Compensation & Benefits

DOL pushes retirement advice rule change

10/20/2015

Public comments closed last month on a proposed DOL rule to redefine the conflict-of-interest standard retirement plan fiduciaries must meet. It’s part of an Obama administration effort to require defined-contribution retirement-plan advisors to act in account holders’ best interests, not just provide “suitable” advice, as the law currently requires.

Don’t gamble with DOL investigations

10/19/2015

If you think you’re going to breeze through a wage and hour investigation, think again. Success is all in the preparation.

Unlimited vacation has bottom-line benefit

10/14/2015

A handful of employers let workers take as much time off as they want, as long as the work gets done. While most of those companies view unlimited vacation as a great perk that helps reward and retain talented and hard-working employees, there’s another reason to offer it.

D.C. bill would provide 16 weeks of paid leave, the most in U.S.

10/13/2015

Legislation before the Washington, D.C., City Council would grant District residents 16 weeks of paid family and medical leave, the most generous leave mandate in the nation.

Take off (or not): Paid leave is relatively rare

10/12/2015

Almost every employer offers employees a handful of paid holidays. Otherwise, less than half of employers offer paid leave benefits.

Year-end: Expect the unexpected

10/09/2015

The mailbag this month holds questions about FICA and a quirk in the 2016 calendar.

DOL grants to fund research on paid sick and family leave

10/06/2015

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau has awarded $1.55 million in grants to eight state and local employment and labor departments to research and analyze how paid leave programs can be developed and implemented across the country.

Am I allowed to institute a tip pool?

10/05/2015

Q. I manage a popular sports bar. May I institute a tip-pooling policy?

Health premiums steady, out-of-pocket costs spiral

10/05/2015

Single and family premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance rose an average of 4% this year, continuing a decade-long period of moderate growth, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation/Health Research & Educational Trust 2015 Employer Health Benefits Survey released Sept. 10.

Due dates changing for business tax returns

10/02/2015

Changing the due dates for C corps, S corps and partnerships to file business tax returns is included as a revenue-raising measure in the Surface Transportation and Veterans Health Care Choice Improvement Act of 2015.