Friday, December 28, 2012

People Lease recognizes Margaret White’s years of service

Payroll and back-office service provider People Lease is pleased to celebrates accountant and tax specialist Margaret White’s 14th anniversary with the company.

A People Lease employee since November 1998, Margaret is considered the backbone of the People Lease organization. She handles bill payments, makes deposits and files federal and multi-state tax payments. No role at People Lease has greater fiscal implications or is more deadline-driven.

“Margaret’s can-do attitude and on-the-job insights make her one of the organization’s most valuable assets. We’re very lucky to have her,” says Director of Operations, Ken Lewis.

Margaret lives in Jackson and is the mother of two children, grandmother of three, and has a dog named Max.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

The staff here at People Lease would like to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas this holiday season.

People Lease is a company that specializes in payroll and back-office solutions but first and foremost we're a group of families who know the importance of coming together and enjoying the holidays with loved ones. This season we hope you are able to spend your time with the ones you love.

Don't forget, Christmas is a time for giving. There are many worthy charities and organizations who specialize in helping needy families including Toys for Tots, Salvation Army, The Stew Pot and Catholic Charities.

People Lease will close Friday, December 21 and reopen Wednesday, December 26.

Friday, October 19, 2012

Jaynee Sindledecker receives American Payroll Association certificate

Jaynee Sindledecker, Payroll Specialist for People Lease, receives her certificiate from the American Payroll Association from People Lease Operations Manager, Ken Lewis. Sindledecker recently completed the Foundations of Payroll Certification program of the American Payroll Association, the first of the two most prestigious certifications offered by the national organization. APA certifications are valuable, objective credentials that verifies a specific level of knowledge, skills, and abilities in the payroll profession.

A People Lease employee since 2010, Sindledecker's responsibilities include monthly new hire reporting and enrollment in Magnolia Federal Credit Union, Blue Cross Blue Shield bill reconciliation and payment, and premium deduction set-up. Sindledecker will test for the Certified Payroll Professional certification, the American Payroll Association's highest certification offered to payroll professionals late this year. People Lease is a full-service, employee administration company operating in Ridgeland for more than 28 years.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Make Sure Your Employees Take Their Vacations

Many employees don't take all their vacation days. If they're not, both they and your business will suffer.

Why wouldn't an employee want to take the paid vacation you provide? In the current economy, many employees are afraid to take vacation because of how it might reflect opinions of their work performance. Many just don't have the available funds to go out of town.

It's up to you to make sure they know their job will be waiting for them when they return. After all, you need employees who stay fresh so they won't suffer from fatigue or burn-out.

If they're worried about spending the extra cash, let them know it's okay to try a stay-cation and work won't be calling to bug them just because they're home.

Friday, September 21, 2012

Jaynee Sindledecker completes payroll certification program.

People Lease is proud to announce that Jaynee Sindledecker, Payroll Specialist, has completed the Foundations of Payroll Certification program of the American Payroll Association, the first of the two most prestigious certifications offered by the national organization. APA certifications are valuable, objective credentials that verify a specific level of knowledge, skills, and abilities in the payroll profession.

A People Lease employee since 2010, Sindledecker is the company’s first associate to receive the APA certification. Her responsibilities include new hire reporting, credit union enrollment and 401(k) deduction setup and payment processsing. Sindledecker will begin preparation for the Certified Payroll Professional certification, the American Payroll Association’s highest certification offered to payroll professionals.

Congratulations Jaynee!

Friday, August 3, 2012

Lois Sellers receives the Travelers Superstar award for the Second Quarter 2012

People Lease and Account Services Group are pleased to announce Lois Sellers has received the "Travelers Insurance Superstar Award". This award is presented by the Travelers Select Accounts team, which stated Lois's knowledge of products and systems, her cheerful attitude and her dependability are just a few of the characteristics that made Lois the obvious choice for the Travelers Superstar of the Quarter Award.

