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Compensation & Benefits

Dallas company’s temp shell game doesn’t fool DOL

04/03/2013
Dallas-based Nieman Printing thought it had it all figured out when it hired two temp agencies to employ the same workers doing the same work, but on different days. The strategy: Keep workers from ever putting in more than 40 hours per week for one employer. Desired result: No overtime pay! DOL investigators saw through the charade.

Don’t get stung by Obamacare’s play-or-pay provisions

04/03/2013
The IRS has released regulations for determining the hefty penalties that apply when Affordable Care Act-covered employers fail to offer health insurance to employees starting in 2014. The rules seem daunting, but it’s critical to understand them.

Celebrate National Employee Benefits Day, April 2

04/02/2013
National Employee Benefits Day, April 2, celebrates trustees, administrators, corporate benefits practitioners and professional advisors for their dedication to providing quality benefits and the important role they play in their colleagues’ well-being.

IRS stresses enforcement at APA’s Washington summit

04/01/2013
Enforcement. That was the word from John ­­Tuzynski, the IRS’ chief of employment tax policy, when he spoke at the American Payroll Asso­­cia­­tion’s mid-year Capital summit, held in Wash­­ing­­ton, D.C., March 10-14.

Must unused ‘floating holidays’ be paid?

03/29/2013
Q. We gave eligible employees a “floating holiday” in lieu of having Dec. 31 as a paid holiday. We generally pay employees for all unused vacation, sick and personal time upon termination, but we have no policy regarding an unused floating holiday. Do we have to pay workers for any unused floating holidays upon termination?

Overbrook man sues Walmart, wants class action suit

03/29/2013
A former assistant manager at a Walmart store in Overbrook, Pa., is suing the retailer, claiming it repeatedly violated the FLSA by classifying assistant managers as exempt employees—and he wants to raise the stakes by turning the case into a class action lawsuit.

The price of having too few time clocks: $1 million

03/29/2013
Long lines of employees punching in and out has cost a California employer more than $1 million in fines. The problem: Quetico Manufacturing had only three time clocks to handle 865 workers. The delays cheated employees out of overtime pay.

Responsible persons’ lifeline: Express installment agreements

03/28/2013

Undeposited payroll taxes can pile up so quickly that the IRS has a name for them—pyramiding. It also has a very effective solution: personally charging a company’s responsible persons with 100% of the undeposited taxes. Relief: an express installment agreement.

401(k)s remain strong even after recession

03/27/2013
Despite the tepid economy of the past five years, employers have remained committed to funding their employees’ 401(k) retirement benefits, according to a recent survey. Employee participation rates are up, and workers are relying less on their 401(k)s for emergency cash.

IRS loosens criteria for VCSP eligibility

03/26/2013

The IRS has made several permanent and temporary changes to its Voluntary Classification Settlement Program. Under VCSP, you can voluntarily reclassify independent contractors as employees for future tax periods on favorable tax terms. You’ll be liable for just over 10% of the wages paid to those reclassified workers for the past year; no penalties or interest will be due.