Sequent Insights
Articles of Interest
Read Sequent's Blog
Tuesday, March 05, 2013
Our blog contains frequent posts from a wide range of Sequent experts from the HR, Technology and Consulting areas of our company.
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About Sequent
Sequent Company Overview
Tuesday, January 08, 2013
A profile of Sequent and our business, specifically as it relates to the Professional Employer Organization Services we offer.
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Consulting
Employee Engagement: How to Create a Happy Workplace
Tuesday, April 09, 2013
Download an article that helps business leaders understand the value of employee engagement.
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The Real Reasons Employees Disengage and Leave Organizations
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Attracting top talent is not an easy undertaking for some organizations when the word on the street is they aren’t the best place to work.
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For Successful Change at Work -- Involve Change Management Up Front
Monday, March 25, 2013
There is a systematic approach and methodology to change management as a practice.
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How to Promote Change at Work-Find a Change Evangelist
Monday, March 18, 2013
The Factors of a successful change initiative is all about the marketing of your project. Find a "Change Evangelist" to be the face of the change.
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Is Your Next Leader Ready?
Monday, March 11, 2013
It is important to understand the difference between managers and leaders. In the most basic definition, managers execute directives and tasks critical to the operations of any organization.
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How to Incorporate Successful Change- Treat Every Change Differently
Friday, March 08, 2013
Sure, we all like to use our work over again, and there is something to be said about consistency, but not every change initiative is the same.
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The 3 Leadership Behaviors That Make Your Employees Feel Fulfilled
Monday, March 04, 2013
Sequent’s employee engagement expert, Beth Thomas, shares three ways to build an inspiring workplace culture that leads to happy employees.
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Acknowledging the Chaos in Change
Thursday, February 28, 2013
6 Factors of a Successful Change Management Initiative: Acknowledging the Chaos
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3 Easy Steps to Talent Acquisition
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
3 easy Steps to Talent Acquisition: Define the need, Source the people, Make a decision.
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3 Easy Steps to Talent Acquisition
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Talent acquisition is the strategic management of the flow of talented people into an organization. How does it get done?
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Factors of a Successful Change Management Initiative
Monday, February 18, 2013
Today more than ever, companies are changing to keep up with their competitors. Only those companies that have the ability to quickly adapt to changes in buying habits and global economic challenges will survive.
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Factors of a Successful Change Management Initiative
Monday, February 18, 2013
This is the first in a six part series on successful change management initiatives.
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What’s Next for Me?
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
It's your Career – but whose responsibility is it to create your career plan? Yours or your boss's?
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Executive Coaching goes Beyond C-Level.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Executive Coaching is in greater demand now than in the last five years as business leaders look for ways to retain their talent, reduce the cost of turnover and drive performance.
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Top 5 Ways to Clear Obstacles and Grow Your Business
Saturday, December 01, 2012
We all get stuck and even take steps back as we build our businesses. Learn how to address and surpass the hurdles that your company encounters.
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How to Recruit and Retain Millennials
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Why should you care about millennials? Because you can’t afford not to. Employers who “get” where newer generations are coming from are winning the war on talent.
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Top 5 Ways to Successfully Onboard New Employees
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Finally, after weeks or sometimes months of searching, you found the perfect candidate to fill an open position on your team. Now the real work begins.
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Five Ways You Can Be Happier at Work Right Now
Wednesday, November 07, 2012
Sequent's employee engagement expert, Beth Thomas, discusses with Entrepreneur.com how bringing joy into your job can boost your career and your company's bottom line.
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Is your business stuck? If so, here are 5 things you can do.
Sunday, November 04, 2012
It is a common challenge for many businesses to at some point hit an obstacle that impairs growth and its evolution.
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Expanding Beyond Our Comfort Boarders
Saturday, September 01, 2012
The extension of our service offering into Europe was a natural evolution of our middle-market offering. Learn why William Hutter chose to focus on Europe in this article.
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Learn About Sequent Europe
Sunday, August 19, 2012
With our office presence in both the U.S. and Europe, Sequent Europe eliminates the barriers companies face when expanding internationally.
