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Compensation & Benefits

On meal and break pay, don’t expect a federal case

03/20/2013
Attorneys who represent workers on meal-and-break-pay claims like to keep those cases in state courts. Employers usually prefer the federal court system. But getting a case moved to federal court isn’t as easy as it used to be.

Court OKs mandatory tip pools for those who serve customers

03/20/2013
The Court of Appeal of California has finally answered a vexing question: Employers can order em­­ployees who receive direct customer tips to turn over some of the money to be redistributed to other employees who provide additional services.

In Chino, having too few time clocks costs $1 million

03/20/2013
The California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement has slapped citations worth more than $1 million on a warehouse company in Chino, alleging that 865 employees were cheated out of overtime pay they had earned, and didn’t get required 30-minute meal breaks.

Pregnancy problems? PDLL is minimum leave

03/20/2013
If an employee is experiencing pregnancy complications, it may not be enough to provide four months of leave under California’s Pregnancy Disability Leave Law. For practical purposes, four months is the minimum leave employers are required to provide. You may owe more time off under the California FEHA, as long as it doesn’t create an undue hardship on your business operations.

Consider ADA if sick worker needs more leave

03/20/2013
Employees who are temporarily unable to perform their jobs because of a disability are entitled to reasonable ADA accommodations. You’ll want to think about starting the interactive accommodations process as soon as a potentially disabled employee asks for more than the usual amount of leave.

Study: Popular kids in high school earn more as adults

03/20/2013
Popularity pays in the form of a fatter paycheck, according to a new study by the National Bureau of Economic Research.

It might as well be spring!

03/20/2013
Weather-wise, it’s hard to say exactly when spring arrives. What’s not subject to debate is the fact that your first-quarter 941 form is due shortly. Here’s help.

Health benefit safe harbors put Payroll in the driver’s seat

03/18/2013
The Affordable Care Act requires employers of 50 or more full-time em­­ployees to offer them affordable health benefits—or pay free-rider penalties. Benefits are affordable if employees’ contributions don’t exceed 9.5% of their household income and employers pay at least 60%. The IRS has created three optional affordability safe harbors.

State proposal would cover municipalities’ military leave

03/15/2013

Many of the police officers, firefighters and paramedics in Minne­­sota municipalities are members of the military reserves and National Guard. When those workers are de­­ployed for military service, towns and cities often have to pay overtime to remaining first responders. A bill before the state Legislature would provide state funds to municipalities to cover those additional costs.

Clearly label delivery fee ‘not a gratuity’

03/15/2013
If your business delivers food and adds a small delivery charge, make extra sure customers understand the fee is not a gratuity.