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Compensation & Benefits

California court to decide key arbitration case

07/23/2013
In an important decision on whether employers can limit an employee’s access to an administrative hearing on wage claims, the California Supreme Court has ordered the parties to file supplemental briefs in light of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision. In American Express Co. v. Italian Colors Restaurant, the U.S. Supreme Court confirmed its long-standing rule that arbitration clauses under the Federal Arbitration Act will be enforced.

Minuscule U.S. pay growth trounces rest of world

07/23/2013
The United States may be mired in a tepid economic recovery, but it’s worse in other countries. One indicator: In 12 of 13 industrial economies surveyed by the nonprofit WorldatWork organization, real salary budgets declined from 2012 to 2013.

ACA regs define minimum value, clarify role of wellness programs

07/22/2013
The two key percentages you need to know to avoid free-rider penalties under the health care reform law are 60% and 9.5%. Your health plan must offer minimum value by picking up at least 40% of the cost (i.e., full-time employees can’t pay more than 60% out-of-pocket) and be affordable (i.e., employees’ premiums can’t exceed 9.5% of their household income).

Lounge, exotic dancers agree to settle classification lawsuit

07/17/2013
Lure, a “gentlemen’s club” in Min­ne­­apolis, has agreed to pay $300,000 to settle a class-action lawsuit with its exotic dancers, who claimed they were employees, not independent contractors as Lure had contended.

Sick employee wants less overtime? Consider that a request for intermittent FMLA leave

07/17/2013
Don’t try to “create” artificial overtime for a disabled em­­ployee so she’ll be forced to use up her FMLA entitlement. That’s especially true if no one else is required to actually work overtime. Such a tactic will backfire.

Court: If interns perform any work, pay them

07/17/2013
If your organization uses interns—or plans to do so—take note of last month’s ruling in the closely watched “Black Swan” case. A federal court said Fox Searchlight Pictures violated wage-and-hour laws by failing to pay interns who did menial tasks during production of the Oscar-nominated movie.

While co-workers are away, take the time to get organized

07/16/2013
With colleagues away on vacation, now’s a great time for Payroll to prep for some year-end tasks and perform general payroll maintenance.

Tech firm woos young hires with perks like ping-pong

07/12/2013
New York technology provider SiteCompli attracts recent college graduates for entry-level jobs with perks like a “Dress Like a Rock Star” clothing budget for each employee, a Chelsea loft-style office complete with a kitchen full of snacks, a conference table made of 32,000 Legos and high-intensity ping-pong tournaments.

ACA employer mandate postponed until 2015

07/09/2013
The Obama administration has decided to wait a year before requiring organizations with 50 or more full-time employees to provide health insurance benefits under the Affordable Care Act health care reform law.

To pay or not to pay: Interns aren’t just a source of free labor

07/09/2013
It’s summertime, and college interns are filling corporate America’s cubicles. How many of those fresh-faced kids are wage-and-hour lawsuits just waiting to happen?