FAQs for PMG

PMG provides labor solutions to American manufacturers. That’s what we do in a nutshell and we take the “solution” part of that equation seriously. As a result, all of us here end up asking a lot of questions to make sure we find the right way to solve the real problem. During that process, people outside of PMG ask a fair amount of questions too. This blog provides answers to the questions people ask PMG employees the most.

What is the difference between a 1099 and a W4 employee?

That’s a fantastic question! We often emphasize that our technicians are W4 employees and not 1099 contractors, but what does that actually mean?

The two terms refer to different IRS tax forms that are required to be completed for different “types” of workers that a company might pay over the course of a year. Essentially, 1099 forms are completed for independent contractors and W4 forms are completed for direct-hire, “full-time” employees. You can learn more about which type of employee is better for your company, from a tax standpoint, in this Fundera article. But why would someone pursue one form of employment over the other as a technician?

The Pros of W4 Employment

• Consistency – You only need to show up for your assigned shift and perform the duties of your task. You don’t have to prospect new clients, sign new contracts, or source more materials to make sure you have a full work shift available to you the next day.
• Taxes – Employers pay half of Medicare and Social Security costs for an employee as well as covering liability for workers’ comp. This means direct-hire employees save substantially on out-of-pocket tax expenditures when compared to contractors.
• Benefits – Employer sponsored (and often funded) benefits such as insurance and retirement can also represent substantial savings, or increased overall compensation, for full-time employees when compared to freelancers.

The Pros of 1099 Employment

• Flexibility – 1099 contractors get to work for themselves and thus determine when, where, and how much they work each day. They also get to determine the focus and growth of their business.
• Balance – That increased flexibility of work and schedule allows contractors to have more control over their work/life balance. Contractors don’t have to worry about getting time off or late arrival requests approved when they’re the ones who approve them.
• Independence – Contractors have no career limits. They don’t have to wait for their manager to approve new training or their supervisor to promote them into a position with more responsibility. The 1099 contractor is completely in control of how far, and how fast, their career/business grows.

Additional Resources

If you’d like to learn more about the W-4 form, check out this post on the Who, What, Why Where, and How of the New W-4. If this answered your questions, you can always get other answers from us too. Just send your questions to our Writing Team and keep an eye out for future FAQ’s!

 

Josh Erickson, ReTool Public Relations & Engagement Specialist

Teach don’t touch for poison prevention!

 

As founder of the Pittsburgh Poison Center and the National Poison Center Network, Dr. Moriarty created Mr. Yuk stickers for parents in the 70’s and 80’s to protect kids from poisons in the home.

Dr. Moriarty felt that the traditional skull and crossbones representing poison were no longer appropriate for children.  The stickers were meant for people to slap on dangerous household products and if it scared you off as kid, that sticker did what it was meant to do.

Child Poisoning Facts

1. Across the United States, around 800,000 kids are rushed to the emergency room each year because of accidental poisoning. Of these, around 30 children will die, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
2. Around 70% of non-fatal poisonings involve children ages 1 to 2.
3. Overall, around 24 million people call poison control centers every year. Although most of these accidental poisonings do not turn out to be serious, it illustrates just how common accidental poisonings involving kids actually are.

Even if we don’t see his green face, we need to be sure to teach kids to stay away from chemicals and take time this week to talk about the Poison Help Hotline.

Tips to Prevent Poisonings

Buy products that children can’t open easily. Be aware that child-resistant caps are not risk free. Once a child learns how to open containers with these caps, they will not keep a child safe. A child will only take longer to open them.

Keep medicines, cleaners, and other poisons out of sight. Keep them in cabinets that are locked or in cabinets that children can’t open.

Be careful when using medicines, cleaners, and other poisons. Don’t leave them open when you answer the phone or doorbell. Replace the cap. Take the product with you. Poisonings can happen in just a few seconds.

Always keep products in the containers they came in.

Install carbon monoxide (CO) alarms in your home.

Never take medicine in the dark.

Be careful when taking more than one medicine. Read the labels to avoid an overdose. When taking more than one medicine at a time, make sure it’s safe to take them together.

Brenda Lovitz, Risk & Safety Manager

PMG believes that those who eat better work better. This blog is our effort to improve the American workforce one lunchbox at a time. We want you to feed yourself with something that fuels you better and we have tips, tricks, and recipes to make that possible! If you missed our last lunchbox hack, check it out on our blog page now.

Recipe

March is the month of many things, but among those things are Read Across America Day and St. Patrick’s Day. We think you should celebrate both together by preparing this easy Green Eggs & Spam recipe for lunch on March 17. We know you’ll be surprised at ‘all the places you will go’ after break time when you’re so well fueled!

