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Compensation & Benefits

Half of us have raided our retirement accounts

12/03/2019
Almost half of working Americans— 49%—have tapped their retirement savings to pay for things other than retirement, according to a new study by Bankrate.

McDonald’s pays $26 million for OT violations

12/03/2019
Sometimes, seemingly insignificant wage-and-hour practices can add up to a huge employer liability—especially if they are contested in a class-action lawsuit.

California clarifies rest-period pay and rounding rules

12/02/2019
On Oct. 9, 2019, the California Court of Appeal weighed in on two long-debated wage-and-hour issues in Ferra v. Loews Hollywood Hotel, LLC.

Newsom vetoes bill allowing babies at work

12/02/2019
The bill’s sponsor, Assemblyman Randy Voepel (R-San Diego County), said the aim was to allow workers to bond with their children and cut child care costs.

California law covers vacation pay disputes, not Fair Labor Standards Act

12/02/2019
The Fair Labor Standards Act sets the federal minimum-wage and overtime rules. Contrary to what many workers seem to believe, it does not guarantee additional wage-related benefits such as vacation or sick-time pay. Employees whose employers provide such benefits can’t sue under the FLSA, claiming they weren’t paid as promised.

Finite leave may be valid accommodation

12/02/2019
It’s a difficult problem: A new employee hasn’t yet earned any leave but needs to take time off for a disability-related reason. It’s a mistake to automatically terminate such an employee. Slow down.

January 2020: Employer’s business tax calendar

11/30/2019
Here’s your monthly guide to critical payroll due dates.

Workers seek lower out-of-pocket health costs

11/19/2019
What’s highest on employees’ health insurance wish-lists? Predictable out-of-pocket costs, according to research by Kaiser Health News—even if that means paying higher monthly premiums.

The ACA individual mandate isn’t dead, it’s moved to the states

11/14/2019
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act repealed the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate—a requirement that all individuals have health insurance providing minimum value—beginning this year. Some states have jumped into the breach by enacting their own individual mandate laws. And just like the ACA, part of the enforcement mechanism is employer reporting.

In the Payroll Mailbag: December ’19

11/14/2019
Reporting health benefits on Form W-2 … Scavenger hunt prizes: Taxable or not?