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Compensation & Benefits

Court dismisses EPA case as push for pay equity intensifies

01/18/2023
To win an EPA case, the worker must show that the opposite sex was paid more for “equal work requiring substantially similar skill, effort and responsibilities performed under similar working conditions.” That’s increasingly difficult in a work environment where numerous new jobs rely on extremely specialized skills, making it almost impossible to prove jobs are substantially similar enough to allow a comparison.

Health costs grew 3.2% in ’22, will grow faster this year

01/17/2023
The average per-employee cost of employer-provided health benefits rose 3.2% in 2022, according to the Mercer consulting firm’s 2022 National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans, released in December. Brace for higher costs this year.

Pay for travel time to voluntary OT shift?

01/17/2023
If an hourly employee has to travel from one location to another to continue their principal activities during the workday, then that’s paid time. Commuting time, however, is unpaid. But what if an employee completes a full shift at one location and voluntarily takes on an overtime shift at a different location?

DOL cracks down on employers that break teen work schedule rules

01/17/2023
The Department of Labor ended 2022 and began 2023 with a series of enforcement actions against employers that violated the rules governing how and when teenage employees can work.

Spending bill promotes mental-health parity

01/17/2023
Tucked into the mammoth omnibus government spending bill President Biden signed into law on Dec. 29 was a provision that expands the number of public employees whose health insurance plans must now cover mental-health services on a par with coverage offered for other conditions.

DOL to propose new OT threshold by May

01/11/2023
Millions more white-collar employees could become newly eligible for overtime pay later this year. The Department of Labor has confirmed plans to update the overtime salary threshold by May.

Five items Payroll needs to address this year

01/05/2023
We wish we had a crystal ball, but we don’t. Nevertheless, 2023 is looking like another challenging year for Payroll. Here are five items we see coming this year.

SECURE Act 2.0: So nice Congress did it twice

01/03/2023
The last act of the 117th Congress was to pass the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023. Tucked not-so-deep into the CAA is the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022—90+ provisions focused on 401(k) and other retirement plans. SECURE 2.0 builds on what we can now call SECURE 1.0, which was enacted in 2019.

Catch people doing good and reward them for it

12/22/2022
Read any leadership book or attend any leadership seminar and you will often hear that employer recognition does not happen often enough. It’s a fact that best-selling leadership author Paul Falcone wholeheartedly agrees with. And recognizing employees’ efforts publicly—and often—is key.

Respect for Marriage Act passes; employers, take note

12/21/2022
The Respect for Marriage Act passed into law with bipartisan support in December and protects marriage for LGBTQ+ and interracial couples. The act ensures that a marriage that is legal in one state is recognized by all. Take this opportunity to review your benefits offerings to ensure they align with federal, state and local laws.