If you’re a business owner, chances are you have too much on your plate. One of the biggest challenges of starting a company from scratch is having too much to do in too little time — not to mention a lack of specific skill sets and expertise. In fact, 45% of entrepreneurs report being really stressed out. Those factors used to make it extra hard to begin a business, but times are changing.
The past year and a half have taught us a lot, and the modern workplace has changed. Entrepreneurs can take advantage of this new landscape to get more of their initiatives over the goal line. Savvy business leaders are well acquainted with freelancers and the ways that they can help them to accomplish quick-turn projects. Freelance platforms provide a one-stop-shop for finding the necessary talent to fill gaps in skill sets or experience — without going through the effort and expense of hiring full-time resources.
What is a freelance platform?
Freelance platforms are online marketplaces where skilled professionals from anywhere in the world can find work and get paid. They have grown tremendously over the past few years, which makes sense since it’s been predicted that freelancers will make up 80% of the workforce by 2030. Freelancing used to be considered “gig work” or side jobs but now offers major employment opportunities.
In a highly connected and globalized world, typical 9-to-5 jobs are less desirable to people that want to feel consistently engaged and challenged. Instead, many individuals would rather operate as independent contractors and offer their particular skill set on a project or temporary basis. Companies of all sizes have found advantages through working with freelancers and consultants of all types. In the old days, larger businesses would hire pricey consulting firms to help them achieve strategic initiatives. Now, even brand new organizations can use freelance or consulting platforms to achieve cost savings, faster project timelines, and standardized processes.
Simply put, there’s a lot to accomplish when you start a business—and freelance platforms can help you get those things done faster.
How to effectively leverage a freelance platform
Hiring freelancers on a platform offers convenience and profitability. That being said, freelance platforms are certainly not all created equal — nor are the professionals that you’ll find on them. Make sure to follow these steps if you’re using a freelance platform to supplement your team.
1. Research your options
There are many freelance platforms out there — in fact, over 170. However, most freelance platforms specialize in a certain geographic area, specialty, or price range. Your best bet is to narrow down your search based on the most reputable companies.
2. Understand your real needs
Before you begin a search on a freelance platform, you should have a comprehensive list of tasks prepared. Even more important, you should be able to tie those tasks to the larger goal of generating revenue (or other key drivers like reducing costs). Many people waste time and money on hiring consultants because of scope creep and moving the goalposts on projects after they’ve begun.
For example, you may understand that you need to advertise your new business, so you begin looking for paid advertising specialists. But is that really where you should begin? Or do you need someone to put together a more robust and well-researched promotional strategy, that happens to include online advertising? As you know, there’s a big difference between strategy development and tactical execution.
This is where freelancers differ from consultants. Do you need a freelancer for project-related jobs, or a consultant to help you drive business outcomes? If you need the latter, you should be looking at a consulting marketplace instead of a freelance platform.
Freelance jobs most commonly hired by entrepreneurs
There are certain areas that are actually ideal for hiring project-based workers rather than full-time employees. Some of them include:
Virtual assistance
Graphic design
Writing and editing
Social media management
eCommerce specialties
App development
Accounting
Search Engine Optimization
Web Design
There’s a benefit to knowing what common areas of business freelancers occupy. For one, it tells you what other businesses are currently outsourcing. It also means that your pool of potential options is much larger and more competitive. While there’s likely someone out there to serve any type of business need it’s wisest to identify common areas that are easiest to outsource.
Remember, as your business grows and expands you can always look for opportunities to bring this type of work in-house. You may even develop such a good relationship with those you’re outsourcing with that you can even extend an offer for permanent placement down the line.
3. Seek experience — even at a premium
You’ve probably heard the phrase “You get what you pay for”, and this is especially true when it comes to human capital. In today’s war for talent, workers can be selective about who they work for and what they work on. It’s essential to be willing to go the extra mile for specific expertise. In many cases, the advice and counsel that entrepreneurs rely on is critical to their future success.
This type of c-level expertise is not likely to be found at an hourly rate. Instead, for best-in-class professionals or executive expertise, entrepreneurs need to be nimble and willing to invest in longer-term contracts, flexible arrangements, and significant rewards for performance.
Even if you’re looking for non-strategic tasks like copywriting, database management, or design, seek the top-rated professionals on the platform and exclude the lowest-priced people from your shortlist. They tend to have less experience and are keeping prices low to gain new clients. That’s ok — everyone has to start somewhere — but new businesses have less leeway in that regard.
Pay the rate that will ensure that your work gets done correctly the first time.
4. Be transparent and supportive
Once you hire a freelancer, you need to do your part. Give them access to whatever they require from you. Be speedy and reliable in your communications. They can be a lot more successful if you don’t become a bottleneck for them.
Outsource work without sacrificing quality
Beginning a new business is complex, and your work is never done. Leveraging a freelance platform can allow entrepreneurs to outsource some of the task-based items on their list, without worrying that their standards won’t be met.
However, if the scope of expertise you’re looking for goes beyond simply executing, then you may need to turn to a consultant marketplace. Either way, outsourcing is a convenient and profitable way to have others help you with the day-to-day aspects of running a business, while you focus on what you do best—growing your company.