Tip

If you’re not familiar with Minnesota’s very own canned pork product, SPAM®, learn more by reading our latest How It’s Made blog now. Then, check out these tips for cooking with SPAM® before you ever open a can. Even if you are experienced with the tasty subtleties of SPAM®, take a pro-tip from a lifelong Minnesotan (me) and always remember that the fryer is your (and your taste-buds’) friend!

Trick

For the campfire cooks among us, you will be thrilled to learn that SPAM® isn’t just easy to pack for the backcountry. It can actually be cooked in the can to save on cleanup too! Warning: If you’re not familiar with the properties of pressure cooking, read this article on how NOT to cook SPAM® in the can BEFORE attempting. Then, properly vent your can and enjoy a tasty, effortless meal for your next camping trip!

Josh Erickson, ReTool & Technical Solutions Associate

PMG Employee Spotlight with Emily B.

Emily has a B.A. in Operations & Supply Chain Management from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. She’s been with PMG for almost 4 years as an Operations Analyst with our ReTool Team.

About Emily 

I grew up in Minnesota and I’ve lived here my whole life. I currently live in Minneapolis with my two cats. No, I’m not a crazy cat lady – yet. I graduated from the University of St. Thomas in 2019 so I’m a pretty recent grad.

What do you like most about working for PMG?

What I like most about PMG is the work environment. I’m great friends with several of my coworkers, which is rare at some workplaces. Another part I like about the environment is everyone is very driven! We celebrate the victories and work hard to achieve them.

What are your main responsibilities as a ReTool Operations Analyst?

I help with research to grow the business by collecting data and analyzing it to determine what is worthwhile, or not, for PMG to pursue. From working with different technical schools around the country to researching new avenues for PMG to explore, it’s all over the place.

What do you like most about your job?

I like that it’s different each day and it’s very challenging. It requires me to think critically and outside of the box.

What did you do prior to working at PMG?

I mainly worked in the restaurant industry serving and selling pull tabs! I started at PMG when I was still in school as a Market Insights intern in 2017. Since then, I’ve helped out in other areas such as recruiting and lead generation before moving into my current position full-time after graduation.

What are some career lessons you’ve learned thus far?

One career lesson I’ve learned is to not be afraid to ask questions! Even if you think it’s a dumb question, it’s better to know what you’re doing versus guessing. You can learn a ton from simply asking questions.

What advice would you give to a recent new hire at PMG?

Going off the question above I would say the same. All of your coworkers have different strengths and experiences so you can learn a lot from them.

What did you want to be when growing up?

I was all over the place, but when I registered for college, I registered as a neuroscience major. After my first chemistry class, my major quickly changed to business!

What animal best describes you at work?

I would say a giraffe. When I’m able, I like to “stick my neck out” and see where I can reach out and help with other departments.  We’re all one big team after all!

What are some hobbies you do in your free time?

I enjoy working out, traveling, and hitting up new restaurants. I also love attending music festivals and concerts. I recently just got back from skiing in Breckenridge!

Where is the best place you’ve traveled and why?

I really liked Prague. I thought the architecture was beautiful and the food was amazing. I went in the winter when all the winter markets were open. I also went to an underground cave turned wine bar and the bar was made of out ice. Even my cup was made of ice.

What celebrity/inspirational person do you admire the most?

Robin Williams! He was a great actor and comedian who had genuinely good intentions.

What’s your favorite restaurant and your must-order there?

Hmmm, that’s a really tough one. I would have to say Mongo’s. It is a Mongolian restaurant in St. Cloud where you build your own stir fry.

You’re happiest when…

Traveling! I love Minnesota but being by the ocean, or in the mountains, is a breath of fresh air – literally.

 

February is American Heart Month and February 14^th is Valentines Day. It seems all things heart-related happen this month. In recognition, we’re spotlighting the pacemaker, a small medical device that controls the pace of a beating heart and movement of blood throughout the body.

Before we get into the making of the pacemaker, let’s talk quickly about the way a pacemaker works and the components that help it do its job. Although pacemakers are widely believed to regulate your heart, they actually regulate your electrical system and your electrical system ultimately controls your heart rhythm. With each heartbeat, an electrical impulse travel from the top of your heart to the bottom of your heart, triggering the contraction of your muscles and creating your pulse.

Pacemakers are implanted into your chest, abdomen, or shoulder. When doing so, surgeons connect the pacemaker via wires inside your veins. The wires often have electrodes. These electrodes are either inside your heart’s chambers or placed directly on the surface of your heart. Some hearts require a two-wire pacemaker while others require a one-wire pacemaker. What’s a wire, though?

