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Compensation & Benefits

Standard mileage rate increases for the rest of 2011

08/19/2011
In recognition that gasoline prices remain high, the IRS has raised the standard mileage rate to 55.5 cents per mile (up 4.5 cents) for expenses employees pay or incur between July 1, 2011, and Dec. 31, 2011.

New law clarifies leave for organ, bone marrow donors

08/18/2011
Gov. Jerry Brown has signed legislation that spells out insurance and time-off requirements related to California’s new law that guarantees paid leave for employees who donate organs and bone marrow.

It’s not your money! Never demand employees hand over their tax refunds

08/18/2011
Employees are entitled to their wages—and they can’t be forced (or persuaded) to turn over tax refunds to an employer.

Must we pay instructor for time between classes?

08/18/2011
Q. We operate a fitness club and employ many fitness class instructors. They have time between classes that ranges from 15 minutes to several hours. They are free to spend that time anyway they want, on or off premises. Do we have to pay them for the time between classes?

Since the economy tanked, what have you done to control health care costs?

08/16/2011
About 60% of respondents to our HR Weekly poll say they have taken specific steps to address rising health insurance costs.

Conn. is first to mandate sick leave for service staff

08/15/2011
In what could be the start of a national trend, Connecticut lawmakers OK’d a new law that requires employers with 50 or more workers in Connecticut to provide up to 40 hours of paid sick leave to their “service workers.”

20/20: Small business best benefits practices

08/12/2011
Only big companies can offer generous benefits, right? Wrong! SHRM and the Families and Work Institute have uncovered dozens of examples of small organizations—those with staffs of 20 or fewer—that think big when it comes to employee benefits. See how many of these ideas might be right for your small business.

Pay Statements: 50 State Laws

08/11/2011

Most states have laws that require employers to provide workers with regular statements about their compensation. To help you prevent pay-stub violations, this downloadable PDF chart cites the pay-statement laws for all states that have such laws. Plus, it explains whether pay stubs can be provided to employees electronically …

Know 6 factors that determine independent contractor status

08/11/2011

Today’s tight economy has prompted many employers to try to reduce costs—including overtime—by classifying workers as independent contractors instead of employees. That hasn’t escaped the notice of the U.S. Department of Labor, which has stepped up efforts to deter misclassification.

Worker can’t return from FMLA leave? Beware demanding repayment of health benefits

08/11/2011

It’s expensive to cover an absent employee’s health insurance premiums when he is on FMLA leave—especially if he has family coverage. How­­ever, the law requires employers to do so. What happens if the employee doesn’t return? In some cases, em­­ployers can demand reimbursement for the premiums it paid. That’s true except if the employee doesn’t come back because he or she is still sick or has to continue to care for a sick relative.