Categorizing the problems and growth patterns of small businesses in a systematic way that is useful to entrepreneurs seems at first glance a hopeless task. Small businesses vary widely in size and capacity for growth. They are characterized by independence of action, differing organizational structures, and varied management styles.
Yet on closer scrutiny, it becomes apparent that they experience common problems arising at similar stages in their development. These points of similarity can be organized into a framework that increases our understanding of the nature, characteristics, and problems of businesses ranging from a corner dry cleaning establishment with two or three minimum-wage employees to a $20-million-a-year computer software company experiencing a 40% annual rate of growth.
For owners and managers of small businesses, such an understanding can aid in assessing current challenges; for example, the need to upgrade an existing computer system or to hire and train second-level managers to maintain planned growth.
It can help in anticipating the key requirements at various points—e.g., the inordinate time commitment for owners during the start-up period and the need for delegation and changes in their managerial roles when companies become larger and more complex.
The framework also provides a basis for evaluating the impact of present and proposed governmental regulations and policies on one’s business. A case in point is the exclusion of dividends from double taxation, which could be of great help to a profitable, mature, and stable business like a funeral home but of no help at all to a new, rapidly growing high-technology enterprise.
Finally, the framework aids accountants and consultants in diagnosing problems and matching solutions to smaller enterprises. The problems of a 6-month-old, 20-person business are rarely addressed by advice based on a 30-year-old, 100-person manufacturing company. For the former, cash-flow planning is paramount; for the latter, strategic planning and budgeting to achieve coordination and operating control are most important.
Developing a Small Business Framework
Various researchers over the years have developed models for examining businesses (see Exhibit 1). Each uses business size as one dimension and company maturity or the stage of growth as a second dimension. While useful in many respects, these frameworks are inappropriate for small businesses on at least three counts.
Exhibit 1 Growth Phases
First, they assume that a company must grow and pass through all stages of development or die in the attempt. Second, the models fail to capture the important early stages in a company’s origin and growth. Third, these frameworks characterize company size largely in terms of annual sales (although some mention number of employees) and ignore other factors such as value-added, number of locations, the complexity of product line, and rate of change in products or production technology.
To develop a framework relevant to small and growing businesses, we used a combination of experience, a search of the literature, and empirical research. (See the second insert.) The framework that evolved from this effort delineates the five stages of development shown in Exhibit 2. Each stage is characterized by an index of size, diversity, and complexity and is described by five management factors: managerial style, organizational structure, the extent of formal systems, major strategic goals, and the owner’s involvement in the business. We depict each stage in Exhibit 3 and describe each narratively in this article.
Each loan type comes with its own set of terms and conditions.
To determine which loan is right for you, carefully consider what your business needs the loan for, what repayment terms you can handle and how much money you need.
Finding the right sources of funding for your business can be difficult. There are many types of funding available – investors, grants, loans, etc. – and each has its own application process and set of rules.
One of the most common options for small business funding is a business loan. Small business funding sounds like it should be easy enough to obtain, but borrowing money is not as straightforward as it seems.
A 2017 study found that 27% of small businesses have difficulty gaining adequate financing. As a business owner, you need to know your options so that you can tailor your application to the type of loan you need and lay out exactly how you plan to use the funds.
Consider these seven types of business loans to figure out which one is right for you.https://widgets.business.com/qt-widget-v2/index.html?pubId=1000&offerGroupId=11&widgetHostPage=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.business.com%2Farticles%2F4-types-of-business-loans-and-which-one-is-right-for-you%2F&isHeadlineVisible=true&viewType=default&hasBestPickBadge=false
Friends and family loan
We’re all familiar with this option, but there are specifics as to when and how to do it that surprise you. First, it’s always a good business practice to put the loan in writing, and to state a specific interest rate and repayment plan. Otherwise, you open the door to unfortunate misunderstandings that can chill your relationship. Also, you should have documentation of the loan’s terms in case the IRS decides to audit your business.
Conditions
Borrowing from loved ones carries risk. We’ve outlined the benefits and drawbacks of borrowing money for your company from your parents, and a lot of these tips hold true for other family members and close friends who may lend to you. The reality is that many people may not have extra money to part with or, if they do, aren’t comfortable parting with such a large sum for something they have no control over. Be sure to “overcommunicate” the value you bring to your customers, and indicate if and how your friends and family will be able to participate in your business.
You should provide a written promissory note that states how much money they can expect you to pay back and at what interest rate. With this note, you’ll also want to specify a repayment schedule in writing.
Benefits
Money borrowed from friends and family can come with the best low-interest repayment plan you’ll ever get. This is one of the best reasons to borrow money from friends and family instead of banks and commercial lenders. You may also expand your sales force when you borrow money from those you know: When they’re financially invested (in addition to being personally invested as someone who loves you), they may take it upon themselves to help you succeed and reach your business goals.
