THRIVE, a Paychex Business Podcast

Employers who want to retain good employees might have to buy them comfortable cushions for their long commute to work. Seems super-commuting – traveling distances of up to 300 miles one way per day – is becoming popular. Gene Marks offers a few tips on how to manage this trend. He also puts on his CPA hat to warn against scammers grabbing your data from public records to steal any potential tax r...

What would you think about working one less day and 8 fewer hours each week plus be eligible for overtime pay on a daily basis and benefits? It’s been introduced in the U.S. Senate, but Gene Marks shares a similar view as its detractors – it would crush small businesses, who have also seen their contracts with the U.S. government fall by one-third over the past decade because of restrictive regula...

Actor, producer, recording artist, and entrepreneur Queen Latifah shares on this episode of Paychex Thrive, a Business Podcast, what she feels are the biggest challenges facing millions of women-owned businesses. She comments on the disparate funding from venture capitalists that direct less than 5% of all dollars to women-owned businesses and to the lack of recognition for women already in powerf...

The gig might be up for gig workers. The DOL’s independent contractor worker classification rule went into effect March 11 and businesses using 1099 workers need to reclassify individuals properly – and possibly make them employees – to stay compliant. Gene Marks says it’s going to create some havoc before it’s all sorted out, including potential challenges in court. Small businesses did get a win...

After nearly a quarter century in the restaurant and hospitality business, Jeanne Cretella has seen major swings, and the President of Landmark Hospitality shares her thoughts with Paychex THRIVE, a Business Podcast, on what works and what doesn’t in the industry. Cretella says restaurants and hospitality should always be about service, and that eliminating tipping and proposing steep minimum wage...

As the economy moderates, so too is job growth. Gene Marks offers some insights as to what the data from the latest Paychex Small Business Employment Watch is showing business owners. Fast-food restaurant chain Wendy’s announced the testing of dynamic pricing and customers weren’t happy, so Wendy’s flipped. Is dynamic pricing the future pricing model? How do you feel about a personal escort while...

Business owners cannot wait until AI is full-proof or they will be out of business, according to longtime technology journalist, author, and business owner Kara Swisher. Businesses need to get comfortable with what AI is doing now and can do for them, and then be adaptable as it changes. Swisher speaks with host Gene Marks on Paychex THRIVE, a Business Podcast, about the ever-changing business-tec...

A recent survey finds that while the majority of small business owners are in favor of a minimum wage hike, half of respondents also feel that an increase would negatively impact their businesses. Host Gene Marks understands this paradox and explains why business owners would have these contradictory opinions. Gene also touches on the new workplace phenomenon called coffee badging and why one CEO...

Claire Jarrett is a businesswoman, author, and expert on digital marketing, and she says that data tracking is crucial to understanding how to craft your online ads, messaging, and campaigns. Gene Marks chats with Jarrett on Paychex THRIVE, a Business Podcast, about keywords, industry tools, consumer behavior, the shift on cookie tracking, and much more, and shares insights and ad-building tips th...

A new law takes effect in New York state that requires businesses to be transparent about credit card surcharges while also capping what businesses can charge patrons who use credit cards. Host Gene Marks says he favors this approach and shares insights on this and a few other news items, including the potential expansion of Paid Family Medical Leave in New Jersey and Pennsylvania to include small...

In today’s ever-changing business landscape, understanding the economy, national debt, and their impact on your trade is a crucial tool. On this episode of Paychex THRIVE, former Federal Reserve economist, Bloomberg columnist, and founder of Sahm Consulting, Claudia Sahm, offers valuable insights to help listeners navigate the complexities of the U.S. economy. She discusses its key aspects, rangin...

Unless you’re Taylor Swift, working for Taylor Swift, or dating Taylor Swift, your business might not be doing as well in the marketplace. At least that’s what recent numbers show, with job vacancies open but 14% of small-business owners indicating they aren’t hiring over the next three months. Gene Marks takes a look at a recent report, plus shares some poor productivity numbers following the Sup...