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Employee Engagement in this “New Economy”
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
The key to innovation in this current economic situation lies in having the right people in and having strong leadership to create an environment where people are engaged.
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Need to Change your Business, but Don’t Know Where to Begin?
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
With today's changing business needs and economic climate, companies need to be dynamic and morph to the new business rules and processes in order to stay competitive.
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How Is This Economy Affecting Your People?
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Are you happy at work? It's a simple question, but a critical question, because happy employees are productive employees. Happy employees are engaged employees. When the answer to this question is negative the impact on our future success is staggering. So what do you do? How can you affect your people's happiness at work? Helping you and your people succeed is what we do at Sequent. Click “Full Article” to learn why you should invest in your employees especially in this economy.
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Career Development: Who Owns It?
Wednesday, May 02, 2012
Your Success Depends on Your Ability to Take "Ownership" of Your Career Development.
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Got Talent But Not the Results You're Looking For?
Monday, April 23, 2012
It's tough out there ... especially for small- and mid-size businesses. Navigating through the rough waters of this economy requires a steady hand, a strong stomach, and all hands on deck. What if you have all that, and yet your business still seems to be underperforming?
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Increasing Employee Engagement Through eLearning
Sunday, April 15, 2012
In a recent study by Blessing White*, fewer than one in three employees worldwide (31%) are engaged in their jobs. This means that 65% of the workforce is currently at some level of disengagement.
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Human Resources
How Employee Management has developed into a specialized skill set
Wednesday, May 01, 2013
Managing the business of employment requires a completely different discipline and skill set from what is needed for the core business activity. Download an article to learn more.
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Sub-Contractors vs Employees - What You Don't Know Could Hurt You.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Classifying Independent Contractors -- Regulatory agencies look how workers are classified and which employees get worker's compensation benefits.
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How to Encourage Young Workers to Save
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Because young people to think of retirement in abstract terms, plan sponsors are challenged to convince younger employees to save for retirement.
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What Good is a Job Description?
Monday, April 15, 2013
A job description defines the major purpose/objective/focus of the position,and primary areas of responsibility.
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Cultivate your Retirement Savings Patch Now, and Watch it Grow
Friday, April 12, 2013
With your retirement savings have the right balance of stocks, bonds and cash that meets your time horizon, risk appetite and return objectives.
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What Do Businesses Need to Know About Hiring Minors?
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Hiring Minors Could Have Major Impact on your Business. While there are many advantages to hiring minor employees, there are also challenges.
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Save my 401k !
Thursday, April 04, 2013
Congress last considered tax reform in 1986 and the outcome for 401(k) plans was a devastating cut by 70% to participants' contribution limits. Could this happen again within future tax reform legislation?
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With investing, patience is sometimes the best strategy
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
In baseball, being disciplined and playing to your strengths are key to getting to first base. Investing is very similar.
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What To Do if Your Company is Too Busy Mopping to Turn Off the Faucet
Friday, March 22, 2013
It’s important for leaders to determine if company processes need to be changed. Read about a 3-step approach to identify what your company can do.
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5 Things Employers Need to Know About the 2013 HIPAA Regulations
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Learn 5 things employers need to know about the 2013 HIPAA regulations. Employers face increased risk, exposure and penalties.
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When Should Employers Start Using the New Form I-9?
Thursday, March 14, 2013
When should employers start using the new Form I-9 published by the USCIS? Employers should begin using immediately.
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Small Business Health Care Tax Credit: Answers to 8 Common Questions
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Answers to questions about the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit: Part of a series of educational articles about Health Care Reform from Sequent.
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3 things you need to know before deciding to Pay or Play
Tuesday, March 05, 2013
Dwight Seeley, VP of Employee Benefit Programs at Sequent outlines 3 details employers need to know about PPACA and their decision to pay or play.
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Join us for a Webinar on Pay or Play
Tuesday, March 05, 2013
Register for our free webinar on March 19th and learn how to examine employee health insurance options under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).
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Pay or Play, How to Examine Employee Health Insurance Options under PPACA
Friday, March 01, 2013
Download an article that describes how to examine the options under the Affordable Care Act and how they will impact your your business.