A People Lease employee since July 2011, Lois is the staff customer service agent who is also licensed in property, casualty, and life & health. Lois is known for great customer service and being highly customer oriented. Lois attributes her success over the years to a genuine desire to ensure that her customers are all receiving premier insurance care. Lois brings over 15 years of experience in the corporate, billing, accounting and customer service industry. Lois is originally from Louisville, Kentucky and moved to Mississippi two years ago to pursue her career in the insurance industry. Lois' dedication and commitment to our clients gives them the peace of mind knowing their insurance needs are always handled timely and professionally. She enjoys traveling, bicycling, the outdoors, and spending time with friends.

Congratulations Lois! Thank you for all you do for Account Services Group, our insurance carriers, and especially your customers!

Friday, July 6, 2012

People Lease adds Susan Huddleston to staff

People Lease is proud to announce Susan Huddleston has joined the team as Executive Administrator.

Susan joins us with several years experience in both administrative support and sales. Susan's administration experience includes paying taxes, filing Federal and State returns, processing payrolls, accounts payable, accounts receivable, finance, and processing of business credit accounts. Her time in sales earned her a position as sales manager with a previous employer and she brings those customer service skills here to People Lease.

A native of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Susan now lives in Brandon with her husband and three children. She and her family are very active in their community.

Susan is an asset to the our team and she lends a very helping hand to make sure People Lease provides our customers with the best in service.

Friday, June 15, 2012

People Lease Service

Businesses succeed or fail based on one very important factor: service. Here at People Lease, we consider our success to be a direct result of the hard work we put into keeping our customers happy.

quoteAt People Lease we handle the back-office chores associated with employee administration. We provide companies with services like payroll, benefits, retirement, and deal with making sure our customers stay compliant with federal and state regulations. To do this effectively we work closely with our clients to make sure their needs are always met.

We know that every business is unique with its own unique problems. We service clients both large and small. No matter what size the company is, our staff is completely dedicated to providing perfect service. Our clients know that the well-being of their employees is one of the most important aspects of a successful business and we know that any difficulty will affect an employee’s peace of mind. That’s why any small problem is a big deal to us.

quoteAt the end of the day, People Lease clients know that we’re there for them. Our clients can always pick up the phone and talk to one of our payroll specialists and get personalized solutions to their employee administration concerns. If you want more information on what we can do for your company call us today at 601-987-3025.

Friday, June 8, 2012

Keeping Up With Employment Taxes


Whatever your business - if you have employees, you have employment taxes. For each hire, you are required to withhold the employee's federal income tax, FICA, Medicare, along with state income tax and state disability insurance in most states. As the employer, it is your responsibility to make sure these taxes are deposited to the government. Employee taxes are held in trust funds to be deposited by the employer using Form 941.

Form 941It's also the employer's duty to match the employee’s FICA and Medicare contribution amounts. All funds are deposited with the US Treasury Department through electronic funds transfer. The schedule of the deposits is dependent on the amount of the liability. Each quarter the taxes are reported to the IRS via the Form 941.

Your company must also pay into the federal and state unemployment funds. The federal rates depend on how much the employee’s pay is each year. Also, each state has different requirements and rates for unemployment taxes.

Failure to deposit taxes on time or mistakes in reporting taxes results in penalties levied by the IRS. It’s very important for companies to be on top of all aspects of their payroll or things can get expensive. If you have questions about your taxes or any employee administration concerns, contact People Lease today at (601) 987-3025.

Friday, June 1, 2012

Disaster Recovery Plans


With hurricane season on its way, small business owners might want to find the time to think about their disaster recovery plans. Of course, businesses should always be prepared for disasters at any time. You never know when you could be faced with flood, fire, accidents, or even computer malfunction.

Having a good plan in place can significantly reduce the costs incurred and can be the deciding factor in your company's survival in the event of a disaster.

To start on your disaster recovery plan, first you need to find out what events are most likely to cause disruption in your business and plan accordingly.

Over the years more and more businesses have begun to rely on computers to run their business. As a result, businesses need to develop effective back-up and recovery strategies to reduce the impact of disruptive events. Keeping your records backed-up and secure are essential to any disaster recovery plan. Many businesses use on-site or remote backup drives to keep their data secure. A newer option is cloud computing, where your information is stored via the internet. Look around to see what's right for your business.