How to apply
To show you’re serious about requesting funding from relatives, you may want to approach the subject formally, armed with your business plan, projections, outlines of how you’ll use the money, specifications on your friends and family’s involvement in your business financing, and suggested loan terms and repayment terms. [Read related article: The Roadmap to Peer-to-Peer Lending]
Editor’s note: Looking for a small business loan? Fill out the questionnaire below to have our vendor partners contact you about your needs.
Business line of credit
A business line of credit is a flexible business loan that allows you to only pay interest on the portion of money that you borrow. It works similarly to a credit card in that you may draw and repay funds as you need, so long as you do not exceed your credit limit. This is a great option for businesses looking for an easy way to manage their cash flow, purchase inventory or pay a surprise expense.
Conditions
A business line of credit works like a credit card, allowing you to take out and repay money on your own terms as long as you stay within your credit limit and make payments on time. Most lenders will allow you to pay off your balance early to keep your interest costs down.
Line of credit limits tend to be lower than business term loan amounts – generally from $1,000 to $250,000 – and are unsecured, so you typically do not need to put up collateral except in the case of a larger line of credit.
Benefits
Business lines of credit are a flexible option that allow you to manage your business’s cash flow as you see fit, and you can reuse and repay your credit as often as you need.
How to apply
Similarly to business term loans, you can get a business line of credit from either a traditional bank or online lender. Banks will require your business to have strong revenue and one to three years of positive history to qualify, as well as the following documentation:
Tax returns (business and personal)
Bank account information
Business financial statements
Online lenders generally have fewer restrictions and qualifications than banks, but they tend to charge higher interest rates and have lower credit limits.
FYI: To qualify for a business line of credit from an online lender, you’ll need to have been in business for at least six months, make $25,000 or more in annual revenue, and have a credit score of 500 or higher.
Working capital loan
Working capital loans are short-term business loans designed to bring extra cash into the business to use for growth and expansion, and for day-to-day expenses such as advertising, payroll or inventory purchases. You can also use working capital loans to cover emergency costs or pay down debt.
Conditions
Like personal loans, working capital loans require you – as the business owner – to have a sparkling personal credit history. Applications for this type of funding require a significant amount of paperwork, and processing can take weeks or even a few months.
Benefits
Working capital loans are effective because they finance the everyday operation of your business and usually have low interest rates. You may be able to secure a rate between 3% and 7% if you have a great credit score.
How to apply
Working capital loans are typically available through large, national banks as well as regional or statewide banks. You might also look into working capital loans available at your local credit union or through a third-party direct lender. For the best chances of securing a working capital loan, approach the bank that you already do business with first. Not only will it have access to a lot of your financial information, but it will be able to review your existing banking and credit habits to assess risk.
Business term loan
A business term loan is a lump sum of capital that you pay back in regular payments at a fixed interest rate for a set period of time – which is where the “term” part comes in. The term is generally one to five years.
Conditions
The purpose of a business term loan is to allow you to finance a large purchase for your business, such as equipment or new facilities. There are few restrictions to a business term loan, and most businesses that have good credit and generate revenue will qualify.
With a business term loan, you get a predetermined amount of money and a fixed interest rate to be repaid in a set number of years. The loan amount will depend on your business and its needs, but it’s generally within the range of $25,000 to $500,000, with interest rates from 7% to 30%.
Benefits
A business term loan generally has few restrictions and can help you build your business by introducing new capital for purposes like a new office or equipment. You will also have all of the information and terms regarding your loan from the get-go, but it’s still important to carefully read the contract so nothing will be a surprise down the line as you start making payments. [Read related article: Hidden Gotchas in Your Business Loan Repayment Terms]
Did you know? Business term loans are suitable for a wide range of businesses, and they generally offer lower monthly payments and longer payment terms than short-term loans.
How to apply
You have a couple of options when applying for a business term loan. They are traditionally available through banks, though that can be a long and arduous application process. Several banks offer expedited online applications, though. These are some of the documents you’ll need:
Driver’s license
Voided business check
Bank statements
Balance sheet
Credit score
Tax returns (personal and business)
Profit and loss statements
Small Business Administration (SBA) loan
SBA loans are government-backed loans that are available to small businesses from private-sector lenders. These are secured loans, meaning you must pledge your company or personal assets as collateral. There are three different SBA loan programs:
The 7(a) Loan Program is the SBA’s main program for providing assistance to small businesses. The terms and conditions vary by loan, and maximum loan amounts range from $350,000 to $5 million.
The Microloan Program provides the smallest loan amounts available from the SBA, ranging from $10,000 to $50,000. Microloans are ideal for small startups, borrowers with limited collateral or companies that just need a small financial boost.
The CDC/504 Loan Program offers loans to small businesses with long-term fixed-rate financing for the purposes of expansion or modernization – such as large equipment or real estate purchases. These are typically larger loans, “generally capped at $5 million.” Terms are 10, 20 or 25 years, depending on the purpose of the loan.
Conditions
There are multiple conditions under which SBA loans cannot be issued, including if a business is operating as a nonprofit or is not based in the United States. SBA loans cannot be used to repay delinquent state or federal withholding taxes.
