02/02/2012
Darn that groundhog! If it knew what payroll administrators know about looming W-2 deadlines, it would never come out of its den. Paper W-2s are due to the Social Security Administration by the end of the month; e-filed forms are due by April 2.
|
02/01/2012
Q. We reimburse employees for the business use of their personal cellphones. To cut down on paperwork, management has suggested that instead of having employees submit their cellphone bills, we give them a flat allowance. This sounds like we’re giving them extra pay. Would those allowances be taxable?
|
01/31/2012
There’s plenty of employment law news making its way into the mainstream media. That means the workplace will be buzzing with employee chatter about working conditions, pay and unions. Prepare now for how to react.
|
01/31/2012
Fox-Searchlight Pictures faces a class-action lawsuit in New York from unpaid interns who worked on the production of the hit film “Black Swan.” The interns claim Fox-Searchlight failed to pay them for their work in violation of the FLSA and recent DOL guidelines.
|
01/31/2012
In an attempt to right what he perceives to be a wrong-headed Supreme Court decision, President Obama is asking the U.S. Department of Labor to change Fair Labor Standards Act regulations covering home health care workers.
|
01/31/2012
How much your organization pays for unemployment insurance is based, in part, on how many former employees have successfully filed claims against you. Understanding who is eligible for unemployment benefits and who isn’t can go a long way toward keeping insurance rates low.
|
01/31/2012
Here’s a bit of advice to any employer using commercial drivers in their enterprise: Before concluding those employees are exempt from overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act because they’re covered by the Motor Carrier Act, call your attorney.
|
01/31/2012
In December, a last-minute congressional vote allowed the year-long 4.2% employee Social Security tax rate to remain at least through Feb. 29. But if congressional negotiations break down, be aware that the rate could jump back to 6.2%.
|
01/30/2012
The standard mileage rate, which employers may use to reimburse employees who drive their own cars on business, remains 55.5 cents a mile for 2012. You can also use the standard mileage rate to value employees’ personal use of moderately priced company cars.
|
01/27/2012
In an attempt to right what he perceives to be a wrong-headed Supreme Court decision, President Obama is asking the DOL to change Fair Labor Standards Act regulations covering home health care workers.
|
01/27/2012
Do your managers have limited discretion in setting pay? If so, you may have a built-in way to prevent large class-action lawsuits over equal pay. It’s all because of last summer’s big Supreme Court decision in Wal-Mart, Inc. v. Dukes.
|
01/25/2012
Q. We are planning to change a salesperson’s pay from straight salary to a lower salary plus commission. Can we do this without violating wage laws?
|
01/25/2012
Q. Due to recent snowstorms, some exempt employees have not been able to get to work. Can we dock the pay or accrued leave of employees who do not come to work? Can we do so even if the office is closed?
|
01/25/2012
In an attempt to right what he perceives to be a wrong-headed Supreme Court decision, President Obama is asking the DOL to change FLSA regulations covering home health care workers. Those workers have been exempt from the law since 1974 when the DOL lumped the workers into a “companion” category along with baby sitters and nannies.
|
01/25/2012
Many employers automatically deduct meal period breaks from time worked to simplify wage-and-hour calculations. That’s fine, but you must make sure there is an easy way for employees who work through their meal breaks to report the additional paid time.
|