If you have employees working from home, and you want to transition them back to the workplace as the economy picks up, you may find it’s harder than you once thought. For some employees, nervousness about remaining health risks is still a factor — especially for those who haven’t been vaccinated. Many Americans planned to  Continue Reading »

To succeed in the 21st century, manufacturers must embrace the latest technological innovations. As part of this trend, factories around the world are starting to use blockchain technology. Although the concept is shared by businesses in various industries, it’s particularly conducive to the manufacturing sector. What Is Blockchain? Blockchain is a database that relies on  Continue Reading »

In recent years, energy-efficient tax breaks have enticed many manufacturers to “go green.” At the end of 2020, The Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) was enacted, which includes various provisions that expand and improve certain green tax breaks. Here are five examples that could benefit your company. 1. Energy-Efficient Buildings Under prior law, a taxpayer could  Continue Reading »

As COVID cases spike to record-setting levels here in Maine and across the country, mass immunization likely months away and talks of financial relief still a work-in-progress at the federal level, many businesses in the state may be facing challenging times and difficult choices — including laying off employees. If your business finds itself in  Continue Reading »

In this past election, voters in California approved legislation that allowed companies in the so-called “gig economy” to continue classifying their workers as independent contractors, opposed to employees. This issue isn’t exclusive to California, however, as the topic of classifying workers as independent contractors or employees has gained national attention, especially with the rise of  Continue Reading »

Maine’s relatively low number of COVID-19 cases may have saved some business in Portland and throughout the state. But as cases look to be surging across the country and winter fast approaching, many businesses could be in for a challenging time. Small businesses across the country have already lost billions of dollars during the pandemic.  Continue Reading »

While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be at the top of most employers minds, it’s important to not forget important employment laws and regulations. The Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC) is reminding employers to follow and be mindful of these major anti-discrimination laws as they work through these unprecedented times. Civil Rights Act The Civil  Continue Reading »

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Maine and shut down most of the state, many companies who were able to have employees work from home did so. Even now, as offices in Portland and throughout Maine begin to welcome back workers, many companies are continuing to have employees work from home. If you currently have employees  Continue Reading »

As Maine enters what is traditionally its peak business season and the COVID-19 pandemic continues to engulf the country, some businesses around the state may be on the verge of bankruptcy or looking for a way out. While this certainly can cause stress for business owners, it can create opportunities for business investors. For those  Continue Reading »

In the wake of COVID-19, Congress acted quickly to help mitigate the economic impact of the pandemic. Part of this action included the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which was designed to help small businesses sustain operations and keep workers employed. While the program had good intentions and bipartisan support, the speed at which the legislation  Continue Reading »