The ThinkWare offices will be closed on Thursday, December 24, Friday, December 25 and Friday, January 1 for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. Pager support will be available from 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM EST. We hope you enjoy a safe and happy Holiday season!

ThinkWare's office will be closed on Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27 in observance of the Thanksgiving holdiay. Thank you!

Year End Workshop - Remote Class

This year, in addition to conducting the Year End Workshop in Cincinnati, we decided to provide a remote Year End Workshop class (actually, we scheduled two of them).

The first remote program was held last week (November 9 - 13).  

Here are several key elements from that program:

• Our clients who responded to the evaluation noted that the remote classroom environment worked well for them
• Their ratings of the trainers competence were high
• We learned to advise clients to send different staff to different sessions (if different individuals at their company are handling different elements of closing out the year)
• One suggestion is to continue to improve our ability to foster more communications from the participants in these remote sessions.  
• We may add daily testing in the future to ramp up the level of “positive learning anxiety” 
• The advance remote connection testing and advance communications allowed for a smooth start and for minimal technical issues

     

     As a result of this positive experience, we expect to provide more remote training for our clients in 2016.  Key advantages for our clients for doing so can include:

•      increased efficiency due to having more learning opportunities
•      decreased skill development costs due to elimination of travel costs
•      less time needed for developing skill due to elimination of travel time

Darwin 12.20 is now available. Documentation is available on the ThinkWare website.

1094C and 1095C ACA reporting available in Darwin 10.60 The recording for the 1094C/1095C webinar is available to view on the Thinkware website in the client area. Go to Products/Darwin/Videos. The webinar is available there to view.

ThinkWare will be closed on Thursday and Friday November 26th and 27th in observance of Thanksgiving

SSA offers AccuWage for Electronic W-2 Filers. The AccuWage 2015 software program is now available for downloading from the SSA website at www.ssa.gov/employer/accuwage/index.html

Reminder: Daylight saving time ends November 1

The IRS has released final forms and instructions for tax year 2015 Information reporting under the ACA. Instructions are available for review at www.americanpayroll.org/members/forms-pubs/forms-pubs-info/

For those of you who have registered for the Year End Workshop in Cincinnati (November 19th & 20^th) or who are considering attending, we have arranged with Marriott for pricing of $86 / night and double Marriott points.

This TownPlace Suites hotel is across the street from the training center ( the Arden Centre 4675 Cornell Road Suite 175 Blue Ash Ohio 45241).

Here are the details:

• $86 / night for studio suite (1 queen size bed)
• Double Marriott points
• Across street from Arden Centre (about 300 yards)
• Complimentary continental breakfast
• Complimentary Internet access
• Cardio fitness center
• Outdoor pool
• Marriott contact:  Abby Beckett 513-469-8222
• ThinkWare contact:  Robert Gepfert 513-598-3300

Our best to you,

Robert Gepfert

Leader: Skill Development

ThinkWare Inc.

ThinkWare – 2015 Hands On Year-End Workshop

As we have done in the past, we are again offering a workshop focused on the processes and functions necessary for a successful 2015 year-end closing and for a smooth transition to the new 2016 year.  

This workshop will cover:

·       Employee Reconcile

·       Updating rates and/or limits for 2016 for

o   Workers Comp

o   SUTA

o   Medical Insurance

o   401(k)

·       How to close AR/AP and GL modules

·       W2 and 1099 reporting

·       1094/95 ACA reporting

There are 3 Learning Options:

Option A	Option B
·  Attend in person at session in Cincinnati, Ohio ·  November 19 & 20 ·  9  to 5 Thursday and 9 to 1 on Friday ·  $590 per attendee ·  Lodging averages $100 - $120 / night (one hotel is right across the street ·  Lunch provided ·  Airports: CVG (29 miles) or DAY (54 miles) ·  Transportation from CVG is $35 - $75 (UberX, shuttle, or taxi) ·   Pre-requisite in place for this program*	·   Attend remote classroom program ·   Total of four sessions:   week of 11/9   OR Week of  12/7 ·   Classes on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday ·   Length: 2 – 3 hour afternoon sessions (EST) ·   $490 per attendee ·   Program limited to six attendees ·   Pre-requisite in place for this program* ·   Recommended that you have 2 monitors and 2 computers for this remote class

* Prerequisites include:

·       At least two years of experience with use of Darwin software (if you are new Darwin user you can schedule phone trainings in advance that will cover the basics to get you prepared for this training)

For questions, more information and to register email Robert Gepfert: rgepfert@thinkwareinc.com

