With the beginning of a new year comes change, and this year brings even more than usual. Our newest versions of COATSsql and COATS Standard include the new tax changes signed into law just a few weeks ago.
Across the nation, changes in the employment landscape are likely to affect your companies. Minimum wage has increased slightly in seven states, while almost 40 states are facing a crisis in their unemployment insurance trust funds.
And COATS will be instituting a change of our own starting in February to enable us to continue providing the level of service you've grown accustomed to.
Throughout all these changes, COATS is your partner in staffing. We look forward to continuing to grow with you.
All my best,
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 Excellence and Expedience: COATS' Response to the New Tax Law
Last week, the Fordyce Letter posted a very thoughtful essay about the trap of settling for expedience rather than excellence in staffing and recruitment. The author challenged his readers to "pause and reflect on how they can be better, how they can achieve excellence."
COATS has done just that in delivering updates to both COATSsql and COATS Standard that reflect the newest tax laws-and we did it in an expedient manner, well before the deadline of January 31.
The Tax Relief Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act Of 2010 reduced the employee Social Security tax rate for wages paid in 2011 from 6.2 percent to 4.2 percent and lowered the maximum withholding from $6,621.60 to $4,485.60. These changes have been incorporated into both versions of COATS to give you a headstart in adjusting your payroll for 2011.
To update your version of our software to the newest version, visit our customers-only site.
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 Changes to COATS Technical Support Rates
For more than a decade, COATS has charged the same hourly rate for the quality technical support that we provide despite rising employee and support costs.
Starting on February 1, our cost for technical support will increase to $75 per hour. This increase will help us retain our knowledgeable, skilled support specialists and maintain our strong level of support and attention to our customers.
Please note that the increase will begin after the 2010 year-end push and after our new releases and updates. Even with the increase, this rate still puts us at the low end of technical support charges for the software industry.
We value you highly as a client and want to continue serving you, so if you have any questions or concerns about this increase, please let us know.
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Feature Focus: Know Where You Stand with Management Reports
 It's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day operations of your staffing business; after all, your clients need people as soon as possible, and your candidates want to work ASAP too.
But every business owner or manager needs to take a step back from time to time and see how the business has been functioning over time. That kind of 30,000-foot view is essential not only to knowing where you've been and how far you've come, but to planning where you want to go from here.
Fortunately, COATSsql users don't even have to step out of COATS to step back and get that view. The same software you use to run your business's operations can generate management reports to help you track and guide your business in the long run.
To learn more about the management reports you can access in COATS, check out our blog. |
Payroll Cards Gain Momentum from Issuers-- Including the U.S. Treasury Department
Last week, the U.S. Treasury Department announced that it would issue tax refunds to 600,000 Americans via prepaid debit cards rather than paper checks. It also announced that the 1.7 million Americans who already use payroll cards can have their refund direct-deposited onto their cards as if it were a regular paycheck.
This news is just the latest example of how payroll and other debit cards are taking the place of paper checks across the nation. While some myths about payroll cards may still be floating around, most businesses and consumers are welcoming the cards. The migration from paper to plastic benefits the people who issue the checks and the people who receive them, and payroll debit cards are no exception.
To learn about how COATS integrates with the Global Cash Card and offers you and your employees free services, read more on our blog.
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In the News
 Minimum Wage Increases in Seven States: Increases of 9 to 12 cents are already showing up in the 2011 paychecks of minimum-wage workers in seven states. Read more about it on our blog.
Unemployment Insurance Costs Could Hit Staffing Firms Extra Hard in 2011: The continuing high rates of unemployment have strained most states' unemployment insurance trust funds. ProPublica.org reports that 30 states have insolvent funds and are borrowing from the federal government; the American Staffing Association puts the number of states with insolvent funds closer to 35. Read more about it on our blog. |
Vote on a COATS Users Group on LinkedIn
 We'd like to know how you'd feel about joining a COATS Users Group on LinkedIn. This group would focus on discussions of how to get the most out of COATS, with input from COATS staff members and other users like you. To vote on whether or not you'd be interested in such a group, click here. (Note: if you took this survey last month, please take it again; the link has been corrected.)
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Time to Order W2s
COATS Standard and COATSsql use the L4UP format for laser-printed W2s. The forms are now available from our Authorized Forms Dealer; order them now by clicking here. |
 IT Department Contacts:
COATSsql Users on SQL Server 2005 SP1 and SQL Server 2000 SP4, click here.
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Miss a Newsletter?
COATS has been sending an emailed newsletter since August of 2008. If you missed one of our monthly newsletters, click below to see what you've missed!
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Compliments of:
Stacey E. James
Littler Mendelson P.C.
501 W. Broadway, Ste. 900
San Diego, CA 92101-3577 (619) 232-0441
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