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Compensation & Benefits

Feel free to deny employees’ FMLA leave requests that aren’t legitimate under the law

06/15/2011

Some employees think they’re entitled to FMLA leave for every family emergency. They’re wrong. You should only grant leave requests based on legitimate reasons and reject clearly frivolous ones. You should also require employees to follow your rules and provide adequate notice.

Thinking of stiffing illegal immigrant workers? Better be ready to defend huge class-action suit

06/15/2011
The fact that a worker is in this coun­try illegally does not mean he can’t file a Fair Labor Standards Act overtime lawsuit. What’s more, that case can turn into a class-action suit, representing all other similarly situated illegal workers.

Time to post Florida’s new minimum-wage poster

06/15/2011

No doubt, you already raised hourly pay for your minimum-wage employees. The new Florida rate took affect on June 1, 2011, and raised the minimum wage to $7.31 per hour. That’s just a few cents more than the federal rate of $7.25. But have you put up the new poster in a conspicuous place?

Allow FMLA leave before terminating employee

06/15/2011

Are you thinking about terminating an employee for good business reasons, but know he needs to take FMLA leave? While you can legally discharge him, he could challenge the termination as interference with the right to FMLA. But what if you allowed him to take FMLA leave and told him not to return?

Survey: Health law won’t spark mass cancellations

06/15/2011
A full 87% of employers say they plan to continue offering employee health benefits as a result of President Obama’s year-old health care reform law, says a survey by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans.

Build a bonus plan for an economy on the mend

06/14/2011

After two years of painful payroll reductions, some employers are considering pay raises. In many organizations, pay hikes will come in the form of variable compensation plans. Experts say these two tactics can help HR pros create variable pay plans that strike a balance between risk, reward and fiscal stability.

8 tips for handling summer military-leave payroll issues

06/14/2011
Summer is usually when employees who belong to the National Guard and military Reserves give their two weeks of duty to Uncle Sam. Now is the time to prepare for their absence, by following these eight tips.

6-week course spurs activity, improves health

06/14/2011
National Council on Aging em­ployees with chronic health conditions can learn more about their diseases by enrolling in a free six-week, online program designed to increase their activity and improve their health. The nonprofit is offering “Better Choices, Better Health” as a benefit to all its full-time staff and their families.

A perfect summer day? Doing payroll maintenance

06/10/2011
Round out your summer schedule by making time to perform these general payroll maintenance chores and early year-end tasks:

What are the details on new FLSA regulations?

06/10/2011
Q. I’ve heard there are new Fair Labor Standards Act regulations coming. When do the final regulations updating the FLSA become effective?