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Compensation & Benefits

Beware even tiny pay gaps between men and women

08/14/2014
Even a small gender-based pay differential may be­­come the foundation of a class-action lawsuit.

New COBRA notice could help workers–and you, too

08/14/2014
You can finally make the Affordable Care Act work for you. The U.S. Depart­­ment of Labor has updated its model COBRA notice to emphasize that separated employees who qualify for COBRA continuation coverage may want to buy health insurance through the ACA’s exchanges instead.

IRS reg alert: ACA waiting periods, FICA/FUTA exemptions

08/14/2014
The IRS has been busy adding to its regulatory agenda. Here’s the latest news from the regulations front.

IRS issues final regs on the health care tax credit

08/14/2014
Under final ACA regulations, employers that have fewer than 25 full-time equivalent employees who earn up to $50,000 (adjusted for inflation), and that make nonelective contributions equal to at least 50% of employees’ health premiums, are eligible for a 50% health care tax credit (35% for nonprofits).

Issued: Proposed rules for reporting contractor compensation

08/13/2014
The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs has released proposed regulations for implementing a White House executive order requiring government contractors and subcontractors to provide summary data on their compensation practices to the Department of Labor.

D.C.-area employers feature fun food perks

08/13/2014
Employees of Washington, D.C.-area companies that made The Washington Post’s inaugural list of the area’s top workplaces are apparently very well fed. Amid the medical, vacation and flex benefits cited by employees of the top firms are a huge number of perks involving company-supplied food.

Low-wage baby boomers face retirement poverty

08/12/2014
Your lowest-paid older workers can look forward to retirements defined by even poorer income prospects, according to economists who study wage and financial-planning data.

Shhh! How to make certain your private data stays that way

08/12/2014
Payroll handles sensitive data all the time, so it’s vital that you develop and maintain a robust privacy policy. Carla Gracen, product manager at Ceridian HCM, Inc., gave some policy pointers during her workshop at the American Payroll Association’s 32nd Annual Congress.

Allstate offers paid training to vets seeking insurance jobs

08/11/2014
They’re not guaranteed jobs and they don’t have to promise to work for Allstate Insurance Co., but military veterans get a small salary, free meals and a place to live during a month-long training program designed by the company to prepare them for careers in insurance and financial services.

40% of workers would quit if not for health benefits

08/11/2014

Your benefits program might be an even bigger retention tool than you thought. A new survey says that 40% of employees appear to be experiencing “job lock” because of health benefits.