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Compensation & Benefits

If we supplement unemployment comp benefits, must we pay FICA/FUTA on it?

03/30/2009

Q. If we have a Supplemental Unemployment Pay Plan to supplement unemployment benefits, do the company and the employee have to pay FICA and FUTA taxes on the supplemental pay?

Does North Carolina have a mini-COBRA law?

03/30/2009

Q. Our company employs fewer than 20 employees, so federal COBRA does not apply to us. Is there a state law that allows continued health care coverage following termination of employment?

Is there a state health continuation subsidy?

03/30/2009

Q. Is North Carolina providing a subsidy for health care continuation for employers with fewer than 20 employees similar to the federal subsidy contained in the new economic stimulus law?

Spell out FMLA intermittent leave timing in handbook—or risk a million-dollar mistake

03/30/2009

The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a verdict of more than $1 million in an FMLA intermittent leave case involving a foreign adoption. The sad fact is that the employer could have avoided the entire problem by studying up on intermittent leave and adoption.

Shopping for voluntary benefits? 5 ‘must ask’ questions

03/26/2009

As a way to cut costs, more organizations are replacing their company-paid benefits with voluntary benefits. However, choosing (or negotiating) the wrong voluntary benefits plan can result in extra fees, added paperwork and push-back from employees. Here are five key questions to ask when shopping for voluntary benefits:

The death of one-size-fits-all benefits: Tailor rewards to generational differences

03/26/2009

Nearly a third of HR professionals plan to alter their total rewards programs with generational preferences in mind, according to the new Top Five Total Rewards Priorities survey. That figure is likely to increase significantly in the future because the workforce is becoming more multigenerational—especially as older workers remain longer to rebuild their nest eggs.

Pay smarter: 4 comp trends for an awful economy

03/26/2009

The global financial crisis has stuck a pin in those rosy salary predictions from last summer. The trend in pay raises is down—but not out. About 75% of U.S. workers will see raises this year, but those raises will be the smallest in three decades, says a new WorldatWork survey. Some emerging strategies:

Congress weighs taxing employee health benefits

03/26/2009

The value of health insurance isn’t counted as income on paychecks. But that could change under an increasingly popular proposal being pushed hard by the key tax-writer on Capitol Hill, Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.

Can we deduct partial days off from salaried employees’ accrued leave?

03/26/2009

Q. If a company tracks employees’ vacation, sick and personal time off, can we make deductions from accumulated time for everyone who takes time off, including salaried employees? I’m talking about deducting it from the accrual, not the pay. I’ve heard that I can’t deduct vacation, sick leave or personal time if the salaried employee worked at least four hours during that day.

8 rules for recognizing and rewarding employees

03/26/2009
Surveys of U.S. workers consistently show that employees want more than a paycheck from their jobs—they want to feel safe, secure and appreciated at work. Good recognition and rewards provide employees with three things: A fair return for their efforts. Motivation to maintain and improve their performance. A clarification of what behaviors and outcomes the […]