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Conducting Employee Background Checks: Why and How to Do It
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Making the right hiring decisions is critical for the success of any business. Employers can minimize problems by using employee background checks.
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4 Signs that Retirement Confidence Remains Low
Monday, February 25, 2013
According to the Employee Benefit Research Institute, 23% of workers were not confident about having enough money for a comfortable retirement.
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Learn about the changes to FMLA Military Family Leave Provisions
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Learn from Sequent about two expansions of the FMLA's military leave provisions which take effect on March 8, 2013.
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Show employees that there is more to compensation than salary alone.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Sequent explains why the start of the year is a good time to communicate to your employees that there is more to compensation than salary alone.
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Show your employees that there is more to compensation than salary alone.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
The start of the year is a good time to communicate to your employees that there is more to their compensation than salary alone.
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Why is my paycheck smaller, and what can I do about it?
Wednesday, February 06, 2013
Learn from Sequent what you can do about it. Understand your options for boosting your take-home pay.
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Is Your 401(k) Top Heavy?
Monday, February 04, 2013
401(k) plans offer advantages to employees and plan sponsors, but they must also comply with annual IRS testing requirements like the top-heavy test.
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How to Handle Time Off and Pay for Weather Related Absences
Friday, February 01, 2013
Download an article to learn how the FLSA dictates what happens to employees' pay when a business closes due to the weather.
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Three things you need to know about your W-2
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Learn from Sequent the 3 things you need to know about your W-2, including the value of waiting for your W-2 before filing your taxes.
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Working to Manage Ever-Increasing Unemployment Costs
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Sequent is always looking for ways to reduce long-term employment costs, especially during these economically challenging times.
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Health Care Reform: What's First on the Agenda?
Monday, January 28, 2013
A simple guide to help small businesses learn about the Small Business Tax Credit and to determine if this will make a difference for their company.
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E-Verify: What You Need to Know
Friday, January 18, 2013
Due to an increase in immigration enforcement at the federal level, more states are passing laws that require employers to use E-Verify.

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Why Should I Read My Employee Handbook?
Monday, January 14, 2013
Employee handbooks are used to keep employees fully informed of policies and procedures, benefits, and much more information that pertains to your employment. Both you and your employer can benefit from reading and becoming familiar with this document.
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Who's Diagnosing Your Practice
Friday, January 11, 2013
An effective HRO provider can work directly with you to craft a solution that compliments the administrator and allows him or her to focus more time on the practice’s operational challenges.
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The Dirty Dozen Questions About Healthcare Reform and the Fiscal Cliff
Friday, January 11, 2013
Throughout 2013, Sequent will be developing lists of questions with answers regarding Healthcare Reform and the Fiscal Cliff and how these changes will impact employers and employees.
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Legal Pitfalls of the Hiring Process
Thursday, January 03, 2013
Most of us have seen the devastating impact a poor hiring decision can have on a company. It can be just as damaging, however, if your hiring process does not comply with state and federal law.
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The Official Government Site on Healthcare Reform
Wednesday, January 02, 2013
This site provides ongoing news and information about healthcare reform. It includes factchecking, videos, reports, forums and a newsroom.
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What You Might Not Know About Health Care Reform
Wednesday, January 02, 2013
Health care reform is on the way, with most mandates starting in 2014, but it will be 20 or 30 years before we really know how the Affordable Care Act will work.
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Navigating the Complex World of Workers’ Compensation
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Keeping it simple is paramount to understanding how to manage your workers’ compensation costs.
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Time Is Money - Why it's Critical to Report a Work Injury Immediately
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Time is of the essence for reporting a workplace injury. The sooner the incident is reported, the sooner and more efficiently claims can be processed, medical attention or rehabilitation can be received, and the injured employee can return to work.
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New PEO Bill Passes in Ohio
Thursday, December 20, 2012
William Hutter joins Senator Jim Hughes as SB 139 is signed into law in Ohio. The bill raises the financial bar for outsourcing companies doing business in Ohio.
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2013 Retirement Plan Contribution Limits
Monday, December 17, 2012
The Internal Revenue Service has announced inflation-adjusted 2013 amounts concerning retirement plan limits and related tax qualified benefits.

