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Compensation & Benefits

Health benefit reporting on 2014 Forms W-2

10/15/2014
Here’s a downloadable breakdown of health benefits and whether you must report them. The IRS has clarified that even if a benefit isn’t reportable, you may voluntarily do so.

What do we need to consider before offering extra pay for weekend work?

10/14/2014
Q. We have a short-term project coming up that is going to require some of our hourly, nonexempt employees to work some extra weekend hours. We are thinking we might pay them a higher rate to work on the weekends to encourage employees to volunteer and to reward them. Is there anything we should be keeping in mind before we do that?

Enhanced pay report proposed for fed contractors

10/14/2014
The U.S. Department of Labor has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would require the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs to collect pay data from federal contractors.

Court runs out of patience with tightwad insurer

10/14/2014
Courts don’t like it when insurers try to use technicalities to limit benefits.

A few unpaid ‘donning and doffing’ minutes can add up to penalties worth millions

10/14/2014

With few exceptions, hourly employees are entitled to pay for all time worked. Paid time can include the time it takes to put on specialized equipment and clothing and walk to a workstation. If you rely on an inaccurate formula to calculate that time, a jury may correct your mistake for all similarly situated employees—and a judge may double the amount owed for unpaid time.

‘Happy’ receptionists get five-week, paid sabbatical

10/14/2014
Happy receptionists make a good first impression on clients, say execs at Ruby Receptionists in Portland, Ore., who are trying their best to keep their staff of virtual receptionists smiling.

Regs allow more options for 401(k) distributions

10/13/2014
Retirees can’t keep their 401(k) pretax contributions dammed up forever; eventually they must take taxable distributions. Two new sets of final regulations allow 401(k) plans to provide retirees with more options than just pulling out the cash.

Delinquent child support drives the most wage garnishments

10/13/2014
About 7% of U.S. employees had some portion of their wages garnished in 2013, most frequently because they had fallen behind making child-support payments. Delinquent student loan payments were the most common “other” reason.

Trucking firm adds bonuses, ups pay to help recruitment

10/10/2014

It’s not easy recruiting long-distance truck drivers, so Con-way Truck­­load is piling on the pay. Its new compensation package raises per-mile pay; increases layover pay; and offers bonuses for loyalty and helping the company achieve its productivity goals.

Special benefits analysis: Many perks pack hidden wages

10/09/2014
A recent survey of small businesses revealed that only 12% of employees were satisfied with their benefits packages. HR will surely take up the challenge by offering all sorts of new and revised benefits. That means you’ll be playing peekaboo with perks that should be taxed as wages.