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Compensation & Benefits

Must we pay for unauthorized overtime?

02/22/2010

Q. Without authorization, one of our employees worked extra hours this week, even though we told everyone they needed approval to work overtime. Are we required to pay overtime for the unauthorized hours?

IRS explains how to legally fix deferred comp plans

02/19/2010

It’s fairly easy to make mistakes with complex deferred compensation plans that dish out compensation to employees at a future date. Good news: The IRS last month published new guidance to help employers comply with the rules, covered under Section 409A of the tax code.

FMLA: Revised Regulations

02/19/2010

HR Law 101: The U.S. Department of Labor’s revised FMLA regulations took effect Jan. 16, 2009. Here’s a summary of the most important changes.

Wisconsin firm reimburses workers for pay cut

02/19/2010

Last summer, engine manufacturer Briggs & Stratton cut its employees’ pay by 10%. In January, it paid most of it back. The Milwaukee-based company reimbursed salaried employees 75% of the pay they lost during the six-month wage reduction. It also restored previously suspended 401(k) contributions.

Workers coming in early to fire up their computers? You must pay them

02/18/2010

If your managers tell employees to show up a little early to start their computers and get ready to work, that time must be compensated. That’s true even if you don’t absolutely demand early arrival, but internal systems make it tough for employees to begin their shifts if they don’t arrive early.

Workers in early to fire up computers? You must pay

02/18/2010

If you ask workers to show up a little early to start their computers and get ready to work, be prepared to pay them for that time or risk getting sued. How to avoid such lawsuits: Design better systems so prep time is minimal—but still paid. Or simply start the actual shift a few minutes after paid time begins.

Not rehiring FMLA leave-taker? Document why

02/16/2010

Employees who run out of FMLA leave and are fired under a policy requiring mandatory dismissal for excessive absences may be invited to apply for other open positions when they recover enough to work. Be careful how you handle those reapplications, especially if one of the terminated employees was off because she was pregnant and ran out of leave before being able to return.

Aurora trucking firm sued for bilking employees on benefits

02/16/2010

The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Mid-State Express, alleging that the trucking company collected health care premiums from its employees, but never actually used them to buy insurance. As a result, employees face more than $3 million in unpaid medical bills.

Obama proposes automatic IRA enrollment

02/16/2010

President Obama used his State of the Union address in January to call on Congress to create a new kind of employer-sponsored retirement account: the “automatic workplace IRA.” By default, workers would be enrolled in a direct-deposit individual retirement account. Workers could opt out of the program, but they would proactively have to do so.

Comp & benefits outlook 2010: Perks stuck in neutral

02/15/2010

We’ve all heard the good news: The recession is crawling to a resolution and the economy will slowly get back to normal. Most of the executives I know don’t believe it. Employee-focused HR folks are hoping we’ll get back to business as usual on the comp and benefits front. But you might want to run that by your chief financial officer.