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Why Job Descriptions are Valuable for Employers and Employees
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Do you have job descriptions in place at your company? Job descriptions are a valuable tool for both employers and employees. Well written and accurate job descriptions benefit your company, but most importantly, your people.
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Human Capital is the Key to Economic Recovery
Monday, December 10, 2012
There is not a single company in any country on this planet that can exist without its people, the Human Capital that drives business in the knowledge economy. Yet from a professional accounting perspective, human capital is a cost but not an asset.
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What Kind of Business Uses a PEO?
Monday, December 10, 2012
Answer: All kinds of businesses are using a Professional Employer Organization (PEO), even a well established employee benefit agency.
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Performance Reviews: How Do You Measure Success?
Tuesday, December 04, 2012
Talking about performance and/or personal development needs with another person is one of the most uncomfortable and dreaded events in the workplace. But it doesn't have to be that way.
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FSAs & HSAs - New Rules for Pre-Tax Accounts
Friday, November 30, 2012
If you use FSAs and HSAs, learn about the new rules for pre-tax accounts which could affect how you use these accounts in 2013.
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Benefits of Membership in Employer Services Assurance Corporation (ESAC)
Friday, November 30, 2012
Since 2000, Sequent has been offering our clients the peace on mind that comes with accreditation from the Employer Services Assurance Corporation (ESAC).
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Retaining Great Employees
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
When you focus on retaining your people and making them happy, they are generally more loyal, creative and productive which helps you improve and grow your business.
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Wage and Hour Implications of Weather-Related Absences
Thursday, November 08, 2012
In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, employers should be aware of the wage and hour implications that come along with weather-related disruptions and absences.
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What does Health Care Reform mean to You?
Sunday, November 04, 2012
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) has created a significant amount of discussion, had a polarizing impact on political parties, added some mandated benefits to group plans and caused a certain level of confusion among employers and employees since its inception just over two years ago.
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Death of the Gun Slinger
Thursday, November 01, 2012
When what used to be a company's strength is now seen as a weakness. Part 2 of a two-part article series addressing the trials and tribulations of a company's growth.
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The Role of the Gun Slinger
Saturday, September 29, 2012
What happens in the early stages of a company's development? Smart Business spoke with Hutter about the role of the gun slinger in the early stage of a company’s development.
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How to Prepare for the Future Leadership of Your Company
Tuesday, September 04, 2012
Every organization is perfectly designed to achieve the results it is getting. Learn more from William F. Hutter, president and CEO of Sequent.
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How to Use Your High Deductible Health Plan
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
High Deductible Health Plans (HDHP) can be a bit scary at first, but that's just because most people don't have a lot of experience with them. Here are some basic tips on how to use your HDHP which hopefully will take some of the mystery out of the process.
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E-Verify: What You Need to Know
Thursday, July 05, 2012
Due to an increase in immigration enforcement at the federal level, more states are passing laws that require employers to use E-Verify. More than 243,000 employers currently use E-Verify, with an average of 1,000 new employers enrolling each week.


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My Health Savings Account - How Do I Use It?
Sunday, July 01, 2012
So you've started a Health Savings Account (HSA). Congratulations! You've put pre-tax dollars away for medical expenses. Now, how do you use your Health Savings Account?
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Navigating Health Care Insurance
Friday, June 22, 2012
Insurance companies have rules. Sometimes it's easy to forget that rules are everywhere.
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Misclassifying Workers: Employer Beware!
Saturday, June 16, 2012
As income taxes, unemployment funds, and workers' compensation funds slump due to the tough economy, federal and state governments seek to find potential sources of revenue. One of those potential sources is the misclassification of employees as independent contractors. It is important, now more than ever, for employers to be certain if they are working with an independent contractor, or have hired an employee.
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Are You In Compliance with Proper Employment Authorization Verification Requirements?
Saturday, June 16, 2012
When hired for a new job, employees are required to prove that they are legally entitled to work in the United States and employers are required to verify the identity and eligibility to work for all new hires. Ever wonder what this form really is, who is responsible for completing the different sections, and the proper way to complete this form?