Another factor to think of is how you will access the data in the event of an emergency. Will you need an alternate worksite or will employees be able to do their work from home? Will communication be disrupted?

Of course, the most important part of any disaster recovery plan is the safety of employees and patrons. Make sure employees are well-trained in what to do in case of emergency.

Here at People Lease, Hurricane Katrina was a definite eye-opener in the importance of disaster recovery plans. We would be glad to share our experiences with any business owners looking to make their own plan. Contact us anytime at 601-987-3025.

Friday, May 25, 2012

Happy Memorial Day from People Lease!

Fire up the barbeque and get out the sunblock, Memorial Day is almost here. Many Americans will be travelling to a vacation spot or having cookouts with friends and family this weekend. Many more will be shopping the sales aisles. Whatever you’re doing, Memorial Day weekend is a great time for not only fun, but also remembrance.

Happy Memorial Day
Memorial Day is the unofficial kickoff to summer. Schools all over the nation are out for summer vacation or will be very soon. With kids looking at a few months of fun in the sun, Memorial Day is the perfect time to start celebrating.

But whether you're attending a parade, having a picnic, or going on vacation, keep in mind that Memorial Day is for remembering those who have given their lives in service of their country. Formerly known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day was declared a federal holiday in 1971. Flags everywhere are flown at half-staff to honor fallen soldiers until noon on Memorial Day and are then raised to full staff to show that their sacrifice was not in vain. So, whatever your plans are for the weekend, please take the time to remember the meaning of the holiday.

Have a fun, safe, and happy Memorial Day weekend!

Friday, May 18, 2012

Background Checks

For the past few weeks we’ve been posting about hiring methods and practices (you can find the posts here). During our research, one of the things we’ve discovered is that an essential part of the hiring process is checking out a prospect’s background. You really can’t afford to be surprised by a candidate’s previous history. After all, if an employee's actions hurt someone, the employer may be liable. A bad decision can wreak havoc on a company's budget and reputation.

Screen your prospects with People Lease!
People Lease offers a fantastic employment screening service to all our clients. With our service you’re able to establish a prospect’s identity, obtain driving and criminal records, get information on illegal substance tests, confirm the existence & validity of licenses, and confirm education & employment information provided on their resume. Another part of the service includes contacting references with customized questions (according to job description) about their relationships with the applicant, and his or her personal and professional reputation and activities.

People Lease is here to help you with hiring and all aspects of employee administration. To learn more about these services and others, please contact us today.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

A quick checklist to help guide you through the hiring process

  • Determine the need to establish a new or fill an existing position.
  • Make sure an updated job description for the position is on file.
  • Consult the job description to identify the required knowledge, skills, and experience required.
  • Calculate the available compensation, including pay and benefits.
  • Train managers on how to conduct effective interviews.
  • Create an advertisement or recruiting campaign for the job position.
  • Contact applicants to schedule interviews.
  • Contact top candidates' references.
  • Meet with the relevant decision-makers to select a candidate.
  • Present the offer letter.
  • Conduct background checks.
  • Schedule New Employee and Department Orientations.
  • Document all new hire paperwork into the employee's HR file

Friday, May 11, 2012

Avoiding Hiring Mistakes

Whether you're growing your business or replacing staff members, you want to find quality employees. You already have applicants and after looking through our recent posts on hiring, you think you're ready to find the right person. You know that the wrong person can cost your company time and money. But all too often, businesses make hiring mistakes.

There are several hiring mistakes to avoid. Common problems start with the interview. You need to be clear about the job's requirements up front and stay on target. You don't want to hire someone based solely on their personality or appearance without asking questions related to the position. Also, don't mistake a candidate's nervousness for lack of ability. Interviews can be intimidating for anyone, especially if it's a surprise group interview.

Another mistake is paying too much attention to the candidate's degree over their experience. There's just no substitute for a proven track record.  Don't forget, you're looking for someone who has a good feel for the position and will be a good fit for your team. You might consider involving your current employees, as well.  After all, they're the ones who will be interacting with the person hired. Getting your employee's input can help strengthen their involvement and loyalty for the company.