Terms vary by the size of the loan, the planned use of the money and your needs as a small business borrower. The maximum term allowed for a microloan is six years. Interest rates are usually between 8% and 13%.
Benefits
Each SBA loan has its own unique benefits. For instance, a 7(a) loan is extremely versatile and can be used to purchase land or buildings, cover new construction, finance equipment or other supplies, or acquire an existing business.
Microloans may be available to businesses that otherwise wouldn’t qualify for a loan. They can also be used in multiple ways – as working capital; to purchase inventory, supplies, furniture and fixtures; or to buy machinery and equipment.
The 504 Loan Program, which borrowers typically use to buy commercial real estate or heavy equipment, offers both short-term and long-term benefits, including 90% financing, longer loan amortizations, fixed interest rates and overall savings.
How to apply
Each program has specific eligibility criteria and an application process. Visit the SBA website for information on how to apply for an SBA loan and for checklists to ensure you have everything you need for a successful loan application.
Accounts receivable factoring
Accounts receivable factoring is also known as receivable financing. This type of business loan is used to convert sales on credit terms for immediate cash flow. For example, if you provide outsourced marketing services to large enterprise clients, you might sell your existing, uncollected invoices (which you are waiting on payment for) to a third party for an advance payment. This third party, called the factor, provides you with the full or partial amount and then collects on the sale from your customer. This type of financing is generally used to buy your small business some time while you look for more long-term, sustainable sources of financing.
Conditions
This receivable credit line can be costly, so you should exhaust all other efforts of financing before turning to it. Once you factor in a discount fee, interest rates of 10% to 25%, and other charges, you could end up paying much more over time than you would with other financing options. Also, your financing is determined by the financial strength of your customer, not you as a seller of goods or services. Most invoices over 90 days old will not get financed, and invoices that are paid out quicker will afford you more beneficial terms.
Benefits
One of the greatest advantages of this type of business loan is that it allows you to cash in immediately on your future receivables; you won’t have the majority of your capital tied up in inventory or unpaid invoices. It may also be beneficial to outsource your accounts receivable management to another company, freeing up your focus for productive work on your business. This funding is also faster than many options, as you don’t have to provide a business plan or tax statements.
How to apply
Most companies that offer accounts receivable financing are commercial lenders, not banks. To apply for accounts receivable financing, you’ll have to fill out an application and hand over your articles of incorporation, your company’s most recent accounts receivable and payable reports, a master customer list, and an example of your typical invoice.
Merchant cash advance
A merchant cash advance isn’t technically a loan, but rather a cash advance based on the credit card sales deposited into your merchant account.
Merchant cash advances are quick, often depositing funds 24 hours after approval. Historically, merchant cash advances have been used by businesses that primarily subsist on credit and debit card sales, such as restaurants and retailers, but they have become available to other businesses that do not rely on card payments.
Conditions
With a merchant cash advance, you receive an upfront sum of cash in exchange for a portion of your future credit and debit card sales or by remitting fixed daily or weekly debits directly from your bank account.
Merchant loan advances provide you with fast money but carry high annual percentage rates that consist of the total cost of the loan plus all fees. They can run your business into debt quickly if you are not careful.
Your fee amount is determined by your ability to repay the merchant cash advance. The provider will determine a factor rate of 1.2 to 1.5 based on a risk assessment. The higher the factor rate, the higher your fees. Your total repayment amount is the factor rate times the cash advance.
Benefits
The main draw of merchant cash advances is that they are fast; you could have cash in hand less than a week after submission with little to no paperwork. Merchant cash advances are also unsecured, which means you do not have to put up collateral in case you cannot repay, and repayments will adjust to how well your business is doing.
How to apply
Applying for a merchant cash advance is simple. Start by looking at online business lenders and filling out their online applications. Expect to provide three months’ worth of financial statements.
There are many benefits of DOT drug testing. Understanding these makes it easier for you to find a company that will take care of the testing for your drivers. It will allow you to remain compliant, and ensure that you aren’t endangering anyone out on the roads.
You Hire Better Drivers
You have the ability to hire better drivers when there is DOT drug testing being conducted. This way, you can learn more about what they are doing in their spare time. If you have a drug test done prior to extending a position, you can learn whether they are clean or not. If the test comes back positive, it shows you don’t want them on your team.
As such, your company is going to have better drivers on the road. This can minimize accidents and avoid problems with employees calling out or not providing the superior customer service you are known for.
You Maintain Driver Integrity
Drivers are less likely to do drugs when they know that they could be called for a drug test at any time. When you identify that you are a drug free workplace, they should respect this. However, testing is the only way to know for sure and keep everyone honest.
You Sort Out the “Bad Seeds”
Some people don’t care. They don’t care about the rules or about the legal implications of being caught. These are not the types of people you want working for you. With a drug test, you can sort out the bad employees when they test positive for one drug or another.
Employees are Less Likely to Use
You don’t want to deal with any drivers who are under the influence of drugs. This is because you don’t want the risk that they will get into an accident. An accident in a truck can cause serious damage, and result in injuries and potentially deaths. This is not something you want associated with your company and therefore it’s best to deal with everything in a timely fashion.
