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Compensation & Benefits

State-by-state chart on 2013 W-2 mag media/E-filing requirements

11/11/2013

States have their own W-2 e-filing thresholds and specifications. Here’s a chart summarizing those requirements. Note: Some states didn’t release their W-2 e-filing information before this article was published. To get full details, contact your state tax department.

Consumer-directed health plans rein in costs

11/11/2013
Consumer-directed health plans (CDHPs) are now the second-most prevalent kind of employer-provided health insurance, according to new research by the Aon Hewitt HR consulting firm. CDHPs could surpass PPOs in the next five years, the researchers predict. What’s driving the CDHP surge?

Are iPads given to employees who attended a seminar taxable?

11/11/2013
Question: The company sent employees to a seminar. The hosting organization gave each attendee an iPad. Are the iPads company-provided gifts, which must be valued, taxed to employees and reported on their W-2 forms?

Taxable or not? What do we do about door prizes for spouses?

11/06/2013
Question: Door prizes at our wellness fair included gift cards. We know that employees who receive gift cards are taxed on those amounts, but what about spouses—are gift cards taxable to employees and reportable on their W-2s if their spouses win prizes?

Houston firm dedicates one day per year to volunteerism

11/04/2013
For the third year, Houston-based Swift Worldwide Resources has given all of its employees a day off—the same day—to volunteer in their communities at 23 locations around the world.

It’s about time: Fall back!

11/01/2013
Don’t forget to turn your clocks back one hour, to standard time, at 2 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 3.

November 2013: Employer’s business tax calendar

11/01/2013
Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays as observed in the District of Columbia are taken into account to determine due dates. Under the federal deposit rules, you’re allowed a deposit shortfall of the greater of $100 or 2% of your tax liability.

Texas AG lawyer blows whistle on hostile work environment

10/31/2013
An attorney in Texas Attorney Gen­­eral Greg Abbott’s office has filed a whistle-blower complaint claiming he has been forced to work in a hostile environment. Among his allegations: rampant discrimination, misuse of taxpayer dollars and falsification of hourly time sheets.

No unemployment after rejecting lower-paying job

10/31/2013
Consider this scenario: A former em­­ployee is collecting unemployment. You have an opening that matches his skills and abilities, but which pays less than the previous position. If you make an offer and the former employee rejects it, he may lose his unemployment compensation benefits.

Harris Health System pays out $4M for back OT

10/31/2013
Harris Health System in Houston will pay out more than $4 million in back pay after it failed to include incentive pay when calculating overtime for thousands of hourly staff members.