Possibly the most important mistake to avoid is not checking candidate's backgrounds. If you're serious about a potential employee, make sure their work history is accurate and check a few references. Internet giant Yahoo recently made this mistake when their new CEO's resume listed a degree he didn't actually have. In addition to the work history and references, background checks are very handy. You certainly don't want to hire a professional embezzler or someone who's been convicted of stealing from the company warehouse.

Hiring is always a daunting task but if you remember these rules while going through your interviews you'll be one step ahead of the game.

Friday, May 4, 2012

The role of social media in hiring

So you've decided to do a little hiring and you're going through the resumes and talking to references as these things have always been done. But what about the new tool in the hiring toolbox?

Social media is a huge part of American culture these days and it's naturally extended into hiring practices. Many managers are looking at job seekers' profiles to find out who is company material.

What can employers find out about a candidate through social media sites? Many look to see if the applicant conveys a professional image and what communication skills they have. Managers can also see if the candidate's background info supports their professional qualifications. In most cases, employers look to get a good idea of the candidate's overall personality.

Of course, social media is also a means by which employers weed out candidates. The most common strike against job seekers is posting inappropriate or provocative pictures online. Drinking and drug use is also a factor in rejecting candidates. Additionally, employers tend not to hire those with poor communication skills, have bad-mouthed a previous employer, and who make discriminatory remarks.

If you're looking to hire, you wouldn't be the first to take advantage of social media to find out a little about who your candidates really are. Of course, businesses have to be very careful when using social media not to discriminate against potential employees in order to stay in line with the law.

Friday, April 27, 2012

A Guide to Hiring

So you're thinking about hiring to help grow your business. It's never easy. If your business has reached a point where it seems the only way to grow is with more people, you'll still need to take a few things into account.

Does the demand of your goods or services exceed the supply your workforce is able to produce? If your workforce is able to produce at the level you need and adding another body won't add to profits, you probably don't need to hire. But if you're finding that there's too much work to go around, you'll need to start looking at hiring.

Welcome aboard! Well, who should you hire? A qualified candidate, of course. The problem may be finding one. The top talent is usually already taken. Can you lure someone who's hesitant about leaving a stable position to your company? You might have to sell your company to the candidate as they're selling themselves to you. Remember what makes your company great and communicate it clearly. Motivate the candidate with the incentives your company offers like benefits, bonus potential, time off, etc.

Who not to hire might be even more important. Hiring friends or family can be stressful. There always needs to be a disconnect between work and personal life. The trick is to make sure boundaries are set between the two. Avoiding favoritism (or even the appearance of favoritism) is key. The last thing you need is other employees believing someone else is getting special treatment.

No matter who you hire, you'll always need to be clear about expectations. Let your new hire know in advance what their duties and goals will be and the consequences of unmet expectations. Not every employee works out but you've got a better chance when they know what they're required to do up front.
So if you've decided your company needs to hire new staff, following these guidelines can help save you a few headaches.

Friday, April 13, 2012

People Lease recognizes employee appointments

People Lease, a full service employee administration firm in Ridgeland, MS, is proud to announce the appointment of Paul Bowers and Fran Flood to the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership’s 2011 Chairman’s Council. The Chairman’s Council is made up of the elite Ambassadors who have best involved themselves in activities and events which grow the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership.

Paul Bowers
A People Lease employee since 2005, Paul Bowers specializes in tailoring employee administration services to the needs of any enterprise, large or small. He cultivates new business, while providing existing clients with continuing support and guidance. This includes periodic assessment of client needs, coaching clients on new technology that may improve efficiency and, of course, the resolution of any service issues a client may have. Paul is also a full-service Mississippi licensed insurance agent for life and health, property and casualty, and major medical.  Paul serves as Sergeant of Arms for the Downtown Jackson Rotary Club and Chairman of the Ambassadors for the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership.

Paul lives in Madison with his wife, Margaret.  He enjoys working in his yard in his spare time.

