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New Employee Payroll Changes for Social Security next year

Posted on Oct 15, 2021

Next year, in 2022, the federal government is encouraging retirement savings through increase Social Security payroll tax contributions. The good news will be an increase in Social Security earnings upon retirement. The bad news may be less net wages or dollars in your paycheck.

Seniors and other Americans receiving Social Security benefits in 2022 will see the largest increase in their payments in four decades, reflecting surging inflation during the pandemic.

Next year’s cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, will be 5.9%, the Social Security Administration said Wednesday. The increase will translate to an addition of $92 to retirees’ average monthly benefit next year, bringing the amount to $1,657, the agency estimates.

Henceforth, the maximum amount of an individual’s taxable earnings in 2022 subject to Social Security tax will be $147,000, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced this week.

An increase of $4,2000 from $142,800 for 2021, the wage base limit applies to earnings subject to the tax, known officially as the old age, survivors, and disability insurance (OASDI) tax.

The growth of the Social Security wage cap from $127,200 in 2017 to $147,000 in 2022 represents a more than 15.5 percent increase over the past five years.

By the start of the new year, U.S. employers will need to adjust their payroll systems to account for the higher taxable wage base under the Social Security payroll tax and notify affected employees that more of their pay will be subject to payroll withholding.

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A Day in the Life of an Employment Agency Recruiter

Posted on Oct 05, 2021

No two days are ever the same for a Recruiter working in an employment agency, and there is never a dull moment.  One glimpse behind working in an employment agency is that it’s fun, challenging, and a place where adaptability is key.  How rewarding and motivating it is to help people find their dream job and change a person’s life!

Recruiters at an employment agency coordinate opportunities.  A Recruiter can’t help but develop a keen sense of people and personalities, while gaining trust and becoming a relationship builder and expert Quality Control Specialist.  Whew, that’s a long job description for us.

Perhaps you’ve received annoying calls from a Recruiter from an employment agency trying to entice you away from your current job.  Surprisingly, the idea may unfold into a hidden opportunity, one a candidate had not previously considered. 

Recruiters need to use research strategies that are inventive and resourceful, for both active (looking) and passive (working) candidates.  Simply relying on regular recruiting tools – Monster, CareerBuilder, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn may not always provide the perfect person for a position we’re working hard to fill.  It’s a race against time when a position comes in, and the early bird catches the worm. 

An employment agency keeps a proprietary database of candidates and employees as a resource for their Recruiters.  When voicemails are not returned, and emails are ignored, crucial delays raise the stress level of a Recruiter, especially when we know the candidate ideally fits this job, ‘as a perfect fit’.  A generous number of hours are spent exploring and pursuing a good candidate, so it behooves a candidate to be responsive. 

Recruiters don’t let rejection get them down.  A Recruiter from a reputable employment agency continuously makes new connections and networks with decision makers, on behalf of job seekers.  There’s no time to rehearse ‘what if’ or ‘what else could I have done’.  Life moves onward and upward with no hard feelings. 

It’s crucial for a Recruiter to probe what a candidate really wants without wasting time guessing. An employment agency professional collaborates with the candidate to ensure that the new job opportunity is a constructive next step in the candidate’s career path.  The discussions are in depth, can require family member discussions and input, and tailored to serve the candidate’s best interests.

A successful Recruiter will also learn skill sets inside various industries in order to guide people looking to change a career.  In-depth research on a client company is vital.  This investigation lets a Recruiter prioritize and pose the right questions to a candidate during a rehearsal or mock interview, further increasing candidate Quality Control.  They probe into each and every accomplishment, administrative or technical skill, education, past job, type of company they’ve thrived in, references, and salary requirements. 

Employment agency Recruiters live in the details. A Recruiter provides its clients with pros and cons of a candidate prior to agreement of interview.  Next, an extensive ‘over-the-top’ Q&A by the Recruiter prepares each candidate for that position.  If recruiters are not thorough and put a candidate ‘through the ringer’ giving them crucial interview tactics, the candidate may just crumble when things get tough.  A Recruiter prepares the candidate in order to avoid uncertainty or brain freeze on the phone or in-person at client. 

Maintain contact, keep ‘em warm!  This is the biggest mistake a Recruiter can make post-interview, especially when the process stalls on the client side, for unknown reasons.  Always return the job seeker’s phone call – don’t leave them hanging and frustrated.  Use that Quality Control method.  When a Recruiter calls, it’s a good idea to pick up the phone.  You never know what lies ahead in the path of life!

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