Month: February 2017

Employco USA names Gerri LeCompte vice president

EmploycoUSA

Gerri LeCompteA human resource and employment solutions firm, Employco USA promoted an employee to vice president of payroll services.

In this new position, Gerri LeCompte will be helping the firm as it stays on the cutting edge of payroll technology to take on more business.

“Gerri has been an integral part of our team – overseeing payroll operations for our clients. Within the trade show sector, Gerri saw the need for processing union fringes and the opportunity to set Employco apart from the competition. Gerri’s dedication to our clients is what our company strives for,” said Rob Wilson, CEO, Employco.

LeCompte attended St. Xavier University for Liberal Studies, with a focus in Business and Accounting. She has worked with notable firms, such as Hinckley Springs and National Van Lines. She started work at Employco as a payroll clerk in 1999. A year later she took on a roll that focused more on client/union contract maintenance, benefit payments, and audits. And, in 2002 she was promoted to payroll supervisor. She has seen much growth and positive change over the last 18 years with the company and is excited to step into her new position.

“I am honored to have been entrusted with such an important role within the company. I look forward to helping Employco rise above the competition in quality of service as we continue to grow in our industry.”

LeCompte has been married for 16 years and lives in the southwest suburbs of Chicago with her husband and two children, ages 8 and 10. She is very involved in her children’s school and sport organizations, and enjoys spending time with her family and friends in her free time.

For more information, please contact Rob Wilson at (630) 286-7345 or rwilson@employco.com.

What Small Businesses Need from President Trump

EmploycoUSA

Employment trends expert reveals ‘Small Business Wish List’ for the President

According to the National Federation of Independent Business, the Index of Small Business Optimism increased by 11 points this past quarter, rising to its highest point since December 2004. It’s easy to see that small businesses are very hopeful about a Trump presidency.

Rob Wilson, employment trends expert and President of Employco USA, says, “Many small business owners are backing Trump and feeling cheered about the country’s economic future.  However, there are several things that the President needs to do in order to fulfill this optimism.”

Here, Wilson shares his “Small Business Wish List” for President Trump:

Small Business Wish List to President Trump

Replace Obamacare and include the following changes: Wilson says, “Small business owners need Trump to remove the mandate on individuals and employers, as well as reduce the amount of governmental oversight including the elimination of Forms 1094 and 1095. He should also allow employers to change employee eligibility back to 40 hours per week. And this is crucial: He needs to open up interstate insurance sales, as well as cancel the  Cadillac tax.”

Establish 6 weeks of paid family leave benefit (maternity and paternity). Wilson says, “The new leave could require the same eligibility as FMLA (i.e., employee must work at least 1 year with 1,250 hours worked at worksite with at least 50 employees within 75 miles).”

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Why President Donald Trump Will Raise the Minimum Wage

EmploycoUSA

Employment trends expert explains why Pres. Trump will certainly raise the minimum wage

Raise Minimum WageNot many people expect that President Trump will raise the minimum wage. In fact, during the primaries, he famously declared that American wages were already “too high.” However, he later declared that he believes the issue should be left to the states, implying that he would not make any federal changes to the minimum wage as president.

However, Rob Wilson, president of Employco USA and employment trends expert, believes otherwise, saying, “The minimum wage has not changed on a national level since July 2009. Meanwhile, the cost of living has continued to increase, so we are certainly due for a change. While his opponent Hillary Clinton was vocal about seeking $15/hr for the federal minimum wage, President Trump will certainly not go anywhere near that high.”

Instead, Wilson believes that he will likely move the minimum wage from $7.25 to $8.50, in a slow progress towards a goal of $10 an hour.

“I do believe that President Trump will raise wages during his presidency, but it is far from the top of his to-do list. Hence, I would expect it to be a number of years before minimum wage employees will see their paychecks make any notable increase.”

Wilson closes by saying, “Employers should begin making preparations now for a higher minimum wage. Although the change will be incremental, previous minimum wage experiments in cities such as Seattle have shown the devastating impact that minimum wage hikes can have for both employers and employees.”

For more on this topic, please contact Rob Wilson at rwilson@thewilsoncompanies.com.