Fran Flood
Fran Flood is vice president of Account Services Group, where she has worked since 2001. She specializes in the administration of life and health, dental, and short-term insurance plans for individuals and groups. She is a full-service Mississippi licensed insurance agent for most insurance carries operating in the state. In addition to being an Ambassador with the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership, Fran is also a Chamber member of Flowood, Rankin County, Madison City, and Madison County. She is a member of the Madison/Ridgeland Rotary, the Professional Women’s Association, the Jackson Association of Health Underwriters, the National Association of Health Underwriters, and the Madison County Women’s Council.

Fran resides in Madison with her husband, Ralph Flood. They enjoy taking trips on the weekends, especially to watch New Orleans Saints games.  The couple has five children and six grandchildren.

Thursday, April 5, 2012


Easter approches and as families get ready for a Sunday with family, friends and much food, People Lease is here to impart some holiday fun.

Kids' treats
Honey Bunnies: More bread-like than cookie so it keeps the sweetness low. Kids will love putting the bunnies together and then taking them apart. Get the full recipe here.
Easter Bunny Cakes: Rice Krispies treats for the whole family to decorate and enjoy! Get the full recipe here.
Peanut Butter Easter Bonnets: Decorative cookies with a delicious Easter touch. Get the full recipe here.

Breakfast
Easter Egg Breakfast: Easter Eggs never tasted so good! Hard-boiled eggs stirred into a cream sauce over hot buttered toast. Get the full recipe here.

Lunch
Ginger Ale Can Chicken: Perfectly roasted chickens bake over opened cans of ginger ale. The ginger ale keeps the chicken moist. This easy roasting method give it a rich roasted flavor and beautiful golden brown color. Get the full recipe here.
Spoon Rolls: Small rolls easily baked in a cornbread or biscuit pan to perfection. Get the full recipe here.

Games
Egg in Spoon Relay Race:
Players are divided into two teams. Each team is divided into two groups, one at Point A, one at Point B. The first player is given an egg in a spoon to carry from Point A to Point B. At that point the egg and spoon are handed off to the next competitor, who carries it back to Point A to the next competitor. A dropped egg means that the person carrying the egg must go back to where they started from. The first team to complete the relay wins!
Egg Bowling: This game is played similarly to bocce or lawn bowling. It can be played indoors or out. Each player uses a colored boiled egg. A plain white boiled egg is used as the target. Players compete to see who can roll their egg closest to the white egg without touching it. The first person to win a certain number of rounds - usually five or ten - wins the game. Alternately, use a chocolate bunny as the target. The game winner gets the chocolate bunny!

The Easter Bunny
So what's up with the rabbit running around with eggs, anyway? And just what does it have to do with Easter?
Well, according to the University of Florida's Center for Children's Literature and Culture, the origin of the celebration - and the Easter Bunny - can be traced back to 13th century, pre-Christian Germany. The emphasis of the holiday changed in later years but continued with many of the same traditions.
Just as Spring symbolizes new life and rebirth, rabbits and eggs are a sign of fertility and birth.
Eventually, the tradition of making nests for the Easter Bunny's eggs turned to making baskets to keep the eggs and now, candy.
So fil your baskets high and enjoy this Easter!

Friday, March 16, 2012

Mal's St. Paddy's Parade



St. Patrick's Day is upon us again and here in Jackson that means Mal's St. Paddy's Parade.  Founded by Hal and Mal's Malcolm White in 1983, Mal's St. Paddy's Parade in downtown Jackson is one of the most highly anticipated events in Mississippi each year.
This year the parade actually falls on St. Patrick’s Day and you can look forward to all the festivities that have made Jackson’s parade a must for 60,000 plus attendants.  You can attend the 5K Run, 5K Walk or the children’s 1 Mile Fun Run when it kicks off at 8am.  There’s also a Children’s Festival and Pet Parade before the actual parade kicks off at 1pm.  The good times continue well into the night with the After Parade Street Dance in the parking lot of Hal and Mal’s.
Started 30 years ago “to give Jackson the chance to celebrate something uniquely Jacksonian,” Malcolm White combined his love of Mardi Gras with a celebration of Spring to create the popular parade.  This year the parade honors the work of UMC’s Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children with contributions including profits generated by sales of this year’s limited edition posters by Wyatt Waters.  There is also a toy drive benefitting the children’s hospital.
For more information about the parade visit www.malsstpaddysparade.com or www.halandmals.com.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012


