‘Show up pay’: an overlooked compensation at work
Q: I WORK as an on-call employee for a healthcare facility. My employer often calls me to report for duty but when I arrive to work, my assignment is cancelled…
Category: Business
Covering the week’s most noteworthy business news impacting the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
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The debt trap: Too busy making a living that you don’t have a life?
THIS week, the truth of this statement struck a chord with a prospective client who came to me for debt help. Keep reading as this may be the most important…
Landlords seek chapter 13 relief
TWO different clients both landlords because they both own rental properties came to see me last week with different problems. The conventional wisdom why people buy rental properties has two…
Fil-Am labor leader Larry Itliong: An inspiration in the fight for lawful wages
ON June 30, 2015, the California Governor signed into law designating October 25 every year from hereon as Larry Itliong Day. Who is Larry Itliong and why does he matter?…
12 tips in submitting offers in compromise (OIC) to the IRS
AN offer in compromise (OIC) allows you to settle assessments for tax, penalties, and interests at less than the assessed amounts. You can apply for an OIC if there is…
When credit card debt leads to financial stress
CREDIT cards can be convenient and handy especially in times of financial emergencies but when the accumulated debt gets out of control, it can lead to long-term financial stress. Some…
Be prepared for dental emergencies
INJURIES always seem to happen when we least expect them. Picture yourself at an outdoor gathering, having fun, when suddenly a crying child runs up to you, knocked-out tooth in…
Client files chapter 13 to stop garnishment of social security
Abandoned wife files chapter 7 to discharge collection lawsuits for $20K Client no. 1 IS it even legally possible that your social security benefits can be garnished? If creditors can get…
Racial and sexual harassment lead to wrongful termination of employee
IT is illegal to harass a worker because of that person’s race or sex. Racial harassment may be verbal or physical conduct targeting the worker’s race, skin color, or national…
10 excuses to abate penalties for late filing or paying taxes
IF you fail to file on time or pay on time, penalties kick in. Here are 10 reasonable causes to abate (forgive) penalties for late filing or late paying: 1….
5 questions to ask yourself if you’re considering bankruptcy
ARE you being harassed by your creditors day and night due to unpaid bills? If you are, you know that this is a pretty unpleasant experience. You may feel scared,…
Business owners seek bankruptcy relief
“ You owe it to yourself and your family to put yourself in firm financial footing now for future prosperity by getting rid of accumulated debt now.” Client 1: Garment…
Are you paid lower wages because of your gender?
Q: I AM a single mom and I have worked for this company for several years. Recently, while talking with another newly hired male co-worker whose responsibilities are similar to…
10 tips for tax deadline jitters
IF you have not filed your income tax returns by the end of March, chances are you do not expect a refund, your tax records are a mess, or you…
Don’t let your debt problems drain your family’s savings
I HEAR this all the time. People who are in debt are barely making it by living paycheck to paycheck so how can they even think about saving for the…
Your regularly scheduled visits are about more than clean teeth
HAVE you ever wondered why it’s so important to see us every six months? From oral health maintenance to serious disease prevention, there are a lot of reasons to keep your semi-annual visits…
10 car care tips to save gas
Don’t top off. Don’t bother topping off when filling your car’s gas tank. Any additional gas is just going to slop around or seep out. Why waste your money paying…
First-ever NYX Cosmetics retail store opens in Southern California
SANTA ANITA—Makeup lovers rejoice: NYX Cosmetics opened its first-ever flagship retail store at the Westfield Santa Anita on Friday, Oct. 2. The vibrantly designed and high-tech store features over 2,000…
Who should seek bankruptcy relief
SOMETIMES debtors cannot decide whether they should seek debt relief through Chapter 7 wipe out of all dischargeable debts or personal reorganization through Chapter 13, or business reorganization though Chapter…
How far should disabled employees be accommodated at work?
Granting medical leave may not be enough LAURALYN Swanson is a highly accomplished elementary school teacher with over 30 years’ experience teaching kindergarten through sixth grade. She has a master’s…
IRS expands audits to prior year and subsequent years
THE Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA, an agency that oversees the IRS) instructed the IRS to expand audits to prior and subsequent years. This means that if IRS…
To people who are considering bankruptcy but are unsure
IF you are struggling with debt problems and are starting to feel hopeless about your situation because you are not getting anywhere in spite of your efforts, at what point…
Client seeks Chapter 20 relief to avoid lien
Senior protects house from $100K judgment lien with Chapter 7 Chapter 20 NEVER heard of Chapter 20? That’s because in the Central District of California, most courts don’t allow Chapter…
Is driving part of your job? You may be entitled to back wages!
Q: AS a mobile technician, I travel to patients to obtain laboratory specimens. I drive the company vehicle, which I garage at my home, to do my job. I cannot…
12 tips to keep a current installment agreement with the IRS
1. MAIL your payments to be received on time. The monthly due date is the date of receipt at the IRS Service Center, not the date of mailing. 2. Use…
Procrastination can be your greatest enemy when facing debt problems
ARE you facing insurmountable debt problems? Are creditors threatening you with lawsuits, judgments or a wage garnishment? Are you afraid of losing what little you have and wonder how you…
When the engine warning light is lit, get it checked immediately
OF the nearly four dozen concerns that can cause a car’s Check Engine light to illuminate, none is so small it can reasonably be ignored. There are more than 40…
Chapter 11 business re-organization
Signs of a company headed toward failure and important ways to fix the problems SOMETIMES companies get into financial trouble. They have leadership issues, they have failures by suppliers, and they…
Are you correctly reimbursed by your employer for business expenses?
Q: I TRAVEL several times a month as part of my job duties using my own car. I also make several business-related calls on my personal cell phone. My work…
IRS announces ‘fresh start’ initiative for payment plans
(Part 2 of 2) THE Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced a major expansion of its “Fresh Start” initiative to help struggling taxpayers by providing: • Offer in Compromise (OIC) –…