When you know more about what employees are doing, you keep them honest. When they know that they could be tested at any time, they are less likely to do drugs. If they do want to do drugs, they know not to work for you because you are going to find out if they are using.
It Can Be Done Randomly
By taking advantage of drug testing, you can also have it scheduled randomly. This means that drivers will have no idea as to when they will be tested. It can all be done by a third party, too, so you don’t have to remember when.
When you hire a company that handles all of the drug testing on behalf of your company, you learn more about what’s being done. You don’t have to be the one responsible. This means that you can maintain a “hands-off” approach with it all. When there is a third party taking care of everything, it allows you to remain neutral to all that’s going on.
Each year drug and alcohol abuse costs U.S. companies billions of dollars, which includes turnover rates for employees, unexcused absences, lower productivity, accidents, and increased workers’ compensation claims. According to the National Safety Council, employees who abuse prescription drugs are two to five times more likely to take unexcused absences, be late for work, be injured or violent at work, file workers’ compensation claims, and quit or be fired within one year of employment.
The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency (NCADD) reports 70% of the 14.8 million Americans who abuse drugs are employed.
50% of workplace accidents and up to 40% of employee theft is caused by drug abuse according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
DRUG TESTING BENEFITS
Testing your current and potential employees can help prevent and detect workplace drug abuse. The most common drugs at the root of the substance abuse issue include marijuana, cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, methamphetamine, and opioids. Employers with a drug-testing program in place report:
Reduced employee healthcare costs
Improvements in employee morale, productivity, and performance
Decreased absenteeism, accidents, downtime, turnover, and theft
Compliance with state or federal regulations
Being able to identify and refer employees who have drug and/or alcohol problems
There are a variety of employment-related drug and alcohol tests used by employers. For more than 30 years, DISA has worked to make the drug testing process easier and more streamlined for customers.
Regardless of your industry or unique requirements, DISA has the tools, and best-in-business practices necessary to help you create a drug-testing program that will work for you and your company. Before making a decision, we encourage you to research the benefits of each type to determine what best matches your company’s needs.
Although many aspects of society are harmed by illicit drug use and abuse, it is especially detrimental in the workplace. Not only can it lower the productivity and revenue of a business, but it can also place employees at risk. In fact, depending on the line of work, the drug abuse of an employee could have fatal consequences. Luckily, employers these days are able to test for illicit drug use and implement strategies to pursue drug-free workplaces. Today we’re discussing why drug testing is important and how to employ it effectively.
Why Drug Testing Is Important
Safety. Drug use can impair a person’s judgment and increase safety risks. This is especially concerning in certain industries, such as construction, in which using drugs or alcohol at work could cause an injury or even a fatality. As employee drug abuse causes as much as 50% of all on-the-job accidents (source), this is not a matter to be taken lightly. Plus, drug testing can improve the quality of life of employees and their families.
Performance. Workers under the influence of drugs may struggle to stay on task, letting their minds drift toward problems that aren’t related to their work. Drug testing allows employers to target those employees who aren’t reaching their full potential due to illicit drug use, removing weak links and improving their company’s performance overall.
Productivity & Profits. Substance abuse or addiction can lead to missed deadlines and decreased attendance. Dwindling productivity will result in lower profits as well—after all, if your company isn’t producing work at a steady rate, how can you expect to maintain consistent profits? Finally, it’s important to note that drug abuse also causes up to 40% of employee theft (source), an additional drain on profits.
Turnover Rates. Pre-employment drug testing is a great way to find employees who fit your company’s goals and standards. In addition, it reduces the likelihood that you will have to fire a new employee down the road, allowing you to retain valuable workers and decrease your turnover rate.
Medical Costs. Substance abuse can dramatically increase a person’s medical costs. In fact, business owners lose an estimated $140 billion annually due to drug use (source). Workplace drug testing allows employers to decrease their health insurance premiums and health costs by reducing on-the-job accidents and drug-related illnesses. It’s a win-win situation, improving the health of employees and reducing costs for employers.
Although most employers focus their drug testing efforts on job candidates, more and more employers are testing current employees as well through random programs. Although 10% of employed Americans between the ages 18 and 49 admit to illicit drug use (source), with the right resources and programs, this persistent problem can become a thing of the past.
COVID-19 leads to changes in drug testing rules that give employers more flexibility. David Sparkman APR 02, 2020
Because of the Coronavirus epidemic, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has made changes in its drug and alcohol testing regulations regarding employees in safety-sensitive positions, including interstate truck and bus drivers.
On March 23, DOT issued a guidance saying, “The nation’s transportation industries, which are not immune to the impacts and disruptions resulting from the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S., are playing a vital role in mitigating the effects of COVID-19. DOT is committed to maintaining public safety while providing maximum flexibility to allow transportation industries to conduct their operations safely and efficiently during this period of national emergency.”
The department’s guidance states that while DOT-regulated employers must continue to comply with training and testing requirements, DOT recognizes that compliance may not be possible in certain areas due to the unavailability of program resources. These may include access to collection sites, Breath Alcohol Technicians (BAT), Medical Review Officers (MRO) and Substance Abuse Professionals (SAP).
