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Compensation & Benefits

Final regs delay health & 401(k) plan deadlines

05/06/2020
Final regulations and a separate disaster relief notice from the Department of Labor set up an outbreak period—running from March 1, 2020, until 60 days after the announced end of the coronavirus national emergency—that plans must ignore for purposes of employees’ health plan elections and 401(k) plans’ responsibility to provide notices to participants.

Coronavirus could actually cut employer health costs

05/05/2020
COVID-19 could reduce employer health care costs by as much as 4% in 2020, as medical care for noninfected patients has declined during the pandemic, according to a Willis Towers Watson analysis of large, self-funded employers, released May 1.

Remote workers want real rewards, not virtual perks

05/05/2020
Your company‘s leaders may have read that virtual luncheons and happy hours can keep spirits up in the era of remote work. Set them straight.

Settlement in first-ever DOL coronavirus case

04/30/2020
It didn’t take long for the U.S. Department of Labor to cite an employer for breaking the new paid sick leave rules written into the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.

June 2020: Employer’s business tax calendar

04/30/2020
Here’s your monthly guide to critical payroll due dates.

Help employees cope with the new stress of working from home

04/28/2020
With everything company leaders are facing, they might not have given much thought to the emotional well-being of their employees. That’s a big mistake, in both the short and long terms. Here are some tips from Stacey Engle of Fierce Conversations to help line managers and HR pros lessen the stress that remote employees may be feeling.

DOL: No pause in wage-and-hour lawsuits

04/23/2020
Don’t expect a decline in lawsuits during the coronavirus pandemic. Be sure you continue to follow all your usual protocols for responding to EEOC complaints, subpoenas and other legal notices.

Payroll deferrals vs. Reduced payroll deposits

04/22/2020
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act provides employers with what seems like a bewildering array of choices: reduce your payroll deposits in anticipation of taking a credit, get an advance on your tax credits, defer your share of Social Security taxes. After surfing around and reading comments from payroll pros, it’s abundantly clear that confusion still abounds.

Back to basics: Managing termination pay

04/21/2020
The coronavirus pandemic has forced some employers to make tough choices about terminating employees. If that’s the case in your company, you need to consider what goes into a final paycheck and when that check must be given to employees you’re letting go.

Employers broadening their health and well-being efforts

04/21/2020
Employers are broadening their efforts to help their workers cope with COVID-19 while at the same time preparing for an eventual return to a stable workplace, according to a survey conducted March 30 by the Willis Towers Watson consulting firm.