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Compensation & Benefits

‘Part-timer’ working 40 hours: Eligible for benefits?

02/15/2012
Q. We hired a nonexempt part-time employee, but for several months she’s been working about 40 hours a week. Are we required by law to convert her to full-time status and offer benefits if she averages near 40 hours?

21 ‘golden parachutes’ each worth $100 million+

02/14/2012
21 U.S. CEOs received “golden parachutes” worth more than $100 million each between 2000 and 2011, according to a new report by GovernanceMetrics International.

HR salaries: It pays to specialize

02/13/2012
Compensation for employees in HR specialties (benefits, training, etc.) is about 20% higher than for HR general positions, says a report by Culpepper and Associates.

Employee compensation: 12 trends for 2012

02/10/2012
Compensation experts are predicting modest but steady wage growth over the next few years as employers shake off the salary freezes, layoffs and low profits brought on by the recession. Still, a recent Forbes story says 2012 could be The Year of the Employee Back­­lash, as workers look for greener pastures.

Can Native Americans refuse to provide an SSN?

02/09/2012
Q. A new hire is refusing to provide his Social Secur­­ity number because he does not want taxes withheld from his paycheck. He argues that since he is Native American, the U.S. government is not entitled to tax him. Is he required to provide this information? Can we withdraw our employment offer if he continues to refuse?

OK to pay salary for nonexempt position?

02/09/2012
Q. We are hiring for a new position that does not meet any exemption under the Fair Labor Stand­­ards Act (FLSA). However, we think there will be more interest in the job if we pay a salary. Can we still compensate on a salary basis even if the position is nonexempt?

Employee quit for better job? Beware unemployment liability

02/09/2012
Sometimes, a new job doesn’t work out—and the new kid on the block is the first to be let go in a downturn. That’s when his previous employer may be in for a surprise.

Beware ‘aggravated misconduct’ firings–unemployment benefits hang in the balance

02/09/2012
Employees who commit “aggravated misconduct” and are terminated may not be eligible for unemployment compensation benefits. Therefore, some employers may assume that when an employee is arrested and charged with a felony related to work, it makes sense to fire the employee. Not necessarily.

Accommodate–don’t dismiss–disabled worker

02/09/2012
Disabled employees may have trouble doing their jobs without an accommodation. If you simply tell the employee to figure out a way to perform the job and refuse to help find an accommodation, the em­­ployee may quit and apply for unemployment.

IRS says cellphone tax rules apply to tablets, too

02/09/2012
The IRS recently announced that the rules regarding em­­ployees’ tax-free use of cellphones and smartphones also apply to tablets, such as iPads.