As a business in the insurance sector, payroll compliance can be an enormous source of stress. Insurance companies often have unique considerations, such as using a commission-based payment system, which makes the process more complex than a straightforward 9-5 hourly wage.
However, if a company makes a mistake when navigating these challenges, the consequences are serious. Organizations face fines and penalties, not to mention reputational damage.
Learning how to navigate these complexities is critical for each company. Let’s look at what all insurance companies should know about payroll compliance.
State and Federal Payroll Compliance Insurance
State payroll laws and insurance can vary, and federal regulations impact many components of proper payroll management. For example, states may have minimum wage laws and time requirements that meet or exceed the federal requirements. These rules dictate how much employees must be paid per hour of work, and insurance companies need to understand how these laws fit commission-based payment systems. Companies have to make sure they fully comply with the payroll regulations at both the local and federal levels.
The federal government has also passed payroll legislation, such as the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which dictates rules about overtime and minor employees. The federal government, through the IRS, additionally mandates how employers classify their workers and what the difference in designation entails. These workers might be independent contractors or employees, depending on their roles and how the business treats them. Employee classification impacts important payroll components, such as tax withholding and employee benefits.
With laws coming from a variety of different sources, companies have to closely monitor any changing legislation to reflect these adjustments accurately.
Challenges in Managing Payroll Compliance
For insurance companies working to manage all these different employment regulations, tracking potential changes can feel like a full-time job. Legislative updates on either the state or federal level often require insurance companies to make changes quickly. Having staff members or a business partner who can help monitor potentially impactful changes can help companies avoid missing important new regulations and keep their payroll effectively compliant.
How to Maintain Payroll Compliance Insurance Industry
Insurance companies can employ a few strategies to keep their payroll processes compliant. Working these into the business’s standard operations can help ensure the company stays on top of any needed procedural shifts.
- Conduct regular audits: Businesses should set a schedule to review their employee classifications and their payment structures. This can help them catch potential misclassifications, such as an independent contractor who has begun to have more of an employment-type role. Necessary changes can then be made, and the business avoids fines or complaints. Reviewing applicable legislation and any news and developments surrounding payroll should be on the list as a part of this process as well.
- Implement robust payroll systems: Insurance companies should invest in their payroll process and ensure it is not an afterthought in their operations. Dedicate staff members to managing the different components and educating themselves on the latest laws. Invest in software that helps them track the different payment structures and manage all the data.
- Train staff on compliance standards: Make sure the staff understands the importance of payroll compliance and how they can contribute to the business’s overall record-keeping and payment processing.
Insurance companies that use these types of strategies will see significantly higher rates of compliance and better protect their business operations.
The Benefits of Using Specialized Payroll Software
Specialized payroll software can play an important role in guiding businesses with their payroll operations. Software designed for businesses within the insurance industry will understand the unique features that make payroll a challenge in this particular sector. Therefore, it will have features to help manage commission-based payment options and ensure that tax withholdings remain on point.
Using software to fill this role greatly reduces the stress on payroll managers. Companies can now look to a system to help them properly navigate different payroll complexities, rather than trying to track them all independently. This reduces the chance for user-error and adds an additional layer of protection for the business.
The Role of Technology in Payroll Risk Management
As insurance companies look to invest in technology that will help them navigate the challenges of proper payroll compliance, they have a variety of different options they can leverage. Some of the most common choices include:
- Automated record-keeping, as this will track all the data coming in for the different employees with less need for hands-on processing. Overall, this improves accuracy.
- Real-time data processing, which improves the ability of companies to understand their payroll and track employees in real-time. The lack of delays can help reduce misunderstandings and errors.
- Compliance alerts, which will help notify businesses if their payroll falls short of a particular compliance standard. Companies that receive an alert can then make any necessary changes before they become magnified or draw potential fines or citations.
Creating a robust payroll process calls for businesses to properly invest in the tools they need to maintain their compliance and keep their business operating smoothly. These different types of technology offer an effective means to improve in-house capabilities and build an effective payroll process.
Staying Ahead with Payroll Solutions from Workforce PayHub
A partner who provides insurance companies with payroll solutions can be the perfect answer to all these steps. Workforce PayHub gives insurance companies the tools they need to remain effectively in compliance with their payroll.
Stay ahead of compliance issues with Workforce PayHub’s specialized payroll solutions for the insurance industry. Contact us today for a compliance audit and consultation.
