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Compensation & Benefits

In the Payroll Mailbag: July ’24

06/20/2024
What expenses can a health FSA reimburse tax-free? … How do we tax all-expenses-paid trips for employees & spouses?

Payroll pro & con: To auto-deduct for meals or not

06/20/2024
The reasoning behind auto-deducting meal breaks is simple: Employees no longer need to think about it and you no longer have to deal with those who forget to clock in and out. In theory, auto-deducting eliminates wage overpayments and faulty regular rate and overtime calculations. But there are issues you need to resolve before you buy into auto-deductions.

He said, they said: No records puts employer in a messy place

06/20/2024
Lawsuits for unpaid overtime aren’t always so cut-and-dried. They can come in layers, with each layer costing you more. The 5th Circuit ruled that an employer could be liable for unpaid overtime if it misclassified workers as independent contractors, even though the workers had scant evidence of their unpaid overtime.

Emergency preparedness can pay off for payroll

06/20/2024
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting a banner summer for hurricanes and tropical storms. This spells trouble for payroll departments. By taking some simple steps now, you can secure your payroll and business records against anything Mother Nature can devise and get the business back up and running in no time.

The late bird doesn’t get the W-2 worm

06/20/2024
Aug. 1 is the last date to file 2023 W-2s without having to pay an enhanced penalty.

Hot fun in the summertime

06/20/2024
Performing general payroll maintenance tasks is essential to your day-to-day operations. It’s also the key to a successful year end.

Multistate payrolls still causing payroll confusion

06/20/2024
The pandemic turbocharged multistate payroll administration. The end of the pandemic, however, hasn’t made things easier. Lots of employers now have remote employees they want to retain, and also allow in-office employees to work hybrid schedules. A little finesse can cut down on some interstate payroll headaches.

Check paid-leave policies before employees take military leave

06/20/2024
Employees in the National Guard or Reserves usually serve their military stint in the summer. An urgent question is whether you must provide short-term paid leave to these employees. The answer may be yes, according to a federal appeals court that ruled the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act’s rights and benefits clause may compel you to extend short-term paid leave to military employees if short-term paid leave is available to other employees.

The rise of third places and how payroll must tax them

06/20/2024
Private clubs used to be for the rich, and many still are. But there’s a new type of private club—those charging as little as $2,500 annually—and many employees are joining. Employees often conduct business in their clubs, which means you must know the payroll rules.

Court: Denying transgender-care coverage violates Title VII

06/17/2024
For the first time, a federal appeals court has ruled that an employer that provides health insurance for its employees violates Title VII if it refuses to cover transgender care. That, in the words of the court, violates Title VII’s sex-discrimination provisions because it denies transgender workers the same benefits other employees are entitled to.