An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division found Hui Bing Zhang, owner of Kahului-based L&L Hawaiian Barbecue on Maui, illegally kept a portion of employees tips and deprived them of their lawful overtime earnings by knowingly underpaying their earned premium pay and recording the deficient cash payments separately and outside their normal payroll,

Running a small business comes with its own set of challenges, and for entrepreneurs in Hawaii, processing payroll can be a particularly daunting task. The unique combination of state and federal regulations, along with the intricacies of Hawaii's labor laws, adds an extra layer of complexity for business owners. From calculating state taxes to adhering to specific wage laws, managing payroll in the Aloha State demands meticulous attention to detail.

As AI and automation continue to transform the payroll industry, it's important to remember that human interaction will remain essential. While AI can help streamline processes and provide valuable insights, it cannot replace the importance of human judgement and empathy. Payroll is not just about crunching numbers; it involves complex legal and regulatory requirements, as well as personal and sensitive employee information. Human expertise is necessary to ensure compliance, accuracy, and ethical decision-making. Therefore, while AI can certainly enhance the efficiency and accuracy of payroll processes, it's important to maintain a balance between automation and human interaction to ensure the best outcomes for businesses and their employees.

Encouraging employee happiness in the workplace in Hawaii is essential for companies to create a positive and productive work environment. By aligning with the culture of the islands, promoting work-life balance, offering wellness programs, recognizing employee achievements, and offering competitive salaries and benefits, employers can encourage employee happiness and foster a positive work environment.

Tax season can be stressful, and mistakes can lead to penalties or audits. Hiring a tax professional can help alleviate stress, ensure accuracy and compliance, save time and effort, and provide valuable advice and planning services beyond tax season. With extensive knowledge of tax laws and regulations, a tax professional can help individuals and businesses maximize deductions and credits, avoid costly mistakes, and achieve their financial goals. Consider hiring a tax professional to navigate this complex and important process.

HONOLULU – Carey Mills, 47, of Hilo, Hawaii, was sentenced on November 22, 2022 in federal court by Chief U.S. District Judge Derrick K. Watson to 42 months in federal prison for wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud the federal government of program funds intended for COVID-19-related relief. Mills pleaded guilty to a single-count information on May 17, 2022. In addition to a term of imprisonment, the Court also imposed a five-year term of supervised release and ordered Mills to pay restitution to the Small Business Administration in the amount of $937,575.

As a first-time entrepreneur, you have plenty of decisions to make, bills to pay, and papers to sign. Learning how to manage business contracts might be the last thing on your mind. But the truth is that knowing how to create and negotiate contracts is among the most critical aspects of starting a business.

Enforceable agreements can protect your company from many legal and financial hurdles, ultimately paving the way for smooth growth. The lack of such contracts can make your company vulnerable to catastrophic liability. Below, Honolulu Payroll LLC shares the fundamentals of managing business contracts for your new business.

HONOLULU – A U.S. Department of Labor investigation has recovered $28,455 in unpaid overtime wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages from a Big Island nursery and landscaping company after they failed to pay overtime wages to 37 employees.

The department’s Wage and Hour Division determined that Aikane Nursery & Landscaping – owned by brothers Brandon and Bradley Belmarez – paid its employees straight time for overtime hours worked in some weeks. The Fair Labor Standards Act requires employees be paid time-and-one-half of their regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a workweek.

Honolulu Payroll and Astute Pathways to Expanding your Business

The mission of every commercial venture is to earn profit. The bigger your company becomes, the greater the potential rewards. Transforming a scrappy startup into a massive enterprise takes more than pure luck. Every entrepreneur needs to understand how to get from point A to point B. Here are a few ideas on how you can reach the goal of improved business success.

According to research by McKinsey & Company, 85% of business executives believe that COVID-19 will significantly impact consumer behavior and buying patterns over the next five years. However, less than 25% believe that they have the expertise and resources for making necessary adjustments. In this article by Payroll Honolulu, we explore 3 effective ways small businesses can adapt to future market conditions and shift their attention from survival to growth.

Grim outlook for Hawaii

Several businesses recently have been fined recently due to incorrectly paying wages to their employees. Whether or not it was done on purpose doesn't really matter.

Hawaii Unemployment Rate Drops

Increase in minimum wage