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From Practitioner to Practice Leader
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Many doctors are faced with the challenge of transitioning their practice to its next level of performance. This transition comes in many forms.
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What is Sequent's Role in Administering the Health Care Plan?
Friday, June 08, 2012
This article is intended to provide a little background information on our role in providing health care benefits to our client companies and employees.
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Keeping Track of Wages: The US Labor Department has an App for that!
Saturday, June 02, 2012
Equipped with the Department of Labor's first application for smartphones, employees can record the hours they work, determine the wages they're owed, and learn about their rights as U.S. workers just by using their phone.
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Sequent Financial Educators Can Help With Retirement Planning
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Sequent is pleased to announce the services of Financial Educators. The Financial Educators are available to assist plan sponsors who adopt the Sequent Retirement Savings Plan and to educate and assist plan participants with their retirement planning needs.
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OSHA Recordkeeping in a Professional Employer Services Relationship
Monday, April 16, 2012
Covering the basics of OSHA recordkeeping requirements in a Professional Employer Organization relationship.
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Why Should an Employee be Allowed to File a Grievance?
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Mistakes, misunderstandings, and disagreements happen, but how a manager handles these situations often directly affects the outcome. It's a good practice to have a problem resolution process on hand just for these situations.
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The Role and Responsibilities of MCOs in Workers' Compensation Claims
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
The general definition of a Managed Care Orgainization (MCO) is "any entity which manages the use of health and medical care as well as the associated costs specific to workers' compensation claims." But what does that mean exactly? Let's start with an overview.
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Do You Expect Your Business to Die When You Do?
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
By investing now in Succession Planning for your business, you can benefit for years to come.
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Workers' Compensation, Culture and the Economic Environment
Sunday, March 18, 2012
The drastic downsizing of recently booming industries not only places great financial stress on companies, but also results in shifts in culture and behavior.
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How to Determine Which Companies Have the Credentials to Serve Your Outsourcing Needs
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Learn how to determine which companies have the credentials to serve your outsourcing needs. Download an article.
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Technology
Does Time and Attendance Tracking Take Too Much of Your Time?
Friday, February 01, 2013
Is time and attendance tracking taking too much of your time? Time and attendance systems can streamline the management of various employee attendance processes that your business requires.
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Getting It Right
Wednesday, January 09, 2013
Does the idea of implementing or upgrading your HR system(s) worry you? If it does, you certainly are not alone.
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Embracing the Latest HR Technology Trends
Monday, January 07, 2013
Advancements in communication and software technology are creating significant productivity improvements, particularly for the human resource professionals who use contemporary human resource and talent management systems. Click “Full Article” to learn about three state of the art features.
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Why Invest in a Human Resource Information System?
Saturday, January 05, 2013
For many small and mid-size companies, Payroll and Human Resource (HR) administration seems like a “necessary evil” with little tangible return on “investment.”
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System Implementation Pitfalls
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Does the idea of implementing or upgrading your HR system(s) worry you? If it does, you certainly are not alone. We've all either been a part of or heard horror stories of cost overruns, missed deadlines, and failure to realize the promised benefits of the new system.
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Technology Tools Helping Doctors Increase Revenue
Friday, December 14, 2012
Sequent attends a presentation that demonstrates how primary care doctors can dramatically increase practice revenue.
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How to Create an Onboarding Process
Thursday, November 01, 2012
While the term "onboarding" isn't new, its significance is more important than ever as organizations continue to focus heavily on the retention and development of their current workforce.
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A New Way of Learning: How to incorporate mobile into your corporate learning strategy
Wednesday, August 01, 2012
We hear about all types of learning, but there is really only one kind. The learning that drives the desired behavior changes and business results. Period. Anything else misses the point.
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Are You in Need of a Technology Upgrade
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Does the idea of implementing or upgrading your HRMS system(s) scare you? If so, you certainly are not alone.
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Custom-Tailored Technology for the Rapidly Changing Needs of our Industry
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
In order to get the best technology solutions for the range of services we provide to our clients, we take a different approach. We surround our ERP System with best-of-breed applications and modules.
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