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Compensation & Benefits

DOL investigators target restaurants, recover $2.25 million in just one week

09/09/2024
The Department of Labor’s crackdown on the restaurant industry continues. Over the course of just a week in late August, the DOL secured more than $2.25 million in back pay, damages and penalties from restaurateurs who cheated employees out of tips, failed to pay for overtime hours and illegally employed minors.

COBRA 101: Your obligations under the law

09/09/2024
Under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, employers are required to continue offering health insurance benefits to workers and their covered dependents for a specified period after they terminate employment with the organization.

Golden handcuffs: Right or wrong answer to your retention issues?

09/04/2024
As an HR professional, you’re always looking for ways to attract and retain top talent. One strategy that’s been around for years is the use of “golden handcuffs,” or attractive financial incentives designed to keep valuable employees from leaving. But are these shiny restraints still an effective tool in today’s evolving workplace? Here are some pros and cons to help you make informed decisions for your organization.

Flexibility remains at the top of the employee wants list

09/04/2024
What do applicants want in an employer? According to a recent study, the answer is increasing flexibility. They want core hours with the ability to perform work anytime outside those hours, and the ability to work either on a hybrid schedule, from home or at a designated office during core hours only.

Harness payroll metrics to gain valuable data points

09/04/2024
Payroll is awash in data—taxes withheld, hours worked and overtime due are just three measurable items. You can use these metrics to identify trends, find patterns and project the future. Or you can stumble around in the dark, hoping things line up and coming up short on explanations when they don’t.

Legislative milestone: ERISA turns 50

09/03/2024
Among other things, ERISA requires sponsors of private employee benefit plans to provide participants and beneficiaries with adequate information regarding their plans. In addition, employer representatives who manage benefit plans must meet certain fiduciary standards of conduct.

Survey: Employer health-care costs to rise 8% in 2025

09/03/2024
U.S. employers project a median health-care cost increase of 8% for 2025, according to International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans survey results. This is an increase over similar surveys conducted in 2022 and 2023, which projected a 7% rise in costs.

October 2024: Employer’s business tax calendar

08/31/2024
Here’s your monthly guide to critical payroll due dates.

DOL’s 80/20 tip-credit rule overturned

08/30/2024
A federal appeals court on Aug. 23 struck down a Department of Labor rule governing how tipped workers must be paid for performing work for which they cannot receive tips.

More states ramp up pay-transparency requirements

08/30/2024
The push for pay equity is gaining momentum in statehouses nationwide. Several states have enacted legislation that prohibits employers from using new employees’ past compensation to set starting salaries and requiring them to disclose their starting pay ranges.