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Compensation & Benefits

Fright night for your year-end processes

09/19/2024
There will be no skeletons jumping out of closets or floating jack-o’-lanterns of death glaring at you if you take care of these early year-end tasks now.

FTC can’t enforce its ban on noncompete agreements

09/19/2024
Janitors, security guards and fast-food employees probably shouldn’t be required to sign noncompete agreements, but many are. Last spring, the Federal Trade Commission tried to remedy this by issuing final regulations banning most noncompete agreements. A federal trial court has now issued a nationwide injunction prohibiting the FTC from enforcing them.

Tax Court says no to a $28,000 condo deduction

09/19/2024
The first part of the accountable plan rules is often overlooked. It says employees’ expenses must have a business connection. An S corp owner who tried to write off monthly expenses on a condominium in New York City found this out the hard way when the IRS disallowed the expenses and the Tax Court showed him the doorman-staffed door.

Retirees more confident about retirement income than working-age Americans are

09/16/2024
Seventy-four percent of retired Americans say they have enough money to live comfortably. Those who haven’t yet retired aren’t nearly as confident. Only 45% of current workers believe they will have enough money socked away to retire comfortably.

Your employees are financially stressed—here’s how to help

09/13/2024
For the second year in a row, PNC Bank has published the results of its survey on financial wellness in the workplace. The report concludes that three in five workers report living paycheck to paycheck, a sign of financial distress, some of which is related to student loan debt, particularly for younger workers. Can employers help?

Blue-collar classification: Manual work isn’t exempt, even when paid on salary basis

09/12/2024
Sometimes, it’s difficult to make the exempt/nonexempt classification call. One thing that’s certain, however, is that paying on a salary basis does not convert nonexempt employees into exempt employees.

DOL investigators target restaurants, recover $2.25 million in just one week

09/09/2024
The Department of Labor’s crackdown on the restaurant industry continues. Over the course of just a week in late August, the DOL secured more than $2.25 million in back pay, damages and penalties from restaurateurs who cheated employees out of tips, failed to pay for overtime hours and illegally employed minors.

COBRA 101: Your obligations under the law

09/09/2024
Under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, employers are required to continue offering health insurance benefits to workers and their covered dependents for a specified period after they terminate employment with the organization.

Golden handcuffs: Right or wrong answer to your retention issues?

09/04/2024
As an HR professional, you’re always looking for ways to attract and retain top talent. One strategy that’s been around for years is the use of “golden handcuffs,” or attractive financial incentives designed to keep valuable employees from leaving. But are these shiny restraints still an effective tool in today’s evolving workplace? Here are some pros and cons to help you make informed decisions for your organization.

Flexibility remains at the top of the employee wants list

09/04/2024
What do applicants want in an employer? According to a recent study, the answer is increasing flexibility. They want core hours with the ability to perform work anytime outside those hours, and the ability to work either on a hybrid schedule, from home or at a designated office during core hours only.