Pacemakers consist of two main parts: the pulse generator and the wire or wires (lead or leads).

Additionally, most pacemakers also have an electrode at the end of the wires. The pulse generator does just that – generates a pulse/electrical signal through the use of a connector, electronic circuitry, and a battery. Wires or leads send these electronic signals to your heart.

 

How to make a pacemaker?

Simply put, manufactures assemble pacemakers with their preferred component pieces. The steps below outline the assembly process:

1. Gather components: battery, wires, motherboard (circuitry), electrodes, and titanium casing
2. Connect the motherboard to the battery
3. Insert the connected motherboard and battery into titanium casing
4. Place a fitting onto the casing to create a connecting point for the wires
5. Inspect, inspect, inspect – before, during, and after
6. Perform electronic and environment testing – before, during, and after

 

That’s it! For such an amazing piece of equipment, it all seems rather simple, doesn’t it? However, it’s not. Pacemakers (and medical devices as a whole) and their individual components are highly-regulated and repeatedly tested. They must meet a variety of standards. Let’s be glad, considering the all-important job a pacemaker has! And if you can, practice the following Heart Healthy Tips & Tricks!

Happy American Heart Month!

Kim Mooney, Technical Manager & Coach

Dave is a Senior Technical Solutions Coordinator and has been with PMG for more than 5 years. He is also the Commissioner of our annual PMG Fantasy Football League and the organizer of our (pre-COVID) weekly trivia contests!

About Dave R…

I was born in Illinois, and raised in Minnesota, so I am a Midwestern boy at heart.  I was a teacher for much of my life before coming to PMG. I am still an avid history nerd.  I enjoy outdoor athletics of all kinds, but love going to movies in a theater.  I am married, for almost 4 years, with our first child on the way now. I could not be happier to see what 2021 will bring us!

What do you like most about working for PMG?

PMG is a smaller company but we do big things every year.  We work as a team, top to bottom, and everyone buys into the process.  It’s nice to work with people who are great at their jobs, and share the same passion as I do.

What are your main responsibilities as a Senior Technical Solutions Coordinator?

As a Technical Solutions Coordinator, I am responsible for finding new, qualified technicians to work projects for our company.  On a daily basis I am responsible for interviewing candidates, sourcing job search engines, contacting references, working through logistics/travel items, and other assorted communications, meetings, and paperwork.

What do you like most about your job?

Every day I work for a company whose goal is to find quality jobs for people looking to travel (and to find quality people for those jobs).  In a sense I ‘sell’ people jobs and I stand behind the positions we offer.

What did you do prior to working at PMG?

I taught middle school/high school social studies for years. I originally took a part-time job here for a summer and that ended up turning into a full-time opportunity. Almost six years later now and I’ve enjoyed all of it.

What advice would you give to a recent new hire at PMG?

Listen, take notes, and don’t be afraid to do outside research.  Much of our work is based on knowing the positions we offer, inside and out, so industry knowledge is highly important!

What are some career lessons you’ve learned thus far?

I’ve learned that there is definitely more than one way to get something accomplished. Also, you need to listen and take advice as it is given.  Working as a team makes it a lot easier to think as a team, and that is where we find success.

What did you want to be when growing up?

I wanted to be a paleontologist.  I loved dinosaurs growing up, but actually went to school for engineering originally.

What animal best describes you at work?

A moose.  I am a Northern creature. I am stout and steady. And, when I’m on a roll, it’s a good idea to get out of my way!

What are some hobbies you do in your free time?

I am an AVID sports fan! I like to read (usually history), love live music, and I like to cook too.  You will often find me at various beer festivals occasionally as well.

Where is the best place you’ve traveled and why?

For me (and my wife) it’s Kona, Hawaii, also known as ‘The Big Island’. It’s our favorite place on Earth, and we have traveled a LOT together.

What celebrity/inspirational person do you admire the most?

Nelson Mandela.  He was imprisoned for 27 years due to apartheid in South Africa and, when he was released and then elected President, he ONLY spoke of healing and unity rather than revenge and bitterness.  I don’t know if I could do that, but he did and the world is a better place for it.

You’re happiest when…

I am laughing with my wife.  She and I are expecting out first child this spring, so any time we get together is literally the happiest moments of my life.

What’s your favorite restaurant and your must-order there?

I love good Mexican food but, since moving back to Minnesota from Arizona eight years ago, I have not found a good (great?) spot yet!  So, I stick to local foods. My personal favorite is the 5-8 Club.  They are the home to the ORIGINAL Juicy Lucy (a cheeseburger with the cheese stuffed inside and melted). But I say what you MUST get is actually their Poppa’s-style wings with blue cheese.  If you don’t like it, it’s on me!