THRIVE, a Paychex Business Podcast

As Congress continues its staring contest over how to open the federal government, impacts of the shutdown are starting to threaten more than just furloughed employees or the individuals being fired. Tax credits that help small businesses and regulations required to know how to stay compliant with laws are thrown into the murky water. Meanwhile, businesses trying to hire for the holiday season have plenty of applicants to pick from...

On this week's episode of the Paychex THRIVE Week in Review, host Gene Marks dives into the ongoing government shutdown and its profound impact on small businesses, strategies to conserve cash during these turbulent times, and Google’s latest initiatives to help small businesses leverage AI in a rapidly digitalizing economy. Plus, a deep dive into how tariffs are challenging yet reshaping industries for the better.

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The economy has its cheerleaders and detractors, but one thing that is keeping it propped up is the small businesses of America. The Paychex Small Business Employment Watch shows that despite the hourly earnings growth coming in below 3% for 11 straight months, it has stayed consistent at about 2.7%. This is based on real payroll numbers, and with government job numbers not based on that – and missing last week because of the shutd...

In this episode of THRIVE, Gene Marks sits down with Jason Rose, Senior Vice President of Digital Sales and Marketing at Paychex, to unpack what really drives marketing success. From his unlikely start as a CPA to leading marketing at publicly traded companies, Jason shares insights on building brands that turn customers into evangelists. Discover why “ruthless consistency” beats flashy campaigns, how AI-powered search is improving...

The economy looks to have taken a turn in the right direction with Gross Domestic Product showing growth in the second quarter, while consumer spending also increased again. Gene Marks says this is a positive step, but he also warns businesses about relying on statistics that keep getting revised. And speaking of reliability, a major bank reported that nearly one-quarter of businesses are in survival mode and the U.S. Chamber of Co...

A provision in the new tax law offers employees no tax on tips, so Gene Marks level sets what guidance has been provided — proposed job eligibility, the deduction limit, what taxes still must be deducted — and points to other information employers and employees will require. Gene says that employees need to be aware this is a deduction to be taken at tax filing time, that employers should be aware that state tip credit is not impac...

Think you know what female employees want? Think again! Wharton economist Dr. Corinne Low joins Gene Marks to shatter conventional wisdom with surprising research from her new book Having It All. Dr. Low shares why today’s mothers spend twice as much time with their children as previous generations and how this shift is reshaping workplace needs in unexpected ways. The biggest surprise? Women don’t actually want flexibility — they ...

The Producer Price Index is declining and the Purchasing Price Index has fallen a third time in 2025, all used to determine inflation, yet Gene Marks says the “Big I” isn’t the huge threat everyone thinks it is. He looks at potential interest cuts as a possible result, which might help businesses. Also, a boon or manufacturing businesses is a new SBA loan program with less red tape and an 85% guarantee by the agency. Safety trainin...

The Paychex Small Business Employment Watch reports job numbers remain flat, while national hourly earnings stay below 3% growth for a 10th straight month. Gene Marks points to a continued slow down, citing the paltry 22,000 jobs reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and a national unemployment rate at 4.3%. However, Gene says this creates opportunity for small businesses to snap up top talent. Also, a survey notes that more t...

Is your business secretly driving away top talent? This episode of THRIVE will tell you how to find out. Join host Gene Marks as he sits down with Paychex HR experts Alison Stevens and Michael Majors to chat about Employer IQ — a game-changing diagnostic tool that reveals exactly where your HR practices are helping or hurting your business. Discover the most common blind spots, learn exactly when it’s time to hire your first HR per...

Businesses earned a victory for the second time when an appeals court upheld a ruling that the administration’s tariffs are unconstitutional. However, Gene Marks says that regardless of an appeal, the bag of tricks is endless to keep taxing businesses with tariffs. And this is on top of the de minimis exemption expiring, meaning any imported goods of less than $800 will also face tariffs. Employers also face disengaged and disencha...

As news of tariffs comes and go, one recent study found that a majority of small businesses have had zero exposure to international supply chains and 45% source more than half of their materials from their city or state. Gene Marks also talks about high levels of optimism among these businesses. More good news: Manufacturing expanded at its fastest pace in August since 2022. Tempering that is a projected 10% hike in healthcare cost...

Forget waiting until 65 to enjoy life — what if you could “retire” for a month every single year? In this episode of THRIVE, we dive into the concept of mini-retirement with Jillian Johnsrud, author of Retire Often and host of the Retire Often podcast. Think you can't afford it? Think your business would crumble without you? Jillian breaks down exactly how to make mini-retirement work — whether you're an employee dreaming of advent...

The Producer Price Index, which is an indicator for the rate of inflation, rose to a point that is significantly higher than it has been recently. This means consumers could be seeing higher costs come their way. However, Gene Marks points out that consumers don’t seem deterred. They are spending, and the retail sales uptick bears that out. Small businesses also don’t appear worried, as the latest Small Business Optimism Index jump...

Small businesses are benefitting from the resiliency and a rise in consumer spending, but how much is really the impact of higher prices? Gene Marks shares the latest data in this episode. He also looks at the top 3 reasons why employers are getting sued by employees, and two of them never seem to change. Big-time corporations such as AT&T and Microsoft have mandated new return-to-office policies. Gene leans toward flexibility ...

Confused about how the 2025 Tax Bill impacts your business? This episode of THRIVE dives headfirst into real questions from real business owners, breaking down what you need to know about this headline-making legislation. Gene is joined by tax expert Barbara Weltman, founder of Big Ideas for Small Business and author of J.K. Lasser's Small Business Taxes. Together, they tackle the most pressing topics raised during their recent web...

This week, Gene Marks breaks down an economic outlook full of uncertainty. From strong GDP growth battling rising inflation to unexpected job market revisions and the growing impact of tariffs, there’s plenty for small businesses to consider. On the brighter side, learn how OSHA’s new penalty reductions are bringing relief to employers with safe practices. With cautious optimism for more stable times, Gene offers the insights you n...

Gene Marks sits down with Senior Benefits Manager at Paychex, Tami Tillery, to answer the top questions from a recent webinar on the evolving landscape of employee benefits. They discuss how businesses, particularly in rural and underserved areas, can creatively manage healthcare costs while providing robust employee benefits. A major focus is on leveraging technology and innovative solutions such as telehealth, mobile health units...

In this week's episode of the Paychex THRIVE Week in Review, host Gene Marks provides an analysis of current trends impacting small businesses. Highlighting data from the Paychex Small Business Employment Watch and CNBC's Small Business Confidence Index, he discusses the stable job growth and increased economic optimism among small business owners, despite challenges like tariffs. This episode also touches on a noted decline in bus...