Are you Dressed for Success?

On June 29, 2011 Melonie Boone, Co-CEO of Complete Concepts Consulting facilitated a dynamic Dress for Success Seminar for the participants of the Association of Corporate Counsel Chicago Chapter’s Diversity Internship Program. 

Partnering with special guests Billie Kershasky of Astor & Black Custom Clothier and Justin Yates of Trunk Club; this personalized training took the participants on a journey through the keys to successful dress for professionals in the legal field. 

Topics included:

• The Importance of First Impressions
• Appropriate Attire in Business, Social and Casual Environments
• How to Look Great on a Budget
• Proper Professional Behavior
• Having a Personal Brand Action Plan

The team at Complete Concepts Consulting thanks the Association of Corporate Counsel Chicago Chapter for the invite to speak as well as Billie Kershasky and Justin Yates for a job well done!

Contact Complete Concepts Consulting to learn more about our personalized trainings made to meet your unique business needs.

About us:

Complete Concepts Consulting (CCC) is a full service human resources consulting agency in Chicago, Illinois specializing in employment law compliance. Human Resources professionals Melonie Boone and Yolanda

Macias, co-founders, and their team have worked in the industry for many years and specialize in providing organizations with expert employment law compliance and customized human resources management solutions. CCC offers its clients the ability to enhance business operations by utilizing affordable compliance and comprehensive human resources solutions.

 
Contact Us:
www.CompleteConceptsConsulting.com
info@CompleteConceptsConsulting.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – PERSONNEL ANNOUNCEMENT

Media Contact:

Melonie Boone MBA, MJ, PHR

Co – Chief Executive Officer

Complete Concepts Consulting

mboone@completeconceptsconsulting.com

www.CompleteConceptsConsulting.com

(773) 527-1337 

June 23, 2011

Stephen Polutnik named Director, Client Services

Complete Concepts Consulting is pleased to announce the appointment of Stephen Polutnik to the position of Director, Client Services.  In his role, Mr. Polutnik will support organizational growth by building new client relationships, maintaining existing client relationships and providing strategic client direction. This includes but is not limited to managing client acquisition strategy, targeting key accounts, uncovering new business opportunities, growing company market share and providing superior client support.                                                                                                             

Mr. Polutnik brings over 10 years of marketing, account management, business development and client relations experience to our team. Prior to joining Complete Concepts Consulting, Mr. Polutnik spent the past eight years with JP Morgan Chase where he progressively rose from a Personal Banker role to Branch Manager and lastly held the position of Client Service Assistant Manager.  During his tenure with JP Morgan Chase, Mr. Polutnik developed and implemented strategies to encourage growth and retention of his customer base;  Managed Client Service Functions for Chase Middle Market business clients ($10 - $500 million in revenue) including hedge funds, law firms and insurance corporations; and was responsible for compliance with internal and government regulations.

In addition, while at Chase Mr. Polutnik also supervised both financial and operational risk exposure associated with bank products and services; created and facilitated training sessions for employees on professionalism in the workplace as well as new processes and procedures; he also managed the top in-store branch in the country based on revenue and earnings growth.  During his career Mr. Polutnik also served as Account Coordinator with MediaLink, LLC and Marketing Coordinator at USA Networks.   

Mr. Polutnik holds his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Marketing concentration from Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH. 

About Us:

Complete Concepts Consulting (CCC) is a full service human resources consulting agency in Chicago, Illinois specializing in employment law compliance. Human Resources professionals Melonie Boone and Yolanda Macias, co-founders, and their team have worked in the industry for many years and specialize in providing organizations with expert employment law compliance and customized human resources management solutions. CCC offers its clients the ability to enhance business operations by utilizing affordable compliance and comprehensive human resources solutions.

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Why is HR important to your business?

Human Resources management may seem complex and overwhelming for business owners. The countless regulations to be complied with, employee relations issues, hiring and retaining the right people all while managing the day to day operations of the business can sometimes seem like too much to bare.

Small businesses typically have very tight budgets and often don’t have the capacity to proactively identify and resolve compliance threats. It is important to have an HR expert on your side to help you navigate the human resources maze.

