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Compensation & Benefits

Final New York wage deduction regulations now in effect

11/14/2013
The New York State Department of Labor has published final regulations—effective Oct. 9, 2013—governing employee wage deductions under Section 193 of the Labor Law.

Manhattan strippers gain minimum wage, overtime

11/14/2013
A federal judge has ruled that federal labor law covers strippers at Rick’s Cabaret in midtown Manhattan. As a result, they must be paid the minimum wage and are entitled to overtime when they work more than 40 hours in a week.

Will photocopy for … what?

11/13/2013
Paid internships pay off. Unpaid internships, not so much. Here’s how internship experience affects starting salaries:

Don’t let holiday pay/work missteps make Payroll grumpy

11/13/2013
The time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s is a busy time for many companies. Questions regarding overtime, holiday pay and temporary hires often arise. You don’t have to play Scrooge this holiday season if you know the rules.

Remodeling crews celebrate success, earn rewards

11/12/2013
Workers at Power Home Remodeling Group get extra vacation days every year—paid time off to attend the company’s annual, all-employee trip to a tropical destination.

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.