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Compensation & Benefits

How do we know if we must pay interns?

07/09/2010
Q. Our company would like to hire interns to work in our office this fall, but we’re not sure if we have to pay them. What are some guidelines as to whether or not we need to put them on the payroll?

Feds clarify tax status of dependent coverage

07/09/2010
The IRS has clarified that, under the new health care reform law, coverage provided for employees’ children under age 27 is tax-free to the employee. That means employers with cafeteria plans may permit employees to immediately make pretax salary-reduction contributions to provide coverage for children under age 27.

Long Island firefighters win benefits in age-bias settlement

07/08/2010
Long Island’s Bayville Fire Department will allow volunteer firefighters to accrue length-of-service credit past age 65 as part of an age discrimination settlement with the EEOC. The volunteers accrue service time and then receive bonuses based on that time. The payments essentially amount to a pension.

New anti-drug initiative could reduce your WC premiums

07/08/2010
A new drug-abuse prevention program promises significant savings on workers’ compensation premiums for Ohio employers that agree to participate in it. The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation’s Drug-Free Safety Program allows Ohio employers to opt into the program—which requires drug and alcohol education, testing and accident reporting—in exchange for discounts on workers’ comp insurance.

You can require back-to-work fitness certification after FMLA leave

07/08/2010
If you have a standard policy that requires employees returning from sick leave to show that they’re fit for work, you can also require employees who use FMLA leave to provide the same.

Use 3 strategies to cut health care costs

07/08/2010
“Now is the time for all of you with plan-year start dates on or near Jan. 1 to start thinking about ways to control health plan costs,” says insurance expert Nancy L. Newell. Lowering employers’ health insurance burden requires balancing three strategies: shifting more costs to employees, implementing cost savings and making plan changes.

10 ways to ‘green’ your employee benefits

07/07/2010

Vouchers for compact fluorescent light bulbs and rooftop solar panels have taken their place next to health insurance and flextime as popular employee benefits. Young job-seekers want to work for socially responsible, environmentally friendly companies. That’s one reason more companies have begun offering “green” employee benefits.

Even coffee-making can be compensable time

07/06/2010

The little things employees do while they’re getting ready for work—putting on safety gear, firing up their computers, standing in line to get equipment—can sometimes be considered paid work time. Courts often see such “preparatory work” as compensable, even if it benefits the employee, too. Consider this recent case involving making the morning coffee and breakfast before the start of a shift.

Create a fair and consistent system for dishing out overtime hours

07/05/2010
Do you have a system that allows all employees in the same job category an equal shot at earning overtime pay? If not, consider setting up a fair system for distributing that extra work. Otherwise, you may find yourself facing a discrimination lawsuit.

In case of layoffs, must we offer severance and pay out accrued, unused vacation?

07/02/2010
Q. We are in the process of reducing our staff and will need to lay off several employees. Are we required to provide severance pay to those selected for layoff? How about pay for accrued, unused vacation time?