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Compensation & Benefits

IRS reclassification program: more questions than answers

04/13/2012

Under the IRS’ Voluntary Classification Settlement Program (VCSP), you may change workers’ status from independent contractors to employees for future tax periods on favorable tax terms, without in­­curring penalties or interest. Now, however, new questions have arisen. Unfortunately, there are no easy answers.

As union eyes our workforce, what should we do about its request for pay information?

04/12/2012
Q. I run a nonunion construction contracting company. We recently received a letter from a union stating that they believe we are paying substandard wages and benefits. The letter asked us to provide any information we might have to show that they are wrong and that we are paying area standard compensation to our people. Does the union have a right to this information?

Angry employee says ‘I quit!’ Accept his resignation

04/12/2012
Sometimes, employees get angry and say things they later regret. Recently, an employer accepted an angry resignation and avoided unemployment compensation liability.

No explanation of illness? Then no unemployment

04/12/2012

In Minnesota, employees who suffer from a serious illness can still collect unemployment compensation if they ask their employers for an accommodation. If none is available, then the employee can collect benefits if he can’t work. But employees must tell their em­­ployers about their medical condition.

Free but taxable? Frequent-flier miles raise questions at IRS

04/12/2012
It’s a frequently recurring headache for employers and the IRS: Determining whether the value of frequent-flier miles employees accumulate when they travel on business is a tax-free fringe benefit or taxable compensation. Share this latest guidance with your colleagues in the payroll department.

Don’t treat pregnancy-related absences differently than other medical absences

04/11/2012
If you provide additional leave or special arrangements for someone recovering from a heart attack or broken leg, you must provide them for a pregnant employee, too. Otherwise, you may be violating the Pregnancy Discrimination Act.

Are your employees ready for retirement? 6 smart steps

04/11/2012
How many of your retirement-age em­­ployees are just hanging around so they can receive benefits and collect paychecks, simply because they can’t afford to stop working? It’s in employers’ best interests to improve the retirement outcomes for their employees by creating a culture of retirement readiness.

U.S. Supreme Court will decide the fate of health care reform

04/10/2012
The U.S. Supreme Court will decide the fate of health care reform before the end of June. No matter how the court rules on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, its decision will affect employer-provided benefits for years to come.

Indiana finance firm opens on-site health clinic

04/04/2012

CNO Financial Group has opened a medical clinic on its Carmel, Ind., campus for employees and their families. OurClinic@Carmel offers primary, preventive and urgent medical care 40 hours a week, Monday through Friday.

Court: No arbitration for government retirement plan disputes

04/03/2012

A state appeals court has reversed a lower court ruling and held that the city of Yonkers’ refusal to reimburse new employees for their statutorily required Tier V retirement plan contributions was not subject to arbitration. Our firm—Bond, Schoeneck & King—represented the city of Yonkers in the litigation.