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Compensation & Benefits

Capping Sick Pay

03/01/2002

Q. One of our managers has medical problems (she qualifies for the ADA and is in an age-protected class) and has used a significant amount of sick pay. Because we don’t have a defined sick pay policy, this manager is paid sick time whenever she’s out (full day or half day). How can we legally cap this? Is the development of a policy with specific hours our only alternative? —F.E., Georgia

Denying pay raise is ‘adverse employment action’

03/01/2002
Salome Fierros filed an internal complaint against her boss for assigning her duties that other lab technicians weren’t required to do. Soon after, Fierros claimed, the director retaliated by denying her …

More reason to avoid overtime violations: Steeper penalties

03/01/2002
The U.S. Labor Department has recently jacked up its penalties for violating minimum wage, overtime or child labor provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The 10 percent increase in fines …

Age-bias lawsuits: The costliest battles

03/01/2002
Getting slammed with a discrimination judgment is bad. And the worst are age discrimination cases. Reason: A new study from Jury Verdict Research shows that the median jury award in age-bias …

‘Working’ Supervisors and Exempt Status

03/01/2002

Q. We have an hourly worker who oversees both the maintenance and housekeeping departments and supervises two employees. In this job, he has the authority to hire and fire, but he also is a “working” supervisor who performs maintenance in and around the property. Can his status be changed to salary/ exempt? —T.W., Texas

‘Volunteers’ at for-profit companies: Should they be paid?

03/01/2002
Traditionally, volunteers donate their time to nonprofit groups, like the American Red Cross, without an expectation of being paid. Such true volunteers aren’t covered by wage and hour requirements of federal or …

Commuting perks: New rules make them more attractive

02/01/2002
Although 86 percent of American workers feel that commuter assistance benefits, such as discount transit passes, ride-sharing boards or parking benefits, are beneficial, only 17 percent have access to such perks, …

Rework your severance plan: More prospective employees seeking this safety net

02/01/2002
Even if your company has avoided layoffs, it’s still time to rethink whether your severance plan is achieving …

Don’t be tempted by corporate ministry services

02/01/2002

Q. Since Sept. 11 and due to the economic doldrums, some of our employees have not been the same emotionally. We’ve tried to be patient and understanding, but they seem to need something else. We’ve heard that some companies are contracting with corporate ministry services. Is this practice legal or advisable? —S.S., Virginia

Don’t Withhold Pay as Punishment

02/01/2002

Q. When an employee fails to clock in or out properly, our payroll department withholds that day’s pay until the next pay period as a form of employee discipline. My understanding is that an employer can’t hold back portions of pay as punishment. Am I right? —J.A., Georgia