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Compensation & Benefits

Riverside detailer missed a spot in its pay records

10/29/2013
Interior Magic of California, a car detailing service in Riverside County, will have to pay $292,000 in back wages and liquidated damages to 205 current and former employees, plus $34,408 in civil penalties to polish its image following a U.S. Department of Labor investigation.

Snapshot: How many workers live paycheck to paycheck?

10/29/2013
36% of workers report that they always or usually live paycheck to paycheck, a recession-era low, down from its peak of 46% in 2008.

Downside of vacations: Most consider quitting after it

10/28/2013
Vacations are meant to clear a person’s mind, but the post-vacation blues also tends to give employees another idea—jumping ship.

Put your ACA expertise to use during open enrollment

10/25/2013
This open enrollment season may prove to be the most challenging in years, thanks primarily to two converging forces: the Affordable Care Act and the fact that employees barely understand their health benefits anyway. You can burnish your reputation in the company by having answers to employees’ questions.

Victoria’s Secret employees claim online campaign victory

10/24/2013
Employees at the Manhattan flagship store of Victoria’s Secret received raises of between $1 and $2 per hour recently, and say it’s all because of a petition started on the advocacy website www.change.org.

1099s: W-2s’ poor relation, but just as demanding

10/24/2013
Many Payroll departments get hit with the double whammy of having to prepare Forms 1099-MISC for the company’s independent contractors, in addition to employees’ W-2s. Reminder: If you file 250 or more 1099-MISC forms you must file them electronically through the IRS’ FIRE system.

When and how do we notify that COBRA is ending?

10/23/2013
Q. I have a COBRA participant who is nearing the end of his 36-month maximum coverage period. What notices must I send him regarding coverage termination?

Per-employee health benefit costs up slightly in 2014

10/22/2013
Employers expect health benefit costs per employee will rise by 4.8% on average in 2014, based on early responses from an annual survey conducted by Mercer.

Teleconference firm keeps employee fitness in focus

10/22/2013
Twice a week, a group of ReadyTalk employees meets at the company’s on-site gym for yoga class. On occasion, staff members enjoy head-and-neck massages, acupuncture and visits from a chiropractor—right at the office.

5 most common recognition awards

10/21/2013
More than three-quarters of em­­ployers polled say they hand out certificates and plaques to reward employee accomplishments. Frankly, we’ll trade a plaque for a tasty snack any day.