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Compensation & Benefits

Uncle Sam wants you! … to properly handle summer military duty

05/21/2013
Employees in the National Guard and Reserve usually serve their two weeks during the summer, but others may be away longer. Here’s what Payroll needs to know to properly handle summer military duty.

San Jose minimum wage increases to $10 per hour

05/20/2013
The San Jose Minimum Wage Ordinance, which took effect on March 11, raised the minimum wage for “covered employees” to $10 per hour. A “covered em­­ployee” is anyone who works two or more hours per week within the city limits.

State document requirements for employing teens

05/17/2013
State law controls the age at which teens must obtain age certificates, working papers or parental consent letters and how long you must retain those documents. To help you get a handle on this crucial paperwork requirement, here’s a chart summarizing the state laws.

Set up summer hires for their first paychecks

05/17/2013
When summer rolls around, Payroll often takes on a parental role, initiating summer hires into adulthood as they pay taxes for the first time. Make sure your processes are in order so that the summer hiring process runs smoothly.

Shareholders back CEO pay

05/16/2013
Despite popular ire over excessive CEO pay, shareholders remain blasé about the topic, at least according to a preliminary analysis of proxy votes compiled by the Skadden Arps law firm.

Keep your cool and vanquish your tough summer pay problems

05/15/2013
It’s summertime soon, and the Payroll living is anything but easy. Every employee wants off at the same time (not gonna happen!). Unpaid interns flood the office … Here’s what you need to know to keep Payroll running smoothly this summer.

Your gift for newlyweds: Fresh HR paperwork

05/14/2013
If you have employees who are getting hitched soon, help them start married life right by getting their HR documents in order. The problem: Brides who take their husbands’ names and couples with hyphenated names suddenly don’t match a host of records.

Real-life examples of simple, low-cost work/life efforts

05/13/2013
Studies show that work/life programs can help improve employee engagement and productivity. You may think effective strategies are expensive and require a big-business budget. Not true.

Is it OK to volunteer for your own nonprofit?

05/10/2013
Q. I work for a nonprofit organization. Several hourly employees of the organization volunteer during nonworking hours. Is that OK?

St. Paul Chamber musicians, management achieve harmony

05/10/2013
After being locked out since Oct. 21, 2012, musicians with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra are prepared to complete a shortened season with a smaller contingent. A tentative agreement ending the lockout cuts the orchestra from 34 members to 28 and lowers the guaranteed minimum salary to $60,000—19% less than the previous contract that expired last September.