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Compensation & Benefits

New classification aims at ‘gig’ economy

12/22/2015

Traditionally, there are four possible ways to classify people who perform work. But two classifications—independent contractors and employees—cover most work. Except, some say, in the emerging sharing or “gig” economy. Now two economists at the Brookings Institution think tank in Washington, D.C., have proposed a new category: independent worker.

Is there any requirement to pay a special premium to employees who must work on holidays?

12/21/2015
Q. This came up last month. We needed some of our employees to work during the holidays. Were we required to pay them extra for those days?

What are the limits on hours that school-age children can work in California?

12/21/2015
Q. We would like to employ some high school students to do clerical work. What are the laws regarding the number of hours we can ask them to work?

Suit challenges call-in policy at retailer Urban Outfitters

12/21/2015
Urban Outfitters and its subsidiaries Anthropologie and Free People face a lawsuit alleging the company’s call-in policy violates California labor law.

FY2016 budget bill provides funding for HR-related issues, taxes

12/21/2015
The omnibus spending bill that President Obama signed Dec. 18 did more than fund the federal government for 2016 and delay implementation of the Affordable Care Act’s “Cadillac tax.” The massive legislation—it’s both a tax bill and an appropriations bill—addresses hundreds of measures affected by the federal budget.

Payroll year-end 2015 … on your mark, get set, go!

12/19/2015
By Feb. 1, employees must receive their W-2s, and the IRS must receive your fourth-quarter Form 941 and Forms 940 and 945 (a Feb. 1 postmark is OK, too). So let’s get cracking.

Scrap the ice scraper; allow employees to telecommute

12/18/2015
There isn’t a worse sound than someone scraping ice off their windshield at 6:30 in the morning. You don’t have to make employees choose between taking a snow day and working, if you allow them to work from home. While you’re crafting a telecommuting policy, don’t forget the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Download this worksheet for 2015 Forms W-3/941

12/17/2015
Use this worksheet to reconcile your four quarterly 941s and W-2s, so the amounts you report to the SSA and the IRS match.

2016 tax data–knowledge is power

12/17/2015
The IRS has released the tax information employees need to more closely match their 2016 withholding to their 2016 income tax liability.

Bad-weather absences: When must you pay exempt employees?

12/16/2015

The snow’s coming down pretty good and an exempt employee calls to say she can’t make it in today because her car is stuck. Can you deduct a full day’s pay from her salary for that missed day? What if she’s non-exempt? What if you close work because of bad weather? Here’s guidance to help you make the call.