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Payroll

Minimum wage hikes are here

01/05/2026
While the federal minimum wage has not risen since being set at $7.25 per hour in 2009, many state and local governments have implemented increases to keep up with rising costs. Here are some of the increases effective Jan. 1.

Don’t let FMLA leave requirements dampen the holiday spirit

11/19/2025
Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 fall on Thursdays this holiday season. Thursday holidays usually pressure employers into giving the following Friday off. After all, no employer wants to play the Grinch this holiday season. Thursday holidays, however, don’t eliminate all of the FMLA leave considerations you must address.

More investment choices may be coming to 401(k)s under Trump order

08/18/2025
An executive order directs the secretary of labor to reexamine the Department of Labor’s past and present guidance regarding a fiduciary’s duties under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, in connection with making available to participants an asset allocation fund that includes investments in alternative assets.

Consider your options: PAID or opinion letter?

08/18/2025
By now, you likely have heard about the Trump administration’s renewal and expansion of the Payroll Audit Independent Determination program. Employers should know that there is another DOL-sanctioned option that’s especially useful if they’re not quite sure that what they have done is a violation.

Beyond overtime: What OBBBA’s payroll provisions mean for HR

08/11/2025
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act brings sweeping payroll and tax changes that HR teams must quickly adapt to—some already in effect as of Jan. 1, 2025.

Trump DOL won’t charge double if you fix wage mistakes

07/07/2025
New DOL guidance tells investigators not to assess liquidated damages if the employer agrees to pay what it owes employees in back pay because of a mistake. That’s great news because it keeps the employer from having to pay double the amount otherwise due.

June 2025: Employer’s business tax calendar

04/30/2025
Here’s your monthly guide to critical payroll due dates.

In the Payroll Mailbag: May ’25

04/16/2025
Time-honored though it may be, the company picnic can raise a host of payroll questions.

Payroll pro or con: Paying per diems or actual expenses

04/16/2025
When companies look to trim costs, travel budgets are an easy target. Not all travel is essential—video meetings can suffice. But for essential travel, you can present the C-suite with some choices before the axe falls.

Throw a bucket of ice water on summer payroll problems

04/16/2025
Regardless of whether employees work in the office or remotely, the one thing they’re all thinking about now is vacations and long weekends. As you gear up for employees’ summer vacation requests, remember the Fair Labor Standards Act has a lot to say about working hours and calculating overtime when employees take a day off during the week.