• The HR Specialist - Print Newsletter
  • HR Specialist: Employment Law
  • The HR Weekly

Compensation & Benefits

Same-sex marriage & payroll: What happens now?

05/18/2011
The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) prohibits the extension of federal marriage benefits to same-sex couples who marry under state law. Some federal courts have ruled DOMA unconstitutional, and the Department of Justice says that it will no longer defend the law. But the IRS says it’s still enforcing DOMA as it applies to the tax laws that cover married couples.

The 8 most common overtime errors and how to fix them

05/17/2011
If your company is like most and cutting costs is a top priority, reducing overtime expenditures can make a big difference. Be careful with how you go about reining in overtime, though. Here are the eight most common OT errors you must avoid.

5 strategies to ease employees’ gas pains

05/17/2011
With gasoline prices soaring to their highest levels in almost three years, employers are looking again at ways to help employees keep their tanks filled—or at least get to work each day. Consider which of these strategies might ease the pain your employees feel at the gas pump.

3 ways to motivate extra employee effort

05/17/2011
In lean times, managers sometimes need employees to go above and beyond their normal duties. Don’t beg and plead for volunteers to step up. Instead, offer three kinds of rewards to persuade employees to give of themselves for the greater good of the organization.

2012 budget contains FUTA proposals

05/17/2011

States that borrow from the federal government to pay regular unemployment benefits must pay back those loans, including interest. The 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act waived interest payments for two years, but that provision expired at the end of last year, leaving an estimated 30 states to face a financial bind. President Obama’s 2012 budget proposal contains relief for strapped states and employers.

E-pay progress: Make the move to pay cards

05/16/2011
Is your direct deposit campaign a little long in the tooth? Now may be the best time to update your compensation sys­tem by adding pay cards to the mix. But before you call your payroll provider or bank to set up a pay card option, understand that there are legal and practical pitfalls you must avoid.

IRS issues W-2 health benefit reporting guidance

05/16/2011

The health care reform law requires you to report the value of employees’ health benefits on their W-2 forms. The IRS waived mandatory reporting for 2011, pending future guidance. Now the guidance has been released. It requires employers filing 250 or more W-2s to report beginning with 2012 W-2s that are filed in 2013.

Settling employee lawsuit? Withholding taxes usually OK

05/13/2011
Here’s something you may not have considered when agreeing to settle a nuisance case for a few thousand dollars. Most of the time, you will need to withhold federal and other taxes. Be­­cause of a relatively recent change at the IRS, unless payment is for a physical injury, the proceeds are fully taxable.

Court: Compensation based on employees’ market value may correct past pay bias

05/13/2011
Ever since Congress passed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, employers have had to struggle with evaluating their compensation plans to make sure they aren’t perpetuating past pay discrimination. Now a federal judge has suggested that a better approach to fixing the problem may be found in the free market. If employers use the market value of jobs as a major factor in setting compensation, then even those whose pay is lower than it would be without past discrimination will be paid fairly because their increases will be greater.

Your handbook doesn’t decide unemployment comp

05/12/2011
The Minnesota Supreme Court has ruled that employees don’t automatically become eligible for unemployment compensation benefits just because their employer didn’t follow its own progressive disciplinary policy outlined in the employee handbook.