“You should make a reasonable effort to locate the necessary resources,” DOT says. “As a best practice at this time, employers should consider mobile collection services for required testing if the fixed-site collection facilities are not available.”
If an employer is unable to conduct training or testing due to COVID-19-related supply shortages, facility closures, state or locally imposed quarantine requirement, or other impediments, it must continue to comply with applicable agency requirements to document why a test was not completed.
If training or testing can be conducted later (for example, supervisor reasonable suspicion training at the next available opportunity, random testing later in the selection period, follow-up testing later in the month), you are to do so in accordance with applicable modal regulations.
If employers are unable to conduct testing due to the unavailability of testing resources, the underlying modal regulations continue to apply. For example, without a “negative” pre-employment drug test result, an employer may not permit a prospective or current employee to perform any DOT safety-sensitive functions. In the case of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the individual cannot be hired.
DOT said it is aware that some employees have expressed concern about potential public health risks associated with the collection and testing process in the current environment. Employers should review the applicable DOT agency requirements for testing to determine whether flexibilities allow for collection and testing at a later date.
DOT reminds employers that it is their responsibility to evaluate the circumstances of the employee’s refusal to test and determine whether or not the employee’s actions should be considered a refusal under the regulations.
“However, as the COVID-19 outbreak poses a novel public health risk, DOT asks employers to be sensitive to employees who indicate they are not comfortable or are afraid to go to clinics or collection sites,” the guidance says. “DOT asks employers to verify with the clinic or collection site that it has taken the necessary precautions to minimize the risk of exposure to COVID-19.”
DOT also urges employers to revisit back-up plans to ensure the plans are current and effective for the current outbreak conditions. For example, these plans should include availability of collectors and collection sites and BAT, and alternate/back-up MRO, as these may have changed as a result of the national emergency.
Employers should also have regular communications with service agents regarding the service agent’s availability and capability to support their drug and alcohol testing program.
Drug testing service agents—test result collection sites, BAT, laboratory, MRO, or SAP—should continue to provide services to DOT-regulated employers if it is possible to do so in accordance with state or local mandates related to COVID-19.
“Should you have concerns about COVID-19 when testing or interacting with employees, please follow your company policy, directions from state and local officials, and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),” DOT recommends.
Truck and Bus Drivers
In accordance with these guidelines, DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has made changes to its regulations applying to drug and alcohol testing for commercial drivers that are scheduled to remain in place until June 30.
FMCSA said it is aware that “disruptions caused by the COVID-19 national emergency are interfering with, and in some cases, may be preventing, employer and driver compliance with current drug and alcohol testing requirements.”
These are the actions recommended by the agency for FMCSA-regulated employers who employ truck and bus drivers in interstate commerce and are unable to conduct certain kinds of testing because of the demand for transportation of essential supplies:
Random Testing. Employers are required by federal regulations to ensure that the dates for administering random alcohol and controlled substances tests are spread reasonably throughout the calendar year. DOT guidance further recommends that the employer perform random selections and tests at least quarterly.
If, due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 national emergency, you are unable to perform random selections and tests sufficient to meet the random testing rate for a given testing period in order to achieve the required 50% rate for drug testing, and 10% for alcohol testing, you should make up the tests by the end of the year.
In addition, FMCSA says employers should document in writing the specific reasons why you were unable to conduct tests on drivers randomly selected, and any actions taken to locate an alternative collection site or other testing resources.
Pre-Employment Testing. If an employer is unable to conduct a pre-employment controlled substances test, in accordance with federal regulations, it cannot allow a prospective employee to perform DOT safety-sensitive functions until having received a negative pre-employment test result, unless the exception in the regulations for trip lease drivers applies.
A trip-lease driver is generally a driver employed by one carrier, but who is temporarily leased to another carrier for one or more trips generally for a time period less than 30 days. This also applies to volunteer organizations that use loaned drivers.
Post-Accident Testing. Employers are required to test each driver for alcohol and controlled substances as soon as practicable following an accident. However, if the employer is unable to administer an alcohol test within eight hours after an accident or a controlled substance test within 32 hours following the accident, due to disruptions caused by the national emergency, the specific reasons why the test could not be conducted must be documented in writing.
Reasonable Suspicion Testing. The employer should document in writing the specific reasons why the test could not be conducted as required. Make sure to include any efforts made to mitigate the effect of the disruption, such as trying to locate an alternative collection site. FMCSA says this documentation should be provided in addition to documentation of the observations leading to a test, as required by agency regulations.
Follow current regulations addressing situations in which reasonable suspicion testing is not conducted, set forth in FMCSA’s guidance in regard to this part of the regulations.
Return-to-Duty (RTD) Testing. In accordance with current regulations, an employer must not allow a driver to perform any safety-sensitive functions until the RTD test is conducted and there is a negative result. Nothing is changed in this regard.