 

1. HR puts your mind at ease and gives you the freedom to grow your business. Human Resources provide an organization with the strategic advantage of having all of their people management needs met.
2. Non-Compliance with Employment Regulations will cost you money. Not having a partner who is well versed in employment and labor regulations will cost you money. Implementing processes, policies and procedures to protect your business is paramount. In today’s climate, government oversight is at an all time high and employees filing claims against businesses is increasing in astonishing numbers. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission estimates that over 100,000 claims will be filed this year alone.
3. Recruiting and retaining top talent will make your business more productive and save money. Don’t be liable for the actions of an employee who was not properly screened. Having procedures in place to verify a candidate’s background and making sure that they will be a good fit for your business in critical. Employment sources estimates: It costs you 30-50% of the annual salary of entry-level employees, 150% of middle level employees, and up to 400% for specialized, high level employees!
4. Wage and hour law compliance is imperative. The Fair Labor Standards Act is complicated regulation that governs most compensation issues including overtime pay. When properly managed by a person who is knowledgeable of the many components, you can save your company the headache of being fined. The government is auditing businesses payroll records and catching companies who are not compliant. Failure to properly classify and pay employees results in your business paying back wages, back taxes, fees and penalties. It is estimated that 70% of businesses routinely violate wage and hour law under this act; are you one of them?
5. Protects your business and allows you to focus on what’s important, your business. Whether it’s documenting I – 9’s to validate a new hires eligibility to work in the US or employees performance issues to support terminations, a good HR advocate will free you up to focus on your business and not be weighted down with all the employment issues that arise when you hire employees. Build employee morale by having the proper policies, procedures and programs in place.

Click here to contact us today to learn more about the affordable solutions offered by Complete Concepts Consulting to meet your unique business needs!

 

About us:

 

Beginning in 2006 as an independent contractor assignment, Complete Concepts Consulting (CCC) is now a full service human resources consulting agency in Chicago, Illinois specializing in employment law compliance. Human Resources professionals Melonie Boone and Yolanda Macias, co-founders, and their team have worked in the industry for many years and specialize in providing organizations with expert employment law compliance and customized human resources management solutions. CCC offers its clients the ability to enhance business operations by utilizing affordable compliance and comprehensive human resources solutions.

CCC's team leverages its education, experience and advanced human resources strategy to meet client needs. Our key to success is offering a superior level of services paralleled by no other in an affordable fee matrix. Our fee matrix allows organizations of all sizes to benefit from total compliance and human resources management.

We specialize in small business support for Employment and Labor Law Compliance; Policy and Procedures creation and enforcement; Team Leadership and Employee Training; Recruiting; Strategic Planning; Coaching and Mentoring; Employee Retention; Payroll and Benefits Administration; Performance Management; Compensation Planning; Employee Relations; Efficiency Optimization; Process and System Improvements; Succession Planning; Relationship Management.



 

 

Lt Governor Simon Meets with Complete Concepts Consulting

Last month I had the honor of meeting with Lt. Governor Sheila Simon in conjunction with the Small Business Advocacy Council. This exciting opportunity allowed me to introduce Complete Concepts Consulting and share firsthand the need for small business human resources compliance education.

In our conversation I discussed the lack of HR Compliance education and affordable solutions to meet the unique needs of small business. There is a renewed federal and state focus on enforcement of employment regulation and the small business segment is currently unprotected.




From left to right:Mike Cavanaugh, Melonie Boone, Dan Johnson-Weinberger,  Elliot Richardson, Lt. Governor Sheila Simon, Jeff Richardson, Jeff Richardson, TyJuan Cratic, Blanca Campos

Complete Concepts Consulting will continue to be a voice for small business compliance and offer affordable small business human resources compliance solutions paralleled by no other.

Melonie Boone MBA, MJ, PHR
Co-CEO
Complete Concepts Consulting

About Us:

Complete Concepts Consulting (CCC) is a human resources consulting agency in Chicago, Illinois specializing in employment law compliance. Human Resources professionals Melonie Boone and Yolanda Macias, co-founders, and their consulting team have worked in the industry for many years and specialize in providing organizations with expert employment law compliance and personalize human resources management solutions. CCC offers its clients the ability to enhance business operations by utilizing affordable compliance and comprehensive human resources solutions.

We specialize in small business support for Employment and Labor Law Compliance; Policy and Procedures creation and enforcement; Team Leadership and Employee Training; Recruiting; Strategic Planning; Coaching and Mentoring; Employee Retention; Payroll and Benefits Administration; Performance Management; Compensation Planning; Employee Relations; Efficiency Optimization; Process and System Improvements; Succession Planning; Relationship Management.


Email mboone@completeconceptsconsulting.com to learn more.

Protecting Your Business

Melonie Boone of Complete Concepts Consulting Amongst Panelists of SBAC May 11th Educational Forum

May 5, 2011

The Small Business Advocacy Council is happy to announce that Melonie Boone of Complete Concepts Consulting will be among the five panelists for the May 11th Educational Forum entitled, "Protecting Your Business."

Melonie will share some of the ways to protect your business by employing easy practices to ensure compliance with critical employment regulations.

