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Compensation & Benefits

Reimburse employees for expenses, or risk legal trouble

04/17/2014

If employees aren’t properly reimbursed for business-related expenses they incur while performing their jobs, their pay may fall below minimum wage. And if that’s the case, they can quit and sue. The claim? Constructive discharge.

Back ban on off-the-clock work with action

04/16/2014
Don’t assume that merely having a written policy that prohibits working off the clock will insulate you from liability. You must do more.

Fired for insubordination? No unemployment benefits

04/15/2014
Employees have to abide by reasonable rules whether they like them or not. Insubordination remains a reason to deny unemployment compensation to terminated workers.

Male candidate needs to ‘support his family’? That’s no reason to pay him more

04/15/2014
Here’s a warning to pass on to any manager or supervisor involved in employee interviewing, hiring or supervision: Never make a sexist comment about pay or benefits. It may come back to haunt the organization should an employee later sue for sex discrimination or pay equity.

Small business owners: Do you offer health benefits?

04/15/2014
Two-thirds of small business owners polled say they offer health insurance to their employees. However, size matters—the more employees, the more likely they receive health benefits.

Ban unwritten rules forcing off-the-clock work

04/15/2014

Most employers think that if they just tell employees not to work more hours than their regular schedules call for, that’s the end of it. They put together a policy prohibiting off-the-clock work and figure, “Hey, problem solved.” But that may not be the case.

Informal hiring input does not an exec make

04/15/2014

Managers and supervisors are often classified as exempt from overtime under the FLSA’s executive exemption. It requires that the employee have the authority to hire and fire or make hiring and firing recommendations that carry particular weight. Some employers believe they can meet this requirement by asking for recommendations or insight into potential hires. That’s not enough.

Minimum wage occupation you’d rather not know about

04/15/2014
Starting pay for pilots at some small regional airlines is as little as $15,000 a year, according to a U.S. Government Accountability Office report. That’s $80 less per year than a full-time, minimum-wage fast-food worker makes.

Dow offers its employees free home energy audits

04/14/2014

Employees, retirees and contractors of the Dow Chemical Co.’s Mid­­land, Mich., operation can get free home energy audits. The company has partnered with Dr. Energy Saver Lansing, a home performance and energy service.

Wage-and-hour 101

04/14/2014
Properly paying employees is one of the most basic employer responsibilities, yet wage-and-hour cases continue to flood the legal system. It’s critical to understand the laws that govern when workers must be paid.