Follow-Up Testing. If testing cannot be completed, the employer should document in writing the specific reasons why the testing could not be conducted in accordance with the follow-up testing plan; you should include any efforts you made to mitigate the effect of the disruption, such as trying to locate an alternative collection site. You should conduct the test as soon as practicable.
You’ll most likely be writing a lot of research papers while in college, so it is important to master the skill of finding the right research paper topics. Unfortunately, not all the topics you are interested in maybe that easy to write about. It becomes even more difficult if there is not enough research material about the topic you’ve chosen.
Research Paper Topics: Find A Broad Subject First Then Narrow It Down
One thing that works when finding the right research paper topics is to think of several subjects that interest you. Try writing down these subjects on a sheet of paper. Choose the one that interests you the most and then break down the general subject into smaller chunks of topics that are related to it. Related Post – 3 Tips to Avoid the High Stress of a College Paper
Narrow down your topics to the most interesting one. If it is a controversial topic, choose a particular perspective that you will develop in your research paper. Read different points of view related to your topic as this expands your knowledge and makes writing your paper easier.
Mind mapping is always a good idea, too. To find out how much you actually know about a topic, make a mind map of it. Put the main concept in the middle of a sheet of paper, then start adding relevant terms around it. By the time you run out or terms that you know on this topic, you’ll see if they make enough for a paper.
Another way to get yourself completely rid of all the trouble is to get a research paper writing service to help you. By delegating your assignment, you will free up some of your time and see how this type of paper is done by a professional. You can stay in touch with your paper writer every step of the way, ask them questions and request drafts. This will allow you to stay on top of the process and see how a thesis statement becomes a full paper.
A helpful way to find a topic that would make writing a research paper easy is to use one you’ve already written about. Take one of the essays you’ve written for this particular subject and see if you can broaden this topic. How much more detail can you add? Has any new research been made on that topic? In academia, it’s quite normal to broaden and deepen your past research, so you might as well start now.
Make Sure You Have Enough Resources For Your Topic
Do a quick computer search on the topics on your list to see which one is widely researched. This means finding a topic that is discussed not just on websites or blogs, but more so in books, articles, and even encyclopedia references. Find a topic that is both interesting and has plenty of published material. Check magazine articles, because these are usually shorter and more updated than those found in books.
Check References From The Library
Once you have chosen your topic, check the internet for references and also try using your school’s library database, which may also be available online. Don’t hesitate to ask your librarian for assistance with an urgent research paper. Other resources beyond the library include research paper websites that provide professional research paper writing help.Related Category – Annotated Bibliography: A Guide to Correctly Citing Sources
Writing a research paper requires a lot of time, extreme concentration, and diligence. And not everyone can cope with this task. Therefore, some people turn to special services for writing student papers. However, we do not recommend ordering this work. It is better to order editing of the writing assignment. In any case, it is always better to analyze both writing and editing services. It is difficult to identify scammers, so it is better to trust a professional like William Grabe. On his website, you will find a detailed analysis of the best essay writing services.
Running out of topics to write about? Check the suggestions below that can help you choose the right research paper topics:
The obsession with having a beautiful smile has driven the dentistry industry into investing and innovating many proper dental treatment techniques and technology. One of the many includes Invisalign treatment. Simply put, Invisalign is an advanced form of conventional braces that use clear tray aligners. They work by putting just as enough pressure on specific parts of your teeth to move them into a better position steadily. The aligner trays are replaced every one or two weeks. And as the treatment proceeds, you will be fitted with differently shaped aligner trays in order to move your teeth slowly into the position and shape you feel strongly confident about.
Generally, before you consider starting an Invisalign treatment, you will be required to consult with your dentist. They will first assess your Health, take impressions of your mouth and check your smile before deciding on the appropriate procedure to follow.
Benefits of Invisalign
While Invisalign treatment is known to be somehow costly, its associated benefits are far more worth the dime spent. The price of putting a beautiful smile on is simply priceless, and once you get it, it lasts a lifetime.
The benefits of Invisalign treatment are as follows.
It takes less time to complete treatment, while normal brace treatment takes longer. Invisalign treatment takes a shorter amount of time before you get the smile you crave for. Ideally, a single treatment takes close to 12 to 18 months, but results can be seen in a matter of a few months prior to the first treatment. On average, some patients may start seeing results from 6 months after the first treatment.
Treatment time may vary from patient to patient because result preferences are not equally the same. These different results take different periods to achieve.
Some other important factors/benefits to consider include:
Age – the time taken to straighten your teeth varies depending on the age of the patients. Invisalign treatment in adults takes longer than in younger people because of varied jaw hardness.
Compliance with treatment – how you follow the treatment plan greatly influences the time of your treatment. Considering the time used and the cost of this treatment, it is advisable to stick to the schedule for better and faster results.
Easy to remove when cleaning your teeth or eating- You can easily remove the Invisalign trays from your teeth whenever you want to eat or clean them. Once you are done, sticking them back does not require you to go back to your dentist, but a little pressure applied fits them back in.
Gradually moves your teeth, hence comfortable- Unlike traditional braces, Invisalign trays are designed to move your teeth into position steadily. This way, you do not have to feel any pressure on your jaws that would otherwise make you feel uncomfortable.