The Internal Revenue Service has released guidance for employers before the law provision requires them to report the cost of health care coverage on employee's W-2 statements.
  • Employers who distributed less than 250 W-2s in 2011 are exempt from the requirement until at least 2014 but larger employers will be required to report health care cost information on 2012 W-2s when they are issued in 2013.
  • Employers are not required to include dental and vision care in computing employee's health care costs if those plans are separate from group medical plans.
  • Employers may choose to report only the cost of coverage of terminated employees.  If they include the coverage cost and the COBRA cost, they must do so consistently for all terminated employees.
  • Health care costs do not have to be reported for situations where a W-2 is not required, such as retired employees receiving health care coverage.
  • Employers are not required to report health care cost information if a terminated employee requests a W-2 before the end of the year.
  • The cost of coverage taxable to employees, like for a domestic partner or a child over 26, must be reported on the W-2.
Other questions have not been answered. Some experts interpret the guidance to mean that employers have the choice to report both the active coverage and retiree coverage for employees who retire during the course of the year. Employers must be consistent in these cases.
The new reporting requirements will add to employer costs and liability. People Lease can help reduce your liability and keep you up to date with reporting requirements. For more information or to receive your free payroll quote contact us at 601.987.3025 or visit www.freepayrollquotes.com.

Monday, February 20, 2012



It’s largely become known as Presidents Day, but the holiday on the third Monday in February is nationally named for the man on the dollar bill.  First implemented by Congress in 1880 and revised to be celebrated by all federal offices in 1885, Washington’s Birthday was originally observed on his actual birth date of February 22nd.  This was changed in 1971 to fall on the third Monday of the month, which ironically means that the holiday is never observed on Washington’s actual birthday (February 22nd only occurs as a Monday during the fourth week of the month). 

Since the date falls between Washington’s actual birthday and Lincoln’s February 12th birthday, many states use the term Presidents Day as the official title of the holiday. Also, more recently the holiday has been used to celebrate the office of the President in general. 

George Washington is considered the “Father of the Nation”. After leading the American forces as commander-in-chief against the British in the Revolutionary War, the Electoral College voted unanimously to elect Washington as the first President of the United States in 1789.  He was elected to a second term but refused to run for a third.

Looking to celebrate the holiday with some of your president’s favorite foods? Take a look at The Food Timeline and see what meals the presidents’ have preferred over the years. 

Please remember that the United States Postal Service will be closed on Monday, as will most banks and public schools. Many businesses take the opportunity to hold “President’s Day Sales” over the holiday weekend.  Here at People Lease, you can receive the same 120-Day Money Back Guarantee we offer all year long. We know for sure that payroll was really simple in George’s day. Not so today, with things like benefit management, tax issues, and withholding calculations – how much more complicated can it be?  Free your company from the hassles of everyday employee administration - visit us today at peoplelease.com to get your free quote and see how easy we can make payroll for you.

Who’s your favorite president?

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Determining between independent contractors and employees

Companies and employees across the country have been finding it hard in recent years to keep up with the laws concerning employment status.  While contract work can be appealing to both sides, it's important to know the rules to keep all concerned safe from possible penalties.

To determine whether a worker is an independent contractor or employee, look closely at the financial control the company has over the employee.  Is the worker incurring costs which are not being reimbursed?  This points toward a contractor situation since most employees can expect work expenses to be reimbursed while contractors have up-front costs related to their trade (such as tools and materials).


Another factor is how the worker is paid.  Contractors have the ability to set their payment amount before starting a job.  While some do set hourly rates, most contractor jobs are flat fees and work the hours they set themselves.  Independent contractors can also seek other business opportunities and are free to work on several projects at any given period while most employees are expected to have regular work hours.


