Compensation & Benefits

White-collar Wednesdays: Initial preparations for the DOL’s final salary-level regs

02/21/2024

We are now a little over two months away from the release of final regulations raising the weekly and annual salary amounts employees must earn to remain exempt from the FLSA, as promised by the Department of Labor. Regardless of how this shakes out, it’s best to be prepared.

How to Wipe Out Fraud and Abuse Under FMLA

02/16/2024

The medical certification process is your most potent weapon for combating potential FMLA fraud. But obtaining a certification is only the first fraud-stopping step. Here are 10 more things you can do to keep employees from gaming the FMLA system.

DOL orders extra helpings of damages against restaurants

02/12/2024

The Depart of Labor is cracking down hard on restaurants that cheat workers out of tips and otherwise fail to pay them properly. On Feb. 7 alone, the DOL announced it had recovered more than $850,000 from eateries in Florida, Hawaii and Oregon.

3 ways to handle use of sick leave with employee well-being and productivity in mind

02/09/2024

Studies show that since the pandemic, employees are taking much-needed sick days to prioritize their physical and mental well-being. Based on data from more than 30,000 small and mid-sized businesses that use Gusto, a payroll and HR platform, 30% of all employees have taken sick leave. That’s a 42% jump compared to 2019.

Federal contractor? Beware DOL probes of wage-and-hour violations

02/05/2024

Department of Labor investigators are going after federal contractors that cheat employees out of pay and leave—and the DOL is winning. The latest example: On Jan. 29, the DOL announced it had recovered nearly $16 million in back wages and restored more than 24,700 paid sick-leave hours for more than 2,800 employees who worked for 62 contractors and subcontractors.

Docking pay for snow-day absences: When is it legal?

02/04/2024

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—and a handy flowchart—to help you make the call.

First Friday wrap of February: IRS advises on 2023 W-2s, House passes a tax bill and more

02/02/2024

Did the groundhog see its shadow in our first Friday wrap of February?

March 2024: Employer’s business tax calendar

01/31/2024

Here’s your monthly guide to critical payroll due dates.

Recruiting: Offer work-from-home option, tout opportunities to advance

01/29/2024

It’s tough to attract the best new hires if you can’t pay as much as larger employers can. However, you may have a couple competitive advantages big companies can’t offer: the option for employees to work remotely full-time and the promise of promotion opportunities.

Friday wrap: Affordable health benefits, IRS continues enhancing online services and more

01/26/2024

Affordable health benefits, Form 990-T, Maryland taxpayer break and more as January winds down.