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Compensation & Benefits

Economy edges upward, so do 401(k) contributions

01/25/2011
As the economy improves—even slightly—employers and employees have begun a slow return to normalcy in how they treat 401(k) retirement benefits. A recent survey by Plansponsor magazine uncovered the following trends in 2010, compared with 2009:

Post-recessionary bonus plans: Strike a balance between risk and reward

01/25/2011

After two years of painful payroll reductions, there’s enough light at the end of the recessionary tunnel for some employers to begin considering pay raises. In many organizations, pay hikes will come in the form of variable compensation plans. Experts say two tactics can help HR pros create variable pay plans that strike a balance between risk, reward and fiscal stability.

Must we pay for restroom breaks?

01/21/2011
Q. We have a school bus driver who takes a 10-minute bathroom break before dropping off her empty bus at the depot. We’ve been deducting the minutes from her paycheck. She says she must take the break due to her medication. Do we have to pay her?

Better benefits helping Verizon recruit 900 employees

01/20/2011

Verizon Wireless is using some sought-after benefits to help recruit new employees to fill 900 open positions. Recruiters for the 79,000-employee cell phone company entice applicants by touting these benefits:

5 mistakes to avoid when recognizing employees

01/18/2011
If a star employee has ever surprised you during an exit interview by saying she had been dissatisfied with her job for a long time, you’re not alone. It’s common to find a vast divergence between employee satisfaction and management’s take on the situation. Managers frequently make five big mistakes that can send your valued employees packing. Luckily, they’re easy to fix.

Health network’s full funding pumps up pension contributions

01/18/2011
Sutter Health, a Northern California health care network, pumped $60 million a month into its pension plan for more than 40,000 active and retired employees during the last quarter of 2010. The not-for-profit network promotes its pension benefit as a valuable piece of an employee’s total compensation.

Feel free to discipline or terminate employees who insist on working unauthorized overtime

01/14/2011

Hourly employees generally know that if they work overtime, their employer has to pay them for the extra hours. That’s true, but that doesn’t mean employees can work OT whenever they feel like it. Here’s how to end unauthorized overtime:

What are some strategies to stop employees from abusing intermittent FMLA leave?

01/14/2011
Q. What can an employer do to make sure employees are not abusing intermittent FMLA leave?

Exempt or nonexempt: If you’re a nationwide employer, one size may not fit all

01/14/2011

If you’re a multistate employer, consider this when deciding which employees are exempt from overtime and which are not: It might seem sensible to create uniform job descriptions that apply nationwide, but that could cause unnecessary trouble. Smart employers give some flexibility so local supervisors can tailor jobs for the unique circumstances at each location.

New year rings in new Illinois wage-payment law

01/14/2011

Illinois employers face a new wage-payment law that significantly increases penalties for employers that fail to pay their workers properly. The Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act allows employees who believe they have been stiffed by their employers to file class-action lawsuits …