Contractors also pay their own taxes and have to file a 1099 with the IRS if they earn more than $600 from a client.  Even so, the IRS suspects that 15% of workers are misclassified.


If you're looking for more information, Kelli M. Horne of Ezine Articles has written even further on the subject.

Monday, January 16, 2012

Keeping up with overtime rules

Companies have been having a hard time in recent years complying with the U.S. Department of Labor’s rules defining which white-collar employees are eligible for overtime pay and which are exempt.

The Fair Labor Standards Act regulations were set in place to make it easier for companies to make the distinction between eligible and exempt. So far, that hasn’t been the case. Even more lawsuits about overtime have resulted, in fact.

You don’t want your company facing some attorney out for a quick buck because of some simple mistake concerning pay. Luckily, there are resources to help you make the choice between exempt and nonexempt employees. Here are a few things to remember:

• Employees earning less than $455 a week are automatically eligible for overtime pay.

• A “highly compensated” employee is exempt if:
  1. The employee earns total annual compensation of $100,000 or more, which includes at least $455 per week paid on a salary basis;
  2. The employee’s primary duty includes performing office or non-manual work; and
  3. The employee customarily and regularly performs at least one of the exempt duties or responsibilities of an exempt executive, administrative or professional employee.
• To qualify for the administrative employee exemption, all of the following tests must be met:
  1. The employee must be compensated on a salary or fee basis (as defined in the regulations) at a rate not less than $455 per week;
  2. The employee’s primary duty must be the performance of office or non-manual work directly related to the management or general business operations of the employer or the employer’s customers; and
  3. The employee’s primary duty includes the exercise of discretion and independent judgment with respect to matters of significance.
For more info and a full list of exemptions, check out People Lease’s HR Support Center (look under Laws >Federal Laws>Fair Labor Standards Act).

Wednesday, January 11, 2012



You know that the success of your business hinges on how well you know your industry. Being an expert in your field sets you apart from the competition. The same goes for People Lease.

At People Lease, we strive for perfection in back office solutions so you can spend your time on what makes your business successful. Small Business Reports states that the average manager spends up to 23% of their work hours on staff administrative paperwork. People Lease is here to give you back that time.

These days, small businesses fight an uphill battle against employee administration rules, regulations, and penalties. We help our clients steer clear of these problems with superior knowledge of these ever-changing policies. People Lease can take care of your payroll processing, employee benefits, insurance, workers' compensation, 401(k) and much more. With access to all these benefits, our clients are able to attract and retain the best employees.

People Lease is a Mississippi-based company that has been in business in the Jackson area for over 27 years. Our clients receive reliable, personalized service and a high level of commitment to their needs. And we're always reaching to do more. We've recently added an online portal to our website where clients will be able to access employee files and pay histories, view and print management and payroll reports, and even submit payroll. We've also added an HR Support Center to our site so clients can now read human resources articles, download forms and job descriptions, research laws and more. With all these options and much more, People Lease is here to make payroll and human resources work for your business.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Fran Flood named Ambassador of the Month

Fran Flood of Account Services Group in Ridgeland has achieved the designation of Ambassador of the Month for November and December 2011 from the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership. The Ambassador of the Month is presented to a chamber member who best involves themselves in activities and events which grow the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership.
Fran Flood is vice president of Account Services Group, where she has worked since 2001.  She specializes in the administration of health, life, and dental insurance plans for individuals and groups. She is a Mississippi licensed insurance agent for most insurance carries operating in the state. In addition to being an Ambassador with the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership, Fran is also a Chamber member of Flowood, Rankin County, Madison City, and Madison County. She is a member of the Madison/Ridgeland Rotary, the Professional Women’s Association, the Jackson Association of Health Underwriters, and the Madison County Women’s Council.
Fran also attained Diplomat of the Month for October 2011 from the Chamber of Flowood.
Fran resides in Madison with her husband, Ralph Flood. They enjoy taking trips on the weekends, especially to watch New Orleans Saints games. The couple has five children and six grandchildren.