Businesses in New York state and New York City have tremendous opportunities presented through Empire State Development, the economic development arm of state government that provides support to small businesses and helps implement initiatives. President and CEO Hope Knight chats with host Gene Marks on Paychex THRIVE, a Business Podcast, about how the funding works for training and workforce deve...

Data from the Paychex Small Business Employment Watch shows job growth continues strong and hourly wage growth is also up. Gene Marks shares insights on how employers can use this data to their advantage. Legislation to extend the research and development tax credit at the expense of the employee retention credit passes one chamber of Congress. The SBA rebrands a crucial program to make it more ac...

TV celebrity of “Restaurant: Impossible” and restaurateur Robert Irvine has a new book out titled, “Overcoming Impossible” that says that it doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from, success is attainable. He shares insights with host Gene Marks about finding and hiring the right people, leading those people, taking calculated risks, and listening to new ideas. He also says you need a sys...

One recent study shows that full potential productivity gains through the use of generative artificial intelligence might be six to 10 years away. A different study at MIT revealed that in for certain aspects of work, only in a quarter of the jobs – 25 % - did it make financial sense to use AI. The numbers weren’t tipping favorably toward AI, but Gene Marks says these are the early days of underst...

The HVAC industry faces challenges on several fronts, from recruitment and retention in a tight labor market to an endless stream of regulations from federal and state agencies. CEO Talbot Gee of HARDI – the Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Distributors International – works with his association to help implement training programs, communicate the requirements mandated by regulations,...

If you’re running a business, a herring fisherman baited the hook with a case now before the Supreme Court that might limit a federal agency’s power to expand on a ruling to further regulate your business. Gene Marks says this could make many businesses happy, maybe as happy as the news that the American consumers are upbeat about the economy and continuing to spend. Gene Marks shares some insight...

Retired Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal says at the core of good leadership is communication and clear direction, whether commanding troops in battle or leading your team on a business project. He speaks with host Gene Marks on the Paychex THRIVE podcast about good leadership qualities such as self-discipline, adjusting your approach as you gain more experience, getting your hands in the mix regardle...

With the release of the Final Rule on Employee or Independent Contractor Classification by the U.S. Department of Labor, businesses will have to audit their workforce to determine if individuals are classified properly under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The rule takes effect March 11, 2024, unless it is challenged in court and enjoined. Gene Marks explains the six factors businesses have to consi...

Digital technology that gave us texting hasn't devalued phone conversations, which are a treasure trove of insights that can help boost a company's lead generation and growth. Ryan Johnson, the Chief Product Officer at CallRail, tells Paychex THRIVE podcast host Gene Marks that businesses relying heavily on phone calls for lead generation can maximize their marketing efforts with the granular deta...

For 33 consecutive months, the small business community has shown resiliency by adding jobs. Highlights from the Paychex Small Business Employment Watch includes data from the region and major metros consistently leading the way. The federal government also released positive numbers on jobs, but primarily in only four industry sectors. Gene Marks shares what this might mean for businesses, as well...

Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey has his sights set on making the Garden State the East Coast AI hub. Working with Princeton University, his administration is assembling a task force with people who can handle the tech side and the practical governance in hopes of using the results to improve the delivery of government services and more. Gov. Murphy also talks with host Gene Marks on the Paychex THR...

People want an online experience where they can easily find what they’re looking for. Algolia provides the AI search tools to help businesses make their content or products more searchable. In fact, if Algolia was a public company, it would be the second-largest search engine in the world behind Google. Sean Mullaney is chief technology officer at Algolia and joins Gene Marks on Paychex THRIVE, a...

According to a recent worldwide survey, 25% of people are prepared to leave their current jobs, with better pay and perks topping the list of desires, and work-life balance valued, as well. Gene Marks shares some thoughts on this, as well as the apparent protest move of coffee badging, which should really make employers take a closer look at their office policies about remote work. The IRS is acce...