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Compensation & Benefits

When interpreting what the law requires, pay attention to what the law actually says

05/30/2025
Increasingly, U.S. Supreme Court decisions turn on the exact language Congress chose to use when writing laws. The justices often rely on the ordinary meaning of the words contained in legislation.

Employers of all sizes commit to fostering employee financial wellness

05/27/2025
A report notes that small employers—those with fewer than 100 employees—still lag behind larger companies in the likelihood to offer various financial well-being benefits.

Competitive edge for small employers: Slightly higher pay

05/27/2025
The Mercer consulting firm’s latest pay survey shows that for the first time since the post-pandemic hiring boom, the rate of wage increases has slowed.

To preserve exempt status, pay employees on a weekly salary basis, not by the day

05/23/2025
The Supreme Court agreed with a highly compensated employee who argued that because he was paid a daily rate, he wasn’t being paid on a salary basis. Now a federal appeals court has applied that logic to another employer.

Bill would cut federal income tax on overtime wages

05/19/2025
Republican legislators in the House of Representatives and Senate have introduced the Overtime Wages Tax Relief Act, which would allow employees to deduct up to $10,000 in overtime pay from their federal income taxes.

House legislation would expand paid family leave

05/19/2025
A bipartisan group of members of Congress have introduced two pieces of legislation that would expand access to paid family leave. The product of two years of work by the House Paid Family Leave Working Group, the twin initiatives would facilitate federal support of state programs.

Offer health benefits to all, regardless of age

05/12/2025
Under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, it’s illegal to offer different benefits to workers ages 40 and older than you offer to younger employees. That’s true even if it costs you more to provide the same benefits to older workers.

20% say their jobs negatively affect mental health; young workers feel the most stress

05/12/2025
Just 27% of workers ages 50 and older said their jobs cause stress, as do 30% of workers ages 35 to 49. However, 37% of workers 34 and younger said work stresses them.

Beware unintended consequences of sharing pay info

05/09/2025
It’s increasingly difficult for employers to keep employees from finding out how much their co-workers are paid. However, a new study shows the unintended consequences when employers tell employees where they stand on pay.

Pro investors see financial upside in unlimited PTO

05/05/2025
Fully 65% of professional investors believe companies that offer unlimited paid time off could outperform the S&P 500, according to Bloomberg research. Despite the financial upside, only 7% of U.S. employers currently offer unlimited time off.