Compensation & Benefits

Make the case: Direct deposit saves big bucks

05/27/2013

According to research by the Electronic Payments Association and the American Payroll Association, an employer currently printing 500 weekly paychecks can save $82,000 each year by switching to direct deposit.

Game on! Competition is favored wellness motivator

05/25/2013

When U.S. employers seek better worker wellness, 62% of them turn to games and contests to encourage healthier behavior. Competition is widely seen as the most effective way to promote health engagement among employees, according to researchers at WorldatWork and Buck Consultants.

June 2013: Employer’s business tax calendar

05/25/2013

NOTE: 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.

Women earn $24K less

05/24/2013

Women earn an average of $44,400 annually, compared to $68,300 for men, according to a study by CareerBuilder and Economic Modeling Specialists.

Uncle Sam’s 2014 budget: Will it cap retirement savings?

05/24/2013

Recent FY2014 budget proposals by President Obama include a major change for retirement savers: A new $3 million limit would apply to assets in qualified retirement plans such as 401(k)plans, as well as defined-benefit pensions and IRAs.

ACA regs keep rolling along

05/23/2013

Full implementation of the Affordable Care Act health care reform law is mere months away, which means that the IRS and the Department of Health and Human Services have a lot of work to do in a short period of time. The latest regulations cover the 90-day waiting period for new employees and temporary reinsurance fees.

Special analysis: How to tax and deduct bonuses

05/22/2013

The IRS has confirmed that how you withhold income taxes from supplemental pay, such as bonuses—by using a flat withholding method or aggregating the supplemental pay with other wages—is entirely up to you; employees can’t specify a withholding method.

Uncle Sam wants you! … to properly handle summer military duty

05/21/2013

Employees in the National Guard and Reserve usually serve their two weeks during the summer, but others may be away longer. Here’s what Payroll needs to know to properly handle summer military duty.

San Jose minimum wage increases to $10 per hour

05/20/2013

The San Jose Minimum Wage Ordinance, which took effect on March 11, raised the minimum wage for “covered employees” to $10 per hour. A “covered employee” is anyone who works two or more hours per week within the city limits.

State document requirements for employing teens

05/17/2013

State law controls the age at which teens must obtain age certificates, working papers or parental consent letters and how long you must retain those documents. To help you get a handle on this crucial paperwork requirement, here’s a chart summarizing the state laws.