Compensation & Benefits

New state paid leave law changes kick in

08/04/2025

Five states and the District of Columbia have changed their paid leave laws to provide greater protection for workers and greater burdens for employers.

OBBBA includes changes for dependent care plans and day care

07/28/2025

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act provides employers with additional incentives to offer day-care benefits to their employees and assistance for employee dependent care expenses.

Which DOL regs could vanish? Top 4 to watch

07/28/2025

The Department of Labor has identified over 60 regulations for elimination. These are the top four regulations slated for elimination that most affect employers.

The case against perfect-attendance awards

07/25/2025

With absenteeism a major drain on productivity, more employers are using a trick from the third grade—perfect-attendance awards—to motivate employees to come to work. Here’s why such awards probably aren’t the best carrots.

Equal pay: Document how and why jobs differ

07/22/2025

The Equal Pay Act requires employers to pay members of each sex the same for performing work that is substantially the same. The only way for an employer to defend an EPA lawsuit is to prove that the jobs aren’t substantially similar—or that the pay difference is attributable to some factor other than sex.

Student loan repayments return Aug. 1: How to help your team

07/21/2025

If you have employees who owe federal student loans for their or their children’s education, chances are they’re worried. Here’s what you can do for them and other workers struggling with student loan debt.

Subminimum wage reinstated

07/14/2025

The DOL announced on July 7 that it was withdrawing a proposed rule allowing some employers to pay workers a subminimum wage.

OBBBA may trigger overtime requests

07/14/2025

Already, news stories and social media posts are circulating suggesting ways for employees to take advantage of new tax savings even if they don’t currently earn overtime “required under the FLSA.” Because the tax shelter is immediately effective, expect employees to ask HR for ways to take advantage of the savings.

Extended leave for disabled spouse? Maybe

07/09/2025

Under the ADA, there’s no obligation to reasonably accommodate a spouse’s illness. But a recent case in California under that state’s ADA equivalent may portend a trend.

Trump DOL won’t charge double if you fix wage mistakes

07/07/2025

New DOL guidance tells investigators not to assess liquidated damages if the employer agrees to pay what it owes employees in back pay because of a mistake. That’s great news because it keeps the employer from having to pay double the amount otherwise due.