Five ways Nextep helps businesses navigate COVID-19

As we arrive at the one-year mark of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S, there are still daily challenges facing employees and employers alike. The last year has been a whirlwind of info, from new legislation and safety protocols to vaccines. Through it all, Nextep has helped businesses navigate every challenge along the way. 

One of our clients, Gena Dupus, partner/principal at Black Forest Decor, shared a few thoughts about how we supported her and her company through the pandemic: 

“The most difficult issue was trying to keep compliant with all the legalities and tax issues involved. Without Nextep, this would have been incredibly difficult. I was able to watch several of the Friday webinars, which helped keep us up to speed on the evolving issues related to COVID, sick leave, PPP, etc… Courtney in HR has been invaluable to our company. We have consulted with her regarding numerous facets of the COVID pandemic, and she always has the answers. She is always available and provides quick responses, which I greatly appreciate.”

Nextep’s experts help our clients prioritize safety and empower them with the info, resources, and support they need to continue operating through ongoing economic uncertainty while keeping them updated on any developments coming down the road. 

LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT FIVE WAYS NEXTEP HELPS BUSINESSES NAVIGATE COVID-19: 

Legislation guidance 

Figuring out the ins and outs of new legislation can feel next to impossible without a law degree, let alone if you’re having to juggle running a business and managing a workforce in a global pandemic. We’re here to analyze and help clients understand every employment-related legislation change. From the CARES Act and PPP loans to H.R. 6201, we’ve broken down hundreds of pages of legislation into easily digestible blogs and webinars. We’re committed to keeping our clients informed and compliant, and we will continue to do so.

Answers to questions 

Navigating working from home, COVID leave, mask mandates, and vaccine policies in the workplace isn’t easy, nor is it always straightforward. With Nextep as a partner, our clients have answers to all their questions. With COVID-19 webinars, blogs, and FAQs, we address returning to work protocols, vaccine mandates, positive test results in the workplace, and more. Plus, our invaluable HR business partners are always available to answer any questions and provide guidance along the way. We know what questions business owners are asking, and you can count on Nextep to know the answers!

Download your own voluntary vaccination policy example here.

Benefits

By partnering with Nextep, our clients have access to big-company benefits. One of the best and most highly utilized benefit offerings during COVID-19 has been Teladoc. Nextep employees have a 200% utilization rate, which means our people use it multiple times per year!  Teladoc gives you and your people the ability to skip the waiting room and have direct access to health providers for routine checkups, dermatology, counseling appointments, and more — all from your phone.

Payroll

Payroll needs to be flawless, no matter the extenuating circumstances. That’s why we work with our clients to utilize direct deposit when possible, cut checks when needed, apply for PPP loans, and manage seamless payroll for our people come rain or shine. Early on in the pandemic, we helped those who previously received paper paychecks transition to direct deposit accounts to make sure they had access to their paychecks when it mattered most. With tax credits and payroll reports for loan applications, it pays to have an expert by your side. 

Technology 

With our all-in-one mobile app, our clients and their employees have a seamless experience whether they’re at the office, working from home, or on the go. Employees can update their info, view their benefits, and chat with us, all from the app. This year, it was more important than ever to have a seamless online experience during benefits open enrollment. Our clients sailed through benefits enrollment easily and efficiently with no pesky forms to print out or keep track of. Our technology saves you time and headaches — you can count on Nextep to have everything you need all in one, easy to use, single-sign-on account. 

Though vaccines are making it into the arms of Americans, the COVID-19 crisis is not over, nor will it be the last crisis business owners will have to navigate. It pays to have experts and technology on your side when it matters most. We’d love the opportunity to talk about how Nextep can help you be prepared for whatever tomorrow brings. Schedule a meeting today!

Nextep is here to help anytime, anywhere, and on any device. Visit our COVID-19 resources page for the latest updates on legislation, workplace and safety requirements, and HR best practices to help keep you and your employees safe!

Also on Nextep

The Answer Depends on Your State…For Now As we reported in January, non-compete agreements preventing employees from working for competitors are becoming increasingly unenforceable. The FTC is currently working on banning them at a federal level, but unless and until that decision comes, non-competes are enforced at a state (and sometimes even local) level.  As […]
Read more
When hiring workers, knowing whether they’re employees or independent contractors is essential. The difference between the two can significantly impact your business, including your tax liability, your liability for workers’ compensation claims, the worker’s rights and benefits, and your ability to control how your workers do their jobs. Read all about it here, and check […]
Read more
Employers Must Now Prove “Substantial Increased Cost” to Deny Religious Accommodation Recently, the Supreme Court ruled that employers must now demonstrate a substantially increased cost to deny an employee’s request for a religious accommodation.  This ruling, which comes in the case of Groff v. DeJoy, clarifies the standard for “undue hardship” under Title VII of […]
Read more
Here’s How the Recent Ruling Affects Your Company You may have read that in late June, the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in college admissions. Here’s the implication this ruling could mean for you as a small or medium-sized business owner. To be clear, the Supreme Court’s decision on affirmative action does not explicitly […]
Read more
NLRA Protections: They’re Not Just for Unions In the intricate fabric of company dynamics, employee protections exist, even in non-unionized companies, as granted by the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). These protections give employees the freedom to engage in open discussions on various workplace matters, even those conversations that may make employers a tad uneasy. […]
Read more
Have you ever felt stuck in a job that doesn’t fully utilize your skills or expertise? Or have you ever been a part of a team that just doesn’t seem to have the right skills to do the job effectively? This is a common problem in the workplace, known as the skills gap. But don’t […]
Read more
Start planning for your future superstar. What would happen to your company if you lose a key leader or employee tomorrow? It’s a tough question, but necessary. You want to ensure your company can continue, even without the lifeblood that keeps it running smoothly today. That’s where succession planning comes in. Succession planning is identifying […]
Read more
Let’s talk about something that can make a huge difference in our work lives – Emotional Intelligence (EI).  Emotional Intelligence is like a superpower that helps us navigate our own emotions and understand the emotions of others. It’s all about self-awareness and empathy, which leads to better communication, stronger relationships, and improved decision-making. It’s like […]
Read more
Maximize Your Team’s Career Potential Ongoing employee training is crucial to any successful business. It’s the foundation upon which we build our success, the cornerstone of growth and progress. But here’s the catch: we can’t just train our employees once when they’re hired and call it done. We must all be perpetual students, learning new […]
Read more
How can you prioritize ethics in the workplace? Leaders play a critical role in shaping the ethics and values of a workplace. Here are 5 surefire ways that you, as a leader, can be modeling ethics from the top down: Lead by example: You set the tone for the rest of the organization, so it’s […]
Read more
Help support your employees in a tough economy Let’s talk about supporting employees in a tough economy. It’s a challenging time for everyone, but it’s imperative that employees feel valued and supported during tough times. Here are some ways companies can care for employees in a tough economy: Offer flexible work arrangements: Offer flexible work […]
Read more
Thriving in Turbulent Times Growing your business during an economic downturn can be challenging, but it’s not impossible. With the right approach and creativity, you can position your business for success, even in tough economic times. Here are some tips to help you grow your company, even when the economy isn’t looking so hot: 1. […]
Read more

Download Our App