They are transparent and almost invisible, unlike conventional braces- Invisalign trays are made to be near invisible, and this makes them less conspicuous. So you have less to worry about people noticing them when you smile. While there is no shame in people seeing them, many patients prefer keeping the treatment to themselves.
Require fewer visits to the dentist- You will only need to visit your dentist only once a month for a few adjustments and examinations. You will be fitted with a different Invisalign set with varied tray shapes from the previous one. This is done to help force movement and new teeth positions.
If you want to expand your recruitment offerings and process to boost your profits by improving your ability to market your business then contract staffing can be a great option for you. But to organize payroll for your contracted staff you will need funds unless you get paid by your clients because payroll funding for staffing agencies is the responsibility of their owners.
It can be more difficult to manage the funds for payroll for staffing agencies if the flow of cash is not favorable. Your client may pay you after 30-0 days but you may have to pay your contractors on a weekly or biweekly basis. Even if you have only one contractor, you may need thousands of dollars for his payroll before you expect payment from your customer. The funding of payroll can increase quickly if you have several contractors for your staffing agency.
In order to maintain the profitability of your business, you should not allow the cost of payroll funding increase. As far as payroll funding for staffing agencies is concerned you can use a few options discussed in this write-up.
Options for funding payroll for your staffing agency
The meaning of funding the payroll of contract staff is not confined to their wages or salaries but you should also have funds to pay for several other things like unemployment taxes, liabilities of employer tax and compensation insurance of the workers, etc. Initially, it may look stressful to fund the payroll but you can arrange the things until you are paid by your clients without much effort by following the tips discussed here under.
Line of credit: You can ask your bank for a line of credit for funding payroll for your staffing agency. It is a revolving account that allows you to use it for funding your payroll, unlike a loan. Though it allows you to use funds against some fees but you control its cost by paying off the cash withdrawn from this account with the payments received from your clients.
It is one of the best options for funding payroll for large staffing agencies and companies but you cannot open a line of credit with a bank if the size of your staffing agency is small. Moreover, you will have to pay fees uselessly if you apply for a too small or too large line of credit. Furthermore, it can increase the risk of forfeiture of your assets used as collateral while getting a line of credit from a bank.
Self-funding: For funding the payroll of your staffing agency you can also use your money. You need not pay any kind of fees or take a loan for this purpose if you use your own funds.
You will have to plan your budget to organize payroll for your staff from your own funds. From the profits of your placement or staff recruitment business, you will have to put some funds aside. But it can be a bit difficult for you to fund the payroll for your staffing agency if you have just started it.
You may not be able to run your business of contract staffing unless it becomes profitable, you have large savings in your account, you already have a successful business of direct hiring staff or you have some other income source.
Outsource contract staffing back-office: The provider of back-office contract staffing will not only take care of funding your payrolls but also control the task of processing payrolls. In this way, your contractors will legally become the employees of the provider of Back Office Staffing Solutions The back-office provider will handle all the responsibilities of the contractors including negotiating the contracts, unemployment insurance, worker’s compensations, background checks, administration of benefits, as well as making invoices and collection of payments, etc.
When you use the option of contract staffing back-office then you can get more the just funding payroll for staffing agencies as it will also allow you to earn a considerable amount of profits per hour on your works of your contractors.
Moreover, you will not only get rid of the problem of funding payroll but also save a lot of time to do some more fruitful tasks by outsourcing your payroll to the provider of contract staffing back office.
Payroll factoring companies: Another option for funding payroll for staffing agencies is to use factoring of invoices. Asset financing services are offered by the companies dealing in payroll factoring or funding. The invoices of the client due to be paid within 90 days are purchased by the factoring companies and give you cash immediately.
The amount of invoice will be paid by the funding company in two installments. One installment will be paid in advance and a percentage of it will be held by the company as security until the invoice is paid by the client. And you will have to pay a percentage of the invoice as fees for factoring invoices.
The process of approval for factoring invoice moves faster than funding by banks but you should keep in mind that the credit of your client will be considered by the company factoring invoice. An agreement is signed between you and the factoring company if your invoice is approved by them. You will be paid advance money as soon as you sign this agreement. This advance money can be 80% of the amount of the invoice or can vary depending upon the factoring company.
It is up to you to inform your clients about the factoring of their invoices so that they can directly pay the invoice to the factoring company. You will receive the amount withheld by the factoring company when the invoice will be completely paid by your clients to them.
The fees of factoring invoice will a percentage of the total amount of the invoice which can be influenced by the time taken in making the payment as well as the soundness of the client. Some of the factoring companies may charge some extra fees like fees to check credit, transaction, or for opening an account, etc. from you.
Thus, you can organize payroll funding for staffing agencies by using any of the options discussed in this write-up.
FYI: To qualify for a business line of credit from an online lender, you’ll need to have been in business for at least six months, make $25,000 or more in annual revenue, and have a credit score of 500 or higher.
Did you know? Business term loans are suitable for a wide range of businesses, and they generally offer lower monthly payments and longer payment terms than short-term loans.
