When you find a company that makes working with them a pleasure, I think it is appropriate to spread the word. We recently added two new salespeople to our Boise office and we were scrambling to find a place to put everyone in our limited office space. After researching a bit, we decided to buy several pieces of new office furniture online from Office Depot.

To my surprise, the furniture was delivered the next day, with no extra charge for shipping. Additionally, when we decided to return a desk we purchased, there were no questions asked. A full refund was given and there was no charge to have someone come and pick up the item the next day.

Anyone who has purchased items online, knows this kind of service is unmatched by most companies. The shipping was quick, the service was friendly, and there was no charge for shipping or delivery, even with items over 100 lbs.

Another Office Depot experience I had recently reinforced their above-and-beyond customer service attitude. We were looking to have some flyers printed and we had used another company’s services in the past because the cost was significantly lower. After speaking with an associate of the nearby Office Depot, she assured me they could match the price of any competitor and she also said I could use a coupon I received in the mail.

Since the Office Depot location is much closer and they said they could complete the job in a matter of minutes for a price that ended up being even lower than the competitor after the use of the coupon, we chose to take our business there. The quality of work was outstanding and the employees were friendly and helpful.

Although it may seem as though I am gushing about Office Depot here, there is a lesson for business owners. If you make your customers happy, not only will they keep coming back, they will talk about your exceptional service.

Samantha Bushard is an HR employee for the Idaho office of A Plus Benefits, Inc.

A short article in the latest issue of Inc. Magazine gives a couple of suggestions for decreasing your health insurance premium costs without forcing your employees to pay more. Their ideas include offering High Deductible Health Plans that qualify for HSAs as well as working with a PEO.

Another short article in Fortune Small Business, addresses a question from a reader regarding how to find a reputable PEO.

Check them out.

Samantha Bushard is an HR employee for the Idaho office of A Plus Benefits, Inc.

Many business owners are faced with the challenge of paying non-exempt employees for time while traveling. The laws requiring compensation for travel time under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) can be very confusing. The compensation an employee is eligible to receive depends on the mode of travel as well as when the travel takes place.

Employees are not eligible for compensation for the time spent traveling between home and work. This also means that employees who are away on business are not eligible for compensation for time spent traveling between a hotel and the worksite or home and the airport.

Any other travel done by employees for business purposes should be compensated as follows:

*Any travel time during normal working hours (between 8:30am-5:30pm on any day of the week) will be paid at the regular hourly rate and be subject to overtime.

*Any travel time spent as the driver of an automobile, regardless of whether the travel time is during normal working hours will be paid at the regular hourly rate and be subject to overtime.

*Travel time spent as the passenger in an automobile outside of normal working hours will be paid one-half (1/2) the regular hourly rate and this time will not be factored into overtime calculations.

For employees who choose a mode of transportation different from the one authorized (such as driving rather than flying) only the estimated travel time for the authorized mode of transportation is eligible for compensation.

For example, if a non-exempt employee chooses to drive rather than fly from Salt Lake City, UT to Boise, ID the employee will only be compensated for the one hour it would normally take to fly.

Some other rules to remember:

*If an employee is traveling between time zones, the point of departure should be used to determine whether or not the travel is during normal working hours.

*Travel time should be calculated by rounding up to the nearest quarter hour.

*Meal periods should be deducted from travel compensation.

*Employees are responsible for accurately tracking and reporting their travel time.

If you have non-exempt employees who are traveling for business, it is important to make sure you understand the laws and speak with your HR representative about exceptions. Please let us know if you have any questions regarding the compensation of your employees.

Samantha Bushard is an HR employee for the Idaho office of A Plus Benefits, Inc.

For those new to the Health Savings Account (HSA) world, knowing what is considered a “qualified medical expense” can be somewhat confusing. Many of the Web sites about HSAs refer to IRS Publication 502, which explains the itemized deductions for medical expenses, but this list is not entirely correct for HSAs. For example, most insurance premiums (with a few exceptions) are not considered qualified medical expenses for the purpose of an HSA, but they can be claimed as an itemized deduction according to IRS Publication 502.

In an attempt to clear up the muddy waters that inevitably come from the IRS, I will break down some of the most commonly asked questions about qualified medical expenses. Of course doctor’s fees, payments toward your deductible, and prescription medications can be paid for with HSA funds. Also, over-the-counter medications such as pain relievers, allergy medications, antacids, sleep aids and cold medicines are considered qualified medical expenses. Over-the-counter weight loss drugs, vitamins, and dietary supplements are not qualified medical expenses.

Some other qualified medical expenses that you may not know about include:

· Braces
· Chiropractic Care
· Vision Correction Surgery
· Contact Lenses and Eyeglasses
· Acupuncture
· Alcoholism and Drug Treatment
· Dental Treatments
· Hearing Aids
· Dentures
· Psychologists
· Therapy Equipment
· Vaccines

It is important to note that you are responsible for making sure that your HSA money is being spent on qualified medical expenses. If you are audited, you will have to prove that you spent your HSA money correctly. If you are unable to prove that the money was spent appropriately you may face tax penalties.

Samantha Bushard is an HR employee for the Idaho office of A Plus Benefits, Inc.

Keeping good employees tends to be less of a problem for large companies according to a recent article on the Forbes Web site. The article states that this trend is the result of larger firms are able to offer higher salaries, weeks of paid vacation and other perks that draw employees in and keep them there.

That is not to say that small business owners are unable to retain good employees. There are several strategies small business owners can adopt in order to compete with the big guys. For instance, a survey by Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration found that employee retention increases for small companies by 26.2% for a given year when benefits are offered.

Many small business owners don’t consider offering a benefits package to their employees because of the associated costs. However, there are options for small businesses including working with a PEO. Sometimes it just takes some shopping around to find a solution that will work best for your company.

There are also some other inexpensive retention strategies suggested in the article including company picnics, participation in community sports leagues, and offering discounted gym memberships or other company discounts.

These perks play up the main benefit employees see in working for a small company: a close-knit, community working environment. Many employees find value in knowing the people they work with on a more personal level and feeling like they are an important part of the company. That sense of pride and belonging can help your employees stay put rather than looking for new opportunities.Samantha Bushard is an HR employee for A Plus Benefits, Inc.