis Bacon Act – Just another stupid federal law with major unintended consequences like pricing out smaller contractors and taxpayers overpaying for services.  Today I wanted to discuss certified payroll and how it differs from your normal everyday payroll practices. First of all, what is meant by certified payroll? Generally speaking, certified payroll occurs whenever…

Get My Brainwaves

Subscribe to the Brainwave newsletter to get episode recaps, tips and information to help you succeed as an employer. 

Short and sweet - these weekly emails are fluff free!