Product Update

Employee On-Boarding Released

 

ThinkWare announces the release of the new Employee On-Boarding module for DarwiNet.  This is a complete re-write of the existing On-Boarding.  Here are a few highlights of the new system:

 

§ Customizable profiles for gathering necessary information and determining what steps the employee and client perform

§ Clients and Employees can have separate tasks

§ Finalize step for Employee and Client to ensure all necessary information is collected

§ Electronic signature for forms

§ Unlimited profiles per company and client

§ Flexible setup options for what information is required and what is optional

§ Forms can be uploaded and maintained

§ Forms can be customized with additional information entered by the employee and/or client

§ Standard forms are maintained (i.e. W-4; I9)

§ State tax forms are provided

§ Notification system for employees, managers, and the PEO/ASO

§ “Client” On-Boarding – import employees from spreadsheet to initiate the process

§ Client Dashboard showing the progress of each employee in the on-boarding process

§ Help functionality to allow employee to contact the PEO/ASO for assistance

§ Completely integrated with Darwin and DarwiNet

 

IMPORTANT RELEASE INFORMATION – PLEASE READ

 

Since the new Employee On-Boarding system is completely re-written, there are important items to consider prior to upgrading from the existing On Boarding within DarwiNet:

§  You must be on Darwin 12.15 or later to use the new On-Boarding system.

§  There is NO conversion path from existing On Boarding.  The data structure and program are completely different so there is no upgrade path from your existing On-Boarding Profiles and Forms/Documents.  These will need to be setup in the new On-Boarding.

§  All employees in the current On-Boarding process must finalize prior to upgrading or the information will be lost.

§  If you are hosting your DarwiNet/On-Boarding, you will need to make sure you are on .Net 4.5.1; Windows Server 2008; and SQL Server 2008 (we recommend SQL Server 2012 since the year end release of DarwiNet will require SQL 2012).

 

NEXT STEPS/UPGRADE PREPARATION

 

Here are steps you can follow:

§  If you are a current On-Boarding client and want to schedule your upgrade, please contact Client Services at support@thinkwareinc.com.

§  Prior to upgrading it is highly recommended that you print out the setup of your existing Profiles (Support can help with this) so you can have them to setup the Profiles in the new On-Boarding.

§  You will need to re-map any forms and documents you have in your current On-Boarding.

§  If you do NOT currently have On-Boarding and are interested in more information, contactsales@thinkwareinc.com for a demo and information.

 

 

THINKWARE CONSULTING/TRAINING

 

ThinkWare is offering Consulting and Training services with On-Boarding to assist in the setup and use of the new system.  These include:

 

-          Profile Setup

-          Document Setup and Mapping

-          Training for PEO/ASO Staff

-          End User Training for your Clients

-          On Boarding Consulting – Best Practices

 

If you are interested in any of these services, please contact support@thinkwareinc.com.

California DLSE issues Opinion Letter on Paid Sick Leave Requirements. See PayState Update Volume 17 issue #17

The IRS will retire the legacy employment tax (94x family of forms) processing system (EMS –electronic management system) in December 2015. November 30, 2015 will be the last day any employment tax forms will be accepted.

It's time for the NAPEO Annual Conference! Please stop by and see us at The Marketplace on Thursday 9/10/15 from 5:30pm – 7:30pm or Friday 9/11/15 from 12pm -2:30pm or 6:00pm – 8:00pm.

Upcoming Knowledge and Skill Development Programs

This fall, several knowledge development webinars will be held.  The topics include:

·        Darwin 12.20

·        DarwiNet 12.20 – an interface that is faster to use, improved onboarding process

·        Plan Maintenance – simplification in managing your plans

·        Affordability Care Act – process for accounting for this program

These programs will be offered in October and November

In November and December, a program to help you and your staff develop skill for closing out your year-end will be held in Cincinnati.  This 2 day training program will encompass:

·       Creating New Year Plan Maintenance and 401(k) Plans

·       Updating tax rates for new year

·       Employee Reconciliation

·       When to use Manual Checks

·       When and how to close AR, AP and GL modules

·       W2 and 1099 Processing

·       Affordability Care Act

Dates, costs, and other details will be emailed to our clients when they are finalized.

ThinkWare offices will be closed on Monday, September 7, in observance of the Labor Day holiday.

Round 4 tax update released for Darwin 10 and Darwin 12. Check your inbox for your release notification email with details.

