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Compensation & Benefits

Thinking about skipping workers’ comp? Get ready to risk unlimited liability

07/07/2014
Here’s something to consider before you choose not to be a part of the Texas workers’ compensation system. Employers that forego coverage—as they are permitted to do—leave open the possibility of unlimited liability and have few defenses available.

Bonuses are back, more popular than ever

07/07/2014
A downward trend for bonuses that began with the 2009 recession has been reversed. Part of the reason: Employers may be substituting bonuses for traditional merit raises.

A shot of undergrad studies for Starbucks employees

07/03/2014
Coffee giant Starbucks has a new plan to retain smart, ambitious workers: It’s going to reimburse tuition and offer financial aid for employees who take online college courses offered by Arizona State University.

Act this month to dodge penalties for W-2 problems

07/03/2014
Procrastinators beware: Aug. 1 is rapidly approaching. That’s when penalties more than triple, from $30 to $100 per form, up to $1.5 million, for these W-2 indiscretions: failing to file 2013 W-2s in the first place or filing incorrect 2013 W-2s that you haven’t yet corrected.

What should we do? Her request for time off was denied, so she called in sick

07/02/2014
Q. What do we do if an employee calls in sick even though her request for time off was denied?

Harrisburg, Pa. strip club faces FLSA undressing

07/02/2014
A Harrisburg area gentlemen’s club faces a federal lawsuit alleging it failed to pay exotic dancers the minimum wage and proper overtime. Four dancers filed suit in federal court charging the club violated the Fair Labor Standards Act by misclassifying them as independent contractors.

Male employee needs to ‘support his family’: Is that a legal reason to pay him more?

07/02/2014
Here’s a warning for any HR pro or supervisor involved in hiring or pay decisions: Avoid sexist comments about compensation, and steer clear of increasing an employee’s salary because he’s the family breadwinner and, thus, “needs” more money.

Employers still committed to health benefits

07/01/2014
Despite persistent worries that the Affordable Care Act will raise costs for employer-provided health insurance, less than 1% of companies responding to a new survey say they plan to stop offering coverage to their employees.

Supreme Court OKs religious exemption to birth-control mandate

06/30/2014
The court said closely held private companies can’t be forced to cover certain types of contraceptives for their workers.

Tax firm offers employees unlimited paid vacation

06/30/2014
In a serious bid to retain the tax and business advisors it employs, New York’s WTP Advisors is piling on the benefits—including unlimited vacation time.