To learn more about the event go to Protecting Your Business and please RSVP ahead of time with Blanca Campos at Blanca@SBACIL.org or call (847) 990-7909.

US Labor Department secures court ruling requiring Texas-based Company to pay $1.76 million to workers!

Is your company compliant?

Complete Concepts Consulting works with business owners to put the necessary strategies in place to protect them from this type of payout. Click here to schedule our complimentary compliance consultation valued at $300. The comprehensive consultation will detail the top compliance vulnerabilities that could have detrimental financial consequences for your business!

Don’t believe that the consequences of non-compliance could be the end of your business, you must read the story below and ask yourself, “Can I afford a $1,760,000 hit for non-compliance?”

DES MOINES, Iowa – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a partial summary judgment requiring Hill Country Farms, doing business as Henry’s Turkey Service, and president Kenneth Henry to pay more than $1.76 million in back wages and liquidated damages for violating the minimum wage and overtime provisions of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. The judgment partially resolves a lawsuit filed by the Labor Department following an investigation by the Des Moines District Office of its Wage and Hour Division.

The judgment, issued by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa in Davenport, concluded that the defendants willfully violated the FLSA by failing to properly pay 31 workers with disabilities. Henry’s Turkey Service supplied the workers to the West Liberty Foods turkey processing plant in West Liberty, where most worked on the plant’s processing line.

“Working on a poultry processing line is a particularly difficult and dangerous job,” said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. “Henry’s Turkey Service exploited vulnerable employees who have a right to, and deserve, every penny that they earned.”

Henry’s Turkey Service, based in Goldthwaite, Texas, paid the workers $65 a month in cash wages even when company time sheets reflected that they worked more than 40 hours a week. Besides employing the workers, the company provided in-kind care, room and board, serving as the workers’ caretaker as well as the designated representative payee of their Social Security benefits. Henry’s Turkey Service claimed credit for the food, housing and care against its wage obligation; however, the company also reimbursed itself for those expenses using the workers’ Social Security benefits. The court found that the company failed to show that it incurred any costs above the amount received from the Social Security benefits and denied the credit toward the workers’ wages.

The judgment requires that the defendants pay $880,777 in back wages, along with an equal amount in liquidated damages, for a total of $1,761,554. This case was litigated by the Labor Department’s regional solicitor in Kansas City, Mo....

Click here to read more!

Is your business protected?

Top 5 HR Mistakes Made by Businesses!

by Complete Concepts Consulting

HR mistakes for any company can be costly, but for small businesses, it can be catastrophic. HR mistakes can have a significant effect on the potential survival of a company. Below are the top 5 HR mistakes most commonly made. With government oversight at an all time high, it is critical to be aware, be proactive and be in compliance. Click here to request more information about Complete Concepts Consulting's complimentary compliance consultation to help businesses identify potential risks and save money! Non-Compliance with Government Regulations. Many small business owners are unfamiliar with the majority of laws that govern the workplace. While most but not all federal laws cover companies as small as 15 employees there are few regulations that do not apply to your business. Companies must also comply with State and local regulations which make it difficult for business owners to have a thorough knowledge of every regulation affecting their business. Businesses need the knowledge but they don’t know it. Hiring the Wrong Person. Many small business owners hire people but do not take the proper steps to ensure that the person is right for the job.  In some cases, the job has not been clearly defined, skills needed for the job are not laid out and the recruiting process is not documented. Because the owners have good intentions and want to help people, they often don’t conduct background screenings. They often miss a “skeleton in the closet” which leaves the business liable for any misdeed carried out by that employee. Misclassifying Employees. One law that applies to almost all employers regardless of size is the Fair Labor Standards Act. This complicated regulation governs most compensation issues including overtime pay. Paying someone a Salary does not make them exempt from overtime and calling someone an independent contractor does not make them so. It is estimated that 70% of businesses routinely violate wage and hour law under this act. Lack of Documentation. Documentation in most companies is typically an afterthought. In many small businesses it is non-existent. More often than not, I-9 forms which prove a person's eligibility to work in the US are incomplete. Discipline records are almost never there and terminations generally are not supported which result in lost unemployment cases and lawsuits either lost or settled for unforeseen amounts of money that can cripple a small business. Not Motivating Employees. Employees value rewards, and not just monetary ones.  In today’s economy, employees are feeling under-appreciated and overworked. As the job market begins to improve, unhappy employees will begin to look for other opportunities often taking knowledge learned at your business to a competitor. Employee turnover can be devastating to a small business. Small business owners must be vigilant in protecting what they have worked so hard to create. While you may not have the money for an internal HR team, services offered like those from Complete Concepts Consulting will  help limit your risk from non-compliance, recruit and retain top employees, and give you the freedom to grow your business.