Are You Taking Advantage of Online Tools?

Written by: Kristy Kwan, Benefits and Retirement Plan Administrator

Now that the internet is accessible everywhere – through wireless connections and smartphones, the transfer of information is instantaneous and accessible, and online web tools or applications are the newest way to help move your business forward. Broadband cards, wireless networks and smartphones make any place an office, whether you’re sitting poolside or waiting in line at the bank.

One industry that has seen influential changes due to this technology is medicine. Patients can now take to the internet to self-diagnose or read about pandemics. Although this may cause hypochondriacs to become alarmed or anxious, other patients are now able to be more educated on the symptoms of their particular illness or side effects of their medications. The average consumer has the ability to become more educated and aware of their health.

According to the California HealthCare Foundation, the number of eHealth consumers (people who search for health information on the internet) has more than doubled since 2002, reaching 148 million American adults in 2008. O’Reilly Media notes that after games and travel applications, medical applications are the fastest-growing category available at the ITunes store. These applications can help patients remember to take pills, view test results, and stick to their diets, to name a few. This technology may facilitate better management of chronic illnesses, as information regarding the routines and practices of daily living are not usually accessible to a patient’s doctor. With online tracking programs such as diet diaries, daily blood pressure or glucose monitoring, doctors have a much more comprehensive picture of a patient’s medical history.

Online web tools are also being developed for nearly every aspect of managing a business. For example, employers can send their managers and employees for online training on everything from management skills to health safety to sexual harassment. Being able to participate in training from the comfort of the office saves the time and expense it would cost to attend an off-site seminar, especially since some of these trainings are required by law. Reporting of payroll, too, can be done entirely online. Instead of filling out paperwork, then faxing it in, hours and deductions for employees can be keyed online and instantly submitted. Employers can submit hours from anywhere they have a wireless connection, making it easier to manage their business without being tied to the office.

Employees can benefit from online web tools that allow them to update their contact information, change direct deposits, print pay stubs and W2s, and access benefit paperwork and information, among other things. Everything they need is at their fingertips – instead of wasting time on the phone or asking the office manager, they can simply log in and print out or update anything they need, via a secure, password-protected and encrypted system. Gone is the frustration of W2s or pay stubs being misplaced, when a new one is just a few clicks away.

If your office is not currently taking advantage of the online tools that are offered, consider taking a moment to see what is available, and how it can help your business run more efficiently and effectively. MMC, Inc. has just unveiled new programs for online payroll entry, and we have always had online employee programs and online training. If you are an MMC Client and you would like to see what MMC offers, please feel free to call our representatives at (800) 899-6624.

Not a current client? No worries. Get a free consultation quote by calling us: (888) 866-2476 or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Go back to MMC February 10 HR E-Newsletter

MMC HR E-Newsletter Archive

MMC Human Resources Tips