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Compensation & Benefits

Sniff out suspicious FMLA requests with this 9-step plan

09/01/2004
Issue: Half of all HR professionals say they’ve approved FMLA requests that they believed weren’t legitimate. Risk: Employees who “work” the system to earn …

Include cash rewards in employees’ taxable income

09/01/2004

Q. When we win contracts, we recognize employees with cash awards. But these awards may be given to only the select few employees involved. Is this legally OK? —G.J., Alabama

Base salaries on most accurate surveys; weed out bad data

09/01/2004

Salary surveys are plentiful, but many are poorly designed. The risk: Flawed surveys can hurt your organization’s ability to compete for top people …

Check state rules, not just federal, on OT eligibility

09/01/2004
With all the talk about new federal overtime-eligibility rules, remember this: Some states set their own rules that may contradict federal law. In such cases, you must follow whichever law is …

Add disclaimers to benefit information you post online

08/01/2004

If your organization’s Web site or intranet posts information on employee benefits, you could unintentionally open yourself to a lawsuit. How? The posted information could lead employees to rely on it …

Secure the right certification to push your career forward

08/01/2004
Issue: Several types of valuable HR certifications exist, and new ones emerge all the time, especially in compensation and benefits. Benefit: HR credentials …

Why you need a forfeiture clause in every job contract

08/01/2004

If your organization writes employment contracts for key employees, it may be making one costly mistake: unconditionally guaranteeing salary and benefits to employees, even if they commit misconduct that would warrant firing …

Tips & tactics from 2004 SHRM conference

08/01/2004
The HR Specialist joined more than 12,000 HR professionals in New Orleans this summer for the annual Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) conference. Here are some …

Are departed employees eligible for bonuses?

08/01/2004

Q. Our company pays out bonuses in the year after the work is completed, sometimes late into the first quarter. If an employee resigns prior to the bonus payout date (say in January), do we have to pay that employee the bonus? —A.G., South Carolina

Resumes that scream ‘I’m healthy’ can sicken hiring process

08/01/2004
Applicants will slap anything on their résumés if they think it will attract the recruiter's eye. So, recognizing the soaring cost of health insurance, more applicants are adding a Health Profile …