Month: October 2018
As an employer, you face plenty of red tape that an employment lawyer can help you manage. This legal professional can help you handle your work force, adhere to government rules and regulations, and prepare contracts and documents. Without legal counsel, it’s challenging to make it through what sometimes feels like a maze.
Your Workers
Your workers are the lifeblood of your operation. In order to remain within the letter of the law and keep a happy staff, you need the guidance of an employment lawyer. You may need advice on everything from coping with sexual harassment to immigration issues. Not only can an attorney guide you through these challenges, he or she can hold workshops to educate your staff members regarding these issues. When you provide educational workshops for your employees on issues such as sexual harassment or safety, you can clear up all sorts of misconceptions. Some individuals may not even realize that what they’re doing is inappropriate. Not only can teaching them about appropriate workplace behavior help to lessen problems, it can protect your business, as well.
Government Rules and Regulations
Governmental regulations continually change, and they can be rather confusing. As the owner of your company, you must follow all federal, state, and city ordinances and other rules. You need to stay current with EEO and ADA compliance rules. You also need to know all about OSHA safety practices, minimum wage changes, unemployment benefits, and more. Additionally, you need to keep your physical premises handicap accessible, safe, pay your taxes on time, and respond appropriately to complaints from your workers, as well as your customers. When you operate a company in the United States, compliance is mandatory. An employment lawyer can help you remain compliant in all areas.
Contracts and Documents
The paperwork you use in your company must be exact or you could be held liable for inaccuracies. Contracts are legally binding between your business and your workers, customers, and vendors. Your employee handbooks, sales contracts, lease agreements, and every other document that represents your organization should be reviewed by your law firm’s experts.
Running a company in the United States involves understanding governmental regulations, handling your staff members legally and with finesse, and using carefully written contracts and documents. This is a lot of red tape to wade through without the guidance of an employment lawyer. Not only can this legal professional help you to manage your organization on a day-to-day basis, he or she can also be there when problems arise.
In order to facilitate the contribution of global talents to Singapore, the country introduced a new scheme called the Personalised Employment Pass (PEP).
Through PEP, foreign professionals are allowed to work in Singapore for up to 5 years and the holder is not tied to one single employer. PEP is granted based on individual merits and this visa can be applied individually without first securing a job in Singapore. There is a grace period of six months from the collection of the visa to secure employment.
Currently, the Employment Pass or EP can only be granted on the basis of confirmed employment with a specific employer. Unless the EP holder finds employment with a new company, the work pass is immediately cancelled and the EP holder has to leave Singapore the moment the employment ends or the EP holder leaves. A new EP application is needed when the holder needs to move to a new job with a different company or employer. PEP is granted on the strength of an applicants individual merits and does not tie the holder to any employer, thus, a PEP holder is allowed to remain in Singapore for up to six months in between jobs to evaluate new employment opportunities.
The following requirements are needed in order to be eligible to apply for the PEP:
* Must have a minimum monthly fixed salary of S$7,000 and the last drawn salary is not more than than 6 months at the time of application
* A former P1 category Employment Pass holder who resides overseas and is not unemployed for more than a continuous period of six months at the time of application.
* A current P1 category Employment Pass holder.
* A current P2 category Employment Pass holder with at least two years of working experience in a P category of Employment Pass and earns an annual income of at least S$30,000.
* A foreign graduate from institutions of higher learning in Singapore that has at least two years of working experience on a P or Q1 category Employment Pass (please take note that your annual income should be a minimum of S$30,000).
PEP pass holders cannot start their own company in Singapore. However, they are allowed to hold a minority Shareholding in the company including acting as one of the Directors.
Having a PEP affords job flexibility. They can be employed with any sector. In case they change jobs, PEP holders do not need to re-apply for a new pass.
PEP holders are also given the flexibility of a continuous period of up to six months without a job to evaluate employment or work opportunities. However, at this time, such PEP holders cannot leave the country.
Foreign professionals who are eligible for PEP are the following:
* Overseas foreign professional with at least S$7,000 monthly salary overseas. The last monthly salary overseas should be drawn not more than six months from the time of the application
* Former P1 Pass holders who are presently overseas residents
* Former P1 Pass holders should not be unemployed for a continuous period not longer than six months at the time of application.
* P1 Pass holders. Upon application, P1 Pass holders will be accorded In-principle Approval for the PEP
* P2 Pass holders. P2 Pass holders must have at least two years of working experience under a P Pass. A fixed salary of at least S$30,000 should be earned by them in the preceding year.
* Q1 Pass holders. Q1 Pass holders must have at least five years of working experience under a Q1 pass. They should earn a fixed salary of at least S$30,000 in the preceding year.
* Foreign graduates from tertiary academic institutions in Singapore. Foreign graduates from tertiary academic institutions in Singapore with at least two years of work experience on a P or Q1 Pass. They should earn a fixed salary of at least S$30,000 in the preceding year.
Folks with less than sterling credit, and many with good credit, are finding it hard to get an unsecured loan, especially from traditional lenders such as brick and mortar banks and credit unions. Those with poor credit will find that getting approval for a personal loan from a non-bank lender is far greater than getting one from a traditional lender
Also, traditional lenders are operating under a self-imposed credit crunch and have tightened their underwriting criteria, reduced loan amounts, and limited new lending. Most will not even consider a loan application that does not show a sterling credit history. But, that is why non-bank lenders exist and they can offer a wide array of lending programs with no credit check and for amounts up to $10,000. These loans require no collateral and qualifications are relatively easy to meet.
Employment Tenure and Salary
Most any lender, whether traditional or non-bank, needs to establish some minimal guidelines to increase the possibility of repayment. Usually that begins with having a steady job with an income that shows a good debt-to-income ratio. Lenders like to see at least 90 days on the job with the same company. Some may require six months. Anyway, the longer you have been employed at one place, the better. Lenders consider steady employment to be a sign of stability.
Direct Deposit Bank Account
To be seriously considered for a personal loan from a non-bank lender you should have a valid direct-deposit bank account. A checking account would furnish you with the minimum requirement. However, if you also had a savings or money market account, your credibility would be greatly increased in the eyes of the lender. Usually a lender likes to see three months worth of bank statements to approve your loan. Hopefully it will be pretty clear of serious red marks such as NSF checks, excessive overdrafts, and similar bad marks.
Who Are You and Where Do You Live?
Many non-bank lenders operate online. You may never even see each other in the process of application. Many of them can check your credentials using online resources. But if they cannot, they will ask you to fax or send a scan of a bona fide picture ID. They may also require a utility bill as proof of residence. Some lenders may require other documents. Usually, the greater the amount you have requested, the more documentation you may be asked to supply.
Shopping for the Best Lender
Your credit score, your income, your residency all play a role in the approval process and will influence your approval. Understand that some lenders will approve your application while another may reject it. Do not be discouraged. Sometimes a lender just might be in a bad mood. They all have different policies and different approval thresholds.
Anyhow, make multiple applications and you will get multiple approvals, thus allowing you to choose the best rates and terms. The internet has made it extremely facile to apply and get approved for a loan without spending too much time or energy. Approval is quick and you can usually have money in your account within 24 hours.