Effective 1/1/16 Employers with 10 or more employees are required to file unemployment insurance wage reports electronically. Nevada recently signed a bill (Assembly Bill 389) allowing PEO clients to claim exemptions offered under the state’s Modified Business Tax (MBT) by mandating that PEOs doing business in the state report SUTA at the client level.

ThinkWare will be closed on Friday July 3rd in observance of the 4th of July Holiday. Thank you!

Our next Darwin 12 webinar is scheduled for Wednesday June 17th from 3-4pm EST. Register at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2300886777224262658

June 1, 2015        Release of ThinkHire Application

Justin Elam of ThinkWare announced today that the ThinkHire applicant tracking and recruiting application has been released.  It is available for ThinkWare client's as of this date - June 1, 2015.

This application simplifies the process for finding and pre-screening candidates. Through the application, employers use video and audio to conduct real-time virtual interviews. This tool also helps employers manage the onboarding process more readily.

In 2014, a team at ThinkWare spent time researching tools to help ThinkWare clients speed up the hiring and onboarding process.  After evaluating several options, the team chose to integrate the software from one of the leading applicant tracking software applications in the country - GetHired.  

At the annual conference in late April, an announcement was made that the ThinkWare team was aiming for availability in early June.  Though it was an aggressive target to meet, the programming team put a consistent daily focus on this project. Justin and his team invested hours of programming time to integrate this application into Thinkware's software.  As a result, our customers have this new product available on the first release date of record. 

The latest release of Darwin 12(Darwin 12.11.007) is available! Check your email for documentation and instructions.

PEOs that choose to be certified (CPEOs) will have clear statutory authority to collect and remit federal employment taxes under the CPEO’s EIN for wages the CPEO pays to worksite employees. CPEO customers will never be liable for those taxes.

Did you know: The Period of limitations to correct the employer’s HIRE Act social security tax exemption and advance earned income credit (EIC) payments expired on April 15, 2014 for most employers. The IRS is required to create a voluntary certification program for PEOs under the Small Business Efficiency Act (SBEA.)

• Thank you to all the clients that were able to attend our annual conference this year. We hope you learned a lot and enjoyed yourselves. We enjoyed having you here!

IMPROVE YOUR ABILITY TO ADAPT TO CHANGE

In the opening session on Thursday at next week's Thinkware annual conference, we will be focusing on helping each of us improve our ability to manage and initiate changes in our lives and in our work.  We will:

• Look at the emotional components of moving through change
• Consider actions to take to speed up our ability to manage change
• Delve into key considerations when you are the person initiating a significant change

Most individuals understand that adapting to change is a core skill in today's society.  With the increase in divorces, layoffs, living conditions, financial matters, and other key drivers of changes in a person's life, improving our ability can be key to our thriving and surviving.

We'll see you there!

The Small Business Efficiency Act makes the following changes to the Internal Revenue Code: PEOs Recognized Under Federal Tax Law—PEOs that choose to be certified (CPEOs) will have clear statutory authority to collect and remit federal employment taxes under the CPEO’s EIN for wages the CPEO pays to worksite employees. CPEO customers will never be liable for those taxes.

Have you registered for our 2015 Spring Conference? We will be at The Westin Downtown Cincinnati on April 29, 30 & May 1. Prices go up after March 27, so contact 513-598-3300 ext 102 to sign up today!

Thinkware is selecting members for Advisory Councils in three areas: payroll, benefits/HR, and DarwiNet. This is a great chance to offer your expertise and ideas for future development!!! Send your application to, or if you need an application, contact productmanagement@thinkwareinc.com .

Just announced: The new Social Security limit for 2015 is $118,500.00 The IRS has announced 2015 401K limits – $18000.00 for elective deferral and $6000.00 for Catch-up

The ThinkWare Annual Spring Conference will be held April 29th, 30th and May 1st 2015 at the Westin in Downtown Cincinnti. Please access the Client Area at www.ThinkWareInc.com or contact Judy Mansky at jmansky@thinwkareinc.com for registration information.

Save the Date!

Please Save the Date for ThinkWare's Annual Spring Conference! Dates are April 29, 30 and May 1, 2015. Details will be coming soon!

Creating Custom Screens in DarwinCRM

Microsoft CRM, integrated with the Darwin Business System, allows the end user to easily create screens and fields to extend data gathering.  Any fields an end user may need, whether HR, Payroll, Benefits, etc can be added to the system, extending existing data points.

For example, anything you want to track about an Employee that is not currently being stored can be added in a matter of minutes.  Watch the below video for instructions on how to do this.

http://youtu.be/BSpUHw7SaGc