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Compensation & Benefits

350-employee firm has its own on-site physician

04/30/2012

Louisville-based Appriss offers its 350-plus employees free access to an on-site doctor’s office. The technology-solutions company also waives health care insurance premiums for workers who do not use tobacco.

Case dismissed: Employer withholding under tax levy stands

04/28/2012
A federal appeals court has ruled that an employee whose wages were subject to a federal tax levy can’t sue his employer for violations of his Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights or for theft of money under state law.

Love’s labor lost: When newlyweds forget Social Security

04/27/2012
Employees who get married but forget to update their Social Security cards with their married names will lose out, because the Social Security Administration won’t be able to credit their earnings to their benefits accounts. Remind newlyweds to get replacement Social Security cards showing their new names.

Deposits can’t be directed to payroll or corporate accounts

04/27/2012
The IRS keeps track of your company’s tax liabilities as separate modules in its Business Master File. If, say, your corporate income tax module is short, the IRS can offset that shortfall with an overdeposit from your payroll module. Worse: The IRS can make these offsets without telling you.

Reduction in force? Make sure severance packages are equitable for similar employees

04/27/2012
Here’s something to keep in mind if you’re contemplating a reduction in force: If you plan to offer severance packages in exchange for a liability release, make sure you aren’t too selective about who gets the best deals.

Throw a bucket of ice water on summer payroll problems

04/27/2012
As you gear up for employees’ summer vacation requests, remember that the FLSA has a lot to say about working hours, calculating overtime when employees take a day off during the week, and uniform policies. Here’s help navigating these choppy waters.

Barbeque chain extends benefits to franchisees

04/26/2012
Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants is giving its 200 franchise owners, their families and their employees access to group purchasing power for medical benefits, dental coverage and legal and financial services.

After accident in company car, can we recover insurance deductible using payroll deductions?

04/24/2012

Q. We have a fleet of company cars. If an employee is at fault in an accident, is it legal for us to require reimbursement for the $500 deductible by reducing his pay over a period of three or four pay cycles?

Pittsburgh YMCA execs allege gender-, race-based pay bias

04/24/2012

Four female executives with the Pittsburgh-area YMCA are suing the nonprofit, claiming they are paid less than their male counterparts and in some cases, even less than their subordinates. The four all say the pay inequities are due to gender, and one contends race bias is a factor.

May is direct deposit month

04/24/2012
To encourage employees to sign up for checkless paydays, the federal government declared May direct deposit month. As government declarations go, it’s been a success—most employees do have their pay deposited directly into their bank accounts. Most isn’t all, however.