• The HR Specialist - Print Newsletter
  • HR Specialist: Employment Law
  • The HR Weekly

Compensation & Benefits

Church wages don’t count toward unemployment benefits

05/28/2014
Employees can’t count their work histories with religious organizations when seeking unemployment benefits.

Keep bereavement leave policies up-to-date

05/27/2014
Although there’s no federal requirement to offer time off after the death of a loved one, many businesses do it anyway. Before long, however, those voluntary policies could become law.

New relief offered to victims of payroll service bureau fraud

05/27/2014
Buried deep in the Consolidated Appropriations Act is a provision that requires the IRS to send a notice confirming any change of address to your old and new address. And for victims of service bureau fraud, the law also directs the IRS to give special consideration to offers-in-compromise, which may allow you to settle a tax debt for less than the full amount owed.

Wage stagnation may be long-term business reality

05/26/2014
Wages will rise less than 3% over the next three years, according to 82% of U.S. employers polled by the nonprofit National Association for Business Economics.

Real wages declined significantly in past 7 years

05/26/2014
Real wages are down almost 8% since 2006, according to the compensation research firm PayScale, which analyzed Consumer Price Index data and information provided by 3,000 clients.

Are we allowed to require employees to receive their wages through paycards?

05/23/2014
Q. Our company wants to start using paycards instead of issuing paychecks to employees who do not use direct deposit. Is it legal to use payroll cards in California?

What should we include in the ‘mandatory wage statements’ we must give new hires?

05/23/2014
Q. We are hiring a new employee and I understand that I have to give her a “Mandatory Wage Notice.” What information do I need to include on the notice?

Oakland trucking company restores nearly $2M to 401(k)s

05/23/2014
Oakland-based Lange Trucking and its owners shortchanged their employees’ 401(k) program by nearly $2 million, according to a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigation.

Young workers: DOL stresses homework, not real work

05/23/2014
The DOL’s website, youthrules.dol.gov, is designed to educate employers about the rules for employing teens (sorry, there’s no help with how to actually manage them).

Can we mandate direct deposit?

05/22/2014
Q. We require all employees to provide us with bank account information so we can direct-deposit their pay. One of our employees has refused and has told us that she is not required accept electronic